Moore Catholic (2-3) vs. St. Peter’s (5-0)
When: Sunday October 8th, 2023 @1pm
Where: Moore Catholic HS (100 Merrill Ave, Staten Island, NY 10314)
Watch: Youtube (Nobody Cares Sports Network)
Players to Watch (Moore Catholic)
*Thomas Zeh (Fr.; QB)—Fresh off of being named a Player of the Week following a 13-for-16, 179-yard, 3TD pass afternoon in a week #4 victory over Xavier, the fab freshman improved to 2-1 as the varsity starter for the Mavericks….If we doubted him before, we certainly are singing his praises in the current time as he has shown that he is more than up for the task and is a future superstar!
*Matthias Lighten (Sr.; WR/CB)—Already the team-leader in catches heading into week #4, the West Point bound All-Stater did nothing to lose his spot atop the totem pole, as he posted a 4-grab, 65-yard, 1TD afternoon in the victory over the Knights to raise his senior totals to 15 snatches for 220 yards, and 1 score….Defensively, he registered his most activity of 2023, being credited with 8 stops….
*RJ Pacheco (Jr.; RB)—Making up for lost time after missing the first few games of his junior campaign, the MC 11th grade stud surpassed the century mark for the second time in three appearances this fall, as he grinded out a 104-yard, 1TD display on 23 carries versus Xavier. This marked the 11th occasion in the past three seasons that Pacheco had reached/surpassed the 100-yard+ barrier and believe us when we say that we don’t think he has any plans of taking his foot off the gas. If anything, that engine is just getting warmed up and the numbers will get more outlandish/insane!
*Boakai Veikai (Sr.; WR)—The touchdown parade continued for yet another week as it pertained to the breakout senior star for Moore Catholic….Entering week #4 with the program-lead with 4 touchdown snatches, Veikai made two catches (for 47 yards) last weekend and both went for “6”, as he raised his seasonal totals to 12 receptions for 234 yards, and now SIX scoring hauls!
*Jayden Melendez (So.; WR)—Further illustrating the point that he is the heir apparent to the likes of Lighten and Veikai as the featured target in the coming years, Melendez put forth one of his finest showings of the fall in week #4, as made 4 grabs for 36 yards to move into the #2 spot on the leaderboard with 13 snatches thus far this season!!
*Aqil Meredith-Smith (Sr.; OT/DE)—The future Bowling Green Falcon was a catalyst on both sides of the ball (as usual), as offensively, he was the road grader/pass protector that enabled the Mavericks to amass a balanced 357 yards of total offense (179 in the air, 178 on land) and score four touchdowns…Defensively, he was every bit, if not even more dominant in the triumph over the defending AA-2 champs [Xavier], as he earned a career-best 8 stops (2 solo, 6 assisted) and induced a fumble!
*Isaiah Vanterpool (Jr.; LB)—Pulling himself into a tie for the program-lead in stops this season, the 11th grader logged 7 tackles last weekend to bring his overall hit quantity to 33!….He has no fewer than stops in any appearance this season!
*Michael Herbert (Jr.; LB)—Completely unblockable, the 22 tackles that Herbert had recorded coming into week #4 was impressive; but apparently, he was not satisfied, as all he did was establish a new 2023-best of nine tackles in the win over Xavier to shoot up to 3rd on the pecking order with 31 total stops!
*Elijah Jones (So.; LB/RB)—Assisting on 6 tackles and adding half a sack last weekend, the sensational sophomore has accumulated 19 of his 21 total stops this season during a three-week stretch. So his hot play has certainly caught our eye and we look forward to seeing more out of him as he continues to come of age and announce his presence as a potential game-changer!
*Omar Mendez Jr. (So.; LB/DE)—Speaking of 10th grade phenoms who have been lights out in recent weeks, Mendez Jr. Followed up personal-bests of 13 tackles/4 TFLs/2 sacks in the loss to Farrell in wk #3 by adding a 6-stop/1 TFL effort in the victory against the Knights to raise his cumulative output to 24 tackles (6 stops for negative yardage)!
