AAA SEMIFINALS
#1 Monsignor Farrell (8-1) vs. #5 Chaminade (7-4)
When: Friday November 14th, 2025 @6pm
Where: Monsignor Farrell HS (2900 Amboy Rd, Staten Island, NY 10306)
Watch (Online): Varsity Media Youtube
Players to Watch (Monsignor Farrell)
*Bryce Moye (So.; QB)—Blossoming into one of the stars of the league as a 10th grader; the three-time POTW selection has been responsible for generating 23 total touchdowns this season…As a passer, he is connecting at a mind-blowing 73.4% (105-for-143) for 1,601 yards…With his legs, he has added an additional 258 yards and 7 TDs on just 36 carries!
*Kevin Gumb Jr. (Sr.; RB)—A workhorse and bruiser when needed to be; the senior tailback has been unstoppable out of the Lion backfield, as evident by the seven century-mark performances he has delivered in his swan song….For the year, he is enjoying a net gain of 1,083 yards and 14 touchdowns on 141 carries (7.7/per)….#0 can also be utilized as a pass-catcher, a fact that has been demonstrated by his 11 grabs for 118 yards (1 TD)
*Braxton Moye (So.; WR)—One Moye deserves another!!!…The back-half of the explosive twin tandem has not coincidentally been the preferred target of his brother…At 6’2, 210, he does an amazing job exploiting mismatches and has been a factor in every game he has played thus far this season…Moye leads the Lions in all receiving categories with 35 receptions for 535 yards and 6 touchdowns!
*Alexander Ustun (Sr.; WR)—Serving as a secondary option in the aerial attack, the 170-pounder from Staten Island has shown that he’d be a top choice on most other schools in the NYCHSFL…With a stat line that reads as: 26 grabs for 392 yards and a pair of scores, Ustun is capable of being a difference-maker under the Friday night lights!
*Gianni Pasqualone (Sr.; Athlete)—One of the most versatile competitors on the Farrell roster; the three-way contributor makes his presence felt in all areas of the game…On offense, he has racked up 449 yards and five TDs worth of production; running for 235 (2 TDs) on 26 handoffs; while also hauling in 13 passes for 214 yards (3 scored)….Flipping to “D”, he is tied for the team-lead with 5 successful pass break-ups and has accrued 24 total stops….He is also dangerous as a kick returner!
*Charles Costanzo (So.; DB)—A young star along the last line of defense; the 6’2, 210-pounder presently holds the squad lead with 54 tackles, is tied for the top spot with 2 INTs, and has also broken up 4 passes!
*Andrew Doyle (Sr.; ILB)—2nd on the team with 52 total stops (4 TFLs), the senior has been credited with 2 sacks and 2 QB hurries
*Anthony Vento (Jr.; DB)—A all-purpose asset in the defensive backfield for the Lions; the 11th grader can handle any assignment thrown at him…He is among the leaders in tackles (47) and pass break-ups (5)…He has registered 1 INT in 2025!
*Cole Savino (Sr.; DL)—A menace along the defensive line, the 225-pounder has lived in the opposing backfield en route to racking up a team-highs of 14 TFLs (31 cumulative stops), 7.5 sacks, and 2 induced fumbles!
*Michael Insalaco (Sr.; OLB)—Another “eraser” among the front-7; the 12th grader trails only his aforementioned teammate [Savino] with 7 TFLs and 5.5 sacks…All in all, he has been credited with 25 stops this fall!
*Michael Libretta (Jr; DB)—A ball hawk that can shutdown anyone he is covering; the junior DB is tied for the school lead in INTs (2) and pass break-ups (5)…To boot, he has registered 24 tackles and 1 sack
*Jake Burrowes (Sr.; PK/P)—A reliable specialist that has converted 29 of 31 PATs and has split his four FG tries (long of 40)….Burrowes has also been a master of pinning the opponent deep in their own zone, as six of his 17 punts have been inside the enemy 20, while 8 of 38 kickoffs has yielded touchbacks!
