#1 Archbishop Stepinac (7-2) vs. #8 Chaminade (1-7)
When: Friday November 3rd, 2023 @7pm
Where: Archbishop Stepinac HS Campus (950 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY 10605)
Watch: LocalLive (Stepinac page)
Previous Meeting: Stepinac 42-21 on October 21st (Week #7)
Overview: Semifinalists or better (crowns in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018) in every season since 2013, the top-seeded Crusaders were on fire during the regular season homestretch, winning their final four appearances, including a statement-making 56-35 triumph last weekend over the defending NYCHSFL and Catholic State Champion Friars of St. Anthony’s….Hence, to say that they are primed to make a deep run into the postseason is a major understatement!!
With embarrassments of riches on both sides of the ball, it will be a test between the two units to see which side can be the ones to steal the show….
When Stepinac played the visiting Flyers during week #7, it was the aerial attack that did the bulk of the damage as quarterback, Will Currid, was able to chew up the Crimson & Gold secondary to the tune of a 20-for-24, 310-yard, 4 TD pass afternoon…
On the back end of many of these “money throws” were the likes of Troy Worrell (7 receptions for 97 yards, 1 TD), Bryceson Wise (4 catches for 86 yards, 1 TD), Jahi Gary (3 snatches for 96 yards, 2 TDs), and Zaire Spellman (4 receptions for 86 yards, including a 50-yard TD grab off a WR pass)!!
With the passing game proving so effective, the backfield duo of Lorenzo Robinson & Jordan Osbourne, were not called upon as often as usual, but they still managed to rack up a combined 90 yards on 10 carries, with the former [Robinson] rushing for 70 on 6 hand-offs (1 TD), while the latter went for 20 on 4 tries….Both are fresh off of 100+-yard efforts in which they scored five touchdowns on the ground; therefore, if there is a need for them to take on a more active role; it is a no-brainer that they will be up for the task!
Defensively, the combination of a front-7 comprised of Kadear Dembele (6 tackles, 2 QB Hurries), Eddie Palumbo (6 stops, 1 TFL, 1 Hurry), Julian Ramos (5 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 Hurry), Anthony Terilli (9 stops), Tommy Cottrell (5 tackles), and Morgyn Howell-Browne (4 stops) were able to bottle up the Flyers offense on the ground for the better part of 36 minutes…
The lockdown “no fly zone” consisting of Samuel Madu (5 tackles), Deonte Douglas (7 stops, 1 INT), Garrison Heslop (6 hits, 1 PD), and Ethan Morris (6 stops, 2 pass break-ups) were all in top form as Chaminade was only able to complete 9-of-26 passes for 140 yards (some of which were earned once the A.S. starters had been lifted)!!
As it pertains to the visiting sideline, given how the previous match-up went, it is difficult to predict an “upset special” here, but we do feel that if they execute properly, the Marianists from Mineola can at least make it a competitive game…
We are not in the habit of telling coaches what to do, but from observation, we really do hope that Coach Dolan considers giving increased opportunities to junior back-up, Tim Murphy, who was responsible for the only TD toss of the afternoon, as he completed 3 of his throw attempts for 41 yards while adding a dual-threat component by tacking on an additional 52 yards rushing via 12 keepers!
The WR corps has always been an area of strength for the Flyers as the junior trifecta of Michael Dietrich, Brendan Park, and Peter Braz have combined for 48 catches this season; while senior leaders—John Carroll, Matthew Shimaitis, and James Levelis have added 34 of their own to give the program plenty of capable targets….In the first meeting, only Dietrich really made a significant impression, as his three grabs for 39 yards made him the only player on roster with a multi-snatch day!
