Why HF-L's first win meant more than just the final score

The Honeoye Falls-Lima Cougars know they are far from world-beaters after opening the season with a 41-20 loss.

"We've got guys who are going to fight (keep playing to win), but we still have a lot of undisciplined football to clean up," HF-L coach John Russ said after the Cougars earned their first win of the season in Week 2.

The Cougars erased a 14-point deficit to beat Eastridge 20-14.

HF-L opened the 2026 season at home, but against Canandaigua and minus at least two starters because of injury. As a team at one of the smallest schools in the Monroe County league, the HF-L Cougars are walking uphill this fall.

Eastridge and Canandaigua are two of five Section V Class A opponents on HF-L's schedule this season. HF-L is in the Class B group, along with 2025 state champion Monroe and 2025 Section V Class A2 champion East High/World of Inquiry.

"We have to play the big dogs," Russ said with a smile at Eastridge. He later added: "We're kind of used to playing with our backs against the wall."

While getting that first win leaves the HF-L Cougars short of world-beater status, it helps. Ask HF-L quarterback Benny Feinberg , a junior who threw a touchdown pass and had two touchdown runs in the team's win at Eastridge.

James Johnson, who grew up in the city of Rochester, has worked as a full-time journalist covering high school sports for the Democrat and Chronicle since 1996. Follow him @jjDandC on X (Twitter) and Instagram. Please contact him at JAMESJ@Gannett.com