#3 St. Anthony’s (6-4) vs. #6 Cardinal Hayes (1-7)
When: Friday November 7th, 2025 @7pm
Where: Cy Donnelly Field on the campus of St. Anthony’s HS (275 Wolf Hill Road; Huntington Station, NY 11747)
Watch (Online): Varsity Media
Players to Watch (St. Anthony’s)
*Anthony Diieso (So.; QB)—Stepping in to fill the cleats of 1st-Team All-Stater/NYCHSFL Offensive Player of the Year, Gary Merrill; the 10th grader has been solid, accumulating1,770 yards (1,424 in the air; 346 rushing) and 10 touchdowns (8 passing) in his year taking the snaps
*Xavier Bala (Jr.; RB)—-One of the most highly touted running back in the entire Empire State; Bala has routinely shown why just about every power-5 college program has him on their radar….Needing just four additional yards to reach 1,000 for the season; he is averaging 5.2/per carry and has found paydirt on 18 different ocasions
*Anthony Mancaruso (Sr;. WR)—-The program leader in receptions this season; the senior wide-out has hauled in 31 balls for 305 yards!
*Johnny Russo (Sr; WR)—The second of the Friars dynamic duo of pass-catching threats; the 12th grader out of Port Jefferson Station in on the heels of his teammate for top totem pole distinction as he has put forth a 30 reception/317 yard/2TD swan song!
*Justin Joseph (So.; OL)—One behemoth of a young stud; the measureables alone—6’5, 290, on the super sophomore make him impossible to miss….He presently lines up at RT; but it need not be said that he will make that switch to the vaunted left side as an upperclassmen
*Anthony Sanchez (Jr.; DB)—The leading tackler (49) and ball hawk (3 INTs) for STA this season; Sanchez has been sensational!
*David (Sr. LB)—One of four senior members of the linebacking corps; McCue has been extraordinary in logging a team-high of 56 stops (including 4 TFLs); He also has a pair of QB bags this season
*Ethan Bramoff (Sr.; LB)—Another core asset to the LB cohort; the 5-star lacrosse standout has been quite potent on the gridiron to boot; as he has enters the postseason with 32 cumulative stops; highlighted by team-bests in sacks (5) and TFLs (6)
*Kevin Moore (Sr.; DB/WR)—The “X” factor for the Friars; Moore is the most versatile player on the field; as he is a significant contributor on both sides of the line of scrimmage….Defensively, he has racked up a stat line that reads as follows: 39 stops (4 TFLs), 1 sack, and a Pick-6….On offense, he gives the passing game yet another weapon, as he has spread the field to the tune of team-highs in receiving yardage (342) and TD snatches (4) on 20 total grabs!
Players to Watch (Cardinal Hayes)
*Kyle Mercorelli (Jr.; QB)—Holding some solid DI scholarships offers; there is no question regarding the abundance of talents present in the first-year Cardinals starter…He has tremendous arm strength and is quite mobile for a man his size (6’4, 208 pounds)….If he can find his groove on Friday; he is capable of putting a big number on the board!
*Khalid Hedges (So.; RB)—An explosive presence out of the Hayes’ backfield; we recently saw the Bay Shore resident put the Cardinals on his back and almost lead them to a week 8 week over Chaminade….When he gets in open field, he creates separation and is almost impossible to stop…
*Johnnye Booker (Jr.; WR)—A converted QB that they like to line-up in the backfield; Booker can be lethal on WR screens; and because of his past; he is a threat to showcase some trickery as a double-pass option!!
*Erik Drobnak (Jr; WR)—Registered a pair of TD grabs in the loss to STA last month
*Adonis Cottes (Sr.; WR)—Brings senior leadership to the position as he entered the fall as the team’s top returning receiving target
*JaMarr Malcolm (Jr. OT)—A scholarship from Syracuse already on the table for the 6’5, 275-pounder for the Bronx; he will be tasked with giving his field general a smooth pocket from which to work!
