Fordham Prep (1-2) vs. St. Francis Prep (1-2)
When: Saturday September 23, 2023 @7pm
Where: Mitchel Field Athletic Complex (1 Charles Lindbergh Blvd, Uniondale, NY 11553)
Players to Watch (Fordham Prep)
*Matthew Moorehead (Sr.; QB)—Out of the line-up the past few weekends, we were unable to get an update on the status of the 6’0, 180-pound senior signal caller; however, his absence from the starting-11 would be deeply felt as the rhythm of the Rams aerial attack really hums when #8 is the gentleman running the show….Completing nearly 58% of his throw attempts (119-for-206) for 1,429 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2022, Moorehead took the majority of the snaps in FP’s only win of the season thus far, completing 10 of 18 tries for 104 yards in the week #0 triumph over Mt. St. Michael Academy.
*Jack McKillop (Jr.; RB/S)—Named as a week #0 POTW recipient following a 14-carry, 115-yard, 3TD affair to kick-off his junior campaign versus the Mountaineers, the two-way contributor out of Edgemont has thrived in his first year as the #1 RB option….The understudy to an All-Catholic performer [Charlie English], now that it is his turn to don that #22 shirt, McKillop has been determined to do the tradition proud….Not coming off the field often, if ever for the Maroon & White, he also acts as a safety on defense, not to mention a kick-returner on special teams…
*Lucas Ocasio (Jr.; RB)—Catching our eye after a solid performance in a week #2 loss to St. John the Baptist, we like the speed and agility that the Yonkers resident brings to the backfield….A sprinter/hurdler on the track team, Ocasio found paydirt once during his 9-carry, 46-yard effort last week versus the Cougars. If he continues to receive opportunities to handle the pigskin, there is every reason to believe that he will emerge as a solid complementary piece to the puzzle to spell McKillop!
*William Wood (Sr.; WR/LB)—Brilliant both on and off the field for the Rams, the 6’3, 205-pounder hanging his hat in Rye has probably been the most valuable asset on the FP roster thru three games this fall….Making his presence felt in some capacity on every snap, Wood enters week #3 as the Rams’ leading pass-catcher, thanks in large part to a 6-grab, 65-yard effort in the season-opener versus MSMA…The fact that he possesses TE size, but wide-out athleticism makes him a match-up nightmare, which he is happy to exploit….Wood also sees considerable action as a hybrid linebacker/safety and is one week removed from a 5-stop, 2-sack display against SJB!….He owns a 4.13 GPA!
*John Curto (Sr.; WR)—With the top-4 receivers from 2022 having all graduated, the door has been open for new faces to seize opportunities to increase their roles; the 6’0, 180-pounder is an individual that we foresee being one of those guys that walks through that door and leaves a mark in his last year as a Ram….Credited with 3 grabs last year, he actually came into 2023 as the leader in the category among incumbent personnel!
*Albee Cornachio (Sr.; Two-Way Lineman)—Pulling off the rare feat of being named as a Double All-Catholic selection on both sides of the line of scrimmage during his junior year last fall, the 6’4, 270-pound “hoss” made it possible for Fordham Prep to accrue 3,122 yards of territory and score 29 touchdowns in 2022….His defense is “talking just as loud” at the onset of 2023, as he enjoyed a 5-tackle exhibition a week ago and will continue to bring that intensity…Recently approached by and extended an offer by Johns Hopkins University, the team captain sports a 3.9 grade point average and is a person who is very easy to cheer for and want to see succeed in all endeavors!
*Joseph Reagan (Sr.; OL)—At 5’10 and 230-pounds, the three-year starter on the OL may not wow you in the same manner that Cornachio does on the eye test, but the kid can flat out scrap…Another of the quad-captains (alongside Cornachio, Wood, and Moorehead), Reagan oozes leadership, which is why the 4.21 GPA student-athlete has attracted a plethora of college offers (University of Rochester, WPI, Oberlin, Kenyon, Case Western Reserve University, etc) in the past few months…Reagan can also be utilized on the DL
*James Rice (Jr.; LB)—Quiet so far in 2023 (perhaps injury?), there have not been many moments during his scholastic career where the multi-sport student-athlete has not delivered a rattle or a boom on either the gridiron or the baseball diamond….Named to the All-Catholic squad as a sophomore last November, the 240-pound resident of the Big Apple finished 2nd on the team with 58 stops, while adding 3 sacks….Assuming he is currently banged up; we cannot wait to see him get back to 100%; because when operating at full strength, he is a game-changer for the Ram defense!
*Sean Rooney (Jr.; LB)—-Receiving major attention (Game Day Invites and such) from the majority of Ivy League programs, the 220-pounder out of Bronxville joins Rice in being a feared 2025 LB tandem….Fifth on the team a year ago with 48 tackles, the 11th grader with a nose for the ball was credited with 7 stops during week #2!
*Patrick Sohr (Sr.; OLB/S)—Exploding onto the Catholic football map as a senior, Sohr saw action in 2022, but he has jumped level in his swan song, making a career-best 13 stops in the win over Mt. St. Michael to begin the year and then adding 5 additional tackles in the loss to St. John the Baptist…He currently sits atop the “hit” board as the leading tackler for the Rams this fall!
