Author: Eric Meisse

With Week 1 in the books teams across the league and a strong showing agaisnt non league opponents teams are already earning respect from the media. A number of teams are ranked in their local media polls as well as the New York State Polls. First in the very popular MSG Varisty Tri State Top 25 Poll defending AAA Champion Archbishop Stepinac and Long Island Power St. Anthony’s are ranked 10th and 21st respecitively in the poll.  For the Full MSG Varsity Tri State Top 25 Click Here. MSG Varsity also came out with its Weekly Poll for NYC, 3 teams from our league are represented.  Coming in order of 6,7,8 Cardinal Hayes of the Bronx, Monsignor Farrell, and St. Peters both from Staten Island.  For the full MSG Varsity NYC Rankings Click Here. In the inaugural New York State Sportwriters Association State Poll a number of AAA and AA

By Matt Diano: 25 State recognized players lost to graduation? To most leagues across New York State, such a major hit to the talent pool would result in the following season being considered a down year….Such is not and never will be the case in the AAA division of the NYCHSFL. Adopting the mantra, “NEXT MAN UP”, these eight teams have all expressed a sincere belief that Catholic football will be as good in 2015 as it has been in all previous seasons.   As the adage goes, the AAA does not rebuild, it reloads; yesterday’s role players are today’s megastars While commencement struck all of the programs like a Kam Chancellor hit over the middle, perhaps no one program was affected more than defending champions, Archbishop Stepinac, who lost 23 players, including 10 that currently preside on college rosters…How do you replace a Brandon Coleman, a Dwyane Scott, or a

By Matt Diano Speaking with the coaches, one theme that seemed to emerge is the excitement at the prospect of what they are calling, a “true AA Division” for the first time in a longtime…Knowing that they will be going to battle with each other week after week and that a playoff berth is no longer guaranteed, an attitude of “EVERY GAME IS IMPORTANT” has permeated throughout the respective campuses The AA Division will also feature some new faces in 2015 as Holy Trinity will be taking a step down this season while last year’s “A” titlists, Fordham Prep, will be doing their “George Jefferson” impression and moving on up in an attempt to show that they can hang anywhere, anytime, anyplace against a tougher caliber of competition….Despite having to adjust to their new surroundings, both the Titans and the Rams possess the skillset and the thoroughbreds necessary to get

Click here to Watch Mike Quick and Jimmy Cavallo discuss the upcoming CHSFL season on MSG Varsity as they go team by team in the AAA and their opening Non League Opponents.

By Matt Diano With 2014 Division A Champions, the Rams of Fordham Prep having moved up to the AA classification, the title will be up for grabs this season among these five teams. Xaverian, as your returning runners-up from a season ago, assume the role of the hunted in 2015 as they enter the season as the prohibitive favorites to claim the trophy that escaped in 2014.   With returning All-League running back, Brandon Peterson, expected to eat up opposing defenses and leading tackler, Michael Rossetti, ready to drill anyone and anything that crosses his path, this squad will be a tough one to contend with this season. Cardinal Spellman, under the guidance of 14th year head coach, William Cawley, will be out to see revenge against the Clippers, having been bounced by Xaverian, 18-0, in the semifinals last season…If their lack of depth does not end up haunting them, watch

                After the passing of legendary St. Francis Prep Coach Vinny O’Connor in February and the retirement of long time Holy Cross Head Coach Tom Pugh this offseason both programs find themselves in uncharted territory.  for the 2015 season St. Francis Prep and Holy Cross will have new Head Coaches for the first time in 60 and 42 years respectively. Click Here to See how new Head Coaches Richie Carroll (Saint Francis Prep) & Tim Smith (Holy Cross) plan to honor tradition and their mentors as they now move their respective programs forward.  Many have been curious about the two “Battle on the Boulevard” Rivals and how they will adapt with the changes.  TimesLedger’s Joseph Staszewski has covered both camps as well as MSG Varsity’s Elio Velez.  See what they reported: Times Ledger on the 2015 St. Francis Prep Season Times Ledger on

As we approach the first week of games a number of teams and players from all around the league have received preseason recognition from their respective local media outlets. First the lohud news blog features 4 CHSFL Student Athletes in their “Super 11”.  These players are considered to be the top 11 returning football players in the Lower Hudson Valley area, on the list from the league are 3 players from Stepinac and 1 from Iona: T.J. Morrison WR/CB Stepinac Tyquell Field QB Stepinac Daniel Negron FB/LB Stepinac Shane Martin RB/LB Iona Prep For the full list with player pictures and Bios Click Here. Long Island’s Newsday newspaper selected the top 100 players on Long Island and selected were 6 players from the CHSFL.  Players from St. Anthony’s, Kellenberg, Chaminade, St. John the Baptist & Holy Trinity were selected. Russ Kohler DL St. Anthony’s Kyle O’Donnell LB St. Anthony’s Kieran

Since National Signing Day on February 4th the NYCHSFL has seen a number of signings from all over the league. Here is a list of the college commitments thus far: Brandon Coleman, Stepinac – US Naval Academy Gavin Heslop, Stepinac – Stony Brook University Demarcus Miller, Stepinac – Stony Brook University Dante Francis, Stepinac – Brockport University Chris Jordan, Stepinac – Fayateville State University Dwayne Scott, Stepinac – University of Rhode Island Malcolm Major, Stepinac – Assumption College Qaadir Shepard, Iona Prep – Syracuse University Synceir Malone, Iona Prep – Stony Brook University Vincent Speranza, Chaminade – Franklin & Marshall University Ted Capsis, Chaminade – Holy Cross Kevin Coyne, Chaminade – Fordham University Willie Dale, St. Peters – Wagner College Sean Kennedy, St. Peters – University of Albany Will Mhyre, St. Peters – University of New Haven Odean Gilzene, Mount. St. Michael – Stony Brook  University Jordan Gowins, St  Anthony’s

On Sunday in the inaugural NY CHSAA Championship Football Game Canisius from the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association of Buffalo defeated Archbishop Stepinac of the NYCHSFL 23-10 in an exciting and memorable game at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale NY. To read the game recap from Josh Thomson of lohud Varsity Insider and see Michael Tarbutts historic 60 yard Field Goal click here.  To read the game recap from Jordan Griffith of MSG Varsity and see highlights from MSG Varsity click here. To read the game recap from Keith McShea of the Buffalo News click here. If you missed the game you can click here to watch the game replay in its entirety from MSG Varisty.

 This Sunday for the first time the New York Catholic High School Football League Champion and the Buffalo Monsignor Martin Athletic Association Champion will meet in an Upstate vs Down State Catholic League Championship Game. The game will be played at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale NY with a Kickoff Time of  2 P.M. Representing the CHSFL will be the Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders who defeated Iona Prep in their Championship game.  While representing the MMA will be the Canisius Crusaders who defeated Bishop Timon St. Jude in their Championship game.  What makes this inaugural game special is it will serve as a “de facto” State Championship Game for New York.  For the entire season the Canisius Crusaders have been atop the Class AA New York State Sports Writers Association Rankings at #1 while also for the entire season the Stepinac Crusaders have been in the #2 slot.  In addition