Article by Matt Diano
#3 Xaverian (4-3) vs. #6 Cardinal Spellman (1-7)
When: Saturday November 5th, 2022 @3pm
Where: Aviator Sports Complex (3159 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11234)
Previous Meeting: 37-0 Xaverian on October 28th (Week #8)
Synopsis: A once very proud rivalry that saw the Clippers and Cardinals square off twice in a span of four years (2015, 2017) for the “A” crown, recent times have been marked by a competitive separation of the two programs, as Xaverian has now shut out their foes from the Bronx on the last three occasions, including a 37-0 victory last Friday night in the 2022 regular season finale (previously 13-0 in 2021; 34-0 in 2020)….
After finding success utilizing a predominant ground-heavy attack that yielded all four of the school’s offensive touchdowns in week #8, expect for Head Coach, Kevin Fountaine, to stick with a winning formula, as senior QB, Bobby Benoit, called on his own number on two TD keepers, while Michael Kenny (from short distance) & Antonio Hernandez (45-yards) each found the promised land one time apiece…
While not a featured aspect of the game-plan last week, should it become necessary to turn to the aerial strike, both Dylan Markle and Spiros Drossos concluded the night with multiple grabs…
Defensively, the signature play was credited to 11th grade LB, Timothy Hayes, who undercut a route for the interception and then marched 40-yards to paydirt for a pick-6 that made the score 31-0!
Senior placekicker, Leif Bostwick-Riddell, emerged with a perfect day with his boot, converting all four of his PAT attempts and adding a 31-yard FG early in the contest to round a 7pt individual evening!!
For Spellman, given the nature of the prior battle, the odds are certainly not in their favor…But alas, if they can manage to play turnover free ball this weekend, we think they can make a run at the upset…After all, with the exception of the Hernandez trek, their defense did a solid job of containing the run…What really did them in was self-inflicted wounds on special teams (fumbled the opening kick-off; botched snap on a punt) and offense (aforementioned INT TD return) that quasi gift-wrapped 21 of the 37 points for the host Clippers!
Xaverian is a clear favorite; but if both squads execute to the fullest of their potential, the outcome ought to be closer than what the scoreboard indicated previously!
#4 Kennedy Catholic (2-6) vs. #5 Holy Cross (3-6)
When: Friday November 4th, 2022 @7pm
Where: Kennedy Catholic Prep Campus (54 NY-138, Somers, NY 10589)
Previous Meeting: “First Meeting of 2022”
Synopsis: Not only the first time that these programs will be meeting this season, but more astonishingly, the first and only match-up of the Gaels and Knights since the former [Kennedy Catholic] joined the NYCHSFL in 2013, the victor will be determined by which sideline is better able to get their superstars off to a quicker start…
For Coach Dominick Tassone’s host Gaels, you need look no further than senior Swiss Army knife, Anthony Castaldi, who has ranks in the top-3 on the team in terms of yardage accumulate as a passer (482; 1st), rusher (416; 2nd), and receiver (201; 3rd)…No matter where they line-up #7 on offense, he finds a way to make things happen, as confirmed by the nine total touchdowns (5 throwing, 2 rushing, 2 TD hauls) he has registered in his swan song…
Fellow 12th grader, Nick Duryea, has thrived as the primary all-purpose option out of the backfield, as he has amassed 877 yards (660 rushing) and nine TDs (7 on the ground)!
Top-target, Nick Calandros, swept all major receiving categories in his final as a KC standout student-athlete, as he racked up totals of 19 catches for 310 yards and a trio of touchdown grabs!!
Don’t sleep on frosh signal caller, KJ Dillon, either…Since assuming more of a role patrolling the offense late in the 2022 season, he has demonstrated pinpoint accuracy, connecting on 25-of-33 attempts (76%) for 320 yards, and three touchdowns (all in his last outing; a 28-21 OT loss to #3 seed, Xaverian) in weeks 6 and 7…
As It pertain to the visitors hailing from Flushing [Holy Cross], current statistics and/or box scores are not currently available….However, at the start of the fall, Head Coach, Tim Smith stated that the goal of the team was to be much more well-rounded/team oriented…So when you see play-makers such as Issac Glaudin (WR), Terrance Alexander (RB), Nakai Maupin (RB), etc., you never want to place limitations on the Knights!
While scheduling has much to do with it, it need to be acknowledged that despite being the road team this coming weekend, Holy Cross enters with more momentum, as they have won 2 of their past 3 outings…The host Gaels on the other hand has dropped three straight; so this Saturday will be their opportunity to right the ship and create a buzz as they try to run a gauntlet that will deliver them to ‘ship weekend for the third time 2018 (split “A” title contests with Spellman in 2018 & 2019)!
Anticipate a very evenly matched collision that could go down to the very last possession….Using common opponents, both programs had narrow losses to Xaverian and stream-rolled Spellman by similar scores (42-7 Kennedy; 44-6 Holy Cross)…The boys of Somers were slightly more competitive in losses to Mt. St. Michael (27-21 vs. 36-12) & Xavier (26-6 vs. 46-20)….Cross kept it closer against 2021 AA-2 champs, Holy Trinity (34-8 vs. 30-0)
NOTE: #1 and #2 Seeds, Xavier & Mount St. Michael Academy, both have byes into the semifinal round after posting records of 5-2 and 5-4 respectively!!