Ben Bekiers (Sr.); KR/PR/DB – Chaminade Flyers
As a defensive middie for the Flyers’ top-10 nationally ranked lacrosse program; it is not very often that the future Boston University tier is afforded the opportunity to go end-to-end on the hallowed grounds of Ott Field…
Therefore, when the opportunity did present itself this past Sunday afternoon on the gridiron; the 5’8, 170-pound Massapequa resident took full advantage and cashed in not one, but TWICE in propelling Chaminade a 45-22 triumph over St. Francis Prep!!!
Epitomizing the “special” in special teamer; the first of Bekiers’s aforementioned touchdowns came in direct response to a Terrier touchdown (to make it a 10-7 CHS lead); as on the ensuing kickoff, he’d backpedal slightly to catch the ball on his own 4-yard line; and then after walking a tight rope down the host sideline for a few steps; he’d cut back towards the middle of the field and out-raced everyone to finish off the 96-yard KO return to restore the 10pt advantage (17-7) with 8:51 remaining in the 1st half!!
While shorter in distance, if possible, the sequel was even more electrifying, as he’d inflict a back-breaking blow (24-14 Flyer lead in the last 5:00 of 3Q) when he fielded a SFP punt on his own 45, turned the corner and dashed down the CHS sideline and then side-stepped two Terrier tacklers to bring the boot 55-yards back to the promised land to make it a 31-14 margin!
Per the archived stats available on MaxPreps; Bekiers is believed to be the first Chaminade player to return a punt for a TD since 2021 (Hagan Wagner); and joins Jack Tigh (in 2014) as one of the few (if not the only) individuals to return both a KO and a punt in the same outing for the gents from Jackson, Ave!
Not to be overlooked is the fact that #15 in Red also played the full game as a starter cornerback; recording a pair of stops!
Bekiers is making his first career appearance on the POTW list!
Joshua Gonzalez (Jr.); DB – Cardinal Spellman Pilots
Only five weeks into the 2025 season and the Pilots have already matched their win total from the entirety of the 2024 fall!!!
Squaring off in a Saturday matinee against Nazareth Regional in a battle of Bronx vs. Brooklyn; points were at a premium and with little cushion for error; the occasion called for the characteristics of reliability and consistency!!!
Spellman Head Coach, Shaheem Burnett, found those traits in abundance through the performance of his junior defensive back [Gonzalez]….
Praised for his repeated ability to limit damage and keep the visiting Kingsmen out of the end zone, the 5’8, 160-pound hometown son was the consummate playmaker in open-space; as several of his 8 accredited stops (2 TFLs) occurred in “make it or break it” scenarios where failure on his part could have shifted the outcome (8-6 Spellman win) in the other direction!!
Packing a lot of wallop despite his modest frame; the gentleman in the #4 jersey would also register a forced fumble to set the tone for the “D”!!!
Spellman has now won the last eight consecutive match-ups over NR!
October 4th intended to be Senior Day; it would be the 11th grader that was the “talk of the town” by the time the final horn blared!!!
The second Pilot in a matter of weeks to garner POTW distinction (after an absence that dated back to week #6 of 2021); Gonzalez is a first-time nominee!!!
Peter Heaney (Sr.); QB – Xavier Knights
Is there anyone and/or anything short of the apocalypse itself that can slow down the vaunted Knight ground attack this season?
Entering week #5 with a team average of 284 yards/2.8 touchdowns per game rushing; the now 5-1 juggernaut from Xavier was their usual imposing selves on the night of October 4th; as they amassed 324 yards and 5TDs in overwhelming returning AA-2 runners-up, Holy Cross, to the tune of a 34-6 verdict!!
Four different ball-carriers responsible for recording at least one “6” apiece; the habitual headliner would again be their 6’0, 180-pound senior field general [Heaney]!
Named as a Metro Catholic Player of the Week for the second time this fall [made his debut following a week #1 win over Kellenberg]; the Brooklyn resident was virtually invincible in accruing a new single-game high of 163 yards on 15 carries (10.9/per), while finding paydirt twice (one short of the career-best three he collected in the wk #1 victory)….
