2016 CHSFL AA Division Preview

By Matt Diano: After baring witness to one of the greatest games of all-time in the finals, the question this season in the AA division is, will anybody be able to stay with the returning runners-up, Christ the King?

ctk Christ the King

Last Season

Went 10-1 (regular season champs)/Lost in the AA Finals to Xavier (28-25)

Top Returning Players

Siddiq Muhammad (Sr; RB/OLB)—All-Catholic Selection as a tailback; was so explosive with the ball in his hands that he averaged 13 yards per touch, completing his junior year with 403 yards and 11 scores….The man we’re calling the “whole package” will be Marshall University bound next fall.

smAdrian Velez (Sr; RB)—Another returning Royal with a double-digit per carry average a season ago, Velez actually outgained Muhammad slightly, racking up 419 yards on 10 more carries.  He too showed a talent for “taking it to the house”, recording seven rushing touchdowns in his junior campaign.

Tosin Oyekanmi (Sr; WR/DB)—Named to the 2015 All-Catholic Team….The team’s leader in all major receiving yards in his junior year, Oyekanmi might just be the most lethal deep ball threat in all of the Catholic Football League, regardless of division…In 2015, he caught 30 balls for 674 yards and eight touchdowns.

Aron Sanabria (Sr; RB/SB)—Overshadowed to a degree last season, Sanabria is a player that we really liked because of his ability to be a jack-of-all-trades weapon…When asked to be a runner, he compiled an average of 9.7 yards on 20 carries (194 yards)…When the team needed some a reliable pass catcher, there he was again, finishing third on the team in total reception with 11 for 95 yards….As a senior, we are hoping to see his level of involvement increase, which if it does, should make for a career year for the 5’10, 170-pounder

Elyjah Campbell (Sr; RB/SB)—-The next in the endless group of running backs that the Royals threw out at opposing teams, like Sanabria, Campbell may not have been the main man as a junior, but that does not mean he did not make himself known…Taking the hand-off 41 times as an 11th grader, Campbell earned nearly 300 yards (297 to be exact), punching the pigskin in for six on four separate occasions.

Justin Terry (Sr. WR/DB)—The leading tackler among returning players, Terry made 64 stops last season from his spot in the defensive secondary….Terry has already accepted a scholarship offer to play college ball at Monmouth

Jonathan Coste (Sr; DT)—A wrecking ball up the middle on the DL, Coste was a nightmare as a junior for running backs and QBs alike…If asked to plug the middle, he did so, recording 42 tackles…However, the area in which he especially was potent was as a pass rusher, tallying seven sacks as a junior to finish 2nd on the team in the category…At 6’2, 280, keeping this animal out of your backfield is going to be no easy taste for CTK’ foes.

Anthony Lang (Sr; TE/DE)—-A student-athlete who might be easy to miss because his stats were not chart-topping in 2015, the 6’3, 225-pounder is considerably more dominant than his numbers suggest.  After all, if he was not a “one to watch”, SUNY-Albany would not have already been smart enough to lock him up for the next four years…In 2015, Lang caught only six balls, but they were all significant yardage gains as he averaged 19.3 per grab…Defensively, he contributed 18 tackles and one sack….Expect all of these stats to shoot WAY up in his swan song season.

Randy Pringle (Sr; DB)—Terry’s right-hand man in the defensive secondary, Pringle had 32 tackles a season ago and intercepted one pass…Together, this dynamic duo anchors a defensive backfield that the Christ the King Coaching staff labeled as the strength of the team….Pringle will play his four years of college ball on Long Island at Stony Brook University

Key losses

David Navas (QB)—-All-Catholic honoree; Completed nearly 57 percent of his pass attempts (66-for-116) in throwing for 1,208 yards and 12 touchdowns

Ahmad Fernandez (RB)—The team’s leading rusher as a senior, Fernandez ended his final season of scholastic eligibility with an impressive 608 yards and nine touchdowns on 73 carries.

Giovanni-Paul Downie (RB/DB)—Second on the team in total rushing yards with 464 (on only 37 carries), this 2015 All-League pick was lightning in a bottle for the Royals.  Every time he touched the ball, something amazing seemed to follow…Remarkably, he posted matching averages of 12.5 per play as both a runner and a receiver (8 catches for 100 yards).

Alex Miranda (WR)—-All-Catholic selection as a senior; Placed 2nd on the team (to Oyekanmi) in all major receiving categories, making 18 snatches for 409 yards and scoring six TDs.

Brent Priester (LB)—Broke the century make for tackles last season from his linebacker position, averaging just under 10/game to finish with 107 stops (22 more than the next closest member of the team); Playing collegiately at Old Dominion University….A member of the 5th Team All-State list.

Matthew Grizzle (OLB)—-Speaking of the guy who claimed second-place honors among CTK tackles, Grizzle was that guy, racking up 85 of them…However, as important as his ability to bring down ball carriers, Grizzle also seemed possesses an awareness second to none.  His three fumble recoveries demonstrate that when the ball was loose, this stud knew where to find it.

Nicolas Calle (SS/LB)—A combo player who was able to be utilized either as a safety or as a linebacker, Calle ranked in the top-5 on the team last season with 61 tackles…His pass coverage skills were pretty darn good as well, as he intercepted a pair of balls.

Lorenzo Worrell (DE)—2015 All-Catholic selection; the 2015 NYCHSFL AA Lineman of the Year Recipient; The team leader in sacks with nine, while also recording 56 total tackles….Currently playing collegiately at Stony Brook University….Named 4th team All-State

2016 Overview

A team that by all accounts appeared destined to run the board and seize their first Catholic crown since going back-to-back in 2002 and 2003, the Royals were within moments of a perfect season when the unthinkable happened and a blocked punt allowed their opponents, Xavier to steal the hardware, 28-25.

After seeing their dreams crushed in the most heartbreaking of ways last season, Coach Jason Brown and his staff have one simple motto for 2016….FINISH!!!

With 26 returning players from a juggernaut that went untested with the exception of their two wars with Xavier, finishing may not present much, if any kind of problem for the Royals this season.

Empowered by a who’s who of dynamic playmaking options, if we are being totally candid, this season may not be a question of, “do they beat us?” as much as it is an inquiry into, “which player are they going to use to beat us?”   By no means is this meant to act as discouragement to the other nine teams in the AA division, but now that they have transformed from athletes playing football into polished gridiron warriors, we honestly are not sure how this team loses a game this season…There is just SO much firepower everywhere you look.

The Royals, who were not short on depth last year, will likely use a back by committee approach this season led by returning All-League pick, Siddiq Muhammad and Adrian Velez, who while splitting time with a pair of seniors (Fernandez and Downie), still combined to run for over 800 yards…If these two are not enough to break your spirits, consider that fellow 12th graders, Elyjah Campbell and Aron Sanabria might be every bit as dangerous.

