Longtime Cardinal Spellman Coach Joe Desimone has past away. Coach Desimone led the Falcoln’s to the “A” championship game three times, winning the title in 2006 and 2008. In addition, Coach Desimone was a member of the CHSFL Board of Governors.
The funeral arrangements are as follows:
Wake: Sunday Oct 25th from 1-6 at Sisto Funeral Home
Funeral Mass: Monday Oct 26th at 11:30 at St Benedicts Church
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Reflecting upon and celebrating the achievement, glory, and blessings of their biggest, brightest, and most treasured competitors, the NYCHSFL community gathered together on Sunday December 8th for the annual ritual of sharing a meal at the 2019 Communion Awards Breakfast.
Hosted once again on the campus of Kellenberg Memorial High school, the festivities commenced with Fr. Albert Bertoni of the Society of Mary providing the congregation with a lesson about preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ this Advent Season.
Then the time arrived to hand out some hardware…
Headlining our collection of 2019 award winners would be Chaminade senior lineman, Liam Brown, who took home the Monsignor Peter’s Memorial Trophy, in recognition of being named the top Scholar-Athlete in the NYCHSFL…A young gentleman who carries himself as a living example of all the characteristics and values that we as Christians are called to embody, Brown has selflessly excelled across the board…In the classroom, he has posted a cumulative grade point average of 99.4, is a three-year (soon to be four) Honor Roll student, an active member in the National Honor Society, doubled up as the top student-athlete recipient for both the football and wrestling teams in 2018 (expected to repeat this achievement), received the Louis J. Faerber trophy in 2017 as the owner of the highest grade point average in the Flyer freshman class, and transformed his passion for the sciences (emphasis on Medicine/Biology) into a 1st place ribbon at the 2019 Science Fair, among his many academic accolades…In the community, Brown is a dedicated disciple, serving St. Paul’s parish as a volunteer at “Friday Friends”, a program which provides companionship and mentorship to special needs children. In addition, he is a devout representative of the Catholic League and Catholic 4 Life organizations, has given freely of his time as a peer tutor, was repeatedly selected by school administrators to serve as a role model at the Admitted Students Open House, as well as the Catholic High School Entrance examination. Furthermore, he continues to spread the teachings of Christ as a multi-year educator within the PREP program…On the gridiron, the Wantagh resident was recently named to the All-League squad following a 2019 season where he captained the Flyers to their first title since 2014. The anchor of the OL, Brown paved the way for the Flyers to rack up over 3,300 yards of total offense and 38 touchdowns en route to hoisting the hardware…Brown has been appointed to the United States’ Naval Academy and is presently awaiting notification of acceptance.
Signifying what may have been the most electric, dynamic, and/or explosive display of offensive prowess in the history of the Metropolitan Catholic League were a group of four extraordinary studs that together amassed totals of 8,084 total yards, 86 touchdowns, and three NYCHSFL team crowns over the course of the past two months…Claiming the Joseph Riverso Memorial Award as the Outstanding Offensive Players of the Year in their respective divisions were Clayton Proctor (A; Kennedy Catholic), Jordan DeLucia (AA-1; Kellenberg Memorial), Justin Lacks (AA-2; Moore Catholic), and Jalen Smith (AAA; Cardinal Hayes).
Proctor, who made it two years in a row that a member of his household emerged as the eventual single-A selection (older brother, Myles, won in 2018) for the Riverso, was nothing short of spectacular during a junior campaign that witnessed the boys from Somers celebrating the first title in program history…A true microcosm of the mind-blowing season he put forth this year, in propelling the Gaels to their aforementioned single-A crown, the 5’10, 170-pound field general out of Yorktown Heights was personally responsible for 420 yards and five touchdowns in earning Offensive MVP status in the championship contest….For the season, Proctor held the distinction of topping the “A” leaderboard in both passing and rushing yardage…Connecting on 69 of 153 attempts in the air, Proctor tossed for 910 yards. On the ground, he was even more potent, calling his own number on 138 occasions for a total of 940 yards. Not surprisingly, his 18 touchdowns in whole (11 rushing, 7 in the air) also bested his counterparts…With his entire senior year still awaiting him, there is no telling what Proctor has in store for the Gael faithful in 2020.
DeLucia, who requires no introduction following one of the most decorated three-year varsity careers in school, league, and Long Island history, became the third consecutive Firebird to have this award bestowed upon him (Matt Sluka was a two-time winner in 2017 and 2018)…Looking beyond the stat sheet (it is an impressive array of numbers) for a quick moment, perhaps the true measure of the legacy the future Harvard student leaves behind is the fact that every season he competed for the Blue & Gold varsity, the team advanced to championship weekend, riding a 22-game streak to titles in 2017 and 2018 before settling for the runner-up position this past year…A definitive difference-maker from the opening whistle of his sophomore season, the pride of Bellmore has been one of the most diverse and unstoppable forces in the Empire state during this previously cited three-year span…In 2019 alone, the KMHS tailback had a hand in 2,615 yards and 31 touchdowns. The utmost epitome of what it means to be an “all-purpose back,” DeLucia’s 1,931 yards (6th in NYS) and 23 touchdowns (9th in NYS) on the ground was 1st among all AA-1 ball carriers. To boot, his 603 yards (on 30 receptions) as a pass-catcher ranked 2nd. He even managed to throw for a pair of touchdown passes in his swan song, completing 3 of 4 attempts for 81 yards…A 4th team All-State selection in 2018, it is a foregone conclusion that this special individual will easily be acknowledged again by the New York Sportswriters Association…DeLucia closes out this chapter with the following career statistics: 3,929 yards and 46 TD rushing on 403 carries (9.7/per), 1,077 yards and 10 additional scores on 52 receptions.