Players to Watch (Chaminade)
*Sean Carnevale (Jr.; QB)—Remaining atop the AAA totem pole in total passing yards, the junior field general is fresh off of a 20-for-25, 230 yard, 2 TD throwing day in the quarterfinal win over Stepinac…For the year, he now has hurled for 1,979 yards and 14 TDs on 160-of-244 in the air (65.6%)
*Anthony Trapani (Jr.; RB/LB)—-Responsible for striking for 2/3s of the Flyers’ touchdowns during the quarterfinals, Trapani amassed 124 yards of total offense by way of 7 carries for 50 yards (1 TD), as well as 5 receptions for 74 yards (1 score)….His job never done, #22 also posted 5 stops (2 TFLs), a sack, and a forced fumble on defense!
*Sean Powers (Sr.; WR)—Raising his season totals to Triple-A best 43 catches for 705 yards; it would be his 7th TD catch of the fall that vaulted Chaminade to victory as it served as the game-winner in the quarterfinals…For the day, Powers hauled in 6 catches for 89 yards
*Michael Genovese (Jr.; WR)—If Powers has been option ”A”, then his fellow senior has been “A1” as Genovese himself is fresh off of an impressive showing in the quarterfinals where he made 6 snatches for 40 yards!
*Liam Trainor (Sr.; LB)—The most active player on “D” for the Crimson & Gold last weekend; Trainor posted a team-best 8 tackles as part of the quarterfinal win; he now trails Trapani by 5 for the team-lead in stops!
*Luca Smith (Sr.; LB)—Named 3rd-Team All-State in 2024; was credited with 4 tackles last weekend to his seasonal output to 52!
*Thomas Jemison (Sr.; DL)—Bringing intensity to the field each and every week; it was another strong effort from the #52 shirt as he accrued 5 tackles and both forced and recovered a fumble in the quarterfinal win…Plays with such a gas tank that his stat line (46 stops, 7 TFLs, 4 sacks, 3 induced fumbles) does not do him justice!
*Nicholas Fochetta (Sr.; LB)—Making up eat crow for not listing him as a featurd player in last week’s playoff preview; the senior LB was a key component in controlling the Stepinac offense in the quarters….He was credited with 5 tackles, but we heard his name called a lot more last Saturday….#34 upped his fall sum to 61 stops!
*Shaye Sykes (So.; Safety)—Making this week’s preview because of the ability to shake off adversity; you cannot teach that level of maturity…After a potentially costly muffed punt, the 10th grader from Bay Shore responded by notching a victory-claiming interception late in the 4th quarter!
Mini Synopsis/Last time they Met
The first meeting of the season between these two schools, both will step onto the field with a lot of motivation as visiting Chaminade is looking to make it back to the AAA title game for the first-time since 2013 (have won a few AA crowns in-between), while the host/top-seeded Lions have their eyes fully focused on claiming the prize for the first time since 2000 (lost in the 2021 finale)!!
The Maroon & Gold (Farrell) might be the most balanced version of themselves that we have seen in years; as they have averaged just under 33 points per game, while allowing only a1 4.9….
The combination of the Moye brothers in the sky attack, coupled with Gumb Jr. On land has given every opponent problems in 2025; and we see no reason to think that this Friday is going to be much different…
Defensively, there are playmakers at every level, as Savino, Insalaco, and Doyle are stout on the line and at LB, while Constanzo, Vento, and Libretta have been outstanding in fostering a no-fly zone!
On the other sideline; Chaminade boasts the top passer in the entire NYCHSFL in the person of Carnevale; and his rapport with his senior WRs—Powers and Genovese has been undeniable for an offense that comes in averaging 23 points per appearance…
For the Flyers to win; they will likely need to get career days out of the already cited weapons, as well as their jack-of-all-trades two-way “freak”, Trapani!
Farrell simply needs to just play up to their standard this season and they should be considerable favorites as long as they do not become complacent!
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#2 Iona Prep (8-1) vs. #3 St. Anthony’s (7-4)
When: Saturday November 15th, 2025 @1:30pm
Where: Wellington T. Mara Field on the Iona Prep campus (255 Wilmot Rd, New Rochelle, NY 10804)
Watch (Online): SportsEngine
Players to Watch (Iona Prep)
*Julian Guzman (Sr.; QB)—A returning All-Catholic and 1st Team All-State selection, the Maryland bound (baseball) signal caller has shown the kind of dual-threat capabilities that the Terp football team could most certainly utilize…Generating 2,320 yards and 25 touchdowns worth of output, Guzman has tossed for 1,748 yards and 17 TDs on 115-of-170 (67.6%); while also adding an additional 572 yards and 8 more scores on 55 keepers (10.4/per)!
