Iona Prep (2-1) vs. St. Anthony’s (2-1)
When: Friday September 22, 2023 @7:30 pm
Where: Cy Donnelly Field on the St. Anthony’s HS Campus (275 Wolf Hill Rd, Melville, NY 11747)
Watch: Varsity Media (Click to View)
Players to Watch (St. Anthony’s)
*Gary Merrill (Jr.; QB)—After beginning the year as part of a two-man rotation, the junior out of Bayport-Blue Point has cemented himself as the full-time starter following back-to-back efforts in weeks 1 and 2 that witnessed him accumulate 804 yards of total offense (436 in the air, 368 on the ground) and play a role in 9 touchdowns (5 rushing, 4 passing )….With each passing week, Merrill is seems to be getting more and more comfortable serving as an All-Purpose maestro for the explosive Friar attack…He is connecting on nearly 80% of his hurls (31 of 39), while also averaging just below 7-yard per carry (6.9) on 59 keepers!
*Christian Alfaro (Jr.; RB)—The primary tailback option out of the STA backfield, Alfaro has yet to enjoy that “breakout weekend” just yet, but he has been incredibly consistent and/or reliable thru the first three weeks of the 2023 campaign, gaining 107 yards and scoring three touchdowns on 34 carries (3.1/per)!
*Ryan Aurigema (Sr.; RB)—Whereas Alfaro is the classic speed back, big #7 [Aurigema] is that change of pace power-back that utilizes his 200-pound frame to bulldoze over would-be tacklers…He is fresh off of his finest individual showing thus far of the fall, as he rushed for 28 yards on 5 attempts in the week #2 victory over St. Joe’s Regional (NJ)!
*Korey “KJ” Duff Jr. (Sr.; WR)—Needing absolutely no introduction, the multi-time All-Catholic and All-State selection bound for Rutgers University has delivered the way we all anticipated he would in his swan song at St. Anthony’s, as he has made 19 grabs for 293 yards and a pair of touchdowns to put himself on track to establish new personal-bests across the board…His most recent outing (week #2 vs. SJR) was his best overall display, as he made 8 catches for 127 yards and caught the game-clinching strike!
*Alex Menghi (Sr.; TE)—After being limited to just a single reception for 10 yards in the season-opening loss to Delbarton on September 2nd, the Stony Brook University commit has re-emerged as that impact weapon in the aerial game that we anticipated seeing, as he has hauled in 9 balls for 121 yards and 1 TD during the past two weeks…
*Braden Mehm (Sr.; WR)—We highlighted him as a “sleeper” superstar in our Week #0 GOTW preview and he is most certainly delivering on that promise, as the senior hailing from Massapequa went from making 2 combined catches for 20 yards during his first two outings of 2023 to racking up 3 grabs for 73 yards and a pair of 6’s in week #2 alone in the triumph over their Garden State foes!
*Offensive Line: Billy Dowling (Jr)/CJ Novelli (Sr.)/Matthew McGregor (Jr)—When you look at all of the talent at the skill positions that Coach Joe Minucci had to replace due to graduation last June and then see the early returns of the new faces on offense, it is quite apparent that the big boys in the trenches are unsung heroes in making life easier on many of the names cited above…With this trio all serving up pancakes, the Friars are putting up 35.7 points per game this season (47 the past two weeks), with aggregate totals of 1,192 yards and 14 touchdowns!…
*Preston Carey (So.; DL)—The most hyped defensive player to suit up for Friar Nation during our lifetime (and likely ever), Carey’s presence in the middle of the DL provides elevation powers as he raises the level of the unit around him just by being who he is…He enters the game under the Friday night lights with significant momentum, as he tore up SJR in week #2, making 8 stops and adding a QB bag
*Cam Urso (Jr.; DE)—Another beast among an athletic and mean front-7, Urso went a little bit under-appreciated by us at the onset of the fall; but we have seen the light and are loving what the 11th grader is bringing to the table week after week….He controls/dominates the edge with ease, which he showed by amassing 8 stops (4 solo) in the win last weekend!…He forces you to keep your eyes on the #88 shirt at all times with his consistent effort!
*Davin Foote (Sr.; DL)—Lining up at the other End position on the DL, you are going to feel the heat coming from every direction, as the 6’3, 235-pound 12th grader is never quiet on the gridiron, which was evident following a 5-tackle, 1-sack resume versus SJR in week #2!
