The pen of the CHSFL Matt Diano is back at it, this week we will release his season previews for all 3 divisions.
Today Matt takes a look at the defending Champion Xaverian Clippers of the A Division and the rest of the teams looking to claim the title this year.
By Matt Diano: Having witnessed four team teams win titles in the past four years, the “A” division is nothing if not always up for grabs.
Last season, Xaverian, powered by an amazing senior class, asserted their will, kicked butt and took names en route to winning the school’s first crown since going all the way in the 2A Division in 2006.
But alas, even though they have advanced to the league title game In three consecutive seasons, it is not a foregone conclusion that the Clippers will continue to run roughshod over the rest of the competition….Hit incredibly hard by graduation, the majority of the studs that carried them to glory have moved on to higher levels of play, making this something of a rebuilding year for our defending champions.
Cardinal Spellman, the team that fell to Xaverian in the 2015 title game has also suffered some losses, but seem well positioned to challenge for the throne…Led by a dominant offensive lineman and an explosive running back, 2016 just might be the year that everything falls into place for the Pilots.
St. Dominic’s, the third place team during the regular season took quite a hit on the offensive side of the ball, but perhaps return the most experienced and potentially game-changing defensive units in the division….If the Bay Hawks are able to get as much as they think out of their super sophomore running back, then the sky may be the limit and 3-6 could easily turn into 6-3 if not better.
The Gaels of Kennedy Catholic will be riding a returning All-Catholic QB, as well as two monster linemen in the hopes of taking those two extra steps that separated semifinalist in 2015 to champions in 2016.
After enduring the frustrations of a goose-egg in the victory column a season ago, Nazareth Regional should be a much Improved program…Blessed with some of the purest athleticism in the division, if skill is able to match speed, watch out for this sleeping giant…Featuring a laundry list of capable receivers, the 2016 season may closely resemble the “Air Coryell Era” that turned former San Diego Chargers quarterback, Dan Fouts, into a National Football League Hall of Famer.
Last but certainly not least, we are proud to welcome the return of Moore Catholic to the varsity ranks…A school that had a very rich tradition in the early 2000s, winning the “A” crown in 2003 and then finishing as the runner-up in “AA” a year later, the Mavericks fell on hard times from 2005-2008, going 6-33 before leaving the Catholic football to play in the Independent League from 2009-2011….The change of affiliations was accompanied by greater success (including undefeated seasons in two of their three years), but interest only continued to decrease, thus causing the suspension of the team prior to the 2012 season….Reinstated as a lower-level program in 2014, many of the freshmen who comprised that new chapter in the MC football annals are now the junior leaders setting the example for their younger teammates….Armed with one of the largest (in terms pounds) rosters in the league, don’t be surprised if Moore Catholic opens some eyes and shocks some people…They are a school that we think will become very good very fast.
CARDINAL SPELLMAN
Last Season
Went 6-5 overall/Lost in the “A” Division Title Game to Xaverian (31-14)
Top Returning Players
Michael Booth (Jr; OL)—-Returning All-Catholic Player; Anchored an offensive line that helped to produce an output of over 2,000 yards on the ground and 26 rushing touchdowns.
Rodney N’Guessan (Sr; RB)—-1x Catholic Player of the Week; Led Spellman in rushing touchdowns last season with nine; is the leader among returning players in rushing yards (620 yards on 108 carries; 5.7/carry average)
Maxwell Felix (Sr. RB)—Found the end zone on two separate occasions as a junior in 2015; averaged nearly five yards per carry in a limited role; should see more action in his senior campaign, which could lead to a breakout season.
Key losses
Marcus Ciccone (QB)—While the team incorporated a mostly running-based attack, when called upon to drop back, Ciccone completed over 50 percent of his passes, tossing three touchown passes along the way.
Daijon Jones (RB)—All-Catholic honoree in 2015; Team’s leading rusher a season ago, tallying 621 yards on 95 carries; also led a predominantly run-heavy team in receptions, making 12 catches for 86 yards.
