#1 Mount St. Michael Academy (7-2) vs. #2 Xaverian (6-4)
When: Saturday November 18th, 2023 @11am
Where: Jack Coffey Field on the Campus of Fordham University (441 E Fordham Rd, Bronx, NY 10458)
Watch: Youtube (Varsity Media)
Previous Meeting: Mount St. Michael, 14-13, on October 7th (Week #5)
How They Got Here (MSMA):
-Semifinals: 26-12 over #4 Kennedy Catholic
How They Got Here (Xaverian):
-Semifinals: 21-14 (OT) over #3 Holy Cross
Postseason Heroes (MSMA):
-Marc Pearson Jr. (QB): Completed 10 of 21 pass attempts for 187 yards and a pair of TD hurls in the semis; added 27 yards on 7 keepers as a ball-carrier
-Carl Shaw (RB/DB): Equally impactful on both sides of the ball in the semis, he’d record 2/3s of the school’s touchdowns and add a 2pt conversion on offense, rushing for 72 yards (2TDs) on 13 hand-offs; Defensively was credited with a team-high 8 stops and recovered a fumble
-Jonathan Otoo (RB/DB): Needing just a small sample size to make his presence known, he totaled 72 yards of offense on just two chances, as his lone rushing attempt went for 45 yards, and he made a single reception for an additional 27; On Defense, he contributed 5 stops and induced a fumble
-Nelson Perez (WR): Enjoyed a career-day in the semifinals, hauling in 7 passes for 133 yards and 2 TD receptions
– Marquis Dixon (LB): Made 6 tackles and registered an Interception in the semifinals
-Ronan Smith (DE): Banked an evenly distributed 6 stops (3 solo, 3 assisted) in the semis
-Zaire Caldwell (DE): Finished tied for 2nd on the team (with the men above) by earning 6 stops of his own in the semis
-D’Angelo Cabrera (WR/DB): The bulk of his contributions came on “D”, as he racked up 4 tackles and had an INT; Did make one catch on offense for 12 yards
-Savion Pearson (LB): Made 4 stops on “D” in the semifinal win
-Kadane Joseph (DB): 2 tackles and an interception during the semis
Postseason Heroes (Xaverian):
-Jude Van Ooyen (QB): Connected on 13-of-24 throws for 180 yards w/1 TD chuck in the semis
-Chris Duffy (RB/LB): Responsible for 2/3s of the Clipper touchdowns, as he found paydirt on two occasions as a ball-carrier, accruing 80 yards on 20 attempts….Defensive statistics not available; but he has always been a force from his LB spot!
-Antonio Hernandez (WR): Utilized in a variety of ways, he’d rush for 51 yards on two carries; also was on the back end of the Van Ooyen TD exchange as a pass-catcher!
-Spiros Drossos (WR): Posted team-highs in receptions (4) and yardage (58) in the semis
-Owen Conti (WR): Hauled in 3 passes for 30 yards as a receiver
-Christian Donato (TE): Made 3 grabs for 38 yards
-Finbar McGuinness (LB): POTW selection after amassing 4 stops and intercepting two passes (including one in OT to seal the victory)
Overview: The first of game of what is sure to be a dynamic and explosive Metro Catholic football championship triple-header on the campus of Fordham University, one look at the narrow margin of victory (14-13 in week #5) posted by the returning AA-2 runners-up from the Bronx [Mount St. Michael Academy] and you immediately cannot help but think that the rematch has the potential to steal the show and be the best match-up of the entire weekend!!!
Left heartbroken a year ago at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex on Long Island following a 29-22 loss to Xavier in a back-and-forth affair, reigning Divisional Offensive Player of the Year, Marc Pearson Jr., and company have no intention of allowing history to repeat itself as MSMA goes in search of the NYCHSFL crown for the first time since 2009!