Adding to the reasons for optimism is the fact that senior RB, Jack Tully, who was nursing an injury and not available during the regular season is back and will certainly provide a boost….While Tully was absent, recent Lehigh lax commit, Peter Gerbasi, did a fine job serving as the primary ball carrier, including a team-best 56 yards and 1 TD (17 hand-offs) in the loss to Stepinac…
Defensively, it is imperative that William Handley (3 tackles), Daniel Landrem (2 stops), Luke Cocchiola (2 tackles, 1 INT), Nicholas Cuomo (3 stops), and especially the anchor, John Marshall (8 tackles) all play the game of their lives to at least slow down the vaunted Crusader air strikes…
Seamus Miller (11 tackles), Eamonn Welch (8 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL), Dean Schmitt (6 tackles, fumble recovery + TD return), and Declan Trainor (6 stops, 1 TFL) were bright spots among the front-7 during the week #7 showdown!
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#2 Iona Prep (6-3) vs. #7 Kellenberg (3-6)
When: Friday November 3rd, 2023 @7pm
Where: Wellington T. Mara Field on the campus of Iona Prep (255 Wilmot Rd, New Rochelle, NY 10804)
Watch: LocalLive (Iona Prep Page)
Previous Meeting: IP 35-14 on October 21st (Week #7)
Overview: Triple-A Finalists (League and State Champs in 2021) in each of the past two seasons and semifinals bound every year since 2016 (including a Double-A crown), at the onset of the season, it looked as if this might be a rebuilding year in New Rochelle for the Gaels of Iona Prep as they’d split their first six outings of the fall, including league losses to both Stepinac and St. Anthony’s in weeks 3 and 5!
However, nothing could be further from the truth as the Joe Spagnolo mentored charges eventually found their groove and will ride into the postseason as the winners of their last three in a row, including a momentum building 46-35 triumph over Cardinal Hayes that sparked the streak!!
Their quarterfinal match-up with Kellenberg Memorial serving as another rematch (identical to above) of a week #7 collision, when the representatives from Westchester and Long Island last locked horns on 10/21, it was a non-stop ground attack that inflicted the deepest wounds, as four different ball-carriers—Joseph Gaston (7 carries for 78 yards, 1 TD), Kyseem Springer (4 hand-offs for 17 yards, 1 score), Crew Davis (4 carries for 50 yards, 2 TDs), and Kadin Huling (7 attempts for 31 yards, 1 TD) united to amass 176 yards and find paydirt on five unique occasions!!!
Gaston, a recent NYCHSFL Player of the Week nominee, kept it rather conservative in the air, but when he was asked to make throws, he displayed pinpoint accuracy, connecting on 9-of-13 tries for an additional 70 yards….Completing nearly 68 percent of his hurls (67.9%) for the season, after struggling at times with interception issues, he has really come on strong late, as in his last three games, he has boasted a 5:1 TD to INT ratio, including a 3 touchdown chucking game in a regular season finale win over Moore Catholic!
As has been the case for much of 2023, Steven Dowdy Jr., was the most likely target on October 21st, as he’d haul in six of Gaston’s nine completions for a total of 40 yards…With six games of 5 or more catches this season, it is a foregone conclusion that at some point under the Friday Night lights, #8 is going to hear his name called for something special!…Dylan Iorgoveanu also recorded a multi-grab effort versus KMHS, as he made two catches for 22 yards!
On “D” it has been the usual suspects at all three levels—Zakar Morris, Jaylin Hicks, Brennen Pressley, Declan McCauley, Victor Huttinot, Jaden Codrington, Terron Johnson, Matt Davitt, Adande Nartey, etc., taking care of business week after week; and there is no reason to suspect that will change!….The defense limited the “Berg” to just 189 yards of total offense (104 on the ground, 85 in the sky) in late-October!
For the Blue & Gold gents from Uniondale [Kellenberg], it will be imperative that they get more out of the field general position as senior signal caller, Jimmy Ernst (stepped in to replace starter, Kenny Noe) was able to go a modest 6-for-17 throwing when the two schools last met two weeks ago…His accuracy was much improved in regular season finale (12-for-24), but he was on the wrong end of four interceptions…If Ernst can stay within himself and limit the mistakes, that would a perfect jumping off point to get the rest of the offense in gear!!
