#1 Iona Prep (9-1) vs. #2 Monsignor Farrell (8-2)
When: Saturday November 20th, 2021 @5pm
Where: Mitchel Field Athletic Complex 1 Charles Lindbergh Blvd, Uniondale, NY 11553
Livestream: Click for Broadcast by Varsity Media
Previous Meeting: 24-10 Iona Prep on September 18th
By Matt Diano:
Synopsis:
The title match-up that few people would have predicted when the schedule rolled out in late-summer/early fall, and when we kicked off 2021, there was no guarantee that the Lions of Monsignor Farrell would even be in the triple-A playoffs, let alone in the title contest. One of the schools (Chaminade, Kellenberg, and Moore Catholic among the others) vying for two at-large bids, the cats from Amboy Road have done nothing but defy the odds and prove that despite never receiving the respect they deserved (even after earning the #2 seed), they are on a mission that ends only when they are hoisting the hardware this Saturday night. Winners of five games in a row, any lingering doubt to the legitimacy of Farrell’s title candidacy should have been erased when they toppled perennial finalists, Archbishop Stepinac (24-21) in the semifinals to prevent the Crusaders from making a seventh consecutive appearance in the AAA finals. A program that has come alive on offense during their winning streak, increasing their points per game production from 19.2 to 31.6 (30.5 in the postseason), the staple of our #2 seed has been on the other side of the ball, where they have routinely shutdown their opponent, surrendering just 14.7 points per game, which included limiting Iona Prep to their lowest output of the fall…2021 marks a return to the ‘ship for Farrell for the first time since 2003/2004 when they were back-to-back bridesmaids. Their last crowns came just seasons earlier when they won two in a row in 1999 and 2000!
On the other sideline is the juggernaut that almost everyone expected to reach this point, the Gaels of Iona Prep. Arguably the best program in not just the NYCHSFL, but the entire Empire State for the past two seasons, aside from an opening-game loss to NJ powerhouse Don Bosco Prep the New Rochelle based school has been outstanding in all areas of the sport, averaging 37.6 points per game, while allowing just 17.1 versus NY Catholic opponents…Taking on an aura of invincibility, there has been few times that Iona Prep looked in danger of suffering an “L”, but on those few and far between occasions, the pure talent they possess ultimately saved the day. Such was the case of their initial meeting with the Lions. Either trailing or tied for much of the afternoon, IP utilized a 14-0 4th quarter margin to come away with the triumph. Double-A champs in 2016, the Gaels, who likely would have been the favorites had there been a 2020 tournament, will go in search of their first triple-A title since 2008 (runners-up in ‘14).
Offensively for the Gaels, it is no secret how they are going to try to beat you. Armed (literally and figuratively) with the best dual-threat signal caller in the Metro League, if not all of NYS, Ajani Sheppard, ranks in the top-10 among all NYCHSFL personnel in both passing and rushing yardage. He has thrown for 1,977 yards and 17 touchdowns (#3 in both categories), while using his legs to accumulate another 913 yards and 13 scores (8th/5th). Fresh off of a four TD (3 rushing, 1 passing), 286-yard (15-for-18, 121 in the air, 165 on land) in the semis against St. Anthony’s, when Sheppard faced off with MF back in September, he was contained to under 200 of total offense for the ONLY time this season, completing 11 of 17 tosses for 151 yards and a pair of TDs, but only gaining 47 yards (1 TD) on 9 keepers…Complementing their junior QB will be tandem of Colin O’Garro (304 yards, 1 TD, on 56 carries) and “big back”, Zyian Moultrie-Goddard (314 yards, 9 TDs on 42 attempts). O’Garro, who was absent during the third week of the regular season, enters with momentum after a strong 64-yard (10 carry) effort last week in the semis. Moultrie-Goddard, continues to be an unstoppable force in short-yardage and red zone situations. He led all Gaels in rushing yards on September 18th with 63 yards on just six tries…The primary receiving corps comprised of Justin Joly (54 receptions for 885 yards, 7 touchdowns), Mike Ryan (30 catches for 336 yards, 2 TDs), and Michael Senatore (22 grabs for 332 yards, 5 scores) require no introduction. Joly, who ranks 2nd in receptions and yardage (as well as 3rd in TD grabs) among all Catholic student-athletes regardless of division, made 7
catches for 91 (1 TD) in week #3 and has made no fewer than 4 snatches in any NYCHSFL contest this season (including a 6 for 37 showing in the semis); Ryan had a 2-catch, 45-yard, 1 touchdown display against the Lions in the first meeting; Senatore was kept off the board in September, but has been tough the second half of the year, hauling in 14 receptions in his last four appearances (2 for 30, 1 TD in the semis). Ellis Robinson IV (15 catches for 161, 2 scores) and Anthony Turner (7 grabs for 77 yards) provide more targets for Farrell to be concerned with after each turned in season-highs last week with 3 (for 18 yards) and 4 (for 36) reception efforts…Moultrie-Goddard, Kaloni McIntyre, Darryl Reaves, Jaylin Hicks, and Jayson Vavrica will be your key contributors among the front-7, while the young, but dynamic last line of “D” will be patrolled by Robinson IV, Terrence Walden, Terron Johnson, Kieran Connolly, and Jaden Codrington. Robinson, Connolly, and Codrington (sealed the ”w” with a pick on the last play of OT) all had interceptions in the semifinals!