*DJ Stewart (Sr.; DB/WR)—-Yet another Maverick student-athlete that falls into that “Ironman” category, even on days when he does not put-up monster numbers, the senior classman still finds a way to contribute something towards the cause… In week #4 his value showed itself in the form of a 1 catch for 15 yards on offense, complemented by 2 tackles on “D”…Like a timebomb, we can hear the ticking; and now that before long, the gentleman in the #9 jersey is going to detonate a monster performance!
*Gerald Green (Jr.; DB/RB)—So explosive in everything he does on the gridiron, Green only needed two hand-offs last weekend to set a new season-best on offense, as he finished the day with 53 yards. If not for the fact that he is playing before an individual of Pacheco’s caliber, Green strikes us as the type of player that could easily be an RB1 on the majority of teams in NYS…..While chances maybe limited in one sense (offense), on the other side of the ball, the table is open for him to feast; and eat he did in week #4, racking up 6 stops (1 solo, 5 assisted), while earning his first .5 sack of the year…His 33 tackles in whole has him tied with Vanterpool for numero uno in the category!
*Glenn Shepperd (So.; SS)—In our week 4 GOTW preview, we hinted at the fact that the sophomore DB was creating a reputation of being someone who was going to check a lot of boxes week-in and week-out; and he lived up that scouting report yet again, as Shepperd recorded 5 tackles to increase his fall total to 28, notched his 4th stop for minus yardage, and even blocked a punt…So it need not be said that he has momentum on his side!
Players to Watch (St. Peter’s)
*Marco Aruta (Jr.; QB/RB)—A team MVP last season and likely well on his way to being a repeat honoree as well as an All-Catholic selection, the junior field general has been more runner than passer this season, but no matter his method of infliction, he has been the never-ending headache to opposing defenses through every stage of the Eagles’ 5-0 start….Averaging an astounding 13.2/per carry, Aruta has currently tops all SP personnel with nine rushing TDs, while ranking 2nd with 555 yards on 42 keeps…In the air, he is connecting at a 53.3% success rate, hitting on 16-of-30 attempts for an additional 220 yards and another TD….In the week #4 victory over Cardinal Spellman, Aruta notched his third 100-yard-plus ground effort of the fall, gaining 118 yards and scoring once on 9 carries!
*Jeremiah Williams (Jr.; RB)—Putting himself in serious conversation to be worthy of every accolade imaginable (All-Catholic, All-State, All-Planet, etc.), Aruta’s only challenger for AA-1 Offensive Player of the Year honors through week #4 might be his own teammate, Williams…Registering century-mark achievements in four of five outings and scoring multiple TDs in three of those contests, the 610 yards on the ground accrued by WIlliams is 1st among all AA-1 personnel regardless of team, and his eight touchdowns trails only Aruta…..Handling the rock on only six occasions during week #4, he still managed to amass 149 yards and find paydirt twice!
*Matt Sweeney (Sr.; TE)—When the year began, we thought we might be seeing the 12th grade TE dominating on both sides of the ball. Instead, his greatest impact has come on offense, as he has been a reliable target on the few occasions in which Coach DeCristofaro elected to deviate from the ground attack to keep opposing defenses honest….Either tied for or holding an outright lead in 2/3s of the receiving categories, Sweeney’s 2-catch, 26-yard demonstration during week #4 raised his fall numbers to 6 grabs (tied for 1st) for 108 yards (1st by himself). He has yet to log a TD haul, but that is coming sooner than later!
