Article by Matt Diano
#2 Moore Catholic (7-2) vs. #7 St. Francis Prep (3-5)
When: Sunday November 6th, 2022 @1pm
Where: Moore Catholic HS (100 Merrill Ave, Staten Island, NY 10314)
Previous Meeting: 32-10 Moore Catholic on October 22nd (Week #7)
Synopsis: A rematch of a contest that we saw quite recently (week #7), when the Mavs and Terriers last went to battle, it was the returning AA-1 runners-up out of Staten Island chewing up major territory in all aspects of the game, as they totaled 553 yards (365 on the ground) of total offense and scored on five occasions (4 on the ground) to cruise to the victory….
Pivotal to this explosion of offensive firepower were All-State QB, John Michalski (11-for-13 in the air for 178 yards 1 TD toss; 13 carries for 156 yards with his legs), and sophomore tailback, RJ Pacheco, who accounted for ¾ of MC’s rushing TDs, carrying the ball 13 times for a net gain of 172 yards….Dowan Coachman (3 hand-offs for 37 yards, 1 TD), was responsible the other ground score!!
For the year, Michalski provided further evidence as to why he will be playing at the next level (committed to Sacred Heart University), as he has generated 2,414 yards (1,469 in the air; 945 on land) and 22 touchdowns (13 passing, 9 rushing) in his swan song campaign…
With a deep run into the playoffs (as is expected), Pacheco is considered a lock to reach the 1,000-yard milestone in 2022, as he enters this weekend with a stat line of the following: 102 carries for 798 yards, 5 touchdowns)
Because the land attack was so effective in the first meeting, the air raid was not incorporated as much as usual into the gameplan…But should Michalski need to morph into a gunslinger, he certainly is never going to be short on potential and/or lethal targets…Top-receiver, Matthias Lighten (34 grabs for 524 yards, 7 TD hauls), M.I.A., it was the likes of Michael Zeh (13 grabs for 312 yards, 2 receiving TDs) and Mario Ferraro (12 receptions for 233 yards, 1 TD) each registering multi-snatch performances to combine for 7 of the 11 connections….Jay’len Johnson (13 catches for 296 yards, 3 touchdowns) scored on a 20-yard grab for his lone reception of the day!!!
Zeh (58 tackles, 6 interceptions, 6 PDs), Coachman (89 stops, 1.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries), as well as Omar Mendez (4 stops, 3 sacks) & James Mattera (17 tackles, 1 INT) were the catalysts on defense, with Zeh credited for 7 stops/1 INT, Coachman posting a team-high 9 tackles + 1 sack, Mendez emerging with a pair of QB bags, and Mattera picking off his only throw of the year!!
Despite being held to just 10 points, there were plenty of positives to build off of if you are St. Francis Prep….
Utilizing a backfield by committee approach, the Terriers were able to average just under 5.0/per carry, as they amassed 157 yards on 32 attempts….Seniors—Dionis Best (559 yards + 6 touchdowns on 50 tries), Isaiah DeCruz (717 yards + 7 touchdowns passing; 295 yards and three additional scores on the ground), and Anthony Collura (202 yards +2 TD runs on 48 hand-offs) were at the top of the totem pole with respective outings of 45 (10 carries), 35 (6 carries), and 33 (6 tries) yards!….DeCruz rounded out his solid day in the loss by also hitting on 7 of 16 throws for 116 yards and 1 TD!
Sebastian Quartarolo (15 grabs for 355 yards, 6 touchdown receptions) and Tristan Hilman (5 snatches for 45 yards) both recorded multi-catch displays, with the former pulling in 3 for 55 yards (1 TD), while the latter made two grabs for 33 yards!)
12th grade kicker, Nicholas Pandis, drilled a 34-yarder on his own FG attempt!
Brian Daly (57 stops, 20 TFLs, 5 sacks) and Sharrieff Memminger (36 tackles, 1 pick) were exceptional on “D”, as three of Daly’s 9 total stops resulted in a loss of yardage; Memminger, who also contributed six tackles of his own, had an interception!
It is worth noting that Moore Catholic earned wins this season over a pair of AAA opponents (Monsignor Farrell & Cardinal Hayes)…Hence, even if SFP plays their best game of the year, the deck might be a little too stacked against them!!! However, using that “Little Giants” manta of “One-Time”, we wish them the best of fortune!
#3 St. John the Baptist (6-2) vs. #6 St. Peter’s (3-6)
When: Sunday November 6th, 2022 @1pm
Where: St. John the Baptist HS Campus (1170 Montauk Hwy, West Islip, NY 11795)
Previous Meeting: 44-20 SJB on September 24th (Week #3)
Synopsis: A game that was quite competitive at the midway point (SJB lead 30-20 at the half) of their week #3 match-up, the Cougars blew it open with a pair of 3rd quarter touchdowns!!!