His demonstration of grit and speed under the Saturday night twilight in the All-Knight affair extending his streak of 100+ yard performances to five consecutive outings (103, 126, 1115, and 110 versus the Berg, St. Peter’s, St. Francis Prep, and The Pingy School); Heaney upped his swan song seasonal stat line to 691 yards and six touchdowns (both of which rank him #2 among all AA-1 personnel)
With three regular season contests; a very likely very postseason experience; and the annual Turkey Bowl Game still on the horizon; if Heaney can maintain this explosive pace; then he could very much be in the conversation to surpass Jonathon Geruso’s 1460 yards (2017) for most prolific runner of the past decade for the Manhattan based school!!
Grayer Hong (Jr.); QB – Archbishop Stepinac
Finding himself platooning alongside fellow Junior field general, Jahmai McNeil, during the early stages of the 2025 season; the transfer from the Hackley School (led them to an 8-1 record in ‘24) may have created some separation in the inter-Crusader QB battle last weekend in steering the White Plains based cohort to a must-have 14-6 win over Cardinal Hayes last Friday Night on the Columbia University campus!!
Taking all but a handful of the snaps under center; the 6’1, 175-pounder who calls Tarrytown his home hurled for season-highs across the board in upending the Cardinals; as he connected on 13-of-19 attempts for 195 yards and a pair of TD strikes!!
Both of his TD passes (the first two of his Stepinac tenure) occurring in the 2nd quarter; Hong transformed a 6-0 deficit into a 7-6 lead when he rolled right and then hit Senior Receiver, Richie Demarco (6 grabs for 88 yards, 1 TD catch) over the middle on a 25-yard precision pass…
Later in the second stanza; he played pitch-and-catch on a 45-yarder to Gio Bowley (advanced the ball to the opposing 7) before culminating the drive soon after when he scrambled to the right and then threw back to the left to a wide-open Jode Morency for the 7-yard TD exchange!!!
The triumph in this clash of AAA powers snapping a two-game losing streak in the rivalry (dropped 4 of the last 5 meeting); the Crusaders raised their record to 4-2 this fall and will carry needed momentum with them as they build towards the postseason!
Holding a scholarship offer from the University of Washington; if the version of Hong we saw on October 3rd continues to make appearances here on out; then this is a team that cannot/will not be written off come playoff time!
One of those kids for whom it is very easy to root; Hong is also a winner off the field, as per his social media; he sports a 4.0 GPA in the classroom to complement his physical abilities on the gridiron!
Joseph Moran (Jr.); RB/OLB – St. Joe’s By the Sea Vikings
Earning the unofficial nickname, “Moran the Man” by us when he received Player of the Week honors during a week #0 victory against Holy Cross; the Staten Island stud has continued to always be the “most complete” player on the field during the proceeding five weeks; as he has surpassed the century mark as the Vikings’ primary threat out of the backfield on five or six occasions this season…
SJBS sitting at a misleading 3-3 in the standings (they have played a very ambitious schedule that has featured three Triple-A opponents); the squad notched their biggest “w” of the fall thus far in week #5 when they rallied to defeated AAA program, Kellenberg Memorial, 23-14, on Ryan Field last Saturday night…
And to the surprise of no one; it was the bruting 205-pound, two-way beast [Moran] that set the attitude and provided the spark necessary to upend the visiting Firebirds!!
HIs efforts in previous weeks producing games of 164 yards (2 TDs), 121 yards (2 TDs), 155 yards (2 TDs), and 101 yards rushing against Holy Cross, St. Peter’s, Fordham Prep, and Stepinac; the #18 jersey had a tall task ahead of him if he hoped to break any personal record…
But yet, that is exactly what he managed to do versus KMHS; as he astonishingly chewed up season and/or personal-highs of 181 yards on 15 carries, including TDs runs of 22 and 15 yards respectively in the 1st and 4th quarters that gave SJBS an initial 7-0 advantage (9:15 to go); and then broke a 14-14 deadlock (just under 7:00 remaining in regulation) for the winning score!
