2025 NYCHSAA STATE FINALS MVPs (Iona Prep)
Offense: Julian Guzman (Sr.; QB)
3 State finals appearances…3 titles (and counting)…This is the legacy that the 6’0, 185-pound field general will be leaving behind in New Rochelle as this past weekend, he added a second straight NYCHSAA crown on the gridiron to the 2025 hardware he claimed on the baseball diamond last spring…
Fresh off of a 4TD illustration (2 passing, 2 rushing) in the Metro Catholic AAA finals triumph over Monsignor Farrell and putting on the pads for perhaps the last time in a storied scholastic journey (will be focusing on baseball at the University of Maryland); if November 29th was his curtain call; then bravo to him for bringing down the house in every possible way to direct the host Gaels to a 42-21 triumph over Monsignor Martin champs, St. Francis HS!!!
Garnering his first MVP honors between the four combined league and/or state final outings made as the cohort’s two-year starting maestro in the falls of ‘24 and ‘25; Guzman is now a three-time career POTW selection (previously recognized during week #1 of the 2024 campaign and week #2 of 2025)!!!
Responsible for generating 368 yards and two touchdowns of offensive firepower as part of Iona Prep’s success repeat bid; the returning 1st Team All-Stater completed a season-high 18 throws (18-for-25) for 267 yards (2 scores), while adding an additional 101 yards on 8 carries…
In doing so, he notched his sixth 200+-yard effort in the air this season and surpassed the century mark with his legs for a third time during his senior year!
Getting off to a fast start on Saturday afternoon, the #15 shirt would go a perfect 4-for-4 hurling (31 total yards) on IP’s opening series of the contest to set up a 1-yard TD run courtesy of fellow 12th grade icon, Crew Davis (48 yards rushing + 1TD on 15 rushing attempts; 7 receptions for 92 yards and a pair of TDs) to draw first blood (7-0) with 5:46 remaining in the 1st quarter…
The scoreboard now even at 7 apiece late in the 2nd quarter; it was a 14-yard shovel pass to Davis for the touchdown that put the Maroon & Gold back on top, 14-7, with 93 ticks before the intermission…
Executing the 76-yard march down field with poise and precision; the aforementioned pitch to his star tailback [Davis] capped off a 3-for-5 saga (37 yards) for Guzman with his arm; he’d also add a 22-yard scramble to further facilitate the go-ahead “6”!!
The Red Raiders valiantly refusing to go down gently; the tag team of Terp to Tar Heel (Guzman to Davis) hooked up again on perhaps their biggest connection of 2025 when they answered a STF TD and broke a 21-21 deadlock on a 40-yard home run strike (to make it a 28-21 advantage) with 4:02 left in the 3Q for what proved to be the game-winner!!
On the next possession of the afternoon (after the defense induced a punt), Guzman may not have been directly involved in the eventual scoring sequence; but he was definitely “Jesus to Lazarus” in his ability to resurrect the drive; as facing “3rd & Infinity”, he launched a 46-yard bomb to Eric Pirrello (4 grabs for 79 yards) to move the chains and put the Gaels at the opposing 11 yard line…Shortly after, Chase Reeves (6 hand-offs for 54 yards) powered his way to the goal line and Dashawn Harley pounced on the loose ball in the end zone to create a 35-21 margin with just 11:02 remaining in regulation…
Factoring in his superb display in November 2024; Guzman has now compiled 5 touchdowns (all via the sky) in his two state title appearances, as he went 8-for-13 (126 yards, 3 TD throws) in the victory over Canisus!
His final bow one that will be forever remembered; by virtue of his stellar body of work in his Gael encore, the Ossining resident closed out 2025 with a stat line of the following: 163-for-239 chucking (2,380 yards; 21 touchdowns); plus an extra 804 yards and 11 more TDs by way of 85 keepers!
Defense: Mamadee Sangaray (Jr.; DB/WR)
A man who puts the “Dee” in “Dee-fense”; the 200-pound 11th grader from the Bronx showed why the Gaels’ coaching staff and several national recruiting pundits have pegged him as a major-FBS prospect!!
Already holding scholarship offers from Syracuse, Boston College, Minnesota, Buffalo, etc; Sangaray did nothing but further boost his stock during last Saturday’s State title victory against the Red Raiders…
Reminding us of another recent NYCHSFL superstar, Ian Strong (St. Anthony’s class of 2023); the belief is that Sangaray projects on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage; but his overall athleticism makes him a viable candidate to convert to offense (like Strong did at Rutgers) or perhaps even double-up as an ironman!!!
The CHSAA State finals game providing him with a forum in which to put the total breadth of his God-given skillset on exhibit; no matter what was asked of him during the 48-minute proceedings, Sangaray delivered key play after key plan…
Labeled by us as a combination of “Bulldozer and Ball-hawk” in our Catholic States preview; the stallion donning the #9 jersey lived up to the moniker and the hype as he laid countless hats on St. Francis ball-carriers to help limit them to just 60 yards on the ground (nearly a –200 differential from the 258.2 they came in averaging)…He concluded the “money match” have amassed 9 total stops!!!
To boot, he’d find himself front-and-center in creating the second of a pair of traditional turnovers when up 35-21, he halted a promising Red Raider series by camping under a pass for an interception (his second of the year) on his own 25 with 9:26 left in the 4th quarter…
The well-timed pick most certainly his most memorable contribution on “D”; another notable bullet point came in the form of a pass break-up on 3rd down that eventually led to a missed FG on STF’s initial possession of the afternoon!
Being spotlighted on offense; while he would not score a TD like he did in the ‘24 finale (hauled in a 24-yarder for his lone reception), Sangaray was influential as he made two grabs for 38 yards; highlighted by a 24-yard screen pass on the ensuing possession following his interception that moved the ball inside the enemy red zone (STF 15)…Had it not been for untimely penalties, this catch very well could have been a catalyst for another Gaels’ TD!!
Two varsity seasons…Two league titles…Two state titles now under his belt; The now two-time POTW (first selection since week #4 of 2024) still has all of 2026 to add to his fame/prestige…
A wealth of assets graduating in the spring (25 listed seniors on roster); if the hopes of a three-peat are to stay alive; Sangaray will be the one called upon to assume that linchpin role (in all capacities) that has been belonged to the likes of Guzman, Davis, Joe Wolf, Pirrello, Orion Trujillo, and company during these past two brass ring-producing campaigns!