Sean Carnevale (Jr.); QB – Chaminade Flyers
Mike Tyson once quipped “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”….
The Flyers junior field general [Carnevale] is definitely a “man with a plan” regardless of circumstances; as it was his poise and coolness under pressure that enabled Chaminade to muster a late rally that sent them to a 21-18 victory over Cardinal Hayes on the campus of Columbia University last Friday night!
Watching as a Cardinals’ touchdown with just over 2:00 remaining in the 4th quarter put them in front, 18-14; the 6’0, 190-pounder hailing from Bayville knew that if he wanted to steal the dub, it was now or never!!
HE CHOSE NOW, as on the ensuing drive, he’d go a perfect 5-for-5 in the air (60 yards), including a 6-yard dart over the middle to Nick Sweeney for the eventual game-winner in the last 38 ticks of regulation!!!
Earlier in the march, it would be a 26-yard completion to fellow 11th grader, Michael Genovese (3 receptions for 50 yards) while scrambling that advanced the ball from the Hayes’ 34 to inside the red zone (8-yard line)!
The 11th hour heroics representing the second TD toss of the evening for Carnevale; it could be argued that his first touchdown pass was equally as important; as his 10-yard pitch-and-catch to a leaping Sean Powers (4 catches for 55 yards, 1 TD) in back of the end zone in the last 2:05 of the 1st half (made the score 12-8 Hayes) awoken a Crimson & Gold offense that had been dormant for much of the opening 24 minutes of action!
Keeping momentum flowing just prior to the intermission; #12 followed up a defensive stand that gave possession back to Chaminade on their own 36 (0:51 on the clock) by hitting on 4-of-5 chucks to move the pigskin to the Hayes’ 24 and facilitate a successful 41-yard boot from senior PK, Justin Jones (2-for-2 on FGs), to cut a once 12-0 deficit to just a single point (12-11) at the break!!!
All in all concluding his evening in the Big Apple with a stat line that read: 14-for-23; 181 yards, 2 TD passes (as well as 30 yards rushing on 5 keepers); Carnevale enters the final week of the AAA regular season atop the NYCHSFL leaderboard in yardage courtesy of the 1,644 yrds (11 TDs) he has banked while boasting a 62.7% rate (126-for-201)!!
A triumph in week #8 over Kellenberg Memorial in the “Marianist Bowl” would close out a 6-4 resume and ought to put “Willie Joe’s” boys in position to hoist their quarterfinal match-up!
Drew Diaz (Sr.); Athlete – Mount St. Michael Academy Mountaineers
Doing the job and/or answering the bell in every walk of life; the 6’2, 170-pound resident of the Bronx is not just a stellar three-sport athlete (football, basketball, and baseball); he is also lethal in the classroom (presently ranks 2nd in his graduation class (4.0 GPA) and is going to be a serious contender to garner Monsignor Peters’ consideration next month!!!
So naturally blessed/gifted; there has no been learning curve or need for transition for Diaz as he flawlessly jumped straight into the Mountaineer line-up as a senior “gridiron rookie”, exceling across the board!
A modern-day Hines Ward, Randall Cobb, Antwaan Randle El, or Julian Edelman; Diaz’s ability to thrive on both ends of the QB to WR exchange has made him an invaluable asset to Mount St. Michael Academy this fall!!
This past Saturday in the Mountaineers’ 35-0 shutout against Nazareth Regional that raised their record back to .500 (4-4); all of Diaz’s tools would be on full display as he’d be responsible for generating 118 yards and three scores worth of total offensive production in vaulting his squad to the victory in the borough brawl of Bronx vs. Brooklyn!!
Both of his receptions (2 grabs for 63 yards) yielding touchdowns; with the Mount already enjoying a 14-0 edge in the 2nd quarter; Diaz would haul in a throw from sophomore field general, Jacob Jimenez, on his own 20 and then hit a spin to free himself en route to parading the rest of the way to the house to cash-in on the 29-yarder that increased the lead to 21-0!
Later in the 2Q, the #11 shirt would again rely on his top-notch mitts; leaking out (uncovered) to open field and chewing up 20 more yards of YAC to polish off a 34-yard hook-up between him and Jimenez to further pull away!!!