*Liam McBratney (Sr.; FB/WR)—An individual that we overlooked when initially previewing the Eagles prior to their Week #1 showdown with St. John the Baptist, the 6’0, 210-pound 12th grader has put himself on our radar by showing that he is another trusted set of hands when passing becoming absolutely necessary….McBratney enters week #5 tied with Sweeney for the team-high of 6 snatches, as he registered a multiple-reception (2 grabs for 27 yards) performance for a second straight weekend and banked his 1st TD haul of the year during the triumph over Spellman!…Put in motion even on run calls, his frame has allowed him to also be quite the powerful blocker
*Frank Langello/Gabriel Hoffler/Logan Kielty (Offensive Line)—The backbone and/or heartbeat of the program’s lethal rushing attack this season, the three upper-classmen (two seniors, 1 junior) have done everything in their power to create massive holes for both their quarterback and running back…Doing the dirty work in the trenches to facilitate 1,257 yards and 19 touchdowns rushing, “some heroes wear football jerseys”…
*Joseph Laureano (Sr.; TE/DE)—More of a blocker than a pass-catcher on offense, the Eagles’ coaching staff rewarded his efforts last weekend as Laureano was given the opportunity to punch in a 3-yard TD run in the win over Spellman….Defensively, he has been as steady as they come, as he has racked up multiple sacks and has been extremely active as a run-stopper….In Week #3, he was at his best, collecting 4 stops, 2 TFLs, and a QB in a victory over Kennedy Catholic!
*Eddie Rethorn (Jr.; WR/DB)—That perfect utility man that every program needs, the 5’9, 155-pounder from Staten Island has scored touchdowns both on the ground (reverse) and with his hands (TD reception). Therefore, his presence alone on offense gives opposing defenses a lot to consider…Defensively, he came out of the gate strong, as he was front and center of two turnover-inducing plays (scooped a fumble; intercepted a pass) and has continued to make weekly contributions!
*Joe Jakubauskas (Sr.; LB) —Highlighted in just about every SILive recap this season for his suffocating defensive abilities, the senior linebacker is fresh off of a 5-stop, 2-TFL, 1-forced fumble display in the win over Cardinal Spellman in week 4…
*Aiden Ledlum (Sr.; LB) —Named as a NYCHSFL POTW during a week #2 triumph over Morris Catholic (NJ), Ledlum has gone from someone who we did not even spotlight in the GOTW preview versus SJB to a potential DPOY candidate, as he has been anywhere/everywhere this season for the SP “D”….The definition of all-purpose, he has shown that he can master any task requested of him, as evident by the fact that he had a multiple INT game that garnered him the aforementioned Player of the Week nomination; and most recently (week #4), he showed that he an adept hitter too, as he was credited with 8 tackles and 2 sacks a week ago!…His defense has even translated into offense, as registered a pick-6 in the week #3 triumph over the Gaels [Kennedy Catholic]
*Nicholas Scolaro (Jr.; DB) —A “pest” in more ways than one, the 11th grade cornerback not only has registered multiple interceptions this season; he has also emerged as something of a special teams’ wiz kid, as he has blocked both extra points and punts in the past few weeks…
Synopsis
The AA-1 Title game preview that none of us envisioned, when the 2023 season commenced, the only thing that the Mavericks and Eagles had in common on paper was that they both hailed from Staten Island…
One was picked as league favorites; the other was labeled a cellar dweller!!!
But as we now get ready to enter the sixth weekend of the NYCHSFL calendar, all signs seem to suggest that Sunday’s cross-town collision on Merrill Avenue is going to have some legitimate playoff and/or championship implications!!
St. Peter’s, the only remaining immaculate program in the NY Metro Catholic League regardless of classification has not just denied the odds, they have “put the bookies out of work” with the way they have excelled on both sides of the gridiron thus far…
Anchored by a seasoned OL, two dynamic playmakers, and a plethora of selfless individuals who all bought into the “TEAM” concept, the SP has tallied 40 or more points in four of five appearances this year and enter week #5 averaging 37.6 points per game…
More than capable of passing when need be (332 yards and 3 TD hurls), the crux of their explosive attack has come via land as Juniors—Marco Aruta (QB) & Jeremiah Williams (RB) have united to chew up 1,165 yards of territory while scoring 17 combined touchdowns…Currently sitting in the #1 and #2 spots across the Double-A-1 leaderboard in both categories, if they are able to get off to another quick start, there may not be any stopping them on Sunday or ever all year!!