*Sam Cook (Sr.; LB)—Making the heavy-hitting #44 jersey tradition proud (worn previously by the likes of Edward Sorrentino, Joseph Dechiaro, etc), the 205-pound LB out of Plainview is a name that gets called over often the P.A. system, as illustrated in week #2 when he tied for the team-high in tackles with 10 (8 of which were solo)
*Dante Vardaro (Sr.; LB)—Yet Another senior leader/playmaker among the linebacking corps, we have never been shy in expressing our deep respect for the UPenn bound lacrosse player….He plays shutout “D” with or without a long-pole in his hand…A possible All-Catholic candidate in 2022 if not for the fact that a late-season injury robbed him of the chance to further add to an impressive stat line, he may wear #2, but brings the punch like an alpha #1….Vardaro made 8 stops and tacked on a sack a week ago!
Players to Watch (Iona Prep)
*Joe Gaston (Jr.;QB)—In his first season playing in New Rochelle after previously being at St. Joseph’s Regional (NJ), the scouting reports on Gaston stated that he has a big arm, but is a more comfortable at this stage of his career as being more of a scrambling field general…Thus far, thru three outings, we are seeing samples of that same All-purpose skill set that his predecessor [Ajani Sheppard] utilized when winning the 2021 NYCHSFL and New York State Offensive Player of the Year Awards…593 yards and four touchdowns credited to his vitae, the junior out of the Bronx has hit on 52 of 73 pass attempts (71.2%) for 482 yards (3 touchdowns), while legging out an additional 111 yards and a bonus score on 24 keepers!
*Rowan Byrne (Jr.; OL)—The bedrock/foundational piece along the Offensive Line, the consensus 4-star national prospect boasts an offer sheet that includes the likes of Boston College, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Michigan, Notre Dame, The Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Stanford, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, etc…With Byrne providing power blocking in 2022, the Gaels amassed totals of 5,532 yards and 61 touchdowns between land and sky….All signs suggest that this pattern will continue, as the 510/469 yards respectively by sky and land have them sitting just short of 1,000 (979) for the season, putting them on approximately 4,000 pace!
*Crew Davis (So.; RB/WR)—The first of three fresh races that the Gaels will feature out of the backfield as ball-carriers, the versatile 5’11, 180-pounder from Bedford is dynamic in everything he does….Carrying the ball on just 12 occasions so far in 2023, he leads IP in both yardage (184) and TD runs (3)….The quality of his hands are also not in question, as he has hauled in two or more throws in all three games this season, giving him 10 receptions for 50 yards (1 TD in whole)
*Kadin Huling (So.;RB)—Starting his career at Cornwall, Huling made the decision to transfer to IP for his sophomore campaign and It has not taken him long to announce his presence, as he is averaging just below 7-yard per carry (6.8) on 14 tries for a total of 95 yards….Getting more assertive and productive with each passing week, the 6’0, 200-pound big back generated his loudest boom in week #2, running for a season-best of 60 yards on 8 hand-offs in the win over 2022 Massachusetts State runners-up, Springfield Central!
*Steven Dowdy Jr. (Jr.; WR)—After seeing significant action as a 10th grader last season, Dowdy Jr. has ascended into the role of the #1 target in the aerial game….After being credited last season with making 16 grabs for 364 yards and 1 touchdown, it is a no-brainer that he is going to obliterate those previous career landmarks, as after three appearances as an 11th grader, he already has compiled Gael-leading totals of 12 catches for 125 yards!
*Dylan Iorgoveanu (Sr.; WR)—Another wide-out that brings a lot of experience with him, as an 11th grader, he accrued 15 receptions for 210 yards and a trifecta of TD snatches…He has been as active as we anticipated at the start of 2023, but showed his capabilities behind a 4-catch, 31-yard afternoon during a week #1 triumph against Chaminade!
*Jared Evans (Sr.; WR)—Having already surpassed the 8-catches (for 197 yards, w/ 1TD) resume he erected as a junior reserve in 2022, the Harlem resident has been on Dowdy’s heels the whole year pushing to take over the team-lead in all receiving categories…Momentum in his favor, Evans is fresh off of a 5-reception, 57-yard, 1-touchdown display in the triumph over Central. His rapport with Gaston is getting more in synch with each passing week, as 9 of his cited 11 catches have come between weeks 1 and 2!
*Joe Wolf (So.; WR)—Knowing how much the Gaels like to sling the ball around the field, it seemed appropriate to include one final possible target in the person of the sensational sophomore hailing from Rye….Standing 6’2, 180, he has good size for the WR position and despite his young age, is demonstrating an immense upside, as he flawed his talents in week #1 vs. Chaminade by registering a 4-reception, 71-yard afternoon!