Not content to just catch a pair of “6’s”; Diaz took his turn under center in the second half and delivered with utter precision, connecting on both of his attempts (2-for-2 for 45 yards); highlighted by a 41-yard homerun hurl on 3rd & 14 to Ryan Urena in the 3Q that rounded out the scoring for MSMA!!!
A first-time POTW recipient; Diaz heads into the regular season finale having amassed close to 500 yards of output in his dual-role (8 total TDs); passing for 321 yards (24-of-53; 5 touchdowns), while collecting eight snatches for 170 yards and three TDs (all of which were registered in the past two weeks)!!
Michael Libretta Jr. (Jr.); CB – Monsignor Farrell Lions
In the All-Staten Island clash of returning Catholic Champion (2024 AA-1, St. Joseph’s by the Sea) vs. Potential future titlists (Current #1 seed in AAA; Monsignor Farrell); it would be the host Lions defending home soil by a score of 28-6!
Receiving an inspired collective display from their defensive personnel; Farrell would hold a Viking squad that came in entering 18.2 ppg scoreless for the entirety of the 48-minute battle (only TD was am interception return late in the opening half) while only allowing 174 yards of total offense!!!
Starring in this universal stranglehold for the Maroon & Gold would be their 5’10, 170-pound junior cornerback, Libretta Jr., whose contributions were far more immeasurable than the box score would suggest!
His name among the most bellowed by the public address announcer last Friday night; the #84 jersey was officially credited with one major takeaway; but his consistent effort was a catalyst in generating numerous changes of possession…
The Lions already leading 6-0 at the end of the 1Q; it was Libretta doubling that advantage when on the initial snap of the 2nd; he’d step in front of a pass and then dive into the end zone for the 21-yard pick-6 that instantly gave MF a 13-0 cushion!
Later in the 2Q, with the scoreboard now reading as 21-0 in favor of the Amboy Road mafia; Libretta sprang into action on a Joe’s by the Sea pass connection; making the stop short of the sticks to induce a punt with 2:15 to go before the break…
On the last play of the 3rd quarter (score still 21-6); Libretta lowered the shoulder on 3rd down to stuff Vikings RB, Jake Caroppolo, short of the marker on a screen pass to create 4th down…The next snap would be an incomplete pass to produce the T.O.D. just outside of the MF red zone (22-yard-line)!
Late in the 4th (Farrell having added a TD to go up 28-6), with SJBS again in the process of a deep march; Libretta assisted on a tackle of Vikings’ Junior signal caller, Pete Tronolone, to bring up 4th and medium….An off-target throw on the ensuing snap yielded another turnover on downs (on the MF 11) to halt any hopes of a late rally!!!
Wrapping up the night with a team-best of six stops (one short of tying his season-high), the now first-time Player of the Week nominee saw his 2025 resume swell to 2 INTs and 24 tackles…
A first-round bye in the triple-A playoffs a surefire guarantee; Farrell will seek to extending their current winning streak to six in a row, while up also locking up the top-line of the postseason bracket when they welcome in Cardinal Hayes for the regular season finale!
Isaiah Smith (Jr.); RB/QB – Christ the King Royals
Honored for the third time (previously weeks 1 and 5) in a span of nine weeks; we are running out of superlatives that properly and thoroughly capture the essence of domination demonstrated by the 6’3, 220-pound beast in his first season donning the Royals’ jersey!
Every time we think we have seen the “best of Smith”; the 11th grade standout does something the following week that leaves us in awe!
Reaching and/or surpassing the century-mark on the ground being the “floor” for what we have come to anticipate/expect from the #5 jersey; Smith is well on his way towards finishing 2025 as the most prolific runner in the NYCHSFL as he headlines the totem poles in both seasonal yardage (1,184) and TD runs (20) in lifting Christ the King to a 5-3 record (after notching just two combined wins in the previous five seasons)!!!!
With performances of three or more touchdowns in four separate games already under his belt when he stepped on the field to square off against the Bayhawks of St. Dominics; Smith proved that he is chasing no one or nothing but his own greatness when it comes to making a plea for “Riverso Offensive POY” consideration!!!
Having a direct hand (or arm; or legs for that matter) in each and every one of the 44 points accrued by the Middle Village cohort in their 44-6 defeat of St. Doms; Smith would post a season best SIX TOUCHDOWNS, while also contributing to four successful 2pt conversions!!!