Even though All-League QB, David Navas, has moved on, don’t even think about trying to beat Christ the King by stacking the box and collapsing the safeties…If you do, you are inviting Tosin Oyekanmi to burn you long….The returning All-Catholic wide-out will have a new partner this season in the person of PSAL transfer, Demetrius Wilson (formerly played at Benjamin Cardozo).  But alas, the pitch-and-catch game should work just as effectively because Oyekanmi has a knack for getting a step or two (or 20) on opposing defensive backs, making it a walk in the park to throw to him.

As the old saying goes, offense gets the glory, but defense wins the ring…In the case of CTK, they are pretty solid on each side of the ball with Justin Terry, Randy Pringle, Maalik McClymont (Sr.) and sophomore Jarrett Paul (Rivals 3-star recruit who is already drawing interest from household names such as Clemson, Boston College, Penn State, Miami, Syracuse, Rutgers and Wisconsin among other) patrolling the secondary, while Jonathan Coste and Anthony Lang bring the pain on the defensive line.

Christ the King will get a chance to enact revenge and make a powerful statement during the first week #1 (September 10th) of the season when they square off in a rematch of last year’s title game against the Knights of Xavier

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Fordham Prep

Last Season

Went 7-4/Lofordhamst in the AA semifinals to Christ the King (41-7)

Top Returning Players

Matthew Valecce (Jr; QB)—Returning All-League signal caller; arguably the best drop back passer in the Catholic League this season; has drawn the interest of Syracuse University, as well as several Ivy League programs; threw for 2,416 yards last season (just under 220/game) and 27 touchdowns, while only getting intercepted three times…Was a 2x League Player of the Week recipient in 2015…Was named 5th team All-State as a sophomore

Will Loffredo (Jr; WR/SS)—One of Valecce’s favorite targets last season, Loffredo was top-2 in every receiving category for the Rams, making 44 catches for 595 yards and five scores…Now that he has ascended into the role as the #1 wide-out, look for those already impressive stats to skyrocket in his junior campaign.

Thomas Natkin (Sr; WR)—Ranked 3rd on the team in receptions as a junior, snatching 36 balls for 516 yards, and tying Loffreedo for second on the team with five TDs.

Joshua Johnson (Sr; RB)—The leading rusher for Fordham Prep in 2015, despite playing in a pass-heavy offensive scheme, Johnson still managed to rush for nearly 500 yards (482) and did punch the ball into the end zone five different times….While not utilized as much as the wide-out corps, the 5’11, 225-pound power back represented yet another option for his star field general, as he caught 17 balls for 168 yards.

John Rooney (Sr; C/DT)- As center, he will is the quasi leader of the O-Line; Adds size to a fairly massive offensive line, standing 6’2 and tipping the scales at 260-pounds

Joseph Petti (Jr; OT/DE)—6’6, 270-pounder; If you want to get a hand on Valecce, you have to go through him first

Reyd Williams-Pedro (Sr; OT)—6’6, 380-pound mountain of a man who will be responsible for keeping his QB upright

Aiden Donnelly (Sr; MLB)—The native of Rye, NY was an All-League player last season; Averaged 8.1 tackles/game to lead the Rams with a total of 65 stops

Matt Conlon (Sr; DT)—A U.S. Naval Academy recruit, Conlon was named to the All-Catholic squad as a junior following a season in which he racked up 44 tackles, 2 sacks, and an interception….A small man by no sense of the word, the 270-pounder did a commendable job serving as the team’s punter too, averaging 40 yards per kick to help FP win the field control game most days/nights.

Key losses

Rory Allen (RB/WR)—All-League selection last season who did a little of everything to make the ball move down field…Finished second on the team in both rushing yards (371) and rushing scores (4)…Was at his best when he was incorporated into the unstoppable pass game.  Led the Rams with 51 catches, 888 receiving yards, and 10 touchdown receptions….Joined Valecce as a fifth-team All-Stater.

Jack Casella (WR/DB)—All-Catholic last season after making 11 catches on offense and recording 32 tackles on defense.

Nicolas Kumar (DB)—Was sixth on the team in tackles, making 41 stops from the defensive backfield; tied for the team lead with a pair of interceptions

2016 Overview

The only team that might be able to match the offensive explosiveness of Christ the King on a weekly basis, Fordham Prep has individuals that are capable of running the ball effectively, but prefer more times than not to just air it out and let signal caller, Matthew Valecce, take no prisoners.

With all but one of the 6’4 field general’s favorite targets back in 2016, the coaching staff feels that the offense is as good as it has ever been on Fordham Road…The scary part is that is that FP has actually found new weapons to boost their sky arsenal in the persons of senior Tight End, Liam McHale, and WR, Jack O’Neill…McHale, standing 6’4 and weighing an even two bills, fits right in with the build that the FP coaching staff seeks out in a receiver…With him and the duo of [Will] Loffredo and [Thomas] Natkin all 6’3 or taller, opposing secondaries better get used to seeing the jump ball in the red zone.

If/when the time comes that Fordham Prep needs to switch to what is referred to as their “bruising running game”, returning yardage leader Joshua Johnson (5’11, 225) will provide the power, while fellow senior, Justin Otumba, will be more of a speed option.

Junior, Jack Goodkin, was described as “an emerging young star” and should provide depth at in both the offensive backfield and out wide as another capable receiver.

Defensively, the All-League tag team of Aiden Donnelly and Matt Conlon will be joined by seniors Kyle Breen (MLB; 57 tackles, 1 sack), Owen Lombardi (DB; 54 tackles, 2 interceptions), Charlie White (DE; 23 tackles, team leading five sacks), as well as 11th grand standouts, Eddy Madden (DE/OLB) and Joseph Drago (LB) in keeping points off the board….If this group, which will be joined by some unproven but talented peers can gel as a unit, then an upset of the mighty Royals may just be in the cards.

When asked what success might resemble in 2016 for his program, Coach Gorynski stated the following: “We feel we can compete with everyone on our schedule, and we look forward to playing Fordham Prep football. We feel confident in what we are looking to do this year and feel we have the talent to get it done. As long as we compete and give it 100% every play for every game, we’ll be very successful.”

The Rams and the Royals go to battle in the final week of the regular season in what could materialize as an early preview of this year’s AA championship contest….Fordham Prep will also be pumped up to “become reacquainted” with Iona Prep on October 15th, and revel in the tradition of their annual Thanksgiving showdown with fellow AA contender, Xavier….Xavier has won the last four renditions, including a barn-burner that was settled by a narrow two-point margin (15-13) last year.  Hence, Fordham Prep will be determined to bring about a change of fortune.

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holy-trinity-50

Holy Trinity

Last Season

Went 3-6/Lost in the AA Quarterfinals to Fordham Prep (27-17)

Top Returning Players

umari-t-newsday
Umari Taylor returns to lead the Titans rushing attack. Picture from Newsday

Umari Taylor (Sr; RB/SB)—2015 All-Catholic pick; After a slow start to his junior season, Taylor exploded in the team’s game against St. Joe’s by the Sea, rushing for 309 yards and four touchdowns…His season totals read as follows: 90 carries for 572 yards and six scores…While admittedly his focus was and will continue to be on being a consummate player-making on offense, Taylor did register 34 tackles and an INT last season….As a special teamer, he returned one kickoff and one punt all the way for touchdowns.  Therefore, it goes without saying that the more times the ball finds its way into his possession, the better the chances that HT will be leaving with the win that day.

