Tyler Buono (Sr.); Wing-Back – Xavier Knights
With all respect to the Spanish language; “Good” just does not suffice when it comes to
properly recognizing the breadth of impact delivered by the Knight Senior wingback
[Buono] in a 24-10 victory over returning AA-1 runners-up, St. Peter’s, last Saturday
afternoon!!!
An under the radar talent at the start of the fall; the Brooklyn native has made it
impossible to overlook him the past two weeks; as he has set and then reset his
personal-best for single-game rushing yards in back-to-back outings!!!
Accounting for 127 yards of total production and two of his team’s three scores under
the 80-degree sun; Buono abilities to function as an All-Purpose weapon was a defining
factor in allowing the Blue & Maroon to improve to 3-0 for the first time since their title-
winning season of 2015!!!
Still riding the momentum of an 84-yard performance (on five carries) in the week 1
victory against Kellenberg; the 5’8, 150-pounder continued to be “combustible” in the
clash versus the host Eagles on September 13 th , as he racked up 111 yards (first career
century mark effort) and a TD run on a mere eight attempts (13.9/per) as part of the
collective 314 yards amassed by the vaunted Xavier ground attack!
The Knights trailing by a field goal (3-0) at the onset of the opening quarter; #13 turned
the corner and jetted 29 yards as a precursor to teammate, Riley McLaughlin’s (29
yards, 1 TD, on nine hand-offs), 5-yard TD trek up the gut on the next snap to put XR on
top, 7-3!
Finding his squad trailing again in a contest that repeatedly swung back-and-forth
during the opening 24 minutes; Buono regained the lead for the “West 16 th Street
Warriors” when it was turn to cash in from 5-yards away (capped of a 49-yard, 3:25
march) with just under 4:00 remaining prior to the break!!
An Ace Jernstedt INT on his own 10 late in the 2Q giving Xavier an extra possession
before retreating to the locker room; Buono was afforded the opportunity to display the
reliability of his hands; as he culminated a perfectly executed 1:00 drill by making a
leaping 16-yard grab in the back of the end zone with just 10 ticks on the clock to make
it a 21-10 game at the intermission!
His 35-yard run mid-way through the 3rd quarter advanced the pigskin into enemy
territory and was a catalyst for a successful 33-yard FG boot off the foot of Theo
Sheridan-Vitale that added some late insurance and rounded out the scoring for the
Knights!
This is the first of what we envision could be multiple POTW nominations for Buono
before he hangs up the cleats for the last time!
Julian Guzman (Sr.); QB – Iona Prep Gaels
When playing against elite opponents; it is not supposed to look as easy as Julian
Guzman makes it appear…
A mighty task disguised as effortless, nonchalant domination; the two-year Gael varsity
starter is carving up opposing defenses and compiling video game like statistics through
his first two appearances of his swan song!!
Seemingly a no-brainer to repeat as a 1 st -Team All-State selection based on his early
body of work in weeks 1 and 2; the University of Maryland bound student-athlete (to
play short stop on the baseball diamond) has already generated 540 yards and six TD
passes this fall (29-for-42), while rushing for an additional 106 yards and 1 touchdown
(13 carries) with his legs!
On pace to shatter the nearly 3,000 yards of comprehensive production (2,292 passing,
559 on the ground) he registered a year ago in quarterbacking Iona Prep to both the
NYCHSFL Triple-A and NYCHSAA State hardware, the future Terp followed up a 223-
yard/4TD toss debut in a week #1 win over Somers by hurling for a new career-best of
320 yards and two scores en route to a 58-48 shootout triumph over Garden State foe,
Paramus Catholic last Friday night!
His precision resembling the comic book character, “Bullseye” (Daredevil); the resident
of Ossining would connect on 14 of 20 throws to a litany (six different targets) of IP
receivers!!
The fireworks lasting from opening whistle to ultimate horn; after a turnover on downs
deep in PC territory on the initial series of the evening; #15 would be the architect of
FIVE straight successful marches (not including a 48yrd punt return for a TD by Aidan
Cassidy) before halftime to propel the boys from New Rochelle to a 38-14 advantage at
the break…
Having a hand in drawing first blood; it was his 23-yard hook-up to Mason Materia that
advanced the ball across midfield and served as a precursor to a Niko Diamandis 27-
yard FG on the first snap of the 2 nd quarter to make the score 3-0…
The next possession was highlighted by a 40-yard TD screen pass on 4 th & 5 to Crew
Davis (196 yards rushing, 44 yards receiving; 4 total scores) to increase the cushion to
10-0…
The scoreboard now reading 24-14 with under 5:00 to go in the 1 st half; Guzman (37
yards with his legs) reminded us of his versatility/dual-threat skill set when just moments
after Mamadee Sangaray posted an 87-yard KO return; he plunged across the goal line
on a 6-yard keeper to make it a 31-14 contest!
The host Paladins finding a groove in the 3Q and cutting the deficit to 44-28; Guzman
was sure to quell the rally, as his 47-yard completion to reigning NYCHSFL POTW
selection, Joe Wolf (4 grabs for 96 yards) put the ball on the opposing 2-yard line and
laid the tracks for Davis to take it the last few inches on the first play of the 4 th (51-28;
11:54 left in regulation)…
The two programs going TD-for-TD; Guzman’s last act of heroism occurred in the final
6:30 of the cross-state collision, as up 51-41; he chucked an “on the money” 81-yard
homerun ball to Lamar Lewis (2 receptions for 124 yards) for the clincher!!