Breaking the ice after a scoreless opening 12 minutes; Smith plunged across the goal line from 1-yard away (then ran in the 2-pointer) to give Christ the King the 8-0 lead with just under 8:00 remaining in the 1st half…
The cushion grew to 16-0 at the halfway mark, as Smith capitalized off of a 20-yard INT return via Justin Brothers (1 Pick, 2 PDs) by peeling of runs of 7 and 3 yards on back-to-back carries for his second “6” of the afternoon in the final 1:00 (0:41) of 2Q!
Aided by a 33-yard pass over the top to Dylan Esson (2 catches for 51 yards) to advance the ball to the opposing 2; Smith struck for his third rushing touchdown of the day on the opening match of the 2nd half to make it a 24-0 affair (2pt pass to Esson)!
A turnover on downs on the Bayhawks next drive enabling the Royals to regain control of the ball at their own 35; the series was one-and-done as Smith launched a perfect 65-yard missile down the middle to Melvin Beltran to up the margin to 32-0!!
After an STD TD late in the 3rd quarter spoiled the shutout; Smith immediately responded when he hit Esson on a 47-yard precision pass early in the 4th…
For good measure, his ultimate highlight of the matinee took the form of a 65-yard trek to paydirt for his fourth land score of the day to round out his miraculous exhibition!
Cumulatively, Smith registered a perfectly balanced 364 yards of output; carrying the rock 14 times for 182 yards (4 scores) and flinging to the tune of a 5-for-8, 182-yard, 2TD showing aerially (his first two TD passes of the fall)!
Presently sitting in the #4 spot of the AA-2 playoff picture; it need not be said that CTK will ride their thoroughbred every step of the way when they go hunting for a power-point boost against AA-1 title contenders, Xavier, in week #8!
Ian Williams (Sr.);QB/DB – Holy Trinity Titans
The pulse of a Green & White beast that has been victorious in four of their last five outings; the two-way senior sensation from Queens has been formally recognized by the NYCHSFL on three of those occasions; as his week #7 POTW selection comes on the heels of previous accolades in weeks 4 and 6!!!
His reputation as a game-changer/difference-maker well established prior to the penultimate contest of the 2025 regular season; the 5’11, 185-pounder never seems to have an “off” week; as even in the games in which the Titans were upended; he still made his presence known…
And last Saturday, in what was HT’s signature win of 2025 thus far; Williams was as exceptional as ever; as he’d use his limbs to the fullest of their abilities to guide the Hicksville based squad to a 20-17 victory over returning AA-1 runners-up, St. Peter’s!
Amassing 254 yards of offensive firepower; the #15 jersey sniped his way to 202 yards and a pair of touchdown passes while hurling at a 73.7% rate (14-of-19)…Simultaneously, he averaged in excess of 5 yards per carry in banking 54 yards on 10 keepers!!!
However, at the early stages of the LI vs. SI collision; it would actually be his “D” that commanded attention; as he was part of a gang tackle on 3rd down that later resulted in a T.O.D. (on the HT 22) that halted the Eagles’ first series of the day!
As the saying goes, “You can’t keep a good man down”; and such was the story of Williams on offense; as he eventually settled into a groove in the last 6:00 of the 1st half when facing 4th & 5; he delivered a 35-yard strike while evading the pass rush to fab frosh, Ja’Sean Grafton, to put Trinity up 13-7!
Fast-forwarding to the onset of the 4th quarter [HT up 13-10]; Williams again was good when he needed to be; as just moments after moving the chains by finding Darnell Rink for a 10-yard hook-up on 4th & 3; he polished off the drive by chucking a 22-yard laser into the waiting arms of Marcus Abellard (4 catches 80 yards 1 TD; also had a INT on “D”) for an insurance score that made it a 20-10 contest with 10:51 remaining in regulation…
The former WR put his grade-A hands to perfect use when on STP’s next series; he notched an interception in the end zone (the fourth pick of the afternoon for the Titans) to keep it a 10pt margin with 7:20 on the clock…
This clutch takeaway proved even more substantial when you factor in that St. Peter’s was able to cut the deficit to 20-17 by virtue of a late 4th quarter TD!
Projected as the #3 seed in the AA-2 playoffs; Williams and the Titans will be afforded one chance at improving their spot when they tangle with Nazareth Regional as a warm-up for the postseason!