Lenward Williams (DL)—All-Catholic Selection as a senior; was the hammer on defense for Spellman, leading the team in most major categories, including tackles (67) and sacks (3).
2016 Overview
Returning to the title game for the first time since 2008, the Pilots may have lost their most dominant player on each side of the ball in the persons of Daijon Jones and Lenward Williams, but the outlook is still very positive thanks in large part to the presence of Rodney N’Guessan and Michael Booth…The latter will be the one opening up the massive holes, whereas the former will be the beneficiary from his teammate’s work in the trenches…Booth was an All-League selection as only a 10th grader in 2015; hence, with maturity, one can expect to see an even further degree of domination from him as the leader of the offensive line.
Playing their rivals, Xaverian, twice in a matter of three weeks (October 9th and 21st) in potential previews of the eventual title game, the Pilots should have a good idea where the stand…If they can hang tight with the defending champions, then it should be a major confidence booster that will propel them the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs.
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Kennedy Catholic
Last Season
Went 2-7 overall/Lost in the “A” Semifinals to Xaverian (41-3)
Top Returning Players
David Keogh (Sr; QB)—Returning All-League signal caller for the Gaels (Pictured Below)
OL/DL Liam McManus (Sr; 2-way Lineman)—A true ironman who makes his presence felt on both sides of the ball. Standing 6’4 and tipping the scales at 255 pounds, if it is McManus lined up opposite you, you can expect to be in for a long day.
OL/DL Ed Longest (Jr; 2-Way Lineman)—Like McManus, Longest is one of the hardest working men in the CHSFL, as he is counted on to provide leadership and experience in all areas of the game…While not quite as tall, Longest himself exceeds the 250-pound mark…A CHSAA State Wrestling champions last winter, the hand-fighting skills of Longest are second to none, which should aid him in passing-blocking responsibilities. His takedown skills (he’s a thrower) will makes him quite the proficient tackler.
Ryan Panny (sr; WR)—After being utilized as mostly a TE as a junior, Panny has made the conversion to wide-out, which is said to have brought out a new found energy in him
Key losses
Alex Benson (RB/DB)—All-League Selection; team’s leader in multiple offensive categories, including rushing yards, touchdowns, and interceptions; Benson had another year of eligibility remaining, but left Kennedy Catholic to complete his scholastic career at Beacon HS.
Tim Hebert (OL)
Esteban Ramirez (WR)
Brett Dalrymple (DE)
2016 Overview
After going winless in 2014, the Somers, NY based program showed that they are clearly moving in the right direction, as they picked up a pair of wins and qualified for the “A” playoffs a season ago.
A team that was incredibly young in 2015, graduating only three players, now that they have multiple years of varsity experience under their belts, the rising senior class, led by the gentlemen above, will be called upon to connect all of the pieces and keep proverbial ball rolling.
In speaking about his team, first-year Head Coach, Dominick Tassone, had nothing but good things to say about the squad that he inherited….He expressed a lot of pride in his senior field general [Keogh], making it a point to emphasis how hard the 5’11, 186-pounder worked during the off-season….Early signs suggest that Keough has adjust well to a new offensive scheme and is feeling as comfortable as ever under Tassone’s guidance.
The improvement of Keough as a passer should lead to breakout seasons for [Ryan] Panny as well as junior receiver, Shane Dalrymple…As noted above, Panny’s transition to a new position has been seamless and the extra enjoyment he is deriving out of being a more active part of the offense is driving him to have a career season in his final year of scholastic eligibility…Dalrymple, who had single-digit catches as a 10th grader, should blow away his previous stats this season.