Interestingly though for SJB, the star of stars in that previous triumph over the Eagles, QB Michael Wheat (688 yards passing, 8 TD passes; 358 yards rushing + 3 additional scores) has not been the one taking the snaps down the stretch….So, despite hurling for 183 yards (8-of-12) and three touchdowns and adding 120 yards (1 more TD) with his legs, in the first meeting, don’t be surprised if Wheat is #2 on the depth chart behind fellow junior, Kevin Pilewski, who came on strong in his two starts in weeks 6 & 7, completing 22 of 32 throw attempts for 430 yards and 4 touchdowns….
Two people that you know are going to be out there on pretty much ever down are the senior RB/WR duo of Elijah Alvarez (830 yards + 13 touchdowns on 87 attempts) and Jayson Zeva (42 receptions for 652 yards, 9 touchdown grabs)…Both invaluable members of a John the Baptist scheme that has generated an average of nearly 30 points per appearance, they both absolutely made their presence known on September 24th, with Alvarez just missing the century-mark (97 yards + 2 touchdowns on 8 carries), while Zeva had a career-day, catching all three of Wheat’s TD tosses as part of a greater comprehensive demonstration that witnessed him haul in six balls for 154 yards!!!
Defensively, Luka Skoda (43 stops, 5 TFLs, 1 sack), Sean Dennehy (46 tackles, 7 stops for negative yardage, 2 sacks), and Branden Raines (24 stops) all logged double-digit stop efforts, with Skoda’s 12 topping the list!!
For STP, Senior RB, Jordan Williams (2 rushing touchdowns), and 12th grade slot-receiver, Kevin Reilly (1 TD catch) provided the spark that enabled the Eagles to hang with Baptist for the opening 24 minutes…
Per a postgame interview with SiLive, St. Peter’s coach, Mark DeCristoforo, expressed the sentiments that he liked the way his offense was able to control time of possession…However, the Achilles Heel was the inability of the defense to get off the field on 3rd down!!!! If they correct this issue on Sunday, they just might be able to enact some revenge….
Highlighted by a AA-2 runner-up finish last season, St. John the Baptist, is seeking to advance to the NYCHSFL semifinals for a third straight occasion!
 
#4 St. Joe’s by the Sea (4-4) vs. #5 Fordham Prep (3-5)
When: Saturday November 5th, 2022 @5pm
Where: Joe Ryan Memorial Field on SJS Campus (5150 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10312)
Previous Meeting: “First Meeting of 2022”
Synopsis: An engagement of two extremely battle-tested squads, when you consider the Vikings and the Rams, you almost have to throw their 2022 records out the window since 5 of the 9 combined losses to NYS Catholic opponents came at the hands of programs that participate in the triple-A division…
For the Rams, the combination of youth and experience has served them well, as freshman sensation, Johnathan Bailey, stepped in to replace junior, Matthew Moorehead (79-for-136, 940 yards, 7 TD passes), under center, and is riding the wave of momentum that accompanies his first career varsity win (9-of-13, 117 yards in a week #7 victory over St. Peter’s)….While we are not sure of Moorehead’s status for the postseason (he did appear in the St. Peter’s game), the visiting Rams should feel comfortable regardless of which individual is taking the snaps!!
One primary reason why the vertical attack is sure to be prominent no matter who is the one distributing the rock is that FP is blessed to feature a senior receiving corps that goes FOUR DEEP, led by Edward Lewis Moore (25 grabs for 353 yards, 4 TD snatches) and Tommy Gies (25 catches for 318 yards, 2 touchdown receptions)…. Keegan Doody (23 grabs for 306 yards) & Jericho Ancheta (14 catches for 110 yards) are not to be ignored either!!!
12th grade work horse/Bell Cow out of the backfield, Charlie English (619 yards + 10 touchdown runs on 116 tries) Is a great equalizer and happens to be fresh off of the finest outing of his scholastic career (137 yards + 3 touchdowns in the win over STP during week #7)!
The backbone on “D” for the Rams have been comprised of Vaughan Johnson (48 tackles, 4 sacks), James Rice (40 stops, 3 sacks), Liam Conlon (36 tackles, 3.5 sack, 1 INT), Jaziah Moore (35 stops, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles), Khaleel Adegoke (33 tackles, 0.5 sack, 1 pick), Will Wood (25 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 interception), Michael Semprevivo (25 stops, 3.5 sacks), and English (36 tackles, 1 INT)!
Victors in three of their first four games of the fall, the host Vikings will lean heavily on Senior field general, Matthew Wissman, sophomore RBs, Nicholas Moukazis & Thomas Digregorio, and 12th grade WR, Andrew DeAngelis to get them back to their winning ways…
Jack Moran, Tyler Murphy, and Jake Palmer make up a senior LB corps that will be tasked with getting down-hill and containing the FP ground attack…
Junior DB, Angelo Pecora, has multiple interceptions in 2022 and will one to watch in SJS’s intended “no fly zone”!
Note: Top-seeded Holy Trinity received a bye into next weekend’s semifinals…They will meet the winner of Joe’s by the Sea/Fordham Prep!