With regard to Monsignor Farrell, if there is one ace up their sleeve to play, that card would be the notion that when they lost to IP earlier, they did so without having the services of their game-changing junior RB, Messiah Burch (926 yards, 11 touchdowns on 66 carries). Undefeated since welcoming him back to the line-up at 100% capacity, if you want to truly appreciate how much of a difference #4 can be, then consider the fact that even though he missed several weeks at the onset of the season, his 11 scores on the ground ranks him 6th and he is 7th in the Catholic League in yardage. His 154+ yards per game is tops among NYCHSFL ball-carriers. A threat to take it to the house every time the pigskin is in his hands, in the semifinal win against Stepinac, he cruised to paydirt on two occasions, amassing 190 yards on 18 attempts. He has now run for 361 yards (4 touchdowns) in two postseason appearances this fall…Effective on the ground during the September match-up, Aaron Espinet (469 yards, 7 scores on 65 carries), Cole Abbruzzese (363 yards, 3 touchdowns on 57 attempts), and Ethan Yak (312 yards, 2 TDs on 44 tries) combined for 136 (of 177) yards, with the former of the trio [Espinet] posting a team-high, 80 yards on 10 carries. Yak put up a season-best 78 yards and exploded for a 55-yard TD trek in the semis. Abbruzzese has been the steady complement in the playoffs, rushing for 30 (5 carries) and 33 (6 tries) yards respectively in dubs over Christ the King and Stepinac…Sophomore field general, Cristian Pinto (65-for-104, 1,172 yards, 6 TD passes) connected on 7 of 12 throws for 80 yards (1 INT) in week #3, but did record his lone rushing TD of the year, finishing the game with 37 yards on 2 keepers. After a monster showing in the quarterfinals (8-of-15, 222 yards, 3 TDs), Pinto hurled the rock just six times last week (3-for-6, 43 yards). If Farrell continues to incorporate a run-heavy/clock control-oriented scheme in the finals, do not be surprised to see John Caufield taking some snaps out of the wildcat formation. Last week, he gained 22 yards on 3 carries in this role, thus moving the chains and keeping the fiery Stepinac attack off the field…Seniors, Frank Esposito (23 grabs for 419 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Mateo Bravata (17 receptions for 423 yards, a pair of TD catches) will be the primary targets if MF seeks a more balanced approach. Bravata was the only Lion to enjoy a multi-catch (2 for 15) showing during the initial meeting. Esposito’s lone reception yielded 10 yards…As
part of the aforementioned collective effort that yielded IP their smallest total in the points column, Chris Booras (79 tackles, 3 sacks), Espinet (61 stops, 6 sacks, Joseph Badynya (44 tackles, 4 sacks), Paul Ventura (55 stops, 10 sacks, 6 QB hurries), Caufield (55 tackles, 3 INTs, 7 pass break-ups), and Shawn Keegan (41 stops, 1 INT, 7 PDs) all shined. Booras led all hitters with nine stops and one sack; Espinet added 8 tackles/2 sacks, Badynya contributed 7 stops, Ventura boasted a 6 stop/1 sack showing, while Caufield (5 tackles) and Keegan (4 stop/1 pick) were solid in the “no fly zone”…Caufield (iced the game), as well as Nicholas Souffrin (38 tackles, 3 interceptions, 8 pass-defenses) each had a pick in the semifinals. Jameson Sessa (37 stops, 5 sacks, 7 hurries), who is one of the finest two-way linemen in NYS, notched a sack last week to boot…Justin Guzman, who registered an interception in the quarterfinals, continued to be mighty in the secondary last week, breaking up a pair of passes in his direction!
Best of luck to both teams Saturday!