While Tassone made no bones about the fact that it will be the seniors that need to set the example, he also was not hesitant when it came to identifying a pair of underclassmen with the potential to do big things this season….Sophomore RB/OLB, Brandon Gibson, has matured immensely physically and is showing signs of an individual capable of contributing on both ends of the field…Freshman safety, Ayden Sanchez, may be young in age, but has a varsity-ready body, standing 6’1 and weighing 170+ pounds…Sanchez could also see time as a wide-out, but Coach T. said that defense and special teams will be his primary focus, at least early in his rookie season.
On the topic of the 2016 schedule, Tassone called every game important, but did admit that on some level, the team’s Week #5 meeting against St. Dominic’s does hold special meaning to him. As a seven-year member of the Holy Trinity staff, the homecoming to play in front of friends and family does provide added motivation to emerge with a “w”.
Summarizing his outlook on the season as a whole, Tassone said the following: “We are looking forward to a fresh start at Kennedy and are encouraging our guys to compete and play with toughness. Our seniors have been great in providing leadership and good work ethic.
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Moore Catholic
Last Season
First Season as a Varsity program; Went 5-3 on the Junior Varsity level
Top Returning Players (From the JV)
Diamond Massaquoi (Jr; RB)
Zach Hampton (Jr; WR)
Vincenzo Scarola (So; QB)
John Ford (Jr; OL)
Key losses
None
2016 Overview
Welcome back to the varsity gridiron, Moore Catholic….Fielding their first squad since an undefeated 2011 squad (played an independent schedule), the Staten Island school knows that it will require a few things to break in their favor, but seem upbeat about what this season and the future has in store for them.
At the helm for the Mavericks will be Nick Giannatasio, a 20-year veteran of the sidelines who has never been a stranger to triumph…Making stops during his two decades on the bench at the likes of Poly Prep, Susan Wagner, Nazareth, and Bishop Ford among others, Giannatasio’s greatest accomplishment to date may have come in the early 2000s when he was a part of a coaching staff that guided the New York Sharks Women’s Professional Football Team to a 16-1 record over two seasons (2002, 2003), going all the way in 2002.
Speaking of the great football minds that will be pacing the sidelines this season, Giannatasio will not be the only person who has experienced the game at the professional level. That is because the defensive line will be cultivated by a familiar face to NY Giant fans, former reserve DE, Frank Ferrara.
Pulling no punches in admitting that with only two seniors on his entire roster, the team will be among the youngest in the league, Coach G. is not one for making excuses and chooses instead to shoot high in the hopes that his student-athletes will rise to his expectations.
Just a sampling of the names and faces that you will get to know this season will be offensive weapons, Diamond Massaquoi and Zachary Hampton…Labeling his 5’6/150-pound tailback and 5’9/165-pound receiver as “explosive players”, the MC Head Coach truly believes that any time the ball is in the hands of either player, there is the opportunity for magic to happen.
Another player that has caught the eye and won the respect of Giannatasio is sophomore quarterback, Vincenzo Scarola, who in an interview with Staten Island Live, was described as being “mature beyond his years.”
One area where Moore Catholic will not have to concern itself is in regard to size along the O-Line…Featuring seven different players weighing 240 pounds or more, it is very possible that the Mavericks will show themselves to be a road crew, moving anything and everything in their way….Junior Center, John Ford (6’0/240) is the foundation of the line and will be complemented by behemoth guards Devone Letts 275 pounds), Nasir Harrison (260 pounds), and Devon Jackson (270 pounds)…Harrison and Jackson will also plug the middle as starting defensive tackles.
The safety combo of sophomore Massari Miller (SS) and junior Tommy Meyers (FS), will be joined by defensive end, Kyle Felix (Jr.) and linebacker, David Gonzalez (Jr.) in solidifying the D-unit.
Saying that the goal of the season is to “compete in every game”, Giannatasio is looking forward to the two games his team plays against the defending champions, Xaverian, in Weeks 2 and 6 as a way of gauging the Mavs’ immediate title hopes.