Matthew Ragno (Sr; QB)—Split time under center last season with senior, Dylan Villari….When he got his chance to show what he was made of, Ragno provided a very steady and poised presence in captaining the offense…The owner of a .588 completion percentage in 2015 (20-for-34), he threw for 230 yards and a pair of TD strikes….Now that there is no question that this is his team to lead onto the field every week, expect for him to have a breakout year.

Brandon McLaren (Sr; OT/ DE)—The leader of both lines of scrimmage, which Coach Tony Mascia identified as the strength of his team….What McLaren does not have in God-given size (6’2, 235), he accounts for with solid technique….He was one of the catalysts last season for a team that compiled 1700 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground…Defensively, he recorded 23 tackles and was tied for second on the team with two sacks.

Jared Williams (Sr; RB/SS)—A potential second-wave to the Titan running attack this season, Williams has had to wait his turn, but now that he is a senior, this should be his year to establish himself as a valuable commodity….Carrying the ball only 32 times a season ago, he averaged 4.6 yards per touch to end the year having banked 146 yards total.  That quantity will go up considerably in 2016.

Will Corchado (Sr; SB/CB)—At 6’2 and 195 pounds, Corchado has the size from the defensive backfield to match-up well with the elite taller receivers mentioned earlier in this preview…As a junior, he made only 17 tackles, but was a real shutdown performer in pass coverage, leading Holy Trinity with five successful pass defenses and tying for top honors in interceptions with two.

Jonathan Brown (Sr; OLB)—The high tackler among returning players, Brown made 37 stops, including a career high of 10 in an October game against Fordham Prep.

Key losses

Dylan Villari (QB)—A dual-threat quarterback, Villari tossed for 535 yards and used his legs to cruise for another 420 (second most on the team behind Taylor)…His six combined touchdowns (four passing, two running) ranked him behind Taylor’s nine total scores.

Derick Eugene (WR/CB)—An All-Catholic selection in his senior year; represented by a wide margin the biggest pass catching option on the Titan roster a season ago, grabbing 36 balls (29 more than the #2 person) for 473 yards (405 more than anyone else) and recording four of the team’s six receiving TDs….Eugene was solid on the defensive side of the ball too, defending thee passes, intercepting two others (one he returned to the house), and making 19 tackles from his cornerback position.

Colin Moran (LB)—-All-League honoree as a senior; was the foundation of the Holy Trinity “D” unit, making 81 total tackles, 13 of which yielded a loss of yardage…Moran was an Honorable Mention All-State selection in recognition of his strong body of work.

Luke Brush (DB)—Second only to Moran in tackles with 51 (6.4/game), this 2015 All-Catholic pick was more than just a brutal hitter; he also demonstrated excellent ball hawking skills, picking off two passes.

Karl Henry (DE)—A sack specialist for HT in his senior year, Henry led the team with five….He added 33 total tackles to his curriculum vitae and had a talent for forcing the ball to come free, forcing three fumbles.

Jeffrey Young (OLB)—The often forgotten linebacker on last year’s Trinity roster, Young may not have had the same mind-blowing tackle numbers as Moran, but he certainly was quite adept at his task…Named to the All-Catholic team a year ago, Young finished his senior season with 46 tackles (eight for a loss), two sacks, and three forced fumbles.

2016 Overviewholy-trinity

Led by one of the most feared running backs in Taylor and an experienced O-line featuring McLaren, if Holy Trinity is going to achieve their goal of going deep into the playoffs, the mission will riding on the success of the team’s ability to chew up major yardage on the ground.

Returning six starts on offense and another five on defense, the experience is there for Holy Trinity to put last year’s 3-6 record well into their rearview mirror.  It all comes down to execution and how well the unsung heroes adjust to having to step up and play more substantial roles this season.

Rattling off a laundry list of individuals who have been challenged to have breakout seasons, names such as Nick Austin (NG), Jordan Bonaparte (FB/OLB), Alexander Parciak (TE/OLB), and Jerry Festa (OG/NT) are just a sampling of the senior class Coach Mascia feels are ready to assert themselves as difference makers.

Citing lack of depth as a major concern (only 29 players on the roster per MaxPreps), several members of the rising junior class will need to be ready immediately….Shawn Moore (WR/FS), Gabe Gelves (LB), Shane Lescoe (CB), John Stroughn (OG), and two-way lineman, Thomas Fleming, will all have really big shoes to fill.  The quicker they transition to harder, faster varsity environment, the better the team’s chances will be to secure a preferred seed for the postseason.

Coach Mascia is not prioritizing any one game over another….He perceives all of the games in the CHSFL to be important.

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iona-prep-logo
Iona Prepiona-prep-mascot 

Last Season

Went 2-7/Lost In the AAA Quarterfinals to St. Anthony’s (45-25)

Top Returning Players

Rodney Samson Jr. (Sr; RB/OLB)—An All-Catholic honoree in his junior campaign as a wide-receiver, Sampson should see considerable time in the backfield this season, serving as a primary ball carrier…Was named as one of the LoHud Super 11 this past preseason; Led the team in rushing yards a year ago, racking up 509 yards on 86 carries and crossing the goal line four different times.

Michael Apostolopoulos (Sr; QB)—The only other Junior player on the Gaels to garner All-League honors in 2015, despite the team’s record, it was very easy to see that Apostopoulos is cut in the mold of past Iona Prep iconic quarterbacks….Last year, in his first season under and dealing with the pressure of having to be the heir apparent to a 2014 All-State selection, Apostolopoulos had a fine season, completing 104 of his 206 passing attempts for 1,027 yards and 15 TDs…If he maintains his 3:1 TD/INT ratio again as a senior, good things should ensue for the Gaels.

Joshua McGugins (Sr; OL)—A team captain and Goliath of a man, the 6’3, 300-pounder will be responsible for giving his quarterback plenty of time in the pocket, while also tearing craters into opposing defenses for Samson to run through.

Lamont McGriff (Sr; RB/DB)—Joining the other three names on this list among the young gentlemen bestowed the honor of being captains in 2016, McGriff is a player who if asked to do more last season, could have contributed well beyond the 135 yards of total rushing he compiled…A second option to  Samson in the ground attack, we fully expect to see the 5’11, 185-pounder have a defining year in his senior season.

JR Freeman ( Jr; WR/OLB)—The only junior among the “players to watch” for the Gaels, Freeman, whose full name is Johnryan, has all of the physical tools to make 2016 the start of what could be a dominant two-year period….At 6’3 and 200 pounds, he presents a very large target for his quarterback find…A season ago, operating mostly out of a tight end position, Apostolopoulos and Freeman hooked up nine times for 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns…With the team’s two leading receivers having graduated, Freeman now rises up into the #1 WR spot on the depth chart…And, when you consider how much the Gaels have traditionally loved to throw the ball, being the top guy usually translates into an invitation to the All-League/Awards breakfast.