And if their sheer offensive dominance is not enough to terrify opponents, then consider the fact that the defense has been their equal at every step of this ongoing journey….
Pitching shutouts in two of their past three tries and holding foes to a very modest 6.8 points per game, there are “fortresses” at all three levels of the “D”, as Joseph Laureano headlines the DL; Joe Jakubauskas & Aiden Ledlum comprise one of the top-1-2 LB combos in the NYCHSFL; and Eddie Rethorn, along with Nicholas Scolaro, have been ball-hawking, lockdown treasures in the secondary….
The Eagles already passed one big test during week #1 when it defeated a St. John the Baptist squad that had been garnering some “title” chat at the onset of the fall….If they can navigate their way past the two-time AA-1 rivals [Moore Catholic], then confidence will go through the roof and the Blue & Gold will stand a darn good chance of rolling into the postseason with that “0” still very much intact in the loss column!!
On the host sideline, we have a Mavs’ group that finds itself in our GOTW for a second consecutive go-around….
Immensely convincing in their 27-7 win over Xavier to kick off October, Coach Giannatasio’s charges have emerged with the dub in two of their last three outings, and even in the game that they lost, they played AAA member, Monsignor Farrell, down to the wire!!
A more balanced offense that can and will hurt you in a variety of ways, now that we are fully aboard the Thomas Zeh fandom train, we truly do not see any deficiencies in unit as a whole….
Zeh, who as noted above was a week #4 POTW honoree, is growing by leaps and bounds week after week and we are excited to see what he can do as an encore to his 13-for-16, 3TD performance in just his second varsity start….
Their diaper dandy field general firing at a 66.7% completion rate, if this pattern continues, then it goes without saying that you ought to anticipate another extraordinary afternoon out of the likes of Matthias Lighten, Boakai Veikai, and Jayden Melendez….Accounting for 40 combined receptions, the trio ranks 1st, 2nd (tied), and 4th in AA-1 in grabs with 15, 13, and 12 respectively…Veikai (234) and Lighten (220) are 2nd and 3rd in yardage, and the former [Veikai] is in a company of his own with 6 TD hauls!!….
We don’t believe it is possible to keep the MC aerial strike completely in check, but hypothetically speaking, even if the passing game has an off day, the luxury enjoyed by the Moore is that they can easily transition to a ground-heavy plan that rides the talents of RJ Pacheco….Sixth in the AA-1 despite being time at the beginning of the year, the century-mark has been the bare minimum expectation the past two years for the 6’1, 185-pound hometown kid!….Gerald Green does not get much of the workload, but when his number is called, he has left little doubt that he is a “home run hitter” with the ball in his possession!
Allowing 54 points to two out-of-state oppositions during weeks 0 and 1, their past three appearances have given us a truer feel for how good the Mav defense can be…
Limiting Farrell to just 13 points and keeping Christ the King & Xavier to under 10, the defensive 180 turn has come courtesy of a bevy of God-given playmakers in the persons of Aqil Meredith-Smith & Jason Guttierez (17 stops, 1 TFL), on the front line; the youth movement (2 sophomores, 2 Juniors) among the LBs— Michael Herbert, Isaiah Vanterpool, Elijah Jones, and Omar Mendez Jr.; and a secondary where Lighten and Green are complemented by Glenn Shepperd, DJ Stewart, and Billy Cozidente (15 stops, 1 TFL, 1 INT)!
The hardware is going to go through S.I. one way or another…This Sunday though will distinguish the “hunter” from the “hunted”….And if SP is victorious, it means that midnight may not be coming anytime soon for Cinderella!