Speaking of storied careers that at times seemed to approach the realm of invincibility, you need look no further than the four years of dominance showcased by the Mavericks’ gem of a running back, Justin Lacks…Sweeping All-League honors (4-for-4), the 6’1, 215-pound Adonis is a certainty to add his third All-State (5th team as a freshman, 3rd team as a junior) distinction when the 2019 list is unveiled…The catalyst (Offensive MVP each year) behind bookend titles in 2016 (single-A) and 2019 (AA-2) for the Mavs, the 2019 season was a magical one for the Staten Islander, as the success of his team was complemented by individual glory…Posting the 4th highest rushing total this season in New York State, #6 in Red & Black accumulated 1,998 yards and scored 22 times on 232 carries (8.6 average). In both cases, he blew away his AA-2 peers, finishing the season with more than a 1,000-yard edge over his closest competitor and recording double the touchdown quantity…Firmly cementing himself as a living legend, Lacks concludes his scholastic career as the All-time running leader in not only Staten Island history, but the entire five boroughs…Gaining no fewer than 1,058 yards and scoring no less than 11 touchdowns in any specific season, the NYC rushing king departs his throne with career totals of 5.486 yards and 66 touchdowns on 818 carries (6.7 average). In 37 career appearances, he surpassed the 100-yard plateau 28 times, including eight 200-yard-plus performances.
The consummate “money player” during his two years on the Hayes’ varsity, the bigger the stakes, the better the 5’9, 165-pounder [Smith] performed…In seven postseason outings, including two NYCHSFL AAA title contests (151 yards, 1 TD in 2019) and the 2019 Catholic State title game (212 yards, 2 scores), Smith ran for over 100 yards in five (123.6/game average) and scored a total of six rushing touchdowns (while tacking on 176 yards and 1 TD on 16 grabs as a receiver)….A legitimate jack of all trades and an undeniable game-changer, despite being shelved for a few weeks with injury, Smith still managed to lead the triple-A division in both rushing yardage (1,371) and TD runs (14) in 2019. His school reaped the benefits as the Bronx based institution won the title for the first time since 2016….So versatile in his ability to inflict damage, if need be, Smith could equally be utilized as a receiver at the next level. As an 11th grader, he made 51 catches for 726 yards and nine touchdowns before transitioning into the backfield late in 2018…Smith, who fulfilled the prophecy we made in September by seizing the Riverso, wrapped up his curricula vitae with combined totals of 1,765 yards rushing and 907 yards receiving (2,672 all-purpose) and 26 touchdowns…Displaying a maturity superior to his chronological age, Smith is already on his way toward being an amazing humanitarian. Prior to the start of his senior year, he initiated an online campaign where donors pledged money for every touchdown he scored. The proceeds were to be used to purchase new security equipment as a means of school shooting prevention. Hence, every one of the 15 trips to pay dirt were blessed with intrinsic goodness!
Flipping the script to our defensive personnel, this quartet of gifted stoppers were so sensational in their own right that there is no doubt that the iconic Paul “Bear” Bryant is up above tipping his fedora to them…Using the Bear’s own words, when it comes to this group of fine physical specimens, defense very much has translated into championships…Winning a combined six NYCHSFL crowns (in nine appearances) and two State titles among themselves, this senior foursome racked up 448 total tackles, 39 TFLs, 19.5 sacks, 8 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, and a plethora of additional feats this season, making them all perfect choices to forever wear the proverbial badge of Vincent O’Connor Memorial Award winner. Your 2019 Defensive Players of the Year: Ethan Ortiz (A; Cardinal Spellman), Aidan Cappellino (AA-1; Chaminade), Artie Padilla Jr. (AA-2; Moore Catholic), and Kevin McKenna (AAA; Archbishop Stepinac).
Unblockable during his junior and senior seasons, Ortiz followed up a 139-stop year (4th in NYS) in 2018 by recording 84 tackles for the Pilots in his last season wearing the Red & White. Both years, he finished as the overall tackle king in the “A” division…In addition, 2019 saw him increase his sack total by 100%, as he bagged the opposing quarterback on two occasions to finish 3rd in the category…Showcasing amazingly awareness, he was credited with a pair of fumble recoveries in 2019…A bona fide ironman who rarely came off the field, the 6’0, 177-pounder out of Mount Vernon, was also a major asset this season in the Spellman backfield, rushing for 841 yards and eight touchdowns…Finishing his career with 227 total tackles, on 15 different occasions, Ortiz registered double-digit stops, including six times this past year.
Without question the most improved of our four selections, Cappellino belongs at the top of the list when it comes to the breakout stars of 2019 in the entire Empire State…Not even appearing on the 2018 stat sheet, the standout from Sayville made up for lost time in a massive manner in his final season in Mineola…The heartbeat for a defensive corps that surrendered just 13.4 points per game versus fellow double-A foes (18.2 including all games), #41 in Crimson & Gold flew to the ball with unrelenting, unforgiving intensity. As a result of his impassioned play, he immediately and consistently put himself in a class of his own, collecting 19 tackles for a loss and five sacks to lead AA-1 in both categories. His 120 total tackles was 2nd in the division only to teammate, Brandan Coward (145)…The senior captain rounded out his resume this season by forcing and recovering one fumble apiece.
