XAVIER: Elijah Stewart (Sr.; RB/DB)
Just days removed from being a legitimate MVP candidate on both sides of the ball following an 82-yard/2 TD running, team-best 11 tackles effort in propelling the Knights to their first AA-1 league title since 2015 (28-7 over St. Joe’s by the Sea); the 5’10, 170-pounder hailing from Brooklyn finally “received his flowers” on Thanksgiving as part of Xavier’s dramatic 22-21 victory in the 102nd edition of their historic rivalry against Fordham Prep!
Last Thursday being the final occasion in which Stewart would wear the Xavier football jersey; like a true captain, the two-year senior starter emptied the proverbial gas tank to the tune of amassing 73 yards rushing on 10 carries (1TD) on offense, while simultaneously being among the squad’s top tacklers with 7 total stops (to go along with a pass break-up) on “D”!!
His signature moment occurring during the non-stop, back-and-forth nature of a 4th quarter that witnessed four different lead changes; after a touchdown from the host Rams put them on top, 15-12, with 7:17 remaining in regulation; it would be the 4.0 GPA student-athlete [Stewart] delivering the response approximately two minutes later when he exploded on a 56-yard house call to immediately restore a 19-15 cushion!!
The gent in the #3 shirt almost had an equally monstrous run earlier in the morning, as up 6-0 in the 2nd quarter, he’d find a role and sprint 40 yards to the FP 20; but unfortunately, a flag negated the big gainer!
His speed every bit as pronounced while working in the defensive backfield; on countless snaps, Stewart could be seen on tape flying to the ball to transform what could have been much more damaging plays to minimal gains for FP!
He’d also threatened to notch his second INT of 2025 on Fordham Prep’s opening drive of the 2nd half; but instead had to settle for the already cited PB!
His encore display yielding him his first career POTW distinction; Stewart closed out a brilliant campaign with a stat line that reads as follows: 719 yards and 9 scores on 108 carries (6.7/per) offensively; 62 stops, 5 pass break-ups, and a pick on behalf of the top-rated defense in the entire NYCHSFL
CARDINAL HAYES: Kymonni Valentine (Jr.; RB)
When you tip the scales at just north of 250 pounds but can run like a Cheetah; it spells bad news for anyone with whom you tangle…
This was a lesson that the Mountaineers of Mount St. Michael Academy had to learn the hard way as the junior from Harlem [Valentine] delivered a standout demonstration in helping the men of Hayes to a 12th straight Turkey Bowl victory, 38-7!
Unofficially credited with a net of 106 yards off of just seven carries; the beast donning the #28 jersey scored one touchdown, but was a contributing party to two additional TDs to spearhead an offense that scored on all six of their true possessions!
The Maroon & Gold already up 6-0; it was Valentine doing all the damage himself on their second march of the morning as on back-to-back carries, he’d peel off runs of 8 and 52 yards, with the latter landing him in the end zone to double the cushion to 12-0 in the last five minutes of the opening quarter…
The advantage having ballooned to 26-0, Valentine’s 7-yard hand-off (to the Mountaineer 9) was sandwiched in-between a pair of long runs (70, 9-TD) from Johnnye Booker to make it a 32-0 game with 3:17 to go before halftime!
Staying hungry and aggressive at the onset of 3Q, Valentine registered gains of 15 and 9 yards on consecutive snaps to move the pigskin from his own 45 to the opposing 31 to serve as a catalyst for an eventual 5-yard TD run courtesy of Justice Baldwin to round out the scoring (38-0; 5:33 remaining in 3Q) for Hayes!
On the last drive of the day for the school, his 14-yarder (to the MSMA 15) put C.H. on the verge of adding a late TD; but a personal foul penalty and a lack of urgency (verdict already determined) instead resulted in the clock expiring!
Like Stewart above; Valentine is making his Player of the Week debut!