Previously honored in Week #1 of the 2024 season; Guzman is now a two-time Player
of the Week recipient!
Daniel Hamilton (Jr.); DL – Mount St. Michael Academy Mountaineers
When you are in the business of goose-egg hunting; it requires conviction, focus, and
strength…
And the 6’0, 211-pound junior DL oozes these characteristics/traits in spades; both
during week #2 and every other occasion in which he steps foot on the field!!
The standout performer in the Mountaineers 42-0 blanking of Cardinal Spellman on
September 13 th in the battle for Bronx bragging rights; Hamilton lit up the stat sheet to
the tune of a team-high/career-bests across the board, as he tallied eight stops (3 solo,
5 assisted), 2 TFL, and a sack in extending the Mount’s streak of holding the Pilots
scoreless to 16 consecutive quarters (dating back to the 2022 season)!!
Giving Metro Catholic pundits a preview of his physical gifts when he collected sums of
21 tackles (3 stops for negative yardage) as a sophomore in the fall of ‘24; now that he
is an upperclassman/core piece of the D-Unit; his numbers are skyrocketing and he is
primed to emerge as one of the breakout stars regardless of respective
division/classification…
Through week #2, he has already been credited with 12 tackles; and we are sure there
is plenty more to come as MSMA gets deeper into their schedule!!
Giving us Lyle Alzado vibes (to pay tribute to the 2x NFL Pro Bowler who also called the
five boroughs home) as a donner of the #77 jersey; Hamilton is a natural wonder who
thrives in every endeavor in which he undertakes…
Such was reaffirmed when you consider that he has enjoyed immense accolades as a
shot putter on the Track & Field team!!
We welcome him to the POTW scrolls (1 st time nominee) and eagerly look forward to
seeing the damage he inflicts during the next 1.5 years as an alpha for the Mount “D”!
Brady Murray (Sr.); WR – Chaminade Flyers
American author, Napoleon Hill stated it best when he uttered, “Great achievement is
usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness”;!!!
This past Saturday afternoon; the Flyers’ senior WR/TE [Murray] put these words into
action while spearheading the program to an avenging (lost 10-3 last year) 25-22
overtime victory against Seton Hall Prep!
Prioritizing the interests of his team/family ahead of his own; the 6’1, 195-pound
resident of Rockville Centre suffered a broken leg while in the midst of hauling in a 7-
yard TD reception early in the 4 th quarter that knotted the contest at 22-22!!
The game-tying reception being the second TD grab of the afternoon for the multi-sport
gem [was also a key member of the Rugby squad that advanced to the New York State
“Tier 2” finals); the stud in the #8 shirt struck earlier in the day when he was on the
back-end of an 11-yard connection in the last 1:00 of the 1 st half to send the boys clad in
Crimson & Gold into the locker room enjoying a 14-13 advantage…
Indelible in every possible way to the Chaminade aerial attack; even when he was not
putting “6” on the board; his contributions were essential; as proved true when his 26-
yard catch midway through the 2Q put the Flyers on the doorstep (opposing 1-yard line)
and facilitated Anthony Trapani’s (60 yards/1TD on 12 carries) short touchdown run
that turned a 6-0 deficit into a 7-6 surplus!
All in all, Murray would conclude the day by establishing new single-game highs for
receiving yardage (64) and TD snatches (2); finishing with five total catches!!
A promising prospect (9 receptions for 130 yards, 4 TDs in ‘24) that bloomed into a
game-changer during the past three weeks (already credited with 16 receptions for 136
yards and the pair of TDs); it is unknown if/when Murray will be able to return to the
field…
But if September 13 th was the last occasion in which he had the privilege of suiting up
for the Marianist institution; he can hold his head high and find strength in the
knowledge that his last day was also his finest!!!
Murray is a first-time Player of the Week pick!
Antoine Williams Jr. (Sr.); RB – Holy Cross Knights
A former QB that has transitioned into one of the most feared tailbacks in the entire
NYCHSFL; the Knight senior captain [Williams Jr.] was in top form under the Friday
Night lights of September 12 th….
Exhibiting all of the tools in which he has been blessed; the 5’11, 220-pound strapping
lad was responsible for accumulating an astounding 204 yards of total offensive
production in shepherding the Flushing based school to a commanding 30-0 victory
over their hosts from Somers, Kennedy Catholic!!!
Setting what is believed to be a new individual-high for ground yardage; the beast in the
#22 shirt erupted for 153 yards rushing on just 12 attempts (12.75), while adding an
additional 51 yards on four grabs (1 TD)..
Altruistic and humble in allowing his teammates to share in the spotlight; Williams Jr.
may have touched paydirt on a single occasion during week #2; but his presence was
most certainly felt at every step!!
On HC’s opening drive of the evening; it would be his 27-yard sprint that moved the ball
to inside the Gael 3; thus allowing junior QB, Madden Martinez, to punctuate the series
with a keeper…Williams then punched in the 2pt conversion to give the Green & Gold
the initial 8-0 lead…
The cushion doubled to 16-0 just prior to the end of the 1 st half, as Martinez played
pitch-and-catch with Williams repeatedly on the drive; including a 10-yard screen pass
that yielded the touchdown with only 11 ticks before the intermission!!
He’d continue to consistently chew up yardage in a complementary role during the final
24 minutes as Holy Cross tacked on two additional touchdowns!!
Named to the All-Catholic team in 2024 and a likely shoe-in to achieve the feat again in
2025; the Hempstead resident is surprisingly garnering his first-ever POTW bullet point
this week!