Should the passing attack find its rhythm, expect to see any one of three immensely gifted Junior WRs be on the receiving end of those bullets as it was Donovan O’Toole, leading the way with 3 grabs for 47 yards in week #7, while Brendan Galla piped in with a 2-snatch/18-yard outing….Jack Geoghan, who is 2nd on the team in receptions this year (23) and tied with a program-high 4 TD hauls, was held to just a single 5-yard catch; so we know he has WAY MORE to give in the rematch!…
While it is not easy when you have a beast such as Rowan Byrne (4-star prospect; #267 overall recruit in the 2025 class per 247 Sports) opposite you, the Firebird DL is going to have to work extremely hard to get penetration in order to avoid a repeat of what happened previously!!
Vincenzo Cascone (8 tackles), Luke Lang (8 tackles), Connor Fennell (4 stops, 1 sack), Isaiah Gittens (3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), and Ryan Galla (3 stops, 1 induced fumble) all held their own among the front-7,but will need to elevate their performances!!
Junior CB, Christian DaCosta (4 tackles), is going to need to live up to his reputation as a shutdown corner and really keep Dowdy Jr., in check, while Kevin McGrory (3 tackles), Renatto Quiroz (6 stops), and Geoghan (6 hits) will also need to bring some attitude/toughness to the field with them in the secondary!
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#3 Monsignor Farrell (7-2) vs. #6 Holy Trinity (4-5)
When: Friday November 3rd, 2023 @6pm
Where: Coach Dennis Barrett Stadium on the campus of Monsignor Farrell (2900 Amboy Rd, Staten Island, NY 10306)
Watch: LocalLive (Monsignor Farrell Page)
Previous Meeting: “First Meeting of 2023”
Overview: Two years ago the Lions despite being the #2 seed on paper, the Lions surprised a lot of people when they advanced to the Triple-A title contest before bowing out to a loaded Iona Prep squad that eventually went on to win the state title…This year, if the Amboy Road posse were to make that trip to Mitchel Field for Championship Saturday, it would come as a shock to no one as the Maroon & Gold boast an “85 Bears” caliber defense; and as the saying goes, “D wins hardware”!!!
Surrendering just a tad over 14 points per game (14.2 to be exact), with the exception of a 31-20 loss during week #4 to Iona Prep, the Lions have given up 21 or less in eight of nine outing, including pitching a shutout against St. John the Baptist, holding an explosive STA squad to 21, and then allowing just 12 (all against the bench) and 7 points to Fordham Prep and Kellenberg as crux of their ongoing four-game winning streak (weeks 5-8)!!!…
Playing with “bad intentions”, Farrell’s front-7 finds every angle and attacks from every direction. They pride themselves on TFLs, which is evident when you consider that reigning POTW, Yasire Dejesus (13), Mikai Gamble (9.5), Gerard Sheehan (6.5), Louis Martinez (6), Seth Clarke (3), and Michael Zaremba (3) have united to 41 stops for minus yardage….Renowned for their ability to stuff the run (kept SJB to under 100 and limited KMHS to a mere 32 on the ground), this tenacity and ability to live in the opposing backfield have also wreaked havoc on the passing game as the squad has 24 total sacks (Clarke the team leader with 7) and 34 QB hurries (Martinez on top of the totem pole with 12)!!!…Zaremba and Gamble each have 3 interceptions!!!
The last line of defense, spearheaded by the likes of Rocco Del Giorno (32 tackles, 1 INT), Will Andrade (26 stops, 5 pass break-ups, 1 INT), Michael Barzal (21 tackles, 4 picks, 4 PDs), Nicholas Souffrin (15 stops, 1 INT, 2 PDs), and Alex Ustun (11 stops, 4 pass break-ups), is fresh off of an epic showing where they intercepted FOUR balls in the regular season finale victory over Kellenberg!!
The offense is not half bad either, as three-year incumbent starting QB, Cristian Pinto (498) & junior RB, Nafis Muhammad (841), are responsible for 1,339 yards and 14 touchdowns between themselves on the ground this season….Muhammad especially has flipped a switch and taken his game to an entirely different stratosphere in the last four weeks, as he has compiled performances of 104, 276, 66, and 101 in the wins during the last four weekends!!