*Crew Davis (Sr.; RB)—Named as the NYS Co-Offensive Player of the Year and a 1st-Team All-Stater by the New York Sports Writers’ Association, the future UNC Tar Heel (both football and lacrosse) is well on his way towards garnering a plethora of accolades in his senior campaign as well!!!….Explosive every time the pigskin is in his hands, Davis needs just 107 yards this weekend to reach 1,000 for the year (893 and 13 TDs on 114 hand-offs)….He is capable of hurting the opponent just as much as a receiver out of the backfield, as he has added an additional 280 yards and three more scores on 18 catches in 2025!….A big-game player who was an MVP of both the AAA finale and the state title contest; the IP coaching staff has done an exceptional job not leaning too much on their stallion; but now that we are in the postseason; do not be surprised if his amount of touches gets ramped up!
*Joe Wolf (Sr.; WR)—An absolute breakout star in the NYCHSFL as a 12th grader; Wolf has always been good; but in 2025, he has been other-worldly to the tune of 9 TD catches and 591 yards on 28 grabs. He possesses all the gifts—size (6’3), speed, and hands to be an NCAA power-5 performer!
*Eric Pirrello (Sr.; WR)—A consummate mover of the chains; the 5’10 wide-out from Rye may not get the same amount of fanfare as his teammate [Wolf]; but he is every bit as important to the Gael passing attack….He enters the semifinals having hauled in 26 balls for 311 yards and three touchdowns!
*Carlos “CJ” Malespin (Sr.; OL)—Tipping the scales at 300 pounds while occupying the pivot, Malespin brings a wealth of starting experience and leadership to the trenches!
*Dilen Mulaj (So.; OL)—The only vision scarier than seeing this mountain of a young gentleman on the football field is the notion that he also plays basketball….Standing 6’9 and weighing 340 bills, the terrifying 10th grader already holds a scholarship offer from Syracuse; and we are banking on their being a wealth of future power-5 offers awaiting him!
*Brennen Pressley (Sr.; LB)—The defensive MVP of the 2024 AAA finals; the four-year incumbent starting LB does not take any snaps off and is a backfield raider!!…His #2 jersey flying all over the gridiron, it is not a question of “if” he will be disruptive, but rather “how much” chaos will he create….Not used as much in this capacity this year, but in the past, he has also served as short-yardage power RB!
*Willie Reeves (Jr.; LB)—That new-age Rover LB (combination safety + Backer); the 185-pounder hailing from the Big Apple is adept at stuffing the run and defending the pass as he is among the team leaders in both total tackles and interceptions….Having “Defensive TD” potential, he already has one Pick-6 this season and is always hunting for opportunities to make opposing offenses pay!
*Joshua Simmons (Jr.; OLB/DE)—6’5, 240-pounds of bad intentions; the 11th grader is routinely the architect of negative yardage contributions. Whether it is defending the run or tormenting opposing QBs; he is a nightmare that won’t let up for the full 48 minutes….Holds scholarship offers from West Point, Syracuse, and Boston College!
*Mamadee Sangaray (Jr.; Safety)—Undeniably the most renowned and feared person on the IP defensive unit; the two-year starter was a 1st-Team All-State selection with good reason as a sophomore; he has only gotten better in 2025….He does it all—Hits, ball-hawks, etc; and that is why he is perceived as a “Play on Sunday” caliber prospect…Boston College, Syracuse, Minnesota, Temple, etc are among the early suitors for his services….Will spotlight on offense at the WR position and is a deep ball threat!
*Lamar Lewis (Jr. WR/DB)—Our pick as a ”Wildcard” difference-maker; in addition to being a starting defensive back with multiple interceptions this year; the Nutmeg State resident is another deep ball/homerun hitting presence among the WR corps….Credited with only 8 receptions; the danger he brings on offense is visible through the fact that he has three TD snatches and is averaging nearly 27 yards per haul (213 yards)
Players to Watch (St. Anthony’s)
*Anthony Diieso (So.; QB)—Shining in the the first varsity playoff game of his career; the super sophomore connected on 10 of 20 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns…Added an additional 44 yards on 5 carries as a complement….Raised his season totals to 1,827 yards and 14 TD throws while sporting a 67.5 completion percentage (135-of-200)…As a ball-carrier this fall, he is second on the team with 403 yards!