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Nazareth Regional
Last Season
Went 0-9 Last Season/Did not Qualify for the “A” Playoffs
Top Returning Players
Lionel Pierre (Sr; WR)
Justin Adams (Jr; WR)
Ryan Brathwaste (So; RB)
Manny Johnson (So; RB)
Caleb Sanchez (So; QB)
Kevin Fleetwood (So; FB/LB)
Michael Gray OL/LB (So; OL/LB)
Jordan Serrano (Sr; CB)
Brenton Wynter Jr. (So; DL)
Key losses
Tahriq Gordan (TE/DE)—All-League Selection as a destructive force on “D”; Catholic “A” Defensive Player of the Year; Accepted a full scholarship to play football at Stony Brook University
Darren Spaulding (OL/DE)—All League Pick in recognition for his work as a road grater Offensive lineman
Joshua McNeil (OL/NG)—At 6’3, 325-pounds, he easily was the largest man on the Nazareth roster in 2015…So massive was McNeil that when he wanted to move you, more times than not, you were about to go on a journey of his choosing.
2016 Overview
With a roster consisting mostly of mostly underclassmen, first-year Head Coach, James Gioia, is taking an approach that in his own words, “is a little different than other coaches”….While he is looking for his young roster to battle and be competitive when they step onto the field, it seems that his many focus is on building a family-like atmosphere where the student-athletes learn to trust both the staff and their fellow teammates…First and foremost, player development and gaining experience will be the priority as the Kingsmen attempt to lay the tracks successes that may be a year or two away….The coach said it best, stating, “the future comes first.”
What NR may be lacking in banked field time, they make up for with a wealth of speed and determination…Calling the overall athleticism of his squad the strength of the program, Gioia pointed at more than a dozen individuals on the offensive side of the ball alone that could establish themselves as play-makers and budding superstars….The wide receiver position is especially deep, with [Lionel] Pierre and [Justin] Adams representing the first wave, and sleep picks, Sanub Sinclair (Jr.), Korey Armstrong (Jr.), and Cannon Grinage (So.) providing incredible depth.
Blessed with seemingly endless options to which to throw, the sophomore signal caller, Sanchez, was commended by his coach for the time he has put into developing a rapport with his receivers.
When the team is not shredding opposing secondaries, [Ryan] Brathwaste is expected to handle the bulk of hand-offs, with [Manny] Johnson and freshman sensation, Justin McDuffie, more than ready to step in and aid in the ground game….One of the rare seniors on the team, Marco King, could also challenge for playing time in the backfield. He was named the team’s most improved player from a season ago.
Comparing this year’s team to the 2015 edition, Gioia felt that because many of his guys have that extra year or two of hard knocks under their belts, that the product Nazareth will put on the field is far superior.
Referring to his season as “the new era”, Gioia could not contain the excitement felt about the week #1 match-up against league runners-up, Cardinal Spellman, on September 10th (@Poly Prep)….A second contest that has his juices flowing is the September 30th (Week #4) battle of Brooklyn against the defending champions from Xaverian.
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St. Dominic’s
Last Season
Compiled a 3-6 record/Lost in the “A” Division semis to Cardinal Spellman (30-6)
Top Returning Players
Mike Vaughan (So; RB/LB)—-The only freshman to be named to the All-Catholic team in 2015; finished his rookie season third on the team in total rushing yards with 338 on 74 touches…Vaughan was also a special teams phenomenon, collecting 229 yards as a kick returner to lead the program in total All-Purpose yards (567).
Victor Opara (Sr; TE/OLB)—The defensive leader of the Bay Hawks, as a junior, Opara tallied a team leading total of 55 tackles, averaging over six stops per game..
Ryan Kelly (Sr; TE/OLB)—Opara’s partner in crime in 2015, despite missing two games, Kelly still managed to finish the season with 41 tackles (5.9/game)…Kelly also possesses excellent pass coverage ability, as he was the team’s interception leader as a sophomore.
