Iona Prep-Metro (10-2) vs. Canisius-Monsignor Martin (9-2)
When: Saturday November 30th, 2024 @Noon
Where: Stransky Field on the campus of Canisius HS (2885 Clinton St, West Seneca, NY 14224)
Watch (Online): WNY Athletics (Youtube)
Players to Watch (Iona Prep)
*Julian Guzman (Jr; QB)—With the winds swirling and wreaking havoc on the passing game last Saturday; the Maryland bound baseball player was not asked to do much with his arm (5-for-8; 77 yards); but did contribute mightily to the NYCHSFL title win by breaking for a 53-yard TD run (8 carries 86 yards in total)…He raised his stat line this fall to 158-for-244 passing (2,173 yards; 17 touchdowns); complemented by 536 yards and seven additional scores on the ground (65 carries)
*Crew Davis (Jr.; RB/WB)—The “Showstopper” and star of the Triple-A title game, Davis did what Davis does….Accounting for 284 yards of total offense, the 205-pound junior All-Purpose back exploded for 222 yards and 4 scores on 21 carries; while also making four grabs for 62 yards en route to be being a no-brainer choice as Offensive MVP….Both the leading rusher and top receiving target on the Gael roster; he will head into the State finale having inflicted 1,715 yards (1,014 rushing on 110 carries; 701 as a pass-catcher on 50 receptions) and 20 touchdowns (13 running, 7 with his hands) of damage
*Joe Wolf (Jr.; WR)–The only IP player aside from Davis to record a reception (1 snatch for 15 yards) in last week’s league championship contest; if the weather enables the Maroon & Gold to incorporate the passing game more efficiently, then Wolf is likely to be the person on the back-end of the hook-up as he tops all true WRs across the board with 24 hauls for 393 yards and 3 TD grabs
*Eric Pirrello (Jr.; WR)—Kept out of the box score on a rare occasion (has at least one grab in 9 different appearances) last weekend; the other 11th grade target in the aerial scheme is most certainly capable of bouncing back in a monster manner as his numbers—23 for 337 and 2 scores are just slightly below that of Wolf….If Wolf is option A among the wide-out corps; then Pirrello is A1!
*Rowan Byrne (Sr.; OL)—Bound for Clemson, the nationally ranked Offensive lineman is a human bulldozer and was a significant factor in why the Gaels were able to chew up 357 yards and find paydirt on seven different occasions in the Downstate League title match…Looking for one final accolade (a state title ring) before taking his talents to play for Coach Dabo Swinney; among non-skill position personnel on either sideline; Byrne might be the one with the ability to most influence the outcome!….IP has racked up 4,546 yards and 50 touchdowns with him serving as a primary blocker/protector in all facets!!
*Gabriel George (Sr.; OL/DL)—A young stud who appreciates the “Call to service”; he is on his way to Annapolis in the fall; because he packs his bags; the 6’6, 265-pounder plans to have one more day in the sun where he dominates on both sides of the line of scrimmage…In limiting an immensely potent Friar offense to just 22 points a week ago; George was credited with making 5 stops (2 TFLs)…
*Brennen Pressley (Jr.; LB)—Named as a Player of the Week in each of his last two outings in the postseason; while Davis may have garnered much of the attention; it was Pressley that played the most complete and difference-making role in the Iona Prep triumph on November 23rd…Possessing 1,000-rusher potential if needed; the 11th grader out of NYC has embraced his role as a short-distance/red zone RB; and never was he finer than in the Metro championship where he chugged for season-bests of 29 yards and 2 TDs on six attempts….The Defensive MVP of the game, he stockpiled 11 total stops, including 5 TFLs…His ability to invade the opposing backfield makes it impossible for you to take your eyes off of the #2 jersey!
*Matthew Plunkett (Sr.; LB)—The top-tackler in the “AAA” finals for IP, the senior LB tallied 13 total hits, including making one stop for negative yardage a week ago…
*Mamdee Sangaray (So.; DB/WR)—Registering his fifth INT of his sophomore campaign (3 of which became pick-6s), Sangaray continued to show why many consider him the future face of the program in New Rochelle….He’d complement his ball-hawking display by being solid in all other assignments to the tune of 8 cumulative tackles (2 in the backfield for negative gains)
*Matthew Davitt (Sr.; DB)—Second only to Pressley last weekend with 3 TFLs, the senior DB racked up 7 total stops and was a major reason why opposing signal caller/prohibitive OPOY favorite, Gary Merrill, was held to just 4-for-13 in the air for 103 yards!
*Jayleel Stewart (Sr.; OLB)—Playing his way on the “To Watch” list after delivering a stellar effort in the Metro finale a week ago; the 215-pounder out of Mount Vernon was responsible for posting 4 tackles, 2 sacks, and a fumble recovery on November 23rd…On a squad of nothing but playmakers; he has been hailed as the best pass-rusher on the team and he proved it in his last outing!
