By Matt Diano UP HAYES!!!! After unsuccessful bids in 2016 and 2019, the Cardinals of Cardinal Hayes High School can finally and proudly call themselves STATE CHAMPIONS!!! The rags to riches Cinderella story (2-8 last season; seeded 5th in the 2023 NYCHSFL AAA playoffs) saw its final chapter punctuated with an exclamation point earlier today on the campus of Columbia University as the CJ O’Neil mentored band of brothers emerged with a 40-22 triumph over Monsignor Martin titlist, St. Francis (Hamburg)!!!. The offense humming with the same sweet melody that it had at every previous stage of the fall campaign

Cardinal Hayes (11-2; NYCHSFL) vs. St. Francis (5-5; Monsignor Martin) When: Saturday December 2nd, 2023 @2pm Where: Wien Stadium/Kraft Field on the Campus of Columbia University (533 W 218th St, New York, NY 10034) Watch: LocalLive Players to Watch (Cardinal Hayes) *Rich Belin (Jr; QB)—The “Showstopper” and/or dual-threat wizard for the Cardinals, the three-year varsity team member (second full season taking the snaps) is a surefire All-State selection in 2023, as he has accumulated over 4,000 yards (2,938 in the air; 1274 on the ground) and 46 touchdowns (28 passing, 18 running) in his second full season as the conductor

Senior Bowl Game: Sunday, December 3rd @Mitchel Field (1:00 pm) ADMISSION IS FREE City Practice Schedule: Monday, November  27th @Monsignor Farrell (5-7pm) Tuesday, November 28th @Fordham University, Murphy Field (5-7pm) Wednesday November 29th @Fordham University, Murphy Field (5-7pm) Island Practice Schedule Monday, November 27th (5:30-7:30) @Mitchel Field Athletic Complex NO PRACTICE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28th Wednesday, November 29th (5:30-7:30) @Mitchel Field Athletic Complex Thursday, November 30th (5:30-7:30) @Mitchel Field Athletic Complex  

CHSFL Annual Communion Awards Breakfast  Sunday, December 3rd @ Kellenberg Memorial High School (Mass – 9:30 am followed by breakfast) Tickets are $25.00 Tickets will be sold through member schools   Parents, coaches and players are required to have a ticket for admission Tickets will NOT be sold at the door Jacket & tie recommended

Fordham Prep-21; Xavier-14 An affair that was settled by a goal-line stance in the final half minute of regulation, it was junior DL, Patrick Keeley, getting low and stuffing Knight star tailback, Mehdi Merah (entered having rushed for 1,100+ yards and 17 scores this fall), on the 1-yard line to create the turnover on downs that sealed a 21-14 comeback victory for the Fordham Prep fans on home soil (Coffrey Field)!!! The triumph, which was their third in a row (including the virtual game played during Covid in 2020) and their sixth in the past seven renditions improved the Rams

CINDERELLA’S SLIPPER FITS!!!!….CARDINAL HAYES ARISES FROM THE #5 SEED TO SEIZE THE TOP PRIZE!! In what may go down as the game of the year (anywhere on planet Earth), every second and then some was required to determine a victor as the hometown favorites from the Bronx [Cardinal Hayes] were able to hang on for a dramatic 30-29 victory over the second-seeded Gaels of Iona Prep, to earn the Triple-A title and lower the curtain on NYCHSFL Championship Saturday 2023!!! As evenly-matched a collision of two juggernauts as we have seen in quite some time, Hayes would find themselves down