Key losses

Christian Nigro (WR)—All-Catholic pick as a senior; Had a remarkable senior campaign, making 56 catches (40 more than the next best total) for 639 yards and lassoing more than half of the team’s 15 touchdown receptions with eight single-handedly…Honorable Mention All-State in 2015.

Dean Nigro (WR/LB)—The often overlooked member of the Nigro family, while Christian’s gaudy stats tend to stick out, Dean may have been the more complete player a year ago, as he did solid work on both sides of the line of scrimmage….Finishing second on the team in receptions with 16 for 155 yards and three touchdowns, the 250-pounder was one of the Gaels’ top defenders from his linebacker position….Like Christian, he was named to the All-League team as a 12th grader; Was also named 3rd team All-State on defense.

Shane Martin (RB)—While it is hardly ever one thing, if you were to attempt to isolate the specific reason why the Gaels endured hardship last year, you could find your solution in knowing that Martin was on the shelf for the majority of 2015…A 500-yard runner and the team’s leading touchdown producer on the ground as a junior in 2014, Martin was considered a lock in the preseason to be an All-Catholic performer in his final high school season.  Unfortunately, the injury bug bit hard, limiting him to only a handful of games…When he was able to play, he performed up to standard, running for 150 yards in two appearances.

Brian Jocelyn (Center)—All-League selection in the pivot last season.

Michael Calicchia (OT)—All-Catholic Offensive Tackle, who at only 205-pounds, played much bigger than his measurements.

Maliq Rideau (DB)—A solid air traffic controller, making the All-League team on defense from the secondary.

Darail McCormick (DT)—The man in the middle of the Gael D-line, McCormick joined Rideau as the lone Iona Prep players selected for the All-Catholic team on the defensive side of the ball….Honorable Mention All-State.

2016 Overview

Two years ago, Iona Prep was a AAA finalist with multiple All-State players adorning their roster…Today, they have been dropped a full classification to AA and you know that 1st-year Head Coach, Joe Spagnolo, and his squad are going to be entering 2016 with a chip on the shoulder and a point to prove.

In fact, if you think for a second that the demotion has been lost on the Gaels or does not bother them, consider that when pinpointing the goals for the upcoming season, the IP coaching staff make it a priority to mention that they fully intend to be restored to Triple-A status ASAP…This year is all about redemption, titles, and sending the message that while there may be a sad season or two every so often, Iona Prep football is a tradition that never dies.

Graduating only 10 seniors a year ago, Spagnolo felt that his team possesses immense strength at the skill positions…There is a confidence that in a shootout situation, the likes of Apostolopoulos, Samson, Freeman, and McGriff have more than enough talent to get the job done.

Where the team may be lacking per the coaching staff is in their level of overall depth…Starting only six or seven 12th graders this season, if the Gaels want to be true to their word and make a ferocious run at the crown, then quite a few players who played lesser roles a year ago are going to need to flip that switch and turn in great season….Two areas where players are already emerging as potential breakout stars are along the offensive line and in the defensive secondary.

Having lost two All-League O-linemen to graduation, the time has come for 6’4, 300-pound  John Tyrell to take over in setting the example in the trenches…Joining him in bolstering and beefing up the line will be one of the program’s top Junior Varsity players in 2015, Jack Doty.  At 6’8, 280 bills in only his junior year, it is a scary thought to ponder what this big boy might look like as a senior.

A pair of juniors will spearhead the defensive backfield…Joseph Colaio-Coppola, who was labelled as the team’s sleeper will team up with the second impact rising 11th grader, Malkelm Morrison.

Most improved player, senior nose guard Rob Rohan, along with the aforementioned Doty will be featured along the defensive line, while 12th grader, Adam Mobarak, will be focused on giving a stabilizing presence at outside linebacker.

When asked about the most anticipated games of the season for his young squad, Coach Spagnolo did not even attempt to hide his desire to test himself against the crème de la crème, calling the games against the likely top-2 teams in the division, Christ the King and Fordham Prep the contests he is has circled on his schedule….As luck would have it, the Gaels play these opponents in back-to-back weeks, facing the Royals on the road on October 9th before returning home on the 15th to go toe-to-toe with the Rams….Should IP win or keep either or both of these game close, it will be a telling sign of what will be possible when the postseason rolls around.

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kmcrestKellenberg Memorial High School

Last Season

Went 3-6/Lost in the AA Quarterfinals to Xavier (29-14)

Top Returning Players

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Joe Grimm returns to start at QB for the Firebirds. Picture from Newsday

Joe Grimm (Sr; QB)—The incumbent starter under center, Kellenberg’s spread offense will live and die with Grimm’s ability to hurl the pigskin all over the field…As a junior, he demonstrated excellent accuracy, completing 57 percent of his passes (93-for-162) for an even 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns…With so many potent offenses in the league this season, ball control and being mistake free is going to be a major characteristic for success…Thankfully, with only four INTs to his name in 2015, Grimm has always been steady in this regard.

Pat Leahy (Sr; RB)—An individual that we first became familiar with when he led the junior varsity on an unbelievable run into the 2014 title game, Leahy led all Firebirds in rushing as a junior, tallying 417 yards on 115 carries and crossed the goal line three times…A proficient pass catcher out of the backfield, KMHS’s #1 tailback made 27 grabs (2nd on the team) for 218 yards and a trio of 6’s.

Alex Hyer (Sr; CB)—The owner/operator of “Hyer Island”, as a junior patrolling the secondary, the 5’10, 160-pounder notched multiple interceptions…Expect him to be lined up against the opponent’s top receiver week in and week out.

Marco Mongelli (Sr; WR)—The best way to describe him is “makes things happen”…Playing in only six games last season and slightly overshadowed by an All-League senior at his position, when Mongelli had his number called, he did not squander the opportunity.  Averaging over 30-yards per catch last season, Mongelli was fifth on the team in total receptions in 2015 with 11.  Three of these grabs went for touchdowns.

Mike Repoli (Sr; WR)—The person just above Mongelli on the stat sheet, Repoli assumed more of a position receiver/keep the chains moving type of role in his junior season, finishing 2015 with a dozen snags for 106 yards…Like “M-Squared”, his contribution as a senior will grow on an exponential scale.

Pat La Rosa (Sr; Center)—Having lost four of their five starters (including two All-League picks) on the offensive line to graduation, there may not be an element of the KMHS program more in need of consistency and leadership…As the starting center, La Rosa will be the one that his younger, inexperienced teammates look to for guidance.


Key losses

Kieran Fitzgerald (WR)—-All-League selection out wide; Lead the Firebirds in all major receiving categories, piling up 558 yards on 31 catches, five of which were taken to the house.

Martin Jensen (RB)—One of the best overall athletes in Kellenberg’s class of 2016, Jensen was second on the team in rushing yards, gaining 376 on 69 carries (5.4/carry average)…Reliable anywhere on the field, where Jensen truly shined was in the red zone, as he posted a team leading five rushing touchdowns…In winter, he went on to win the school’s only CHSAA State Wrestling title in the 182-pound weight class.