*Orion Trujillo (Jr.; DL)—Another overlooked/under-appreciated Gael defender that won us over by turning in a splendid league title game resume; the 250-pounder from Astoria emerged with a 5-stop demonstration last weekend. His hustle was rewarded by results as a sack on 4th & 6 yielded a turnover on downs!
Players to Watch (Canisius)
*Matteo Brusco (Jr.; QB)—Not appearing in the box score for the Monsignor Martin title game last week; the status of the 11th grade field general remains unknown at the time of publication….But if he does suit up; then he certainly will be a complementary piece to what the Crusaders will attempt to do on offense…Taking the snaps in a system that emphasizes the gun, the 5’10, 180-pounder from Canada still managed to toss for 838 yards and 5 touchdowns this fall on 65-of-113!
*Elijah Kimble (So.; RB/OLB)—The bona fide face of the program at the current time; the only thing that is “0” about the high-touted prospect is his jersey #….An FBS power-5 conference level recruit, Kimble presently holds scholarship offers from the likes of Boston College, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Purdue, Syracuse, West Virginia, etc….And it is not hard to see why he is so coveted as he has amassed 1,715 yards and scored 29 touchdowns on the ground this season (200 carries), including a performance in the MM finale that witnessed him go off for 181 yards and four scores on 21 attempts…While his prowess as a RB is his calling card; Defensively Kimble is among the team leaders with 3 interceptions to go along with 14 total tackles!…
*Amir Hernandez (Jr.; RB/OLB)—The top option out of the backfield for probably 90 percent of the teams in NYS; the 5’8, 175-pounder has thrived as a #2 back for the Crusaders, piling up 705 yards and finding paydirt on seven different occasions (79 carries)…Last week in the Upstate League title contest, he posted 79 yards/1TD on 15 carries…While he may be #2 on the depth chart on “O”; Hernandez takes a backseat to nobody when it comes to “D”…Fourth on the team in terms of total stops (53), Hernandez checks every box from his LB position, as he can disrupt the run game (4 TFLs) and is just as adept in pass coverage (7 PDs, 3 INTs)…In the win over SJCI last week, he was credited with 6 tackles and a pick!
*Jahyden Clark (Sr.; WR/CB)—A captain and a dynamic force on both sides of the field, the 180-pounder is the only player on the Canisius roster who has registered double-digit receptions this season. The owner of an offensive stat line that reads as: 40 grabs for 627 yards (4 TD hauls); if the ball goes sky bound, you best believe the man in the #1 shirt is the target…He is fresh off of a 3-snatch, 74-yard effort in the MM finals…Switching on a dime from the role of “Hunted” to the “Hunter”, Clark is every bit as capable on defense, as illustrated by a season campaign where he racked up 74 stops, 6 pass breaks-ups, and a team-high of 4 picks (2 pick-6s)!!…Last weekend, he made 8 stops in the MM title victory!
*Patrick Enright (Sr.; Two-Way Lineman)—the first of several two-way beasts in the trenches, the Holy Cross commit has anchored an offensive line that has done their part to facilitate 3,684 yards (2,722 on land) and 45 touchdowns (40 rushing) of production…His #62 jersey just as active on “D”, the towering 6’5, 300-pounder has accrued 42 total stops (2nd on the squad with 13 TFLs) and 2.5 sacks…Last weekend in the league championship, he made 4 tackles (1 for negative yardage)!
*Mason Alnutt (Sr.; Two-Way Lineman)—The future UNLV Runnin’ Rebel has seen his responsibilities grow in his final year wearing the Crusader colors…Primarily a defensive standout as a junior; he has been asked to battle on both sides of the line in 2024 and has handled the added tasks without a hiccup…Bar none the biggest “nightmare” on the Canisius “D”, the 6’4, 250-pounder topped all Crusaders in both sacks (7.5) and TFLs (16) this season while in the midst of making 43 stops….In last weekend’s MM title game, he bagged the opposing QB twice!!!
*Javez Caldwell (Jr.; Two-Way Lineman)—Originally from Montgomery, Alabama; the CHS coaching staff feels blessed that the 6’3, 265-pounder decided to grace the Evil Empire with his presence…Utilized primarily on the inside (OG) when we watched film on him; Caldwell paves roads with ease…And he is even more intimidating on “D”, as demonstrated by the 29 stops, 11 TFLs and 1.5 sacks he has collected as an 11th grader…He shined in the MM title contest with 5 stops, 2 TFLs, and .5 sack!
*George Wiley V (Sr.; Two-Way Lineman)—A mountain of a man at 285-pounds, the Lockport resident is an every-down player contributor that blows up the line of scrimmage no matter which side of the ball he is on…Credited with 39 tackles (5 for negative yardage) and 1.5 sacks in his swan song, Wiley’s impact exceeds his stat line…He is larger than life on film!….Wiley is coming off of a banner performance in the Upstate league finale where he accumulated 7 total tackles and .5 sack in knocking off the Marauders!