*Sean Baptiste (Sr.; CB)—Bringing experience to the secondary, the 5’10, 165-pound corner is off to a promising beginning of his final year as a Ram…Credited with 3 tackles apiece in both the MSMA and SJB appearances, Baptiste has yet to come away with an INT in 2023, but his ball-hawking skills are present, as proven by the two pass break-ups he registered during week #0 when facing an elite opposing QB [Marc Pearson Jr.)!
*James Mancini (Jr.; DB)—Performing at a level much greater than his physical stature (listed at 5’7, 135-pounds), Mancini has been one of the most active players on “D” this season, as he shared the program-lead in tackles (18) with the aforementioned Sohr!
*Tadhg O’Neill (Junior; PK/P)—The 140-pound specialist from Yonkers has shown himself to be reliable for FP in his booting duties….A perfect 6-for-6 in kick tries in 2023, he has converted all five of his PAT attempts and nailed a 32-yarder thus far this fall!!….Consistency in this area (especially at the HS level) brings peace of mind to a coaching staff!
Players to Watch (St. Francis Prep)
*Tommy Zullo (Jr.;QB)—After quarterbacking the junior varsity to a NYCHSFL crown last season, the Flushing resident stepped up to the big to serve as the signal calling successor to graduated All-Catholic pick, Isaiah DeCruz….A multi-sport participant (baseball, basketball) that can both sling the rock and scramble, Zullo has enjoyed mixed results thus far in 2023, but it Is evident that there is genuine talent present…He enters week #3 having hit on 35 of 63 throw attempts for 480 yards and 4 touchdowns…Unfortunately, he has also been intercepted on four separate occasions, leaving the TD: INT ratio to be a little less desired!….Zullo is fresh off of the finest outing of his short career, as he connected on a season-best 14-of-24 for 187 yards and a TD-hurling trifecta in the week #2 loss to Kellenberg!
*Frankie Valvo (Jr.;FB)—Needing to replace over 1,100 yards (1,124) and 10 TDs out of the backfield, Valvo the JV superstar in 2022 was asked to assume a chunk of the load and has delivered thus far in his first-year on the varsity, as leads all Terriers in both hand-offs (20) and yardage (110)…Contained in the loss to KMHS (just 11 yards on 5 carries), the Middle Village resident showed us his ceiling in week #1 when he rushed for an average of over 9 yards per carry (9.3), generating 65 yards on 7 tries versus Bishop Timon-St. Jude in a non-league contest…
*Jonathan Nguyen (Jr.;RB)—”We have too many quality options out of the backfield” is a phrase you will never hear uttered by a football coach; Embarking on his debut campaign for the Terriers, Nguyen has wasted little time in becoming the co-#1 option out of the backfield….Scoring one touchdown apiece during each of the first two weeks of the 2023 season, he is the clubhouse leader in the category with 2, while also ranking second on the squad in hand-offs (17) and yards (103)…An added component to Nguyen’s impact is the ability he brings to also serve as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, as his 183 receiving yards are tops on the team, while his 11 snatches (1TD) puts him in the #2 spot on the board!
*Sebastian Quartarolo (Sr.; WR)—The bona fide “home run hitter”/deep threat in the SFP passing game, the 6’0, 165-pound rising senior did not just top the totem pole in every receiving category in 2022, he blew away his peers as he hauled in 18 catches (10 more than the #2 guy on the team) for 427 yards (+303), and was on the back end of 7 of the program’s 9 total TD throws….He has continued this trend in his senior campaign, as his 12 total hauls (129 yards, 1TD) again puts him atop the leaderboard
*Payton Buchanan (Sr.; WR)—Staying with the pattern of personnel that bolster St. Francis’ ability to effectively move the ball up and down the field with efficiency, Buchanan is that “Swiss Army Knife” player that is labeled predominantly as a WR, but has been utilized in a variety of ways throughout his career…Accruing 214 yards of total offensive production in 2022, he is on pace to blow away his previous milestones from a season ago, as he has already collected 177 yards of contribution, catching 5 passes for 104 yards (2 TD receptions, while adding 73 yards on 6 carries…Buchanan is also an ace kick-returner who is dangerous anytime he lines up deep to field a KO or punt!
*Joseph Keller (Sr.; OL)—Back for another year in the pivot, the 306-pound brute is the heartbeat/anchor on an offensive line that has broken in some new blood…A key part of the ensemble that enabled SPF to generate 2,469 yards & 25 touchdowns (17 via land) of offensive output…Keller was not on the field when we watched SFP square off with KMHS in week #2; so hopefully whatever plagued him is not too serious and he will be able to get back on the field ASAP!
*Anthony Brown (So.; Two-Way Lineman)—Measuring at 6’3, 213 pounds as a 9th grader a year ago, the rising sophomore is a man child in terms of his physical prowess and has used that frame to inflict pain this season, as he is tied for the team-lead with 5 TFLs with 5, and is 3rd on the team with 19 cumulative stops….On Offense, he has slid in nicely as a starting OG
*Kareem Vessup (Jr.; Two-Way Lineman)—Another member of both starting-11s in the trenches, the 257-pound OT/NT out of Rosedale has been especially dynamic on “D”, creating loss of yardage situation on 3 of 8 total hits, including a sack!