Jason Delucia (RB)—An All-State honoree following his junior year in 2014 when he ran for nearly 911 yards and five touchdowns, 2015 was supposed to be a dream season for Delucia, but it quickly turned into a nightmare when sustained a season-ending injury during preseason camp.

Kenneth Mulkeen (OL)—All-Catholic selection for his work in the trenches…Was an equally effective blocker in both running and passing assignments

Darrin Belotte (OL)—The second All-League O-Lineman from last year’s KMHS squad

Jesse McGlone (DB)—All-League Selection in 2015

Justin Broschardt (LB)—An All-Catholic linebacker as a senior for the Firebirds

Firebird2013

2016 Overview

When it comes forecasting what the 2016 season has in store for Kellenberg Memorial High School, it is important to remember that when it comes to this group of “misfits”, anything is possible….As sophomores, the current senior class rallied from a very low seed in the junior varsity play-offs to advance to the finals…Hence, despite last year’s sub. 500 record, they are a group of young men who know what it takes to win and have shown in the past a propensity for taking their game to the next level when they smell a chance to go to the ‘ship.

With speed, hands, and elusiveness possessed at all skill positions, Coach Kevin Hanifan, entering his 21st season at the helm, is optimistic that his spread offense this season will yield a proverbial windfall.

In many ways, this season could end up being what Firebirds aficionados felt 2015 was destined to be prior to the preseason loss of star running back, Jason Delucia….All of the pertinent pieces to the puzzle are present for the Uniondale based team to lay siege on their first crown since winning the “A” division back in 1999.

Armed with an experienced quarterback (Grimm), their leading rusher from a season ago (Leahy) and a pair of pass-catchers (Mongelli and Repoli) that complement each other’s talents very well, there is every reason in the world to think that Kellenberg will be able to put points up in bunches this season.

Furthermore, if the offense was not already humming quite beautifully, early chatter indicates that another tool is quickly beginning take shape in the person of James Dieguez….The leading rusher and receiver on a 2015 junior varsity squad that earned the #2 seed in the play-offs but were upset in the quarterfinals, this secret weapon is listed on the roster as WR, but could just as easily be slid into the backfield if/when Leahy needs to come off the field for a series.

The only factor that could possibly derail the potency of the offense would be if a young and inexperienced O-line struggles at the onset of the season…However, between La Rosa in the pivot and rising junior, Brendan Higgins (the top lineman on last year’s junior varsity), Hanifan expects that when push comes to shove, the road crew will battle with conviction and let the well-oiled machine operate without a cog.

Filling the shoes of the two All-League players who graduated in 2015 will be CB Alex Hyer in the defensive backfield, and one of the team’s most improved players, senior LB Dillon Kirby… the latter spent the winter wrestling and it has been a big help to Kirby to develop better foot work and become a more polished tackler.

On the topic of how he will measure the success of his team this year, Hanifan uttered the following: “Our goal is to have a group that develops in talent individually and as a team.  Our wins & losses are held in high importance but how we carry ourselves as young men and a team in dealing with the challenges of the season is the most important thing we do.”

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Mount St. Michael Academymount-crest

Last Season

Went 1-9 in 2015/did not qualify for the AA Playoffs

Top Returning Players

Bryson Welch (Sr; RB/LB)—At 220-pounds of brute strength, the returning All-Catholic student-athlete from a season ago will carry both the ball and the hopes of the team in 2016…A true workhorse who had double the number of touches of anyone else on the Mountaineer roster, Welch gained 729 yards on 123 carries (5.9/carry average), with five TDs…Of the 179 grounds yards per game the team averaged last season, 91 of them belonged to one man….Not utilized much in this regard, but on the few occasions when he was asked to show his full array of skills, Welch averaged 17 yards/per catch on his six receptions.

Justin Montoyo (Sr; RB/LB)—Highlighted in last year’s preview as someone to keep an eye on, the now three-year varsity player at the Mount did play second fiddle to a certain extent to Welch, but still put in a quality year, finishing in the top-3 in total rushing yards despite playing in only five games as a junior…Montoyo’s stat line read as follows: 34 carries for 203 yards and triplet scores.

Malachi Fauntleroy (Sr; RB/CB)—Getting only 22 carries as an 11th grader in 2015, Fauntleroy averaged 5.7 yards per hand-off to end his junior year with 126 ground yards…The 5’8, 150-pounder speedster would be among the top special teams players for MSM too, as he picked up 116 yards as a kick returner (2nd on the team to back-up quarterback, David Lopez, who finished with 272)

Micah Jobson (Sr; OG/ILB)—The leader among returning players in total tackles last season, Jobson recorded 32 stops and added two interceptions…He will be backbone of the linebacking corps in his swan song.

Keion Barran (Jr; WR/CB)—-Good enough to see time in the secondary as a sophomore a year ago, now that he is a year more mature and stronger, the time is now for Barran to step up and occupy a key role in the Mountaineer secondary.

Key losses

Kevin Leach-Brown (QB)—A dual-threat quarterback who took the majority of the snaps for MSM a season ago, if he had been able to master his precision just a bit more, 2015 might very well have been a defining year for him….Completing 21 of his 62 attempts, Leach-Brown have not have hit the target as often as he would have preferred, but when he did, the production value was spectacular, as he averaged 21.8 yards/completion and hurled five touchdown passes…In addition, the 6’2, 180-pounder did his best to take some of the pressure off of Welch, supplementing the rushing attack by gaining 241 yards on 61 carries.

Teraun Simms-Brown (TE/LB)—Utilized more on the defensive side of the field, Simms-Brown was named to the All-League team after recording 44 tackles….When the ball was in his team’s possession, half of his six total catches would result in scores.

Storm Williams (LB)—The second half of the All-Catholic linebacking tandem, Williams led the Mount in stops in 2015, making 57 of them…His senior season marked the second time he was chosen as an All-Catholic player, as he previously earned the distinction as a junior in 2014 when he compiled 42 tackles.

2016 Overview

In much the same way that Holy Trinity will be using a heavy dose of Taylor, the Mountaineers will undoubtedly be looking to maximize the number of times they get the ball into the hands of their lone returning All-League performer [Welch].

Defensively, of the top-8 tacklers in 2015, only Jobson returns….While some may see this as a detriment, we view it as an opportunity for new faces to announce themselves with authority.

Staying on the topic of emerging stars and/or student-athletes making their varsity debut this season, if there is one thing that the MSM coaching staff can rejoice in, it is in the knowledge that they will inherit as talented a group of rookies as the school has produced in the last decade-plus….The Junior group that will be moving up were the 2015 Junior Varsity runners-up…Hence, even if the program is a year away, there is much reason to feel good about the direction in which Mount St. Michael is traveling.

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sfp St. Francis Prep

Last Season

Went 2-7 in 2015/lost in the AA Quarterfinals to Christ the King (60-20)

Top Returning Players

Tyler Siamas (Sr; QB)—The returning field general from 2015, even if the quantity of wins do not fully show it, Siamas had an above average season as a junior, throwing for 812 yards (53-for-124) and eight touchdowns…With a roster that is expected to be split down the middle between seniors and juniors, his poise and calm demeanor in the pocket will be worth its weight in gold….If he able to improve upon his 42 percent completion percentage, you have to like the Terrier’s chances of adding to their win total from last year.