*Jaylin Hicks (Sr.; DE)—His collegiate future awaiting him in Minneapolis as a future of U of M. Golden Gopher, the 3-star national stud is a game-changer on the defensive side of the ball…He is as imposing on his side of the line of scrimmage as Byrne is on the other side. To be a “fly on the field” to see those one-one-one battles in practice….Hicks was named 4th Team All-State last year!
*Terron Johnson (Jr.; CB)—A lockdown DB at every stage of his scholastic career, it is not by fluke that the rising junior out of the Bronx has commanded the interest of DI programs such as Boston College, Syracuse, Minnesota, and Duke….He is that guy who is always going to draw the top assignment on the opposing team; and more times than not, he is going to prevail in those match-ups!
*Adande Nartey (Sr.; SS)—-Back for another season wreaking havoc as a starting DB, Nartey may get overshadowed at times by his more highly touted teammates; but make no mistake about it, the kid can absolutely play…Among the team/league leaders last season in interceptions, per MaxPreps, on four separate occasions, he was in the right place at the right time to steal possessions!!
*Zakar Morris (Sr.; DE)—The second half of a dynamite DE duo (alongside Hicks), Morris is a human mismatch against most HS OLs…Tipping the scales at just south of three bills, the kid is not just big, he is agile and relentless….Whether you put him on the end or ask him to plug the middle, he is going to make noise on each and every snap!
*Jaden Codrington (Sr.; CB)—Joining Johnson and Nartey as a ball-hawks comprising the no fly zone, Codrington has been a mainstay in the line-up for multiple seasons. A definitive #1 CB on the majority of teams in NYS, the 5’11, 170-pounder sporting the 3.4 GPA is not going to have any trouble finding a home on the college level next season!
*Brennen Pressley (So.; LB)—If you want to know how special and unique a talent the super sophomore is, consider the fact that he saw action as a freshman on one of the most talent-rich, powerhouse schools in the entire Evil Empire; you don’t notch that kind of accolade without being a next level budding superstar…Listed in the projections as a starting LB, Pressley has the potential to be an impact guy on both sides of the ball, as she displayed as a rookie in 2022, rushing for 285 yards and four scores on just 46 touches (6.2/per)…In July, he warranted an invite to the Notre Dame competition camp….As part of the win last week over Central, he turned defense into offense, taking an INT to the promised land for a pick-6!
*Sam Bisesi (Sr.; PK/P)—Accompanying Hicks as the only other returning Gael that was bestowed All-State distinction a season ago, Bisesi has a booming leg that extends to and beyond 50 yard range…A top-25 national specialist, he is not just strong, he is consistent, as he converted 60 of 63 PATs in 2022….Currently holding an offer from the U.S. Military Academy (ARMY)…2022 5th Team All-State honoree!….MaxPreps recognizes him as being a perfect 11-for-11 on kick attempts so far this far, as he has converted both of his FG tries (long of 27), while also banging home nine PAT attempts!
Synopsis
A rematch of the 2022 NYCHSFL Triple-A Title contest (won 50-18 by the Friars), as well as a clash of the past two Metro League and Catholic State titlists, both programs enter this weekend with identical 2-1 records and riding highs from having picked up massive, confidence-building victories during week #2 of the regular season!!!
Host, St. Anthony’s, who knocked Preseason #2 in NJ, St. Joe’s (Montvale) off of their pedestal via a 42-34 victory last Saturday, has been unstoppable on offense the past two weeks, scoring 94 combined points (47/per) thanks in large part to the expediated growth/development of their junior signal caller, Gary Merrill, who at the moment looks well on his way towards being the leading rushing in the NYCHSFL league regardless of position following back-to-back century mark outings that yielded 227 and 141 yards and 5 total ground scores….A scary notion is that last week, he showed himself to be a much more gifted passer than we had previously given him credit, as he hurled for 314 yards and 4 touchdowns (21-of-25)!
The visiting Gaels from New Rochelle, also in that proverbial groove after upending Massachusetts powerhouse (four straight trips to the MIAA State finals; titles in three of those seasons), have been anchored by their own first-year starter under center, Joseph Gaston, who after beginning his career in NJ (St. Joe’s Regional of all places), has thrived since arriving home to the Empire State…A poised passer who can put the ball where he wants it (71.2 percent success rate), we are not surprised to see the damage he has done in the air; but we are still eagerly awaiting the breakout performance that we feel is coming on the ground a year removed from him gaining 600 yards and scoring six touchdowns with this legs….Gaston may be wearing a different jersey in 2023, but he is no stranger to St. Anthony’s, as played against them in 2022 (on behalf of SJR), producing 195 yards of total offense (10 of 15 in the air for 128 yards/1TD; 67 yards on 9 carries) in registering a high-scoring victory!
