By Matt Diano:
Jayden Jenkins (Sr.); RB – Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders
As we rapidly approach the conclusion of our abbreviated spring season, it is to be expected that all of our student-athletes are undergoing the process of taking stock in what they have achieved during these six weeks of competition…For our seniors, this reflection often comes in a much deeper form as they ponder the thought that the “next time” is the “final time” they will ever put on that jersey and represent their high school…With these sentiments in mind, it Is natural to want to have that career-day down the stretch so as to leave a legacy that will echo in the hallways long after you have stopped walking them…For the 5’10, 175-pound Bronx resident [Jenkins], no matter what happens in this week, he can rest assured that his place in the proverbial circle is secure following a monster performance this past Saturday in Stepinac’s 42-19 victory over Chaminade…Completely obliterating his previous personal-bests during week #5, the future United States’ Military Academy Black Knight racked up 253 yards and scored three touchdowns on 24 carries (complemented by a career-high 4 receptions for 33 yards) en route to single-handily out-scoring the visiting Flyers… Entering his swan song campaign having never reached the century mark, #4 in the Red, White, and Blue has now surpassed that milestone three times in four appearances in 2021 (previously ran for 108 vs. St. Anthony’s and 130 against Kellenberg)…The first of his aforementioned hat trick afternoon came just two snaps into the opening quarter when Jenkins took a draw around the corner for a 57-yard TD trek that gave AS the immediate 6-0 lead…The contest still close (21-13 late in the 3rd quarter), Jenkins again hit the gas pedal, exploding 22 yards up the middle to give the Crusaders a two-TD advantage…Early in the 4th (8:52 remaining on the clock), he put the game out of reach when he went 2-yard untouched up the gut to make the score 34-13.
Alexander Celeiro (Jr.); RB – St. Anthony’s Friars
If the abridged 2021 season has taught the Friar faithful anything, it is that a return to their perennial reign is very much on the horizon…Over the course of these past five weeks, it has become abundantly clear that the South Huntington based program is poised to boast one of, if not the top overall 1-2 punches in the backfield, both on Long Island and in the entire Metro Catholic League next year…Three weeks removed from honoring sophomore, Frank Ruta, for a 3 TD affair in a win over Stepinac, the Black & Gold unleashed the second of their budding two-headed monster in the person of the 11th grader, Celeiro… Responsible for all four of his team’s touchdowns in STA’s 27-6 triumph over St. John the Baptist, the multi-sport standout (also a stud on the baseball diamond) from Bellmore, averaged over 12-yards per carry (15 attempts) as part of a 186-yard display that enabled the Friars to even their record at 2-2…Doing the deed from near and far, Celeiro distinguished himself as an every down/any situation threat…Giving STA the 6-0 lead when he struck for the first of his pair of opening quarter TDs runs on a 3-yarder up the middle with 1:35 to play in the 1st, #22 later answered a quick Cougar touchdown by exploding for a two-cut, 63-yard sprint down his own sideline to give St. Anthony’s a 13-7 edge at the end of 12 minutes…His third touchdown of the half occurred approximately three minutes into the 2nd quarter on a 5-yard burst through center to make the score 19-6…He put the finishing touches on his 24-point production by diving across the goal line from 5-yards out one minute into the 4th quarter to account for the final tally…As a sign of his all-purpose abilities, he hauled in two receptions for 10 additional yards…Celeiro will bring this momentum with him as he and STA seek to start a new winning streak in their rivalry against Chaminade on April 16th.