Joshua Angevine (Sr; RB)—Identified last season as the player moving up from the 2014 junior varsity that was most ready to make an immediate contribution, the 5’10, 190-pounder lived up to the hype, leading St. Francis in rushing yards last year with 357.  Of his 64 carries, three of them capped off scoring drives…For a team that lost its top three receivers to graduation, Angevine (who is the returning leader in the category with eight receptions for 82 yards) might see his involvement as a full service tailback increased by accepting more pass-catching responsibilities.

Tyge Duffy (Sr; OLB/SS)—Last year’s leading tackler for the Terriers, Duffy registered 45 of them..

Vincenzo Senerchia (Sr; DB)—3rd on the team in stops as a junior, Senerchia finished 2015 with 40 tackles.

Eddie Ostuni (Sr; LB)—Totaling only eight tackles last year, Ostuni’s inclusion in this preview is based on his prowess as a pass running linebacker…Last season, he was among the team leader’s in the category and we have little doubt that he will pick up right where he left off.

Key losses

Dylan Zaporta (RB/FB)—A complement to Angevine in his senior season, Zaporta played the big back role perfectly, using his 205-pound frame to average six yards a carry….Accepting his role as the #2 running option, he still managed to average 72 yards per game, ending his high school career with a 289 yard season.

Kerastos Ari (WR)—Suiting up in only five games a year ago, the 5’4 wide-out still managed to lead the Terriers in catches, snatching 20 balls out of the air for 225 yards and two scores.

Anthony Hoy (WR)—If Ari was the ice, than  Hoy was the fire….Catching nine passes less than his teammate to finish second on the team with 11, Hoy had a little Percy Harvin in him.  As soon as the ball found its way into his arms, the show commenced with him breaking for plays of 70, 80, and 68 yards in a three of the team’s games…His 322 yards and four touchdowns ranked 1st on the team….In addition, Hoy, who did a little of everything as a senior, ran for 184 yards and gained 97 yards as a kick returner.

Nick Zovich (OL)—All-League Center

Alexander Bracco (OL)—Was called the most improved player by the  St. Francis coaching staff in last year’s preview; he did not disappoint, earning All-League honors in his senior year…The Terriers will surely miss the 6’5, 320-pounds of mean that he brought with him to the trenches.

Michael Lynch (DL)—All-Catholic selection as a defensive end, leading the team with three sacks and recording 23 tackles.

JT Manolopoulos (DL)—The second member of the St. Francis D-unit to receive the distinction of being named All-League, The DE/MLB hybrid was limited to only four games as a senior, but averaged more than three tackles per game and was rewarded for the strong example he set for his teammates.

2016 Overview

Finding themselves in the same boat as the program profiled just before them, like Mount St. Michael, St. Francis is on the cusp of future greatness…When the 2017 preview is releasedO'Connor a year from now, be certain that a lot of the attention is going to be centered around Fresh Meadows, NY.

One year removed from not just winning, but blitzing the rest of the field on the junior varsity ranks, the Terriers will promote a group that went 10-1, knocking off the Mount 50-8 in the AA JV title game….So good were the underclassmen last year that the only opponent who was able to get the better of them was AAA JV titlists, St. Anthony’s.

While the best days of the program are clearly ahead of them, don’t be fooled into thinking that 2016 will be a wasted year…As demonstrated above, between bringing back their starting quarterback and top running back from last year’s playoff team, there is talent in the skill positions to make some noise….The blend of senior talent and rookie explosion should make for a very unique and entertaining dynamic….If the young guns are able to make the transition to the varsity sooner than expected, then an upset or two along the way is very much a feasible notion.

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sea-crestSt. Joe’s by the Sea

Last Season

Completed 2015 with a 3-9 overall record/lost in the AA quarterfinals to St. John the Baptist (67-40)

Top Returning Players

Francis Perry (Sr; QB/DB)—Returning All-Catholic signal caller; with the exception of being slightly more turnover prone (12 INTs thrown) than the coaching staff would have preferred to see, Perry was a man among men last season for the Vikings, playing a role in 20 total touchdowns (eight throwing, 10 running; he even caught a pair of TD passes) in his first season taking the snaps…Accounting for just under 2,000 yards of total offense, the 6’0, 160-pounder three for 1,066 yards and rushed for another 862…There were times in 2015 that he became a one-man show, matching the team down the field by any means necessary.

Dominick Anderson (Sr; WR/DB)—An impact player who was asserted himself on both sides of the ball, Anderson was named an All-League honoree as a wide receiver, but could have without a second thought been recognized just as easily for his stellar play in the defensive secondary….Ranking second on the team in catches (19), Anderson racked up a team-leading totals in yards (343) and receiving TDs (4)…Anderson’s ball hawking carried over to his work as a cornerback as he posted the team-high in interceptions with three and was #2 in passes defended with four.

Andrew Cortese (Sr; WR/DB)—Any receiving or defensive back stat that Anderson was not #1 in, you can pretty much be sure it was because his fellow junior in 2015, Cortese, owned the top spot…Like Anderson, Cortese was among the top two-ways players in the AA division, leading the Staten Island based school in receptions (20), while settling for the #2 spot in yardage (278) and TD catches (2)…From the secondary, Cortese had six pass defenses and finished in the top-5 in tackles with 35.

Carlos Hernandez (Sr; RB/LB)—A person who could/should factor more into the offensive game plan as a senior running back, last season, Hernandez’s forte was defense, as he lead all juniors in tackles on the team with 43.

Michael Hemsley (Sr; OL/DL)—A returning All-League Offensive lineman, with Hemsley on the job, the Vikings ran for an average of 173.6 yards per game and passed for 118.4…As the most seasoned members of an O-line that has drawn the praise of the SJS coaching staff, Hemsley knows that the others will be taking their cues from him.  As he goes, so too will they.

Key lossessea

Michael Maiz (RB)—The only senior among a group of offensive players to be named to the All-Catholic team in 2015…Acting as the featured back, Maiz posted three 100-yard games, ending his last season in the Blue & Grey with 609 yards and six scores on the ground.

John Esposito (LB)—A team captain and standout linebacker for the Vikings, Esposito earned All-Catholic distinction last season after posting a team-high in tackles with 67 (11 for a loss of yards).  His two sacks were also among the best on the roster.

Thomas Farrar (LB)—Barely edged out by his fellow linebacker, Farrar himself was a tackling machine, making 66 stops (5 for a loss).

Michael Tesoriero (DB)—A guy who did a little of this and a little of that, if there was an award given out for the busiest stat sheet, Tesoriero would be your man….As a WR option, he had 10 catches for 112 yards…Defense was where he did his best work though, as he made 37 tackles, had deuces in the interception column, recovered two fumbles, defended four passes, and still found time to accumulate over 100 yards as a kick returner…Even If he was not spectacular at any one task, every team needs a young man such as him…The little things have sometimes have a way of translating into wins.