More of a controlled passer than a classic drop back and let it rip gunslinger, Pinto is also plenty capable of moving the chains with his arm, as he is connecting on 57.6% of his passes for 734 yards, w/4 TD hurls… Souffrin is the top target, as his 21 receptions for 345 yards makes him the only Lion in double-digits!!
The opposing Titans have relished in nothing but winning during the previous two seasons, as they claimed the AA-2 crown in 2021 and then followed it up with the AA-1 brass ring last November….Hence, if there is one element that they have in their corner and can use as inspiration, it is this battle-tested/big game experience!!!
At the forefront of any successes they can/will have when the ball is in their possession will be the senior backfield duo of quarterback, Rocco Rainone (572 yards tossing, 126 yards rushing; 5 total touchdowns), and tailback extraordinaire, Jameer Reeder (Close to 400 yards and 5 scores)…Both prominent figures during every step of the past two title-yielding campaigns, if they can get off to fast starts and set a tone, then the rest of the team will follow in their lead!!
Jayden Simpson (21 receptions for 316 yards, 3 TDs), Chase Cruz (14 grabs for 311 yards, 3 TD hauls), and Kameron Roy (13 snatches for 113 yards) are all electric out-wide and if Rainone is precise with his throws, they will be noticeable factors in making the Lion secondary work hard!
Reeder (51 tackles), the NYCHSFL Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore, is also the heartbeat of the “D” as he, along with fellow DLs/LB—Kareem Grey (46 stops), Adrian Ayala (44 tackles), and Hopeton James (2022 AA-1 title game DMVP), and Hashley Heriveaux (20 stops, 1 sack) will need to be spectacular in order to prevent Muhammad from unleashing another masterful display!….Like their counterparts from Staten Island, this cohort too is quite adept at making things happen in the opposing backfield, as Grey and Ayala share a program-high 6 TFLs, while Reeder/James each have 4 hits for negative yardage….Defensive backs, Darien Oliphant & Enoch Thomas have also gotten into the mix with 5 and 4 TFLs of their own!
Speaking of primetime DBs, Ranall White and Jayden Locke have been the resident ballhawks in Hicksville, with 3 and 2 INTs respectively!!
Our tells us that this game shapes up to be in the 17-10, 24-7 range, as we have supreme confidence in both sets of D-Units!!
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#4 St. Anthony’s (6-3) vs. #5 Cardinal Hayes (7-2)
When: Friday November 3rd, 2023 @7pm
Where: Cy Donnelly Field on the campus of St. Anthony’s HS (275 Wolf Hill Rd, Melville, NY 11747)
Watch: Varsity Media (Youtube)
Previous Meeting: St. Anthony’s 52-51 on September 8th (Week #1)
Overview: Without question the “Game of the Year” when the two squads battled during the first official week of the regular season, it took until the final 17 seconds of regulation (St. Anthony’s touchdown + 2pt conversion) to decide a winner as the offenses on both sidelines treated everyone in attendance to an absolute spectacle!!!
A match-up that for much of the past two months we projected as a potential Championship Saturday pairing, the fact that we are getting this game as a quarterfinal is a true testament to the universal strength present in the NYCHSFL Triple-A division as a whole!!
103 points & 939 yards of unified production between the two juggernauts, while we think there is quality personnel on the defensive side of the ball on both rosters, our gut is telling us that we are in for another shootout as the defending League and State Champion Friars are very much on “upset alert” considering the narrow nature of their previous victory!
Both quarterbacks deserving of “AAA” Metro Catholic Offensive Player of the Year consideration, all first-year STA starter, Gary Merrill, has done in his rookie season on varsity is rack up a 1,000/1,000 season with his arm and legs while accounting for 29 touchdowns (14 passing, 15 running)…When the schools clashed back in early-September, the #2 overall lacrosse recruit in the nation (class of 2025) was unstoppable on the ground, scoring touchdowns on four of his 28 carries and concluding the night with 227 yards. For good measure, he was also the one to punch it for that clutch 2-pointer in the waning moments of the 4th to seal the dub!…He was responsible for an additional 122 yards in the sky, as he connected on 9-of-12 pass tries!