*Joshua Lossman (Sr.; LB)—A playmaker as a junior for a heavily senior-loaded squad in 2024; Lossman has ascended to the role of the “pulse” for the Hayes defense; he will set the tone!
Mini Synopsis/Last time they Met
When the two schools previously met on October 10th; it was St. Anthony’s able to build a 35-0 lead behind the efforts of Bala (25 carries for 101 yards, 3 rushing TDs), Diieso (11-for-14 in the air for 116 yards, 1TD throw; an additional 33 yards and 1 score as a runner), and Russo (5 grabs for 65 yards with one TD snatch)…
Defensively, Sanchez (2 INTs), as well as McCue (7 stops, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 blocked punts) were anchored for a unit that kept the Cardinals off the board for three-plus quarters!
Drobnak was a bright spot in the loss for the Cardinals as he was responsible for scoring both of their TDs on receptions of 27 and 54 yards!
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#4 Archbishop Stepinac (6-4) vs. #5 Chaminade (6-4)
When: Saturday November 8th, 2025 @1:30m
Where: Archbishop Stepinac HS (950 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY 10605)
Watch (Online): SportsEngine Play
Players to Watch (Stepinac)
*Grayer Hong/ Jahmai McNeil (Jr.; QB)—Platooning this season under the center; each of this pair of Junior field generals have received POTW distinction over the course of the regular season….Combined, they have accrued 1,311 yards (680 by Hong) and 10 touchdowns (7 by McNeil)…Whether we see one or both; the Crusaders seem equally confident in whomever takes the snaps!
*John Smith (Sr.; RB)—One of his four 100-yarding outings this season occurring in the loss to Chaminade; the Bronx resident is an all-purpose presence out of the backfield as he has run for 796 yards on 121 carries (4TDs), while also hauling in 10 passes for an additional 194 yards (2 scores)
*Richie DeMarco (Sr.; WR)—-The statistical leader across the board in all receiving categories; during the regular season, the #2 jersey amassed 33 catches for 415 yards and three touchdown grabs
*Jordyn Eaton (Sr.; WR)—Another valuable component of the Stepinac aerial attack; the senior has put up excellent numbers to the tune of 23 receptions for 388 yards and three TDs
*Julani Graham (Sr.; LB/LB)—-A senior transfer from Middletown; Graham has thrived in his first and only season as a Crusader; as his 126 tackles ranked 5th in all of New York State, while his 11 TFLs are among the leaders in the NYCHSFL regardless of division…Graham also has 2 sacks and an INT to round out his defensive stat line from the LB position….As an added bonus, he can be utilized as an RB option on offense; as evident by the 145 yards and four TDs he has recorded on limited touches (23 carries)!
*Ka’Mauri Guinyard (Sr.; OLB/DE)— The sack master among the Stepinac front 7; the senior hailing from Yonkers has stockpiled 7 QB bags while also being credited with 17 hurries…Well-rounded in his abilities, he is also a reliable tackler as proven by his 59 total tackles (4th on the team)!
*Eddie Keeler (Sr.; OLB/DE)-–Bringing the “heat” from the other side of the line is the 230-pound Stamford resident….Trailing only Graham in TFLs with 8; and second only to Guinyard with 5 sacks and 9 hurries; he will be a headache for the Flyer OLs!
*Derek Watson (Sr.; LB)—-Adding to the depth and/or firepower of the LBs is another dominant senior in the person of Watson; his 2 INTs proof that he can handle pass coverage; there is no doubting his ability to wreak havoc in all other areas as he has collected 53 stops (4 TFLs), 1 sack, and 6 QB hurries!
*Dean Gaughran (So.; MLB)—A young bulldog among the LB corps; the 10th grader is the future linchpin of the Stepinac “D”, as his 76 stops and 2 sacks thus far is just the start of a brilliant three-year varsity stay!
*Nieem Hardy (Sr.; CB/S)—A commander of the no-fly zone along the last line of defense; the senior defensive back boasts team-bests with 3 INTs and 7 pass break-ups this season…Not just a finesse performer; his 60 stops display a willingness to get dirty and apply some hits!