All of that having been said; as dominant as Moran was as a ball-carrier; it would be his prowess as a receiver that hogged the headlines…
With the Vikings trailing 14-7 in the 4th quarter; he’d be the beneficiary of some good old trickery; as a short pass connection between Junior QB, Pete Tronolone and senior WR, Matthew Fuentes, morphed into a “quick 6” when Moran was on the backend of an 85-yard Hook’N”Ladder to paydirt that knotted the contest at 14 all with 9:50 on the clock!!!
The 266 yards of total offense generated by him raising Moran’s seasonal total to 957 yards and 11 cumulative touchdowns; the 739 purely on the ground presently tops all NYCHSFL personnel regardless of classification!!
Defensively, Moran’s 11 tackles were just one short of tying the career-best he established a week ago in the showdown with Archbishop Stepinac….He added a QB sack to round out his comprehensive body of work and was invaluable in helping the SJBS defensive hold Kellenberg scoreless for the final 15:45 of the evening!
Gianni Pasqualone (Sr.); Athlete – Monsignor Farrell Lions
Possessing abilities which are unlimited and asked to assume roles that are multifaceted; the Monsignor Farrell coaching staff refused to pigeonhole their 5’10, 180-pounder senior by assigning a specific position to him; instead, they just labeled him “ATHLETE”…
And as it pertained to what he displayed in the Lions’ 42-14 victory over Fordham Prep last Friday night; the tag befitted him perfectly!!!!
Eruptive on every instance in which he handled the pigskin on offense; the Staten Island resident generated 145 yards and two touchdowns worth of production en route to helping the “Big Cats” raise their record to 5-1 this season (5-0 against NY opponents)!!!
Entering the evening having been credited with just five receptions for 25 yards through week #4; it did not take long for the man in the #7 jersey to send the message that he was going to be a primary option; as he punctuated Farrell’s opening drive of the contest when he beat his defender in the slot and hauled in the 40-yard completion from Bryce Moye (11-for-12; 253 yards; 3 Tossing TDs/1 TD on the ground) to quickly give the host school a 7-0 lead half-a-minute into the 1st quarter!!
The margin having ballooned to 21-0 at the end of 12 minutes; Pasqualone would be the catalyst for yet another Lion TD (four series, four scores) when just moments after Senior LB, Frank DiMicelli, logged a 40-yard fumble return to the Ram 21; it was “G-Money” on a 20-yard bubble screen to put the Lions on the doorstep….Moye snuck it again on the next snap for an insurance TD (28-0) with 10:45 remaining before halftime!!!
Executioners of a “perfect half” on both sides of the line of scrimmage; after the Farrell defense forced a turnover on downs in their own red zone; Pasqualone made his presence abundantly known yet again when on back-to-back snaps; he’d bank a 25 grab via screen pass to advance the ball to the FP 40; and then took a RB draw to the house (40 yard run) to create the 35-0 differential as the clock dipped below 2:00 before the break!!!
Closing out the night with career-bests of 4 total catches for 101 yards; for good measure, he added a 15-yard snatch on the sideline that enabled Farrell to throw a desperation Hail Mary (prayers) that was caught on a deflection by Lucas Schettino!
While not as prominent in the box score and/or stat sheet; it is absolutely worth acknowledging that as a starting defensive back; Pasqualone was steady in pass coverage and contributed to the unit that held the Rams scoreless during the first 24 minutes of play!!
He is now a first-time POTW selection!
Isaiah Smith (Jr.); QB/RB – Christ the King Royals
Staying with this week’s theme of repeat POTW selection; the first-year Royal returns to the nomination list after first appearing during a week #1 victory at the expense of Mount St. Michael Academy…
Insufficient to say that [Isaiah] Smith was “part of the offense”; a more accurate description would be that the 6’3, 220-pound Long Islander (Malverne) WAS THE OFFENSE for Christ the King in their thrilling 40-37 victory on October 3rd over Kennedy Catholic!!!
Single-handedly accounting for 34 of the team’s cited 40pt output under the Friday Night lights while operating as a Wildcat QB; Smith would obliterate the 211yrd/3 TD effort he delivered in first garnering POTW distinction by combusting to the tune of a 267 yard/5 touchdown masterpiece (also added a pair of 2pt conversions)!!