The Mountaineer faithful having some fun (“The Ferrari has Left the Garage”) after we likened the 6’3, 180-pound senior signal caller to the premium car manufacturer, Pearson Jr., has not disappointed in his final season bringing glory to the Mount, as he hit at a 57.3% success rate (51-of-89) in the air, generating 775 yards and 5 TDs in the air, while also tacking on a pair of scores with his legs….Whether by design (don’t show all your tricks) or just coincidental, when the two programs met during the regular season, Pearson Jr., was only spotlighted, as connected on 6 of 8 pass attempts for 47 yards! He did have a short-distance TD keeper for what proved to be the game-winner!
While the aerial attack was kept in the hanger for the most part, the “thoroughbreds” would be allowed to run free, as in addition to Pearson Jr., three other MSMA student-athletes combined to amass 139 yards on 36 carries (2 touchdowns), with the likes of Jonathan Otoo (69 yards on 9 carries), Carl Shaw (48 yards/1TD on 16 hand-offs), and Franklin Dominguez (21 yards on 7 attempts) all taking turns getting into the mix!!…Senior RB, Tyler Bobe, who enters this weekend 2nd on the team with 280 yards (67 carries) was held without a yard as he only handled the rock on one instance. If he becomes more of a factor in the rematch, it can only translate into good things the school!…Shaw, who sits atop the totem pole in every rushing category for the Mount (558 yards and 11 touchdowns on 101 tries) is fresh off of a 2-score appearance in the semifinals!!
Despite limited chances, leading receiver, Nelson Perez, found a way to shine in the week #5 clash, as half (3) of Pearson Jr’s six completions found their way into his hands, as he finished the afternoon with 29 yards. Like Shaw, he too was a major catalyst in helping the “Murdock Avenue Majesty” reach the finale, as he was on the back end of both of Pearson Jr.s two TD tosses last weekend!
Shaw (team-best 5 stops) and Otoo (4 stops, 1 TFL, 1 blocked punt to set up a TD) were among the most influential personnel on “D” to boot on October 7th, as they were complemented by individuals such as senior LB, Anthony Rosario (4 tackles), senior DL, Ronan Smith (4 stops, 1 TFL), and 12th grade DB, Nico Bustamante (4 tackles) at the top of the hit parade…Jaire Edwards (3 stops on the DL), D’Angelo Cabrera (3 tackles), and Logan Greenaway (3 stops) were quite good in their own right!
Senior specialist, Daithi O’Connor, is a trusted late-game option for MSMA as he has nailed 15 of 17 kick attempts this fall, going 14-for-16 on PATs, and drilling a 37-yard field goal!
For the second-seeded Clippers, who make their return to Championship Weekend for the first time since 2017 (had a streak of four appearances in five seasons from 2013-2017; “A” title in 2015), there is reason to feel optimistic despite the head-to-head loss during the regular season…
Two-way standout, Chris Duffy, was nothing short of marvelous in the losing effort in early-October, as he scored both of Xaverian’s touchdowns (distances of 10 and 15) as the highlight of a 3-carry/30-yard outing…Fellow senior, Freddy Scuteri, was quiet on the ground (0 yards on 7 attempts), but has a track record of being very steady (listed with a team-high 290 yards on 34 carries in ‘23); so we anticipate a much more favorable showing in his last appearance as a Clipper!
First-year field general, Jude Van Ooyen, did his job as well, slinging his way to a 123-yard afternoon on 15-of-31 passing….
While receiving statistics were not available for the contest, it is almost inevitable that Spiros Drossos, Owen Conti, Antonio Hernandez, and Christian Donato were notable, as from start to finish of the fall, they have all been undeniable assets in the sky attack!….All four bring a lot of momentum with them into this weekend as they each turned in miraculous efforts in the semifinals…Aidan Leary could be a wildcard, as he made an 8-yard catch during round #1 last month!
Defensively, Duffy/Conti will be aided by reigning POTW selection, Finbar McGuinness (2 INTs in the semis), as well as Timothy Hayes, Andrew Owens, Tommy McMorrow, Anthony Farina, Thomas Regan, etc., in undertaking the task of containing an electric Mountaineer offense for the second time in as many attempts!!
If the sequel lives up to the original, then the 11am matinee surely will set the tone for the kind of non-stop, exhilarating day it will be on East Fordham Road for those allocating their entire Saturday to seeing NYCHSFL greatness ensue!