Players to Watch (Chaminade)
*Sean Carnevale (Jr.; QB)—The most prolific passer in all of the NYCHSFL this season in his first year running the Flyer offense; the Bayville resident completed 64 percent of his throw attempts (140-for-219) for a sum of 1,749 yards and 12 touchdown hurls…While not looking to scramble; his 191 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground show that when need be; he possessed the athleticism to beat you with his legs!
*Anthony Trapani (Jr.; RB/LB)—-Putting the “Valuable” in MVP; there has been no greater performer on either side of the ball than the 180-pound North Bellmore native…The program leader in all rushing categories with 792 yards and nine touchdowns this season on 102 hand-offs; Tripani has also found the energy to be among Chaminade’s busiest gentlemen on defense…He is at or near the top of the leaderboard in tackles (77; 1st), TFLs (7; 2nd), Sacks (4; 1st), and so forth….His name will be called steadily for 48 minutes!
*Sean Powers (Sr.; WR)—Enjoying a banner swan song campaign; Powers has emerged as the top target for Chaminade…With 37 receptions for 616 yards (most in the NYCHSFL) and six TD hauls; he tops the charts in all pass-catching categories for the squad!
*Michael Genovese (Sr.; WR)—The back-half of a trusted 1-2 punch out wide; Genovese is every bit as dangerous as his teammate; which he has demonstrated via a 31 reception, 442 yard, 1TD illustration this fall!
*Declan Miller (Sr.; OL)—Named as an Honorable Mention All-State selection last year; the 295-pound Garden City resident is the leader in the trenches from the pivot position!
*Liam Trainor (Sr.; LB)—Second only to Trapani with 69 total stops (4 TFL); Trainor never takes a play off
*Luca Smith (Sr.; LB)—Named 3rd-Team All-State in 2024; Smith has backed up the hype associated with his name as he has produced 48 stops (3 TFLs), 2 sacks, and four fumbles caused/4 recoveries!
*Thomas Jemison (Sr.; DL)—In the midst of a breakout year as a senior; Jemison is tied for the team lead with 4 sacks and has been playing North/South shutdown football to the tune 41 total stops (7 TFLs)!
*Matthew Arias (Jr.; DT)—One of those kids that when you hear his name, you know good things just happened…Of the 28 stops in which he has accrued, a team-best 11 have resulted in negative yardage, including four sacks (tied for the squad high)
*Justin Jones (Sr.; PK/P)—-5th-Team All-State last season; Jones possesses as strong a leg as anyone in the NYCHSFL….While blocked kicks have been issue at times; when he does get the boot off; he has limitless range (season-best of 49 yarder)…Handling both kickoff and punting duties; he has the ability to dictate starting field position for the opponent
Mini Synopsis/Last time they Met
An instant classic when the two squads met on this exact same field on September 19th; it would be a stop on a 2pt-conversion that enabled the visiting Flyers to steal the 24-23 overtime victory!!
Both teams sporting matching 6-4 resumes; anticipate the encore being every bit as competitive as the original…
During the initial showdown, Carnevale (12-for-20, 172 yards, 1TD), Trapani (102 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10 carries; also 6 stops/2 TFLs) and Powers (4 grabs for 83 yards; game-winning TD) were the catalysts on offense; while Joseph Chabus (9 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks), Jemison (6 stops, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks), Arias (4 stops, 3 TFLs, 1 sack), & Luca Mastronardi (3 tackles, 1 INT) were headliners on D!!
The host Crusaders received exceptional efforts on offense from Smith (125 yards on 20 carries), Graham (82 yards + 1TD on 10 hand-offs; also had 12 stops/2 TFLs/4 QB hurries), and Eaton (4 grabs for 91 yards, 1 TD catch)…
Complementing the aforementioned Graham in providing the boom on defense were Guinyard (9 tackles, 5 hurries), Watson (8 stops, 1 caused fumble), and Keeler (4 tackles, 4 hurries, fumble recovery for a touchdown)!