By Matt Diano: As we intend to do every week, three more deserving student-athletes have been selected for recognition following extraordinary individual efforts in helping their respective schools achieve victory in week #2. The following are being honored by the NYCHSFL for their outstanding performances during the weekend of September 19th-20th:
Antonio Giannico; RB/LB – Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders
A player that Coach Michael O’Donnell proclaimed would provide a huge impact this season for the defending AAA champions, the 5’11, 200-pound junior from Mahopac, NY did not waste any time in making his presence felt…Fresh off of a four carry, 36 yard effort in the 2015 opener against Newburgh Free Academy, Giannico would explode in his first NYCHSFL game of the season, rushing for a team best 131 yards on only 10 carries (13.1 average), with three of these dashes finding the end zone as Stepinac would run away with a 48-6 win over Iona Prep in a rematch of the 2014 AAA Catholic final…Finding the promised land on a four-yard run to account for the only touchdown of the half for the Crusaders (Stepinac led 7-6 at the break), Giannico would blow the game open in the final 12 minutes of play, breaking through for monster runs of 68 and 28 yards to increase his team’s lead from 20-6 to a much more comfortable 34-6 advantage…Defensively, the young man donning the #23 would contribute four tackles to a dynamic ensemble that held the rival Gaels to negative yards on the ground.
Alex Benson; WR/DB – Kennedy Catholic Gaels
After 18-straight losses, the Somers, NY based Gaels have broken into the win column as they would emerge with a 26-18 week #2 victory over Nazareth. The triumph, the first for Kennedy Catholic since entering the NYCHSFL in 2013, would be made possible thanks in large part to the dominance demonstrated on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball by junior wide out/ cornerback, Alex Benson…The 5’11, 170-pound resident of Beacon, would be a one-man wrecking crew, recording all four of his school’s scores…While three of his touchdowns would come on receptions, Benson’s biggest play of the game would occur on defense when he intercepted a Nazareth pass and proceeded to take it 90 yards for the pick 6. When you consider how evenly matched these two programs were last weekend, this potential 14 point swing would undoubtedly be a game-changer…This play would be only one of three turnovers forced by Benson as he added a second interception, as well as a forced fumble to his list of bullet points on Saturday.
Lenward Williams; TE/DE – Cardinal Spellman Pilots
For the second week in a row, it is a member of Coach William Cawley’s Pilots who is singled out for special consideration as senior tight end/defensive end, Lenward Williams, joins teammate, Rodney N’gussen (week #1 selection) among those commanding attention at the onset of the 2015 season…Playing in front of the home crowd, Williams would have his talents on full display in all three facets of the game, as he helped the Bronx based program to a 28-8 victory over visiting St. Dominic’s to improve Spellman’s record to 2-0 this season…On defense, the 6’3, 190-pound stud would be an unstoppable force, racking up 12 total tackles, highlighted by four sacks. So good was Williams that Coach Cawley credited him with almost single-handedly “shutting down the left side of the field.” Per Cawley, all four of his sacks would come on third down during key parts of the game…As a member of the special team cohort, Williams would have a hand in blocking and/or deflecting a pair of punts, giving the Pilots’ offense the luxury of opportunity in short field situations…Whether it was as a key run blocker, the ball carrier himself, or as a receiver, the National Honor Society member would put an exclamation mark on his huge day, opening massive holes that allowed N’gussen and Daijon Jones to score on touchdown runs of 10 and 15 yards. Complementing his Grade-A blocking would be his soft hands as he compiled three catches for 80 yards, including a pair of scores. Cawley would describe each catch as “better than the last” as Williams would make a one-handed grab for his first touchdown and then showcase excellent body control to adjust to an underthrown ball for his second TD reception. A finishing touch would be the 20 yards on the ground he garnered on only three carries.