James Doherty (Sr; FB/MLB)—The third of the power linebacking trio, Doherty was also sidelined for a few games as an 11th grader. However, when he was on the field, he demonstrated a knack for finding the ball carrier and bringing him down…In six contests, Doherty posted a the team lead in tackles/game average (6.5) to end his junior season with 39….Doherty ranked first in most tackles as a sophomore, earning 56 of them in 2014.
Brian Ford (Jr; CB)—The captain of the secondary, Ford appeared in every game last season, recording 39 tackles.
Key losses
Justin Rodriguez (RB)—An All-League pick in his senior season, the 6’4 resident of Farmingdale ran for a team-leading 372 yards on 56 carries….Rodriguez surpassed the 100-yard mark twice in 2015 and found the end zone five times.
Nicholas Kaier (RB)—Second on the team in both rushing yards (345) and touchdowns (4), Kaier was also a threat out of the backfield, trying for the most receptions with four catches.
Dan Isaacs (OL)—The straw the stirred the O-line’s drink, the nearly 290-pounder was an All-Catholic honoree in his swan song, after doing more than his fair share in helping Doms chew up over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground.
Joe Mawad (DE)—The leading tackler among D-linemen, tying Doherty for third on the team with 39….Also served as punter extraordinaire, averaging over 40 yards per kick and placing six balls inside the 20-yard line to control starting field position.
2016 Overview
Making their return to the Catholic football league after a 25-year absence in 2015, the then Edward Tini coached Bay Hawks may have not have claimed hardware, but they certainly won the respect of their peers, qualifying for the playoffs in their first year back.
As has become a trend this season in “A” ball, St. Dominic’s will also be introducing a new Head Coach, as Robert Ploth will attempt to pick up where Tini left off.
Depleted on offense by graduation, the Oyster Bay based cohort lost their top-2 runners, their starting quarterbacks, all of their primary receivers, and their place-kicker among others….For some teams, the departing of so many student-athletes at skill positions might paralyze the program. Such is not the case with St. Dom’s as they are fortunate enough to have a wunderkind in the person of sophomore, Mike Vaughan…So a plethora of unproven players on offense, Vaughan may be summoned into “one-man show” duty early in the season until the rest of his mates can get fully up to speed.
On the flip side, there may not be a more experienced unit in all of the single-A division than the Dom’s defense…While it is the feared linebacking quartet (Opara, Doherty, and Kelly), as well as Ford that tend to get the media attention, make no mistakes about it, the Bay Hawks have polished veterans at just about every position…Commanding the charge of the front-4 will be a pair of juniors, Ahmir Lyles and Aaron Gutierrez, who each posted 20+ tackle seasons a year ago.
Playing in the first “A” game of the 2016 season this Friday night, there will be no easing into anything as Ploth’s boys will go toe-to-toe immediately with defending champion, Xaverian
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Xaverian
Last Season
Compiled a record of 8-3/Won the Catholic A Championship over Cardinal Spellman (31-14)
Top Returning Players
Dan Welsome (Sr; 2-way lineman)—6’2, 270-pound beast that not only helped the Clippers rush for close to 2,000 yards and 36 touchdowns last season, but also saw time on the defensive side of the ball, notching nine tackles for the “A” Division’s top unit.
Julius Arcaro (Sr; TE/MLB)—An impact player on both sides of the gridiron as a junior in 2015, Arcaro finished tied for third on the team in receptions with nine catches for 114 yards and two scores, and was made his presence known even more on “D”, racking up 49 tackles (highest among returning players) and picking off two passes from his linebacker position
Christopher Monti (PK/P)—An individual who puts the “special” in special teams, Monti’s ability to both placekick (39 of 46; 80 percent on extra points; 1-for-1 on FG) and punt make him a potential unsung hero.