*Christopher Felle (Sr.; LB)—The lone All-Catholic selection that returned in 2023 for St. Francis Prep, Felle is known for his stellar play as a linebacker, making 60 stops (3 TFL) a season ago to barely miss out on being the team leader in the category…. The 4.0 student-athlete hailing from Middle Village recently was thrilled to be extended an offer from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in early-August!…..He appears well on his way to earning repeat All-League honors, as his 21 tackles (including 10 in week #1 vs. Bishop Timon) puts him #2 on the squad in the category!…Felle has forced a fumble and blocked a punt to add to his senior vitae!
*Aiden Alvia (Jr.; LB)—A gentleman that has the attitude on and off the field that you want in a player, one look at his IG handle (Overlooked_31) tells us that this is a player that is hungry to lay the smack down and demand that respect be put on his name….Holding himself to the highest of standards, he has Ivy League aspirations and will accept nothing less than his best 24/7/356…..So far, he is meeting his own demand for greatness, as he holds the SFP lead with 23 stops (2 TFLs)!…He already has surpassed his 2022 quantity (15) in this regard!
*Julian Melendez (Jr.;DE/LB)—Possessing solid size (6’2, 185) and athleticism (is a sprinter/hurdler on the track team), we originally thought that the 11th grader would be in the mix to be a breakout star on offense (WR); but instead, it is on “D” where he has really found his groove, as 5 of his 8 stops this fall have resulted In a loss of yardage!
*Randy Yoo (Jr.; CB)—Listed on the roster as a tailback, the Bayside resident has found a place for himself in the defensive backfield instead, racking up 10 tackles, 1 sack, and a pass break-up through three outings!
Synopsis
With the AA-1 Division being a little bit in shambles with a team like St. Peter’s exceeding expectations and preseason #2, Christ the King still searching for their first win of 2023, the unpredictability has created an environment that is totally wide-open, thus making EVERY game up for grabs and a “must win”….
On paper, the fact that both teams enter at 1-2 may give off an unflattering impression; but we personally think that the match-up has the makings of a darn competitive contest where the victor will be able to establish some much-needed momentum that can put them back on a trajectory aimed at a top-4 seed!
One key question that most certainly will be a factor is the status of Rams quarterback, Matthew Moorhead…If the senior field general is back in the line-up that would give the advantage at the position to the visiting Rams; however, if he is again sidelined, then the recent efforts of Thomas Zullo (3 touchdown game in his last outing) put the check mark at QB in the Terrier box!
Neither team entered the season with a known commodity at RB, but both have been blessed to find 2-3 players each that have capitalized off of opportunities afforded to them….Having had the privilege of featuring him as Week #0 POTW, we are most acquainted with FP’s Jack McKillop and regard him as being the most likely person to take over the game. But at the same time, the depth in the backfield belongs to St. Francis, since both Frankie Valvo and Jonathan Nguyen, are 100-yard runners this season; and we have not even talked about a wildcard by the name of sophomore, Troy Fason, who the Terrier coaching staff hailed as being in the conversation as the best pure athlete in the entire building on Francis Lewis Blvd.!
In terms of experience, the “Dogs” [SFP] also enjoy a significant upper-hand as it pertains to wide-receiver experience and past credentials…Bringing back their top-2 targets in the persons of Sebastian Quartarolo & Payton Buchanan (combined 26 grabs for 551 yards and 7 touchdowns), the last thing that opposing defenses needed was another reason for concern; but yet, there is a third head to the monster as the aforementioned Nguyen might be more dangerous with this hands than he is his legs….On the contrary, gone to graduation were the top-4 receivers for the Rams last fall…Seniors—Will Wood & John Curto have done their best to pick up the slack and try to fill that void, but being that snaps were scarce with so much existing talent on last year’s depth chart, it some ways, the duo might still be in the process of getting a feel for being full-time WRs!
One area where the Maroon & White does possess the trump card, as the combination of Albee Cornachio and Joseph Reagan is going to wreak havoc and open things up for McKillop to have a monster day. Both surefire bets to play at the collegiate level, they are going to present a formidable challenge to a Terrier “D” that has habitually lived in the opponent’s backfield (27 tackles for a loss) thanks in large part to the standout efforts of super sophomore, Anthony Brown; and juniors— Julian Melendez & Kareem Vessup, who all had 3 or more TFLs!
The linebacking corps are mighty and deep on both sidelines as FP has known commodities in the persons of James Rice (if healthy), Sean Rooney, Wood, senior rising stud, Patrick Sohr!….St. Francis Prep counters with their own gems—Christopher Felle & Aiden Alvia…Don’t underestimate Giuseppe Gregoriano (SFP) or Marcello Viscoso (FP) either!
Winning favor from us in the respective no fly zones for each program are FP headliners—Sean Baptiste, James Mancini, and James Spring; Randy Yoo, Christian Colangelo, and Anthony Mascia have all been clutch for the “Pooches”!!!