*Xavier Bala (Jr.; RB)—-The highly touted Junior RB was his usual dominant self in the quarterfinal victory over Cardinal Hayes!!…Taking the hand-off on 28 separate occasions, Bala amassed 166 yards and found paydirt twice….He raised his stat sheet this season to 1,275 yards and 20 TD runs (both tops in the AAA division)
*Anthony Mancaruso (Sr;. WR)—-Quiet during the quarterfinal final (2 catches for 5 yards); his body of work throughout the the fall (36 receptions for 368 yards, 2 TD hauls) make us confident that you will hear from him during the semifinal round!
*Johnny Russo (Sr; WR)—Ditto like Mancuso; Russo was kept out of the box score last weekend; but his 36 receptions for 401 yards and 4 touchdowns is proof of concept!
*Rory McDermott (So.; WR)—Way to play your way onto our radar, young Mr. McDermott…The 10th grader out of Huntington enjoyed a career night during the quarterfinals as he detonated for career-highs across the board with 6 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown!
*Kevin Moore (Sr.; DB/WR)—We labeled the 2024 3rd Team-All Stater as an “X” factor in last week’s preview; and he back up our confidence in him, as both of his receptions (2 for 20) yielded touchdowns….Defensively, he was credited with 5 stops and was on the back-end of several key pass break-ups…For the year, he has made 22 catches for 362 yards and 4 scores (tied for team-best)…From the defensive backfield, he has registered 44 stops (4 TFLs) to go along with a sack and two INTs (one of which was a pick-6)!
*David McCue (Sr. LB)—His punt block in the first half leading to a Friar touchdown during the quarterfinals, the Kings Park resident played a complete game as he racked up 7 stops and a pass break-up….He’ll enter the AAA semis leading all STA personnel with 61 total stops (4 TFLs), complemented by 2 sacks!
*Brendan Shaughnessy (Sr.; DL)—Added to the ”watch list” after delivering one of his finest games of the year to commence the postseason, the 195-pounder from Port Jefferson Station accrued 6 tackles and a sack….In doing so, his stat was elevated to 21 total tackles, 5 stops for loss, and 3 QB bags!!
*John Drew (Sr.; LB)—The beneficiary of the McCue punt stuff; Drew scooped the ball and raced to the house for the defensive touchdown…This being the sequence that gets remembered; what should also be acknowledged is that he posted a team-high of 8 tackles to raise his accumulation to 61 for the fall!
*Ethan Bramoff (Sr.; LB)—Limited to just 1 tackle in the quarterfinals; we are betting on the future Virginia Cavalier (lacrosse) based on the breadth of his resume this season….The team leader in both sacks (5) and TFLs (7); the Friars are going to need for him to make a significant contribution if they hope to slow down a very lethal and balanced Gael offense!
Mini Synopsis/Last time they Met
A rematch of the 2024 Triple-A title contest; when these two perennial powerhouses clashed in early-October, they combined to put up 86 total points as the defending champion Gaels emerged as 50-36 victors!
Despite both squads having more than their fair share of stoppers on defense; we are expecting another shootout again this Saturday….
Guzman put forth one heck of an amazing showing during the regular season, as he gunslung his way to a 309 yard/5 TD display (15-for-23)….
Wolf (4 catches for 128 yards, 3 TD grabs), Pirrello (5 receptions for 124 yards, 1 TD), and Aidan Cassidy (3 grabs for 28 yards + 1 TD) were all extraordinary in presenting themselves as top targets…
Davis took cashed-in on two of his 19 carries as he concluded the night with 120 yards!!
Reeves did notch an INT for the defense in in the win!!!
While coming up short when the dust settled; several Friars stood out; but if was Diieso that most impressed as he finished the night with 269 yards of offensive production (167 in the air on 14-of-31 passing; 102 yards and 1 score on 14 keepers)…
Bala was held to under 100 yards (94 on 33 attempts); but did find the end zone three different times!
Mancuso (5 catches for 29 yards), Russo (3 receptions for 48 yards), and Moore (3 grabs for 65 yards) did their jobs as WRs!