Rich Belin, who has been putting up “video game” numbers week after week was every bit his equal, as the junior two-year starter went off for 255 yards and a pair of TD hurls in the air (8-of-14), while calling his own number on 10 keepers that yielded 121 yards and two additional scores on land…Coming off of a week #8 showing versus Chaminade where he chucked 1TD pass and ran for three more touchdowns, Belin will carry 33 total “6’s” into the postseason in his bid to follow in the footsteps of older brother, Henry (currently playing at Duke University), who led the Cardinals to the crown in 2019!
It having been established that both programs are plenty capable of moving the ball in the air, the depth of the wide receiving corps in each jersey is also worth noting as the host Black & Gold [St. Anthony’s] will certainly lean on their All-State/Rutgers commit, Korey “KJ” Duff Jr. (7 receptions for 93 yards, 1 TD on September 8th; 50+ grabs for 9 touchdowns during the year as a whole), but should expect to get solid outings from the likes of Braden Mehm (1 snatch for 16 yards during week #1; 3 TD hauls during 2023), Johnny Russo (2 catches for 46 yards during the regular season meeting), and James Taylor, who did not record register a grab in the initial pitting, but has come on strong during the latter half of the season…Senior TE/Stony Brook commit, Alex Menghi, was credited with four receptions for 56 yards in early-September, but has missed the majority of the fall with an injury!
For the Cardinal & Gold brotherhood, there will be no fewer than four individuals that the STA secondary with which the St. Anthony’s defensive backfield will have to contend!!….Each recording multiple-catch evenings during week #1 were Cleveland Charlton (3 grabs for 70 yards, 1 touchdown), Eli Garcia (3 hauls for 84 yards), and Ken-G Burnham (2 snatches for a team-best 101 yards, 1 score)….Reid Jones was shut out previously by the STA secondary, but will bring a lot of mojo with him to the field this Friday as he is fresh off of a 9-reception, 100-yard, 1TD exhibition that raised his seasonal totals to 25 catches for 492 yards, and 6 scores) and earned him POTW accolades!
Turning our attention to the running back position, St. Anthony’s junior, Christian Alfaro, accrued his only multi-TD run outing of the season when the schools previously collided, as he ran for 49 yards and two touchdowns on 16 hand-offs….That having been said, on paper, the edge seemingly belongs to Hayes’ three-year starting tailback, Kenneth Antoine, is approaching a 1,000-yard swan song and has 12 TDs on the ground thus far…Antoine cruised to the tune of a 68-yard, 2TD effort (12 carries) during week #1, but is could be more of a focal point if the gameplan is to try to have extended possession and keep the Friar offensive off the gridiron!
As we stated above, the manpower is there on defense for both schools. The question simply becomes, which cohort is going to be the one to click and execute when the stakes are their highest!!
Struggles containing the rush being an issue that has plagued both schools in their losses this season, this game might be won or lost by the DL/LBs, as STA will march out potential showstoppers—Preston Carey (4 tackles), Davin Foote (4 stops, 1 TFL, 1 induced safety), Sam Cook (4 tackles), Cam Urso (3 stops), and Dante Vardaro (4 tackles) who had stockpiled 14 TFLs and 12 sacks through week #7 (when stats were last updated)….The visiting Cardinals will counter with their own highly-touted CFP prospect, Blake Belin (4 stops), Kahmari Valentine (6 tackles, 2 TFLs), Abdoul Bah (10 stops), Ayden Smartt (11 tackles), Ray Boyd (15 hits), and Souleymane Diallo (2 stops) who have collected 26 combined TFLs this fall to go along with 9 sacks!!
Kevin Moore (4 stops), Ajani Valerio (2 tackles), and Brendan Ott (5 tackles) will face the burden of trying to slow down the Cardinals’ air raid; while either Corey Rock (5 stops) or Tyrone Smith (10 hits) are more likely to be the person(s) that have the unenviable challenge of preventing Duff from turning the game into another personal highlight reel!
Despite this being the #4/#5 contest, both of these teams have REAL title potential. To witness one of their seasons end at such a premature juncture is going to be quite heartbreaking!