Like a fine vintage, the four-year Mavs’ varsity member [Padilla] grew sweeter and more valuable with each passing season. Joining Lacks as one of the few remaining components off of the roster that won the 2016 title, the 215-pound gem out of SI went from recording just one tackle as a freshman to 64 stops and two sacks as a sophomore, and then 71 (6 TFL) as a junior…And still, despite this steady climb, nothing could have prepared for the Catholic football community for the monumental, out-of-this world effort he demonstrated as a senior…The backbone of the #2 overall defensive cohort in the NYCHSFL (15.5/game surrendered), there was nothing that Padilla did not do this season in capping his career as a champion…Posting AA-2 highs in tackles (140; 4th in NYS), stops for a loss (12), and sacks (8.5), Padilla was an endless nightmare for the opposition…In 10 outings this season, he posted double-digit stops in nine…Padilla was also a master at creating turnovers as indicated by his three forced fumbles this season…His career numbers are as follows: 276 tackles, 18 stops for negative yardage, 10.5 sacks, 1 interception, 4 fumbles caused.
A three-year mainstay and human highlight reel for a Crusader program that made three trips to the league finals (titles in 2017 and 2018) and won back-to-back state crowns during his tenure, the multi-sport (lacrosse and football) University of Utah bound playmaker [McKenna] is the next in a lineage of renowned Stepinac defenders…The fifth AS representative to win the O’Connor in the past six seasons, when you are in the company of reigning ACC Player of the Week, Trill Williams (2017), you know you had an incredible season and a prestigious career…Recording no fewer than 89 tackles (2017) in any of his three years donning the Red, White, and Blue jersey, #32 was a 4th-Team All-State pick in 2018 following a 117 tackle, 10 sack, 11 QB hurry junior campaign…Asked to do a little more on offense as a senior (237 yards and 2 TDs rushing; 13 catches for 167 yards and 3 touchdowns as a receiver), some of McKenna’s gaudy numbers from a year ago may have waned slightly, but in many ways, he actually put forth a more complete and universal display…Putting an exclamation mark on his career with three straight double-digit tackle games (including a season-best 15 in the AAA finals), McKenna ended 2019 with 104 tackles, 8 stops behind the line of scrimmage, 4 sacks, 6 hurries, 4 pass break-ups, 4 caused fumbles, a pair of loose ball recoveries, and a blocked punt…With him at the helm, the Crusaders posted the top-ranked defense in triple-A, permitting just 15.9 points per game…McKenna’s final tallies are as follows: 310 tackles, 13 TFL, 14 sacks, 19 hurries, 2 INTs, 5 PDs, 4 forced fumbles, 3 recoveries, and two blocked punts…The 310 stops made him the all-time school leader in the category.
Relishing their rare moment in the spotlight were the often overlooked and/or taken for granted unsung heroes of the trenches…By far one of the most demanding roles one can undertake in the realm of athletic competition, former Kansas City Chief pro bowl WR/KR, Dante Hall, offered this praise to the men who muster the courage to accept the challenge: “Defensive and Offensive linemen control this game; and any true fan already knows that.”…Current University of Nebraska Head Coach, Scott Frost, reflected on his playing days, uttering, “Every great team I played on, the linemen were the bell cows of the whole team.”….With these sentiments in mind, the likes of Anthony Badagliacca (A; Cardinal Spellman), Anthony Casillo (AA-1; St. Peter’s), Elijah Tobin (AA-2; Holy Trinity), and Ajani Cornelius (AAA; Archbishop Stepinac) were fitting choices to be this year’s Joe Thomas Memorial Trophy recipients.
Selected in Week #8 of the 2019 season as a NYCHSFL POTW, for the past two seasons, the 6’0, 280-pound beast from the Bronx [Badagliacca] has been a two-way engine powering the offensive and defensive lines…With Badagliacca serving as the Pilots’ primary road grader, the Spellman running attack averaged 190+ yards and scored 26 touchdowns between 2018 and 2019…As a pass protector this year, he provided such a comfortable pocket that sophomore QB, Aidan Hanley-Piri, enjoyed increases in all of his 2018 statistics, improving his completion percentage by seven points and tossing for 127 more yards…Defensively, big #77 finished the year tied with Ortiz for 2nd on the team with 2 sacks, while also contributing 22 total stops, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and a pair of punt blocks…As if he was not busy enough, Badagliacca handled placekicking duties as well for CS, converting 7 of 8 PAT attempts and nailing his lone field goal try.
A linchpin of the offensive line during each of the past three seasons, Casillo might as well have been nicknamed “Bisquick” because no matter where he lined up (either center or guard), he served pancakes week in and week out…Laying the tracks for 2,693 yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore and 2,891 yards last season, there would be no senior slump for the 280-pound Staten Islander, as his work made it possible for teammates, Kaiwan Taylor and Michael Politi, to have banner years as ball carriers for the Eagles…Like a genuine leader, Casillo embraced a much larger role on defense in 2019 too and his efforts did not go unnoticed as his game film was saturated with flashes of brilliance where he bulldozed opposing OLs to record repeated tackles for a loss.
