AA-1 FINALS
#1 St. Joseph’s by the Sea (6-4) vs. #2 Xavier (9-2)
When: Saturday November 22nd, 2025 @11am
Where: Coffey Field on the campus of Fordham University (441 East Fordham Road; Bronx, NY, 10458)
Watch: Varsity Media (Youtube)
PATH TO THE FINALS (St. Joe’s by The Sea)
–Quarterfinals: BYE
-Semifinals: 20-6 over Fordham Prep
TITLE GAME HISTORY (St. Joseph’s By the Sea)
*2000 (A): Lost to St. Peter’s, 41-12
*2001 (A): Lost to St. John the Baptist, 21-19
*2003 (A): Lost to Moore Catholic, 21-16
*2019 (AA-2): Lost to Moore Catholic, 28-6
*2024 (AA-1): Champions behind a 8-7 victory against St. Peter’s
2025 PLAYOFF STANDOUTS (St. Joseph’s by the Sea):
*Pete Tronolone (Jr.; QB)—Accounted for one touchdown apiece with his various limbs; connected on 5-of-10 in the air for 82 yards (1 TD) whiling adding an additional 29 yards and another score on 5 carries during the semifinal win over Fordham Prep
*Joseph Moran (Jr.; RB/LB)—A pillar/standout on both sides of the line of scrimmage last weekend; not only did the 11th grader amass 112 yards (1 TD) as the primary running option out of the backfield; he also had the energy to rack up 8 tackles (1 TFL) and a sack as part of the collective performance on “D”
*Miles Sinclair (Sr.; WR/LB)-–Credited with a pair of receptions for 45 yards
*Christian Yue (Sr.; WR/DB)—His versatility shining through during the final-4 match-up against the Rams; the 12th grader tallied 92 yards of total production in the final-4 via 3 carries for 58 yards and an additional 34 yards (1 TD grab) on a pair of snatches!
*Sal Leto (Jr.; LB)— The 11th grader made the most of his limited opportunities by averaging 11.3 yards per hand-off to finish the game with 45 yards on the ground!
*Nick Laona (Jr.; DB)—-Earning POTW honors for his heroics in the semifinals; the Junior DB tied his career-high with 8 tackles in the win over the Rams…To boot, he’d ice the victory by notching a 4th quarter interception!
*Matthew Fuentes (Sr.; DB)—-Equaled his season/career-high with 7 cumulative stops in the semifinals; tacked on an INTas well as proof of his stellar coverage skills
*Dominick D’Orazio (Sr.; LB)—Was all over the field in the win over FP last weekend; Tied his personal-high of 11 total stops and broke up a pair of Ram passes in delivering a well-rounded contribution!
*Christopher Dunne (Sr.; DB)—Added to the elite play of the defensive backfield by intercepting a pass to accompany the 3 tackles with which he was credited!
——————————————————————
PATH TO THE FINALS (Xavier)
–Quarterfinals: 14-7 over Kellenberg Memorial
-Semifinals: 30-13 against St. Peter’s
TITLE GAME HISTORY (Xavier)
*1996 (A): Champs by way of a 19-18 win against Holy Trinity
*1999 (A): Lost 43-40 to Kellenberg Memorial (3OT)
*2007 (A): Champions behind a 45-33 triumph over St. John the Baptist
*2012 (AA): Champions courtesy of a 35-14 win versus St. John the Baptist
*2015 (AA): Champions by way of a 28-25 victory over Christ the King
*2018 (AA): Lost to Kellenberg Memorial, 41-6
*2022 (AA-2) Champions via 29-22 victory over Mount St. Michael Academy
2025 PLAYOFF STANDOUTS (Xavier):
*Peter Heaney (Sr.; QB)—The only person to score an offensive touchdown this post season, Heaney is fresh off of a semifinal display that saw him explode for career-bests in yardage (168) and TD runs (4) en route to earning Player of the Week accolades….Between the quarterfinals and semis, he has totals of 244 yards and 6 scores on 57 carries….In limited pass attempts, he has been incredibly accurate, hitting on 4 of 5 throws for a sum of 74 yards!
*Elijah Stewart (Sr.; RB/DB)—Answering the call to duty on both sides of the ball; Stewart has been a trusted member of the running back by committee, as he has run for 74 yards on 14 hand-offs….On Defense, he posted a team-high 6 stops in the quarterfinals and then followed it up by collecting two more tackles in the semifinal win against St. Peter’s!
Riley McLaughlin (Sr.; RB)—Limited to just 22 yards on 8 carries in the quarters; the senior RB reestablished his groove a week ago, as he amassed 62 yards on 12 tries versus the Eagles!
*Tyler Buono (Sr;. RB)—The depth/options in the Knight backfield seemingly infinite; Buono is averaging 8.3 yards per carry in the playoffs as his 68-yard effort (8 attempts) in the semis raised his postseason total to 99 yards (12 hand-offs)!
*Liam Averill (Sr.; WR)—The only Xavier player to record a catch in each of the two playoff rounds; the 6’4 target has become a stretch threat as evident by the 50 yards he has compiled on 2 total receptions!