Key losses
Brandon Peterson (RB)—All-League Selection in 2015; Was one of the most dynamic weapons out of the backfield in all of the NYCHSFL, posting team leading totals of 1,027 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns….Six times last season, he surpassed the 100 yard mark in a game
Phil DePaulis (QB)—2015 All-Catholic Selection; The 2015 Catholic A Division Offensive Player of the Year; the Offensive MVP of the 2015 Catholic Division A Championship Game; Dual-threat signal caller who beat you equally effectively with his arm (880 yards, 12 TD tosses) or legs (547 yards on 81 carries, finding the end zone 13 times)
Michael Marinelli (DL)—All-League honoree as a junior; Was the Recipient of the Catholic Football A Division Lineman of the Year Award; The Defensive MVP of the 2015 Catholic A Title Game; Led the Clippers in all multiple defensive categories, tallying 82 tackles, 12 TFL, and 10 sacks….Transferred to DePaul Catholic (NJ) for his senior year.
James Baglino (MLB)—An All-Purpose linebacker, Baglino not only was an effective run stopper, he also thrived as a pass rusher, making 44 tackles (5th on the team) and earning six sacks (trailed only Marinelli)
Anthony Marinelli (OL/DL)—One of the premier underclassmen in all of the Catholic League a season ago, there is little doubt that the younger of the two Marinelli brothers was well on his way to being a standout performer…A young gentleman who seemed to live in the offensive backfield as a sophomore, 20 of Marinelli’s 48 total tackles were for a loss of yards…Like his elder sibling, he will complete the remainder of his scholastic career in the Garden State at DePaul Catholic.
Robert Massucci (LB)—The captain of the linebacking corps as a senior last year, Massucci was the second-leading tackler for the eventual champs, making 53 stops (5.3/game).
James Patsis (DB)—A shutdown player in the defensive secondary, Patsis led all Clipper student-athletes last season with three interceptions…He all made 29 tackles, thus putting his versatility on display.
2016 Overview
Despite being the defending champions and the program that has the proverbial target on their backs, the boys from Brooklyn are not taking anything for granted as they attempt to become the first team since 2012 (Bishop Ford) to repeat as the Class A titlists.
Hit hard by graduation and transfers, of the 22 starters on the team that went pretty much unchallenged in conference all season long, only four return this season….To put into perspective how big a rebuilding/developmental year this will be for Coach Michael Jioia’s cohort, take into consideration that among those lost were the Division A Offensive Player of the Year/field general (DePaulis), the Lineman of the Year (M. Marinelli), the team’s leading rusher (Peterson), their top-2 receiving threats (James Pisciotta and Vincent Finizio with 13 catches apiece), and 11 of their 12 top tacklers, among others.
While having to face the pressure of a repeat bid in the face of such youthfulness might seem overwhelming, the 23-year veteran of the sidelines appears to be handling it as well as one can in his situation….Calling the simplicity of their schemes the strength of the team, there is a confidence being exuded from Jioia that suggests that he believes that his athletes are plenty capable of mastering the learning curve….One thing we know for sure; expectations will not be compromised or lowered under Jioia’s watch. He has already stated that his goal for this season is two-fold…1) Develop the underclassmen into legitimate football players instead of kids that just play football; 2) Make it back to the championship game with a chance to repeat.
With so many big shoes to fill, two players that will need to set the example will be Welsome and Arcaro….Commenting on two his senior leaders, Jioia said the following:
On Welsome: “Our most improved player is Dan Welsome. He has been a good player in the past, but he needs a breakout year for our team to be successful.”
Regarding Arcaro: “He has grown into a leader and has the physical skills and strength to really help a team at the college level.
Per the coaching staff, a third player who will really need to put in a career season in order for the Clippers to remain atop the division is senior two-way lineman, Matthew Perez…A person who makes his 270-pound peer, Welsome, look small, Perez and his 312 pound frame will be expected to deliver a performance as large as his stature….His primary responsibility will be to complement Welsome in proving size to the offensive line. However, with depth being a question mark, he must also be prepared to contribute on as a reserve defense as needed.
Good luck and well wishes to all programs embarking on the 2016 season!