Article by Matt Diano
What A Difference a Year Makes…What a Difference Five Weeks Makes!!!
The last time that the second-seeded Clippers of Xaverian traveled to the Mitchel Athletic Complex in late-November to play in a Metro Catholic title contest, they found themselves taking the hike back to Brooklyn as a defeated and/or beaten group following a 34-3 loss in the 2023 AA-2 finale to Mount St. Michael Academy…
When they last squared off with their rivals from Queens, Holy Cross, they fell 20-13 during a week #7 melee…
The skeletons/demons associated with each of these shortcomings were exercised/silenced earlier today as the Kevin Fountaine guided program claimed the school’s third overall NYCHSFL title (first since winning the “A” hardware in 2015) when they upended the top-seeded Knights, 14-6!!
Relying on splendid collective efforts from their defensive and special teams units, the Clippers did a remarkable job in learning from the loss to HC and making the necessary adjustments en route to the title triumph that emphatically closed out a 6-6 campaign this fall!!
Nerves and/or uncharacteristic sloppiness plaguing both teams during much of the opening 12 minutes, there would be a combined three interceptions during the first four respective offensive series of the morning, as Matt McDonnell camped under a pass tipped by Jaiden Cadotte on HC’s first possession before it was Brandon Glaudin returning the favor for the Knights when he jumped a route inside his own red zone and then brought it all the way back to the opposing 5 with 4:26 remaining in 1Q…
Any momentum that the gents from Francis Lewis Blvd may have captured from the big time pick off would be immediately quelled though as this time it was the 240-pound Senior DE [Cadotte] being the one on the back end of the tip drill, as he benefited from Thomas Regan getting a paw on the pigskin to create the interception inside their own 9- yard line to spoil what was HC’s most promising scoring opportunity of the first half!!
Neither sideline able to get much going when they had control of the ball; after the Xaverian defense forced a punt, it was the “specialists” for the Clippers taking it upon themselves to make magic happen, as on the second snap of the second quarter, Tommy Martin exploded in for the block, with Richie Aiken scooping up the loose ball and trekking 35 yards down the sideline to the promised land to give his “brethren”, the 7-0 advantage 40 ticks into the stanza…
The scoreboard would go unchanged until the last 2:00 prior to the break when Aiken scored his second touchdown of the day in the more traditional form, taking a hand-off 12-yards to the promised with 1:56 remaining to double the cushion to 14-0…
The cash-in from the sophomore RB [Aiken] was set-up by a short punt (took over on their own 27) followed by a 15-yard reverse by wide receiver, Antonio Hernandez!
The standstill and/or stalling of both offenses continuing into the final 24 minutes of action, it would be a 3rd down pass break-up from safety extraordinaire, Finbar McGuinness; as well as a combo sack by the aforementioned Regan and Aidan Flood (on 1st down; pushed them way back) that curtailed the first two marches of the 3Q for Holy Cross…
The display of shutdown defensive excellence not just reserved for the Clippers; credit most certainly was to be bestowed on the likes of HC linebackers—Kyle Toppin, Ramon Sierra, and Christopher Brehm, as they more than did their part to keep their school within striking distance…
Toppin (who lived in the offensive backfield with no fewer than three TFLs) and Sierra (who delivered bulldozing hits on repeated occasions) had a 3rd down gang stop on the final play of the 3rd quarter; whereas Brehm (the leading tackler in the AA-2 division with 100+) had a 3rd down stuff in the final 8:00 of regulation to induced a punt…
Held in check for far too long, the Holy Cross aerial attack finally came alive, as sophomore signal caller, Madden Martinez (who threw for 278 yards and 3 TDs during the regular season meeting) prevented a shutout when on 4th & 5, he connected with Antoine Williams on a 15-yard TD strike (2pt conversion pass attempt failed) to cut the deficit to 14-6 with 4:03 to go!!!
On the ensuing kickoff, it was Aiken finding open space and parading all the way to HC 22 for what potentially could have been a back-breaker….
But Glaudin made things interesting/created some suspense when his run stuff on 4th and 9 created the turnover on downs and gave the Knights once last chance at an equalizer with 1:53 on the clock…
There would be no comeback in the stars though for the Green & White, as on 4th & 6, it was Matteo Perrota, clobbering Martinez for the sack to end all hope!!!
Three kneel downs later….And it was celebration time!!!
Aiken rightfully was named as the Offensive MVP….Cadotte took the honors among defensive personnel!
Falling just short of winning the program’s first NYCHSFL prize since 2004; the Knights see their 2024 resume drop to 6-6!
Note: Xaverian dedicated today’s victory to Mrs. Jennifer West; a teacher at the school who unexpectedly passed on October 31st at the age of 39!!