What do you get when you cross a revolutionary talent, a generational talent, and a “tough as nails” stallion?
The answer is that you get 5,954 yards and a mind-blowing 70 touchdowns out of a trio that not failed to amaze at every stage of the 2025 Catholic football season!!!
Two of our winners leading their schools to titles, while the third was the lifeblood of a resurrection in Queens; the respective bodies of work assembled by these gentlemen will not soon be forgotten!!!
It is with the utmost pride and gratitude (for the countless memories) that we welcome the following to the Riverso Memorial annals—-Isaiah Smith (AA-2; Christ the King), Peter Heaney (AA-1; Xavier), & Crew Davis (AAA; Iona Prep)!
The most prolific performer in the entire NYCHSFL regardless of classification; Smith took Metro Catholic football by storm in his first season as a Royal (transferred in from Malverne) and in doing so, he elevated the program to heights and/or achievements that they had not seen in quite some time….2-39 since the abbreviated 2020 season (22-game losing streak), CTK was in need of a “higher power” and they found it in the person of the 6’3, 220-pound thoroughbred…Rewriting the record book in his debut year in Middle Village, Smith exceeded the 100-yard threshold on eight different occasions, including three separate appearances where he posted 200+ yard rushing efforts (high of 271 in the AA-1 quarterfinals). During this same stint, he’d log six outings in which he scored three or more touchdowns in a single-game (high of 5 in a barn-burning week #5 win over Kennedy Catholic); …All in all, the junior was responsible for producing 2,127 yards (1,727 on the ground; 307 passing) and 26 touchdowns (24 running) worth of offensive firepower to literally and figuratively carry his new home to a 6-5 resume that yielded them a berth in the semifinals; And this does not even take into consideration the 13 successful 2pt conversions he mustered…His selflessness and commitment to the team infinite; when asked to assume a larger role on defense, he contributed 19 total stops, 5 TFLs, and even registered a pick-6!!!….The first Christ the King student-athlete to win the Riverso; it is easy to sit in Smith’s corner because per the CTK coaching staff, “He is a better kid off of the football field than he is on it.”
Heaney, the workhorse and heartbeat of a Knight ground attack that amassed 3,588 yards and scored 41 TDs in 2025, was good all season; but he was “next level” lethal during the postseason as he’d personally account for 8 of Xavier’s 10 touchdowns (all rushing) to vault the Manhattan based program to their first Double-A-1 hardware since 2015…As an encore, he’d punctuate a brilliant senior swan song by tacking on his second straight 200-yard display (226 in the league finale, 203 in the Turkey Bowl) and scored his final two scholastic touchdowns to help Xavier prevail on Thanksgiving over their rivals from Fordham Prep…A perennial century-mark achiever (9x in 11 games); the 185-pound resident of Brooklyn trailed only the aforementioned Smith on the NYCHSFL leaderboard, as he concluded the fall with an astounding 1,620 yards on 255 attempts (6.4/per); highlighted by 19 trips to paydirt (3rd most among all Metro Catholic personnel)….While not his forte; it did not go overlooked that the #2 jersey would also throw for 408 yards and 4 more scores to bring his seasonal sums to 2,028 and 23!!!….His selection as OPOY breaks a decade+-long drought, as Heaney becomes the first honoree since William Soloman did the deed in 2012...Seamus Kelly (2008) was the first Knight winner!
Named as the NYS Offensive Player of the Year in 2024; it only seemed appropriate that the living legend known as “Crew Davis” would follow up this major feat by adding the top prize within the NYCHSFL!!!…One of, if not the most dominant postseason player that we’ve seen during the past decade; the future University of North Carolina Tar Heel repeated as the AAA title game MVP by virtue of a 253 yard (202 rushing, 51 as a receiver) demonstration in the win over Monsignor Farrell; and he very well could have been the recipient of the NYCHSAA State MVP (won it in ‘24) after accruing 146 yards (48 rushing, 98 as a pass-catcher) and three TDs in propelling the Gaels to a sweep of brass rings for the second straight campaign….The textbook definition of the term “versatile”; when playing against the Fairfield, CT native, it was never a question of stopping him; but rather, “picking your poison” and accepting that one way or another, #5 was doing to put on a show and leave you in the dust…Possessing “Sunday potential”, the 205-pound multi-sport standout (will also suit up for the nationally ranked lacrosse program) did 1,800 yards (1,305 running; 494 as a receiver on 36 grabs) and 21 touchdowns (16 on the ground; 5 with his hands) worth of offensive damage in 2025 to further bolster his legacy in Maroon & Gold…”The Whole Package” as accurately described by Coach, Joe Spagnolo, Davis is IP’s seventh Riverso recipient since 2008, joining now fellow club members—Jeffrey Mack (2008), Sidney Weston (2010), Mario Biaggi (2012), Robert Madison (2014), Derek Robertson (2018), and most recently, Ajani Sheppard (2021)!