*Arno Mbaiyo (Jr.; OLB)—Undeniably one of the finest LBs anywhere in NYS; the 215-pounder enters this weekend as the Crusader’s top hitter with 86 total tackles (including 8 TFLs)…Mbaiyo was everywhere in the Monsignor Martin championship game, as he ended the day with 14 tackles!
*Kayden Wayne (Jr.; OLB)—“The Robin to the Batman”….As the other Outside backer, the 6’2, 200-pounder plays with that same “take no prisoners” mentality as his aforementioned teammates…Registering 10 tackles (1 TFL) a week ago, Wayne raised his seasonal sum to 83 stops (4 for negative gains)!
*Amare Wallace (Sr.; DE/LB)—Formidable by every definition of the word; the 6’4, 220-pound hybrid DL/LB is another human highlight reel for the Canisus “D”….Ranking in the top-5 on the roster in three different categories, he boasts totals of 49 stops (5th), 9 TFLs (4th), and 5.5 sacks (2nd)…the breadth of his talents were on full display last week when he made 6 tackles (1 for a loss), had a sack, and added a pass break-up!
*Xavier Gates-Franklin (Fr.;CB)—The diaper dandy has been extraordinary in his rookie season for the Crusaders, racking up a team-high 8 pass break-ups to go along with 1 INT and 27 stops!!!…He registered 4 tackles a week ago in the MM Championship!
*Darnell Galimore (Jr.; CB)—Not appearing in the MM title game box score; this could be an injury situation…If the 11th grader is on that field this Saturday; he is going to be a hindrance among the last line of defense…With 5 pass break-ups and 2 picks this season (as well as 30 tackles), he has a shutdown mentality and skill set!
Mini Synopsis
Stepping onto the field this Saturday with a combined record of 19-4 (all losses to out-of-state foes), the 2024 CHSAA State title game will be a collision of the #1 and #7 ranked teams in the Evil Empire (per MaxPreps)…
At risk of oversimplifying a very intricate and sophisticated game; the way we see it; the victor will be determined by which squad gets a finer performance out of their front-7 on defense…
As they each showed in their previous respective appearances, Crew Davis and Elijah Kimble are going to get their yards and do their damage…
However, the key on both sidelines has to be make it a mission to not allow the opposing RB1 to take over the game…
With this goal in mind, it is imperative that the likes of Brennen Pressley (has been named as a NYCHSFL POTW/League Title MVP in back-to-back weeks), Mamadee Sangaray, Jayleel Stewart, Gabriel George, etc. for Iona Prep; & Mason Alnutt, Patrick Enright, Javez Caldwell, Amare Wallace, and company for the host Canisius all do what comes naturally to them and invade the enemy backfield early, often, and with no hint of mercy!!
If you are going to stop the two prized RBs; then you need to get to them early; because once they find room; they make magic happen!
Should the two defenses succeed in this objective of at least containing the vaunted ground attack of the other; then we feel this plays more in favor of the boys from New Rochelle as their passing game on paper looks a little more diversified and polished…
Whereas Canisius relies almost exclusively at times on Jahyden Clark to be that alpha male receiver; the Gaels have the luxury of being able to spread the love across a plethora of different personnel—Joe Wolf, Eric Pirrello, and even Davis himself can and will provide this second dimension of threat that will force the CHS “D” to stay honest and not be able to sell out on the run!!
Having not seen them play enough this year to call it a definitive concern; another factor that did come to our mind is the question of depth for the Crusaders!
Canisius is no doubt enjoying an embarrassment of riches in terms of the talent they possess; but with many of those student-athletes being asked to do double-duty (especially in the trenches); will they wear down against an opponent who can utilize a platoon system where fresh bodies are constantly rotating onto the field?
On a chilly NY fall afternoon; we don’t envision this becoming problematic; but when you consider that IP has been a second-half team all year; even the slightest fatigue can make a difference!
Both perennial powerhouses carry an abundance of momentum with them, as IP has peeled off nine straight wins; whereas Canisius enters riding an 8-game wave…
Comprehensible quality of opponents slanted perhaps slightly in favor of the Monsignor Martin champs (faced more out-of-state comp); the cumulative data on both sides of the ball is near identical, as Iona Prep (34.3 to 32.7) scores a tad bit more; but defensively, it is Canisius surrendering just 18.9 (compared to the 19.8 from IP)!!!
Historically, both programs have fared VERY WELL in state title contests, as Canisius has gone 3-1 (titles in the inaugural rendition in 2014; as well as 2016 and 2019), while Iona Prep was a two-touchdown winner in their lone outing in 2021!!
Downstate/Metro holding a 6-3 edge (Canisius being the only school from the Buffalo region to every win) in the series; an IP triumph on the road will extend the current streak to four consecutive years…