2016 Overview

How do you know that you are a better team now than you were a year ago?  Well, a good indicator is that when asked who you think are your sleepers and most improved players are, you honestly have so many candidates that you cannot narrow it down to just one.

The above was precisely the predicament that Head Coach, Mike Corona (beginning his 2nd year at the helm) was pleased to have to overcome…Returning several starters and having an abundance of student-athletes who gained necessary and valuable field experience in 2015, in conversing with the Viking coaching staff, one cannot help but come away feeling that on any given day, top player honors could be bestowed upon any one of 20 guys.

Rattling off names like he was reading a phone directory, Corona seemed to break from camp feeling very encouraged by what he saw from his boys.

Not disguising the fact that his three returning All-Catholic players (Perry, Anderson, and Hemsley), along with Cortese and Hernandez will be the table setters, the part about our dialogue that we enjoyed the most was all of the praise he gave to guys who may not have stood out last season.

In addressing potential replacements for Maiz, the names Brandon Ross (Sr.), John Buscini (Jr.), and Ryan Scelzi (Jr.) were all mentioned…Ross in particular seems to have emerged as one of Corona’s personal favorites during camp, as he was described in this flattering manner: “Ross was a backup at tailback last year who has really come on strong in terms of running the ball and pass protecting.”

Fighting for the right to join Hemsley in the trenches on both sides of the ball will be seniors Edward Kieran, Vincent Calcutta, Tyler Young more of an OLB than a lineman), and Chris Cammarata…Pushing them from underneath will be a capable trio of juniors who will be making their varsity debuts in 2016— Anthony Robles, Sal Del Rosario, and Mike Caprioni

Giving Perry more targets to whom he can throw, Alex Valdes (TE), Marco Rispoli (TE), Pete Vallo (TE), Matthew Gildersleeve (WR), and multiple DeAngelis (Alex and Tommy; both WR) are a part of the senior class that should benefit from one year of varsity lights under their belts.

Almost all of the names above have the athleticism and skillset to perform double-duty.

Junior Anthony O’Donnell, is expected to enhance the kicking game.

Pondering the upcoming season, Corona expressed these sentiments: “After having a full year with the kids in the classroom, weight room, field and community service, I’ve never been so excited for a season as a coach, and I think the kids are as excited as they’ve ever been to play. With new lights, a new football facility on the way and a great administration, this program is really on the rise.”

Corona said that the games that Vikings’ fans should circle on their calendar are the season opener (Friday night) under the newly installed lights against Staten Island rival, St. Peter’s, the revenge game the following week (September 16th) against a St. John the Baptist squad that beat them twice in 2015 and knocked them out of the playoffs, and most definitely the Homecoming festivities (October 14th) that will pit them against defending champs, Xavier.

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sjb-paw St. John the Baptist

Last Season

Went 8-2 last season/advanced to the AA semifinals, where they dropped a 14-0 contest to eventual champs, Xavier.

Top Returning Players

Christian Legagneur (Sr; RB/DB)—The favorite to step into the massive cleats of a pair of departed all-state running backs; in limited touches as a junior, he averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns…Was a standout in the defensive backfield, earning All-League recognition following a season where he posted 42 tackles, 2 INTS, and a fumble recovery.

frank-giudice
Newsday Preseason Top 100 Players Frank Giudice and Jacob Woods will be called on to anchor the line for St. John the Baptist.

Frank Guidice (Sr; 2-way lineman)—Named one of the top-100 players on Long Island by Newsday for the 2016 season; 2015 All-Catholic Offensive lineman that helped the Cougars run for close to 3,800 yards and 39 touchdowns…Displayed excellent passing rushing ability as a D-lineman, earning six sacks and finishing with 20 overall tackles…Was an Honorable Mention All-State pick on offense. Pictured as #55jacob-woods

Jacob Woods (Sr; OL/DL)—Joined Guidice on the All-League team; was just as big a catalyst in the record-breaking run game as was his more famous, but smaller in stature line mate….At 6’4, 320-pounds, Woods towers over the majority of the league…Another SJB lineman bestowed the honor of being named Newsday’s top-100 players in 2016 list. Pictured as #78

Stephen Becker (Sr; DB/Athlete)—Someone that Coach Ralph Carusillo boldly predicted would turn heads in 2016, Becker will take on more responsibility in his final season in West Islip, transitioning from just a defensive presence into a jack of all trades, where his athleticism will be introduced into all phases of the game…As a defensive back in 2015, he tallied 22 tackles, intercepted one pass, and recovered a fumble.

Andrew Fusco (Sr; OL/DL)—The third returning member of the dominant Offensive line, Fusco might not get the same level of love from the press as the other big boys, but don’t make the mistake of undervaluing him.  He is so good that it would not surprise us in the least if too finds himself eating some pancake (AKA the Awards breakfast) at the end of the season…No team runs for the mileage that Cougars did a year ago without having an entire line of brutes.

Noah Charvat (Sr; RB/DB)—Known mostly thus far for his play as a defensive back (28 tackles, 1 INT), Charvat’s role in the offense will increase tremendously as he takes his place within the Cougars’ bread-and-butter three-headed monster ground game.

Key losses

Jerome Brooks III (RB/DB)—The 2015 AA Offensive Player of the Year; Was named Second Team All-State; repeated as an All-Catholic selection as a senior….Brooks was one of those guys who if there were not limitations, could have been a Catholic Player of the Week recipient every time he stepped on the field…He piled up 1,473 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground…Was without question the best overall player on the roster, much of the Brooks hype was tied into his offensive exploits, but he was darn good defensive back too, leading SJB with 72 tackles (11 for a loss) and intercepting two passes…Turning our attention to special teams, he excelled here as well, returning one kick and one punt for touchdowns.

Nicholas Cipolla (RB/CB)—Named 3rd Team All-State as a defensive player, Cipolla’s All-League berth came as the second half of the almost unstoppable Baptist running game….Constantly challenging Brooks for the top spot in every rushing department, he completed his last year of HS competition with 1,369 rushing yards and 14 TDs….He made 38 tackles and had a sack on the other side of the gridiron.

Patrice Legagneur (RB)—The older brother of Christian, on just about any other team in the Catholic League, Patrick would have been #1 back…Rather than pout, Legagneur accepted his role and had a fine swan song, totally 503 rushing yards and scoring six touchdowns.

Michael Maliszewski (DE)—An All-Catholic defensive lineman who made 26 tackles (4 for a loss) and claimed second on the team (behind Guidice) with four sacks.

Nicholas Maldarella (PK)—While it is not often that a kicker gets included in one of these previews, the truth is that Maldarella was so lights out in 2015, that he made impossible not to cite him as a significant loss…Going a perfect 35-for-35 on PAT attempts, the fifth team All-State honoree also nailed six of his seven field goal attempts, hitting from as far back as 41 yards…Maldarella’s nearly flawless year takes on even more legendary status when you consider that he did all of it as a rent-a-player, while simultaneously serving as the full-time net minder for the soccer team.