Removing Merrill from the equation (which admittedly is quite the subtraction/intentional omission), both schools have multiple running backs capable of being the one to step up and affect the outcome, but depth wise, a slight advantage in this area of the game would seem to belong to Iona Prep, as the sophomore duo of Crew Davis & Kadin Huling have averaged 10.7 yards per carry between themselves on 26 opportunities (279 yards), with the former [Davis] having gone to paydirt on three occasions. To further bolster the RB by committee approach, senior, Kyseem Springer, has handled himself well, going for 74 yards on 19 hand-offs….Upperclassmen—Christian Alfaro and Ryan Aurigema, will do their best to counter-punch with a Lightning and Thunder style, as they have teamed up to collect 150 yards and 3 touchdowns (all by Alfaro) on 47 tries…
Turning our attention to the WR corps, this is especially where STA will “eat” as long as Merrill is shape with his arm…Exploding for a 7-reception, 205-yard, 4-touchdown performance last November during Championship Saturday, KJ Duff Jr., is the most dangerous person anytime he is on the field. His 6’5 height allows him to dominate the jump ball scenarios; and his silky- smooth speed/agility enables him to take short screen passes designed for modest gains and turn them into 20, 30, 40-yard type contributions…Adding to the problem for opposing secondaries are the likes of Alex Menghi (1 catch for 7 yards in the ‘22 title game) and first-year starter, Braden Mehm, who have tacked on an additional 15 snatches for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns (2 by Mehm) to Duff’s outstanding team-leading quantities!!!……The Maroon & Gold [Iona Prep] return only two catches from the previous meeting last November, as Dylan Iorgoveanu had a catch for 12 yards, and Steven Dowdy Jr. hauled in a reception for no gain… Dowdy has really taken his game to a new level as a junior, so we are confident he will be a factor! Pay attention also to the man in the #5 jersey, Jared Evans, who after being overshadowed last season, has come of age and is making noise on a weekly basis!!!…To toss (no pun intended) two more names into the mix for the fun of it, there is one young gun apiece on each side that we feel could materialize as under-the-radar thrillers….Johnny Russo (listed as an RB) showed he can make an impact for St. Anthony’s when he recorded a 2-catch/46-yard outing in week #1 vs. Cardinal Hayes; Joe Wolf had his own banner exhibition during week 1, as he torched Chaminade!
In the trenches, IP marches out the best overall/most imposing Offensive lineman in the person of the #222 overall recruit in the 2025 class, Rowan Byrne, but the comprehensive muscle of Billy Dowling/CJ Novelli/Matthew McGregor might tip the scales (some pun intended this time) figuratively in favor of the Friars…But suffice to say, neither side is lacking for toughness…290-pound 12th grader, Daniel Pauletti, is another beast never to be overlooked for the Iona Prep!
Defensively, the 39.7 points per game that St. Anthony’s is surrendering looking alarming on paper, but honestly is misleading when watch them on paper….Over the past three weeks (all of their games being streamed), we have heard the names of front-7 personnel—Preston Carey, Sam Cook, Davan Foote, Cam Urso, and Dante Vardaro, too many times in snaps resulting in a loss of opposing yardage to doubt the capabilities of the “D” as a whole!!! Stopping the run (13 TDs allowed in 2023) has been the Achilles Heel at times, but since IP does not yet have that game-changing runner the way that Delbarton, Cardinal Hayes, and SJR did, there is a belief that STA will be much more competitive in this regard during week #3!
On the flip side, the make it or break for it criteria for the IP defense is going to be either the success or failure of a very experienced defensive backfield to contain the Superman, Duff Jr., and his band of fellow seniors (Menghi & Mehm)….With incumbent starters such as Terron Johnson, Jaden Codrington, and Adande Nartey bringing a wealth of big-game experience with them to the gridiron, the talent is there to answer the call to duty! But it Is a mighty task that is going to require them to perform at their finest!!!!….Anchored by future Gopher, Jaylin Hicks, a front-7 also enriched by Zakar Morris and Brennen Pressley bear the responsibility of trying to cage a gazelle like Merrill!
Having already bested Cardinal Hayes (who has looked outstanding in their other games), a win by the Friars would put them in the driver’s seat to win the sweepstakes for the top-seed in the AAA division as it would bank a second marquee victory over a top-4 league opponent, with only an October 28th date with Stepinac serving as a potential obstacle!
For IP, revenge has to be on their mind; but so too does the inherent intangibles that would accompany slaying a dragon in their own castle!!! To us, a win might instill so much swagger into the Joe Spagnolo mentored group, that it might carry/vault them to new heights!