The only non-senior among this four-person brute squad, the 6’1, 250-pounder out of Amityville [Tobin] has already established himself as one of the premier two-way linemen in Nassau & Suffolk and he still has all of 2020 to add to his esteemed reputation…A plug and play phenom on both sides of the ball from his first varsity practice as a sophomore in 2018, there is every reason to believe that this is only the first of two Thomas Awards that he will adorn his mantel…A punishing blocker that fits the Titans’ bread-and-butter ground attack to a “T” (as in Tobin), in his two years wreaking havoc on the OL, the Green & White have accumulated 4,459 yards and run for 47 touchdowns…The caliber of superstar that has the God-given ability to not only elevate his own game, but simultaneously make everyone around perform at a higher level, the best piece of evidence you need when assessing the importance of Tobin is that since he has joined the line-up, THREE Titan ball-carriers have achieved All-League status…Building off of a strong sophomore campaign last season where he was credited with 19 tackles, 9 TFLs, and four sacks on defense, Tobin jumped levels on defense in 2019, concluding the year with 31 stops, 11 tackles for negative yardage, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt. In recognition of his stellar body of work, Tobin received his first All-League bid on “D“.
Last, but by no means least, is the behemoth from Harlem, Cornelius…Standing 6’5 and tipping the scale at 315 pounds, there was never a second during the past three years where the magnitude of his performance failed to match the scope of his stature…A Goliath among Davids from his spot at Offensive Guard, Cornelius has been an integral and priceless cog in a machine that has scored 1,193 pounds, rushed for 7,274 yards, passed for an additional 7,057 yards, while accounting for 152 touchdowns from 2017-2019…As noted above in the McKenna write-up, during this stretch, the Crusaders won two NYCHFL Triple-A titles, as well as back-to-back state titles…Presently holding scholarship offers from six different NCAA Division I programs (Morgan State, Howard, Bryant, Hampton, Delaware State, and Rhode Island), last summer, Cornelius gave a verbal commitment to the Bison [Howard] and could make it official in the coming weeks during the early signing period.
Garnering the last set of individual awards for excellence in a particular aspect/phase of the game were the talented lads that brought the crowd to their feet, via either a big kick/punt return or a clutch field goal…Holding down the fort for the future Adam Vinatieris, Devin Hesters, or Billy “White Shoes” Johnsons (for your old schoolers) of the world were your 2019 Special Team Players of the Year— Liam Mullholland (A; Kennedy Catholic), Joseph Pasqua (St. Francis Prep), Cameron Holmes (Moore Catholic), and Mekhi Green (Archbishop Stepinac).
Following in the foot-steps of 2018 winner, Brendan Lebitsch, Mullholland became the second Gael in a row to be honored for his ice water veins…Successfully connecting on 19 of 20 point after tries, and going 4-for-5 on FG attempts (long of 39), the 6’0, 170-pounder from Mahopac amassed 31 points this season, which was more than three times the amount of any other place-kicker in the “A” division this season…Emerging with one of the signature plays of the 2019 season, Mullholland booted a 27-yard field goal with no time remaining on the clock to send the single-A title game to overtime…Remarkably, his biggest kick of the season came just 24 hours removed from an assist on the soccer pitch that resulted in another Gael title. Hence, there clearly is no situation too big for the Kennedy 11th grader.
Indisputably a cherished weapon in the battle for field position, Pasqua’s 300 total yards on 14 kick returns ranked 10th in New York State…Spotlighted by a four return, 97-yard effort on October 20th, the Williston Park resident reached or exceeded 50 yards as a returner in three of nine games this season…While not as pronounced, he also gained 11 yards on three punt returns…Not just limited to specialist duties, Pasqua tallied 377 yards of total offense as a ball-carrier (222 on 39 carries; 3 TDs) and target out of the backfield (155 yards on 11 receptions; 1 touchdown catch)…Five of his 29 tackles on defense yielded a loss of yardage.
The Ultimate triple-threat for the Mavs this season, there was not a single area of the game that Holmes did not impact at one time or another during this championship winning season in Staten Island…Belonging to what is likely a very exclusive club, the 6’2, 185-pounder out of the Garden State pulled off a rare feat in 2019, returning both a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns this season…Extremely balanced in his resume as a special teamer, Holmes accumulated 470 yards (6th most in New York) in this dual capacity, concluding his senior year with 243 on 9 KOR (27.0 average) and 227 (3rd in the state) on 13 punt returns…One of, if not the top WR in AA-2 this season, Holmes’ totals of 31 catches (1st) for 602 yards (3rd) and 8 TDs (3rd) ranked in the top-3 of all major receiving categories in the division…On defense, he registered 48 tackles, 1 sack, and was the team-leader with both 3 interceptions (including a pick-6 in the AA-2 finals) and 6 pass break-ups.
Entering his swan song as the #1 running back on the depth chart, the injury bug forced Green to adapt to a new role and adapt he did, finding his calling as an invaluable returner for Coach [Mike] O’Donnell’s Crusaders…Tallying a AAA best 113 yards (11 attempts) as a punt returner, Green may not have been afforded as many opportunities as a KOR, but certainly maximized the chances he did get, averaging 22.8 yards on four returns (91 yards overall)…The cumulative total of 204 yards tops in the division…Wearing the famed #6 jersey for Stepinac, even if not fully healthy, Green lived up to his captain tag in every possible way, making 37 tackles, causing and recovering one fumble apiece, and breaking-up 3 passes on “D”, while rushing contributing 192 yards (24 carries; 2 TDs) and 116 yards (11 catches; 1 score) respectively as a rusher/receiver.
Due to the weather, field availability, and travel concerns Senior Bowl practices for today and tomorrow have been cancelled.
The Senior Bowl game on Sunday is also cancelled.
College Night at Holy Trinity will be held as scheduled, Thursday (12/5) beginning at 7:30 pm. This event is for CHSFL Seniors only.
A combined practice for Senior Bowl participants will be held prior to College Night from 4pm-6:30pm at Holy Trinity.