*Robert Milacci (Sr.; LB)—A kid with a nose for the ball; he has posted efforts of 6 and 8 stops respectively in his two playoff appearances this fall!
*Brady Metzger (Sr.; LB)—Doing a little bit of everything in the semis; the senior ‘backer posted a stat line of 4 tackles, 1 sack, and an INT in the win over St. Peter’s…His final-4 demonstration came on the heels of tying his career-best of 8 tackles during the quarters…All in all this postseason, he has racked up 12 tackles (3 stops for negative yardage), 2 sacks (one in each game), and the cited INT!
*Kenneth Swanson (Sr.; DE)—Collecting 9 total stops (2 TFLs), a sack, and a forced fumble during the playoffs, Swanson tied his career-high in the semifinals with 6 tackles!
*Sebastian Myers (Sr.; DB)—Showing up in a big way in the quarterfinals, Myers finished with a career-high of 9 tackles to go along with a pair of pass break-ups two weeks ago…As an encore act, he was steady in the semis to the tune of 3 total tackles!
Mini Synopsis/Last time they Met
Two programs that seemed to be on a collision course all season to meet in the finale; of the six combined losses that St. Joseph’s and Xavier suffered this season; four came against AAA division schools…
Momentum existing on both sidelines, the defending champion Vikings had been victorious in four of their last five games (only loss to AAA top-seed, Monsignor Farrell); whereas the second-seeded Knights enter on a four-game winning streak (took the dub in six of their last seven outings)….
For SJBS, who are determined to become the first AA squad to repeat as champions since Kellenberg Memorial went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018, the fact that they have been able to make it back to Championship weekend despite losing the majority of their key personnel off of last year’s title-seizing roster to graduation has been nothing short of miraculous!!
Filling the cleats of the likes of Thomas DiGregorio (2024 AA-1 finals Offensive MVP), Dean Coscia (AA-1 finals Defensive MVP), and their fellow All League honorees—Joe Solla, John Munson, Anthony Lavezzoli, Luigi Biondolillo, and Marco Domante have been Joseph Moran (primary a defensive player in ‘24; is now on his way to a 1,000 yard season as the primary RB), Dominick D’Orazio, Christopher Dunne, Sal Leto, Michael Zawatsky, Nick Laona, and Matthew Fuentes, whom have all assumed larger roles on their respective sides of the ball…
Moran’s (also among the top defenders for SJBS) success on the ground has smoothened the learning curve for first-year signal caller, Pete Tronolone, who has kept opposing defenses honest by throwing for 897 yards and 7 touchdowns….
Working as a dynamic duo in the backfield, #4 and #18 have the Vikings putting a respectable average of 17.4ppg on the scoreboard…
However, it has been the gentlemen referenced above on “D” that have especially been the catalysts as they have combined for 26.5 TFLs, 17.5 sacks, 8 INTs, 14 pass breaks-ups, and 5 forced fumbles while holding their opponents to 15.5 points per!!
Not to overlooked has been the two-way presence of Christian Yue, who has been mainstay at WR/CB during each of the trek’s to championship weekend in 2024 and 2025….The senior leads the squad in reception yardage (393) while simultaneously adding 34 tackles and an interception on “D”!
Turning our attention the Knights, who were AA-2 titlists as recently as 2022, but are going hunting for the bigger prize (AA-1) for the first time since 2015; what makes them special is that “Lombardi Packers mentality” where you know what they intend to do; but yet are still unable to prevent them from executing the plan!!!
While not as balanced with the ball in their possession as Joe’s by the Sea; the truth is that when your running attack is as deep and potent as is the case with Xavier; you do not need diversity to prevail…
Led by their senior QB, Peter Heaney (just under 1,200 yards this season), and aided by an embarrassment of riches at RB comprised of Elijah Stewart, Riley McLaughlin, and Tyler Buono, the Manhattan based school heads into the finale having accumulated an astounding 2,928 yards and 34 touchdowns this season as the crux of a 24.5 points per game average!!!
The ability to dominate the clock being a potential tipping point in determining the outcome; don’t for a second think that if need be; the Xavier defense is not well up to the task at hand….
Surrendering a mere 11.6 ppg in 2025, if you don’t already know the names Robert Milacci, Brady Metzger, Ryan Lavin, Ace Jernstedt, Sebastian Myers, Salvatore Vitale, Kenneth Swanson, or James Halpin among others; rest assured that you will be quite familiar with them by the end of Saturday’s festivities….
As a unit, this group of hammers has been unmerciful and relentless in stockpiling 47 TFLs, 14 sacks, 6 interceptions, and 20 pass break-ups!…
And the numbers above do not even factor in the talents of Stewart who in addition to being 500+-yard rusher, has also made 44 tackles, intercepted a pass, and broke up four additional throws in his direction!
Last year’s AA-1 money match settled by a score of 8-7; we anticipate a little more offensive production in 2025; but ultimately, this showdown has the makings of a “grind it out”, “points at a premium” affair!