2016 Overview

As the school gets set to embark on its 50th Anniversary, you know there would be no better way to ring in the half-centennial than to win the program’s first AA crown and their fifth overall (won the “A” division in 2001, 2002, 2010, and 2013).

While Coach Carusillo will have the daunting task of replacing 99 percent of his record-breaking game that starred a pair of All-State performers, the 3rd year headman is comforted by the knowledge that his offensive line has so much talent that if required that they will naturally elevate the performance of anyone that runs behind them.

At the moment, the three lucky beneficiaries who will take over the triple-option set appear to be Legagneur, Charvat, and rising junior Mike Palermo, whose athleticism and competitive instincts have already earned him a fan in his head coach…Another 11th grader, Daniel Parker, known for his shiftiness and superior field vision cannot be counted out of the race for playing time in the backfield….Listed on the roster as a receiver, if Becker truly is the ultimate athlete that he has been portrayed by the Baptist staff, one has to envision that he too might get the opportunity to make some plays, whether it be as an actual tailback or on receiver features reverses and whatnot.

Taking over under center will be junior, William Shaw…Standing 6’0 and weighing 170, Shaw’s ability to function as a dual-threat quarterback makes him the ideal fit to run an offensive scheme built around speed and spreading the field any way they can…Last year, the Cougars only put the ball in the air 53 times, gaining 413 yards, but failing to notch a passing TD…Applauded for the high QB IQ he has displayed during the initial workouts, Shaw seems primed to provide an element that may have been slightly missing in 2015.

Making the comparison between this season and last, Coach C. had this to say: “I feel our team is more balanced in 2016. We had some great players last year who went off to play in college but will now be forced to be more balanced in the Run/Pass gameplan each week. I think that we have done great preparation at the Quarterback position as well as our Linebacking core. These are two position groups that we are working hard with in camp this year.”

In his final thoughts, Carusillo could not emphasize enough the pride he feels in his team.  Commenting on the collective character and the effort he is seeing on a daily basis, he found the perfect words to capture the environment, saying, “One thing I would like to stress about this group early on is the unselfishness that we have seen and the willingness to compete each and every day. We are getting such a great effort from not just the starting players but those on the scout teams who are giving a fantastic look each and every day. That is a recipe for success in my years of coaching experience. Our players committed themselves to get bigger/faster/stronger in the off-season and we plan to maintain that level of strength and toughness throughout the season by stressing in-season lifting programs to maintain our core.”

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xavierXavier

Last Season

Went 11-1 last season/The defending AA Champions, having defeated Christ the King in the finals (28-25)

Top Returning Players

Joe Morelli (Sr; RB/CB)—The back-up to All-State workhorse, Michael Chiarovano, Morrelli’s quantity of carries within the ball control offense may have been low relative to his teammate, but he still enters 2016 as one of the leaders in total rushing yards in AA, accumulating 561 and four scores as a junior.

Jalen Johnson (Sr; RB/DB)—Second among returning student-athletes with 141 yards, what is incredible about Johnson is not the yardage total as much as it is the notion that he accomplished it on only 10 touches, giving him an average per carry of 14.1….Johnson’s main role as a junior was in the defensive backfield, where he made 39 tackles for an unrelenting defensive unit that was the hardest to score on in 2015.

Malik Fisher (Sr; TE/DE)—The lone returning All-Catholic player for the Knights in 2016, Fisher caught two touchdown passes as a tight end, but really delivered the boom as a defensive lineman, finishing second on the team with five sacks to go along with his 55 total tackles (20 of which were for a loss of yards).

Rory Kinsella (Sr; LB)—Third on the team in tackles as a junior with 80, Kinsella enters 2016 knowing that many are looking to him to replace All-State player, Frank Masella, as the leader of the linebacking corps.

Donovan Shanks (Sr; DL)—With almost the entire starting defensive line having moved on to a higher level of play, Shanks and his 26 tackles brings experience to the area.

Key losses

Michael Chiarovano (RB)—An All-Everything selection in 2015, Chiarovano single-handedly accounted for 29 of the team’s 36 total touchdowns…His 1655 rushing yards represented more than 57 percent of the running attack.

Guiseppe Orlando (QB/CB)—The team’s starting quarterback as well as an All-League defensive back, Orlando threw for 248 yards and ran for an additional 197….Hailed as the team’s shutdown corner in last year’s preview, Orlando did pick off three passes and successfully knocked away five others…He made 42 tackles in his final year as a Knight.

Frank Masella (LB)—-The undeniable heart, soul, and lifeblood of the Xavier’s impenetrable defense, Masella finished his career as a two-time All-Catholic selection, totally 227 tackles in his junior and senior seasons (125 in 2015); Was the recipient of the 2015 CHSFL AA Defensive Player of the Year; Named to the New York State 3rd Team.

Anthony Pugliese (DE)—An All-Catholic defensive end, Pugliese was the team leader with 7.5 sacks in 2015…He also ranked in the top-5 in tackles for the #1 defense in the league, making 75 stops (15.5 for negative yards).

Zachary Cilmi (FS)—An All-League free safety, as well as a fourth team All-Stater, Cilmi gave up much of his ball carrying responsibilities as a senior to concentrate solely on being an elite defensive back.  He accomplished his objective with flying colors, finishing second only to Masella with 95 tackles, and tying Orlando for most picks with three.

Clayton Kendrick-Holmes (DT)—The third and final All-State player on the defensive side of the ball, Kendrick-Holmes joined Cilmi on the fourth team…Of Kendrick-Holmes’s 60 tackles, 12.5 pushed the opposing team back.

Jack Abbruzzese (CB)—An individual who unfortunately will probably get remembered mainly for being the person who returned the blocked punt 44 yards to win the AA title for Xavier in 2015, the impact that Abbruzzese had on the season as a whole far surpasses any one given play on any one specific Saturday afternoon…Making 56 tackles and leading the team with eight pass defenses, what should be forever remembered about him is not the improbable act of heroism; instead, think about all he did prior to that moment to help the Knights reach the championship game.

IMG_0087
Xavier pictured after their triumph in the epic 2015 AA Championship Game

2016 Overview

As the reigning kings of the AA division, it is inevitable that Xavier will be the hunter in 2016…Whether or not they will be able to stand up to a field of opponents who see all they have lost and are ready to pounce remains to be seen.

To say it is impossible to replace five All-State players in one off-season would rival “the sky is blue” as one of the most obvious statements ever uttered.

Well set at running back with a 500-yard rusher in Morelli, we have all the trust in the universe that Xavier will find a way to effectively move the ball…Over the years, the Knights have perfected their scheme…So, even if the personnel changes from season to season, the end results always seem to come out favorably.

The bigger question that were unable to get answered because of our inability to reach a member of the coaching staff is how prepared are last year’s reserves on the defensive side of the ball?

Not ones who like to doubt a defending champion, we are not yet prepared to call this a rebuilding season, but will express a fair degree of apprehension about the program’s ability to repeat

Because there is nothing more that we like more than a team proving us wrong, here’s hoping that the collection of new names and faces rise up and prove themselves of the crown that will be defending.

 

Check back tomorrow for Matt’s AAA Preview and goodluck to all the teams!