An absolute slug fest that witnessed four lead changes; Smith was rather spectacular throughout the full 48 minutes; but his star especially shined brightest during crunch time; as it would be his 54-yard trek in the last 2:00 + change (2:07 officially) of regulation that turned a then 37-32 deficit into the an 11th hour comeback conquest on the road!
The game-winner being his third touchdown of the 2nd half (5th overall); he’d dash for gains of 42 and 34 yards respectively in the 3rd quarter to give the Middle Village based school a 20-14 lead (first play from scrimmage) and then later snap a streak of 14 unanswered points for the Gaels to cut a 28-20 hole to just 28-26 with a little over 2:30 to go in the third stanza….
During the opening 24 minutes of action; Smith struck from distances of 5 and 1-yard out to give CTK advantages of 8-7 (1Q) and 14-7 (early 2nd; initiated by a strip sack recovered on the opposing 1)!!!
The monarch of what has been a reign of terror during the early stages of the 2025 fall; in addition to his award-seizing displays against the Mountaineers and the Gaels; Smith would also rack up an 182-yard/3TD day during a week #3 win over Cardinal Spellman!!
Seemingly well on his way towards being a candidate, if not the odds-on favorite to win the Riverso Trophy (League Offensive POY); his cumulative resume of 662 yards and 11 touchdowns put him heavily atop the totem pole in both categories among AA-2 ball-carriers!
Christ the King having not won NYCHSFL hardware since 2003 (back-to-back “A” champ) and not make a trip to Championship Weekend since 2015 (AA runners-up); the Smith factor certainly has the “KINGDOM” feel confident about their title prospects in 2025 and beyond!!
Terrance Watson (Sr.); QB – Xaverian Clippers
There is just something about playing against the Mountaineers of Mount St. Michael Academy that brings the best out of the 6’0, 220-pound Clipper field general!!!!
Named as a Player of the Week during the semifinal round of the 2024 AA-2 playoffs following a 55-14 triumph over MSMA; unlike the previous meeting where it was his legs that attributed 2/3s of his three-touchdown showing; October 5th, 2025 afforded the Brooklyn resident a forum in which to exhibit his skill set as an aerial sniper!!!
Tallying four TDs (3 passing, 1 rushing) in all in spearheading the 36-15 road win over the Mount; like a true team captain; it was Watson elevating his performance on a day where emotions were raw and running high…
The program still mourning the loss of their Offensive Coordinator (Mr. Maurice Jones), who passed away unexpectedly in Late-September; the young standout in the #5 shirt made his mentor proud and gave him plenty of reason to smile down from the heavens!!!
Posting the “natural haul” the first of his “four-spot” came with 7:18 remaining in the 1st half (XR already up 7-0); Watson converted on 4th&1 when he hit Christian LaRocca over the middle in the end zone from 12 yards out to double the margin to 14-0!!
A TD late in the 2nd quarter by MSMA trimming the cushion to 14-6 at the break; Watson’s second “6” of the afternoon came in a most surprisingly fashion; as on 4th & short and only looking to move the chains; he’d bull-ram up the middle on the keeper and after shedding some jails, he’d take the “jailbreak” 70 yards to the promised land on the opening series of 3Q to increase the advantage to 21-7 1:53 into the 2nd half!!
His best work coming in unfavorable scenarios; TD #3 took the form of a 21-yard hook-up to Senior WR, Giacomo Tarasco, on 3rd & 13 to make it a 28-9 lead in the final 4:03 of the 3rd Quarter!
The scoreboard now reading 28-15 after the host Mountaineers struck back for a TD early in the 4Q; Watson played superman yet again when he delivered the clincher in the form of a 20-yard play-action pass to Charles Rattenbury with just 7:00 to go in regulation to round out the banner fruits of his labor and account for the cited result! !!
One Double-A-2 title already under his belt and Watson clearly firing on all cylinders (the Clippers are averaging 29ppg); the thought of Watson playing with extra motivation (in tribute to his departed coach) is a petrifying proposition to all future foes!