The Communion Breakfast will be held as scheduled at Kellenberg on Sunday (12/8). Mass starts at 9:30AM followed by breakfast and the awards ceremony. Senior Bowl participants will be honored at the Communion Breakfast. Tickets are required and may be purchased at member schools.
Donning the Maroon & Blue one final time, the 5’10, 195-pounder out of Hoboken put forth a performance that would have made Frank Sinatra proud as he most certainly did it “HIS WAY” in leading the Knights to a 40-14 triumph over Fordham Prep in the 97th rendition of the prestigious Turkey Bowl. The victory for Xavier, their 41st in the history of the rivalry (52-41-4 now in favor of FP) snapped a three-year skid. The 40 points recorded by the Knights represented the highest output by the school on Turkey Day since 1976 when they prevailed 40-30.
Holding absolutely nothing back and leaving every bit of blood, sweat, and tears on the gridiron, Geruso played some of his finest football in the last 24 minutes of his scholastic career, running to pay dirt on three separate occasions and adding a successful two-point conversion to tie personal-bests for touchdowns (3) and points (20) in a single outing. The 143 yards he generated on 15 carries was a 2019 season-high and was second-most of his career, bested only by a 157-yard performance as a junior versus St. Francis Prep.
Xavier leading 13-7 at the time, Geruso capitalized off of a great kick-off return by Anthony Bruno to open up the second-half by plunging the ball across the line from a distance of four yards out for the first of his aforementioned three scores.
As his school’s advantage continued to expand (28-7), Geruso showed no signs of taking his foot off the pedal, as he exploded for a 77-yard trek to the house early in the 4th quarter to change the scoreboard to 34-7.
As the clock dipped below 2:00, Geruso put an emphatic exclamation on the morning when he converted on 4th & 11 by busting through a hole and cruising 32 yards for his last TD of the day and the 15th of his swan song campaign.
When not busy chewing up massive quantities of yardage on offense, Geruso found another purposeful use of his powerful legs, flipping the field and burying the Rams with punts of 43, 50, and 50 yards apiece (all inside the 20).
Not surprisingly, in recognition of his stellar body of work, Geruso was the recipient of the Most Valuable Player award last Thursday.
Rightfully named to the All-League team earlier in the week, Geruso concludes his 2019 season with a stat line that reads as follows: 608 yards and 15 touchdowns on 109 carries (5.6/per), an additional 237 yards passing (14-for-37 in the air), and a remarkable 14 punts inside the opposing 20 (36.8 average overall).
His two-year varsity stay ends with him having accumulated 1,414 yards and 22 touchdowns on 236 hand-offs (6.0 per carry).
Sidiki Kone (Sr.); DB/KR – Cardinal Hayes Cardinals
The very definition and/or epitome of well-roundness, the 6’0, 195-pound three-way student-athlete from the Bronx will not soon to be forgotten by the 650 Grand Concourse faithful.
Entering the finale of his high school career having accounted for nine touchdowns this season in three different ways (7 rushing, 1 receiving, 1 pick-6), the recently named All-NYCHSFL selection added two fresh scoring methods in the Cardinals’ 38-0 victory on Thanksgiving over Mount St. Michael Academy.
Making his impact felt literally from the first whistle, Kone fielded the opening kick-off of the contest at his off 30-yard line and then turned on the jets for the 70-yard TD return to immediately give Hayes the 7-0 lead…
With approximately eight minutes remaining in the first half, #2 added his second TD of the morning when he emerged from a group of Hayes defenders to scoop up a fumble and walk into the end zone from 2-yards out to make the score 32-0 at the break.
A catalyst behind the Cardinals’ ability to pitch their first shutout since the 2014 Turkey Bowl, Kone complemented his fumble return by also racking up six total stops in helping Hayes to their seventh consecutive win in the annual series.
Unofficially, Kone’s wrapped up his tenure as a Cardinal having collected 118 tackles, 16 TFLs, 5 sacks, and 3 interceptions…Primarily a defensive player in 2018, he was afforded the opportunity to be more active this season on offense and he made the most of this increased role, averaging over five yards per carry (258 yards on 52 attempts); his previously cited seven TDs on the ground was tied for 2nd on the team
(12/2) Monday at Fordham Prep (4:30 – 6:30)(CANCELLED)
(12/3) Tuesday at Fordham Prep (4:30 – 6:30)
(12/4) Wednesday at Monsignor Farrell (4:30 – 6:30)
Island Practice Schedule
(12/2) Monday at Mitchel Athletic Complex (4:30 – 6:30)(CANCELLED)
(12/3) Tuesday at Mitchel Athletic Complex (4:30 – 6:30)
(12/4) Wednesday at Mitchel Athletic Complex (4:30 – 6:30)
Combined Practice
(12/5) Thursday at Holy Trinity High School (4:30 – 6:30)
College Night – Thursday, December 5th @ Holy Trinity High School (7:30 pm) – Open to Seniors and their parents from member schools only. No Ticket Required.
Communion Awards Breakfast – Sunday, December 8th @ Kellenberg (Mass – 9:30 am followed by breakfast) – Tickets will be sold through member schools. Tickets are $20.00. Parents, coaches and players are required to have a ticket for admission. No Tickets will be sold at the door. Jacket & tie recommended.
Senior Bowl Game– Sunday, December 8th @ Mitchel Athletic Complex (1:30 pm) – No Ticket Required.
