Author: Kevin A'Hearn

By Matt Diano: #1 Holy Trinity (8-0) vs. #4 Holy Cross (5-3) When: Saturday November 13th, 2021 @1pm Where: Holy Trinity HS (98 Cherry Ln, Hicksville, NY 11801) Previous Meeting: 35-6 Holy Trinity on October 17th (Week 6)   Synopsis: Seeking their first crown since 2008 (runners-up in ‘16), the Green & White freight train that are the Titans of Holy Trinity simply looked unstoppable this year on both ends of the line of scrimmage.  An influx of talent from across Long Island has taken a roster that was rich on experience and ability prior to their arrivals and turned them into a steamroller that has gone unchallenged the entire season.   Scoring 30 or more in seven consecutive games and pitching FIVE shutouts in eight appearances, if this cohort has any flaws, then those shortcomings are known only to Head Coach, Kahmal Roy, and the almighty God; because to the

By Matt Diano: #1 Chaminade (5-3) vs. #4 Fordham Prep (4-4) When: Saturday November 13th, 2021 @1pm Where: Gold Star Stadium on the Campus of Chaminade HS (340 Jackson Ave, Mineola, NY 11501) Previous Meeting: Chaminade 28-0 on October 16th (Week #6) Synopsis: Because of the one-sidedness of the first meeting, this is a contest that at first glance might not strike you as immensely intriguing.  However, due to the nature in which the Rams prevailed (dramatic touchdown run in overtime) in their quarterfinal game, we feel that this is a program that is going to travel to