Spearheaded by their vaunted ground attack, the Knights snapped their three-year losing streak in this annual Thanksgiving tradition…Scoring three touchdowns apiece on the ground was senior, Matthew Geruso, and 11th grader, Andrew Scariano….Geruso, who was awarded Most Valuable Player honors in his final appearance in the Maroon & Blue, rushed for 143 yards and three second-half touchdowns (as well as punched in a successful two-point conversion) to tie his career-high of 20 points (previously set on October 26th in a win over St. Peter’s) in a single outing. His TD runs came from distances of 4, 77, and 32 yards…Scariano, who notched the first three-score effort of his scholastic career, was a major catalyst during the opening moments of the 1st quarter, taking the ball to pay dirt from 60 yards away on Xavier’s first offensive snap of the game and then adding a 1-yard TD plunge (following a Christian Valentino fumble recovery) on their next possession to give the Knights the quick 13-0 edge…Scariano added his third TD of the game in the 3rdquarter on a 2-yarder…Leo DeRisi and Gregory Steffens, both played outstanding on defense, as each created a turnover (DeRisi strip and recovery in the 3rd quarter; Steffens INT in the 4th)…The Rams, which still enjoy a 52-41-4 lead in the series, got their points off of a 7-yard hook-up from Jack Annicelli to Christopher Devine in the 2nd quarter, and a two-yard run (after catching a long pass on a wheel route) by Matthew McKilop in the 4th.
Cardinal Hayes-38; Mount St. Michael Academy-0
Bouncing back from the heartbreak of their last last-second loss in the Catholic State title game less than a week ago, the Cardinals sent the class of 2020 off with a victory, as they made it seven in a row on “Turkey Day” against the Mountaineers….Suiting up in the Cardinal & Gold one last time, Sidiki Kone put his versatility on full display, scoring in 2/3 of the phases of the game by returning a kick-off 60 yards in 1st quarter to break the ice and then later returning a fumble recovery 10 yards to the house for his second touchdown of the opening half…Fellow senior/2019 NYCHSFL AAA title-game defensive MVP, Nicholas Burgess, also turned “D” into “O” during the first half, returning a fumble of his own 20 yards for the touchdown…Sophomore sensation signal caller, Henry Belin, accounted for three total TDs, connecting with Kuno Mendez, on a 55-yard strike in the 1st quarter, using his legs to run for a 10-yard score in the 2nd, and tacking on the final touchdown of the game when he teamed up with Jerald Munoz, on a 17-yard connection.
*= Our gratitude to Cardinal Hayes’ Henry Belin for providing live scoring updates via MaxPreps.
In a showdown of Cinderellas, one team had to have the glass slipper YANKED off their foot and unfortunately for the NYCHSFL faithful, that school was Cardinal Hayes, as they dropped a heartbreaker, 25-24, to Canisius in the 2019 Catholic High School State finals.
Trailing 24-10 in the last 5:00 of regulation, Canisius put themselves back in the game when Joseph Dixon, fresh off of a 3TD performance in the Monsignor Martin finals against St. Francis, came up clutch again, punching it into the end zone in on an 8-yarder to make it a one-score difference (24-17).
Inducing a punt with under 2:00 showing on the clock after stuffing Hayes on 3rd & short, the Crusaders took possession at their own 15 as they went hunting for an 11th hour comeback…Completing pass after pass (including a trio of grabs by Eric Kegler) and aided by an untimely penalty against the Cardinals, Canisius sophomore gem, field general, Tyler Baker marched his cohort down to the CH 13…After three unsuccessful throws brought up 4th down with only :03 still to be contest, Baker played hero, hitting fellow 10th grader/the team’s leading receiver, Nik McMillan, with a 13-yard TD strike with zeros on the clock…With all of the momentum in their corner, instead of being conservative, Head Coach, Rich Robbins, elected to go for the “w“, handing the ball off to CJ Ozolings (who replaced an injured Dixon in the backfield). The gamble paid off as the 6’1, 225-pound stud plunged over the line for the game-winning 2pt conversion…It was a bittersweet conclusion to a magical postseason journey for the boys from the Bronx [Hayes].
Tormented early by two first quarter turnovers, the Cardinals fell behind 7-0 when Baker, converted on 4th & 6 by running 34 yards to the promised land give Canisius the 7-0 lead midway through the 2nd quarter.
To their credit, Hayes did not hang their heads for long though, as on their ensuing drive, they found the end zone on a 9-yard TD run from senior tailback, Jalen Smith, to cut the deficit to 7-6…The score by #23, his 13th on the ground in 2019, was the first of three touchdowns the boys from the Bronx recorded in the final 6:00 of the half.
Dominating the possession battle for the rest of the 2nd in the most unusual of ways, the Cardinal & Gold followed up their aforementioned touchdown by immediately getting the ball back when they recovered a mishandled squib kick in opposing territory…A few snaps later, it was TafariBlackstock exploding to the house from 19 yards out to put Hayes in front 12-7.
Like every shampoo bottle suggests, Hayes then rinsed and repeated, making it two kick-offs in a row where they came away with the pigskin…Starting their last drive of the half on the enemy 34, Hayes utilized a balanced attack to advance the ball inside the 12…And then, as he did on the last offensive series, Blackstock took the hand-off and powered his way across the goal to increase the lead to 18-7 with 1:27 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
Canisius threatened in the closing moments of the half, getting as close as the Hayes’ 5-yard line, but a BIG sack derailed the rally, eventually creating a turnover on downs when a Crusader pass attempt was incomplete to send the two programs into locker room with no additional points being put on the board.
After an exchange of turnovers (Hayes interception; Canisius fumble recovery) plagued both schools for much of the 3rd quarter, the hosts from Buffalo did manage to draw within eight points when Wisken Whited connected on a 28-yard field goal to change the scoreboard to 18-10.
Cardinal Hayes were able to come back over the top with an uppercut of their own, as Smith knifed through a gap and cruised 57 yards for his second touchdown of the afternoon to make the score 24-10 with 9:00 to play in the 4th…The long run gave the 5’9, 165-pounder his third 200+ yard rushing game of the year in his scholastic swan song. It was also the fifth time in seven career playoff appearances that Smith surpassed the century mark.
With the victory, Canisius snapped Metro’s two-year winning streak and tied Archbishop Stepinac with three state crowns apiece (they are the only two schools to win the title in the six-year history of the event)…Hayes, who also lost to the Crusaders in 2016, fell to 0-2 in state championship contests.
Where: Stransky Athletic Complex @ Canisius. H.S. Buffalo, NY
Time: 1pm
Synopsis By Matt Diano:
Two programs that a month ago did not appear destined to be playing in their own league finals, let alone the state title game, both the NYCHSFL champion, Cardinals, and the Monsignor Martin titlist, Crusaders caught fire in the month of November, winning a combined six straight games, including each avenging a pair of regular season defeats in the postseason…Seeded 4th and 3rd in their respective league playoff brackets, Cardinal Hayes reached this point by lighting up the scoreboard to the tune of an average of 43.7 points in victories over St. Anthony’s (61-14), Iona Prep (45-34; ranked 2nd in the state at the time), and two-time defending state kings, Stepinac (25-7; ranked 4th in the New York State Sports Writers Association polls heading into the downstate championship contest)…For Canisius, who are seeking their third crown (2014, 2016) since the inception of a unified Catholic title game six years ago, defense has truly ruled the roost during their 2019 postseason resurgence…Surrendering 32 and 38 points to rivals, St. Joe’s Collegiate and St. Francis during the regular season, the Crusaders held those same foes to 6 (15-6) and 21 (27-21) points in the MM semifinal and final meetings…Both of our state finalist schools will take the field this weekend ranked in the top-30 by the NYSSWA, with the boys from the Bronx [Hayes] coming in at #5, and the pride of Delaware Avenue [Canisius] entering in the #27 spot…2019 will mark the second time that these two decorated programs have butted heads with the brass ring on the line. In 2016, Canisius prevailed in a shootout, 50-44.
Sophomore QB Henry Belin
Blessed with insane athleticism and speed, CJ O’Neil’s Cardinals are a legitimate threat to score every single time they have the pigskin in their possession…There is NOT a single individual occupying a skill position that cannot be regarded as a potential play-maker/game-changer…Demonstrating poise beyond his years, sophomore QB Henry Belin, is fresh off of an Offensive Most Valuable Player performance in the NYCHSFL AAA title game, completing 12 of 18 passes for 209 yards and one TD pass. Since the beginning of the postseason, the 6’3, 200-pound field general has boosted a 71.4% connection percentage (40-for-56) for an average of 220.3 yards per outing, and seven touchdown tosses…Fostering Belin’s quick emergence from game-manager to gun slinger down the stretch has been the presence of one of the most talented receiver corps in the Empire State. Led by the likes of junior, Kuno Mendez, and seniors, Yayha Kone and Jerald Munoz, if Hayes is allowed to establish a rhythm in the air, it could/should mean bad things for the host Crusaders…Mendez entered last weekend’s league finals ranked in the top-10 in NYS in both yardage (1,041) and TD receptions (10); he then added a 34-yard TD grab on November 16th for his fifth score of the playoffs….Kone (23 catches, 316 yards heading into last week), who is second on the team with four TD snatches of his own, has explosive tendencies on the outside and will stretch the opposing secondary…Munoz, made 25 catches for 383 yards and three TDs thru the semifinal round of the AAA playoffs…Jonathan Jenkins and Damon Barnes, have also been in the aerial mix late in the season and could be sleeper factors if not given proper respect…Balancing out the offensive attack will be a lethal running back by committee consisting of Jalen Smith, Tafari Blackstock, Zachary Mitchell, and Sidiki Kone…Smith, the headliner of the group, topped all NYCHSFL triple-A running backs in yards (1,133 and touchdowns this season (12), including a 13-carry, 125-pound, 1TD effort in the win over Stepinac last week. In six career playoff games between 2018 and 2019, he has surpassed the century mark in four…Blackstock, Mitchell, and Kone combined for 18 rushing touchdowns this season, with the former two each finding pay dirt once in the Metropolitan title contest…
Junior WR Jonathan Jenkins
Riding high after limiting a potent Stepinac offense (averaged 39.1 prior) to their lowest output of the season, the Cardinals defense will be anchored by senior MIKE, Nicholas Burgess, senior DL Micheal Tetteh, 12th grade defensive back, Na’Sir Douglas, as well as many of the names and faces already cited above…Burgess, the recipient of the Defensive MVP a week ago, following a seven stop, four TFL, career-best four sack effort, is first among all Cardinal defensive personnel with 70 tackles (9 for a loss of yardage)…Thru the semifinal round, Tetteh had collected 32 tackles, 5 TFL, and a pair of QB bags…Douglas (19 stops, 1 INT leading-up to the league finals) was outstanding last week, amassing four pass break-ups, including creating a turnover on downs in the red zone…Blackstock intercepted a pass in the win over Stepinac…Barnes put forth one of his best showings of the year two weeks ago versus Iona Prep, racking up 13 tackles and a sack…Before Burgess went off for four, [Sidiki] Kone was the season sack leader with three and was tied for the program-high with two interceptions…Juniors, Charles Miracle Oguamanam (5 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 sacks), Shawn Ward (2 sacks), and Elijah Fuentes were all remarkable in harassing Stepinac All-League signal caller, Joey Carino (7-for-22, season-low 108 yards in the air) last Saturday.
Senior 2Way Player Sidiki Kone
Lining up on the other sideline will be a Canisius squad that definitely looks like they will be the 2020 state favorites regardless of what happens in the 2019 season finale…Armed with an array of young talent (sophomores and juniors) on offense, even though we have not had a chance to see them with our own eyes, one look at the stat sheet tells us that this is a unit that knows how to move the chain and find the end zone…Averaging a tad over 30 points per appearance (30.3 to be exact), the Rich Robbins mentored arsenal is every bit as balanced and proficient when they have control of the ball…Recording four of their five postseason TDs on the ground the past two weeks, the cohort donning the Navy Blue and Vegas Gold, will counter Hayes’ laundry list of available rushing options by hitting back with a two-headed monster comprised of their own gifted 10th grader under center, Tyler Baker, and junior tailback, JosephDixon…Responsible for 1,670 and 17 of the team’s 2,217 yards and 36 touchdowns on the ground, Baker (846 and 11 on 93 carries) and Dixon (824 and 16 on 129 chances) both cruised to the end zone in the title win over St. Francis, with the former scrambling 36 yards for his lone TD, while the latter took it to the house three times from distances of 9, 5, and 2 yards out…Roderick Miller (also just a sophomore) has made the most out of his few opportunities, running for an average of nine yards per carry on 20 hand-offs…While using his legs to chew up large quantities may be Baker’s forte, let it be known that he is the furthest thing from one-dimensional…Connecting on 56.7 percent of throws (127-for-224), the 5’11, 175-pounder accumulated 1,581 yards and 13 scores with his arm. The only red flag you could pin on him might be a modest touchdown to INT ratio of 13:9, but that is likely more a case of trying to do a little too much at times. If he stays within himself, as he did last week in a 10-for-16, 109-yard showing versus St. Francis, he will be just fine…Presenting top notch targets to whom to throw will be two of the top-4 receivers in the large school division of the Monsignor Martin league this season, sophomore Nick McMillan, and 11th grader Riley Simpson…McMillan, whose most recent outing produced a 3-catch, 47-yard display in the win over SF, ranked 3rd in MM in 2019 with 37 grabs and was the silver medalist in yardage with 613. His four TD catches were a team-high…Simpson, who had school-bests of four catches and 49 yards receiving in the finals victory, has been nipping at his teammate’s cleats all season for the top spot on the leader board; he enters the last game of his junior campaign having made 31 catches for 396 yards and three TDs…6’4, 200-pound senior, Eric Kegler, is a physical nightmare for the opposition; after recording just two receptions during the regular season, he has been especially active the last two weeks, making four catches for 23 yards in the wins over Joe’s Collegiate and St. Francis…Standing 6’5 and tipping the scales at 225, Junior TE, Hunter Glaser, is another big body that ought to be perceived as an asset in the red zone. Still looking for his first grab of the postseason, Glaser (8 catches for 67 yards) is the only other student-athlete for the Crusaders with multiple TD snatches (2)…
LB Nicholas Burgess will look to lead the Cardinals Defense again
And while Hayes has Burgess setting the tone on “D”, Canisius has their own senior linebacker sitting at the head of the table…Tallying 32 stops, 4 TFL, 1 sack, and an INT so far in the 2019 postseason, CJ Ozolins (131 tackles, 15 stops for negative yards, 4.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 6 pass break-ups, 3 fumbles caused for the year) has been lights out as he approaches his final days as a Crusader football player… 11th grader, Malachi Charleston, brings some serious momentum into this weekend after a nine-tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sack effort in the Monsignor Martin championships. The 6’3, 225-pound DL, was at or near the top of several defensive categories for Canisius this season—2nd in tackles (60), 1st in TFL (20), 1st in sacks (6.5)…Nigel Dabney (50 stops, 5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles) has remained as locked in and consistent as ever in his last hurrahs, registering an 11-tackle, 1 fumble recovery day in the semifinal round and then following it up with an 8-stop game versus the Red Raiders, on November 16th…
The Crusaders will have to keep Hayes RB Jalen Smith in check
Elijah Haqq further bolsters this stacked LB unit. Making 11 total tackles (7 versus Joe’s Collegiate in the semis), the senior now has 49 stops, to go along with 3 TFL, 1 sack, and one caused fumble in 2019…The aforementioned [Riley] Simpson, who had a game-saving INT in the closing moments of the win over St. Francis, is a rock star in the secondary. Tied with Ozolings for the team-lead with three interceptions (all of which have been posted in the playoffs), Simpson is second on the Crusaders with five pass defenses and is tops with two fumble recoveries…Speaking of the last line of defense, Donovan Davenport (27 stops, 1 INT, 5 PDs) and David Medley (35 tackles, 3 stops for a loss, 1 interception, 2 pass break-ups) will be asked to do a lot…Davenport had a two PD effort last week, while Medley has tallied 13 tackles in the playoffs…Amier Mohammad, who is 3rd on the team with 2.5 sacks and 4th with six tackles for a loss, will be counted on to bring the heat as a means of disrupting Belin.
For those unable to travel to upstate this weekend, a live webcast is expected to be offered by the NFHS network…An annual pass (for the year) can be purchased for $69.99; a monthly subscription is priced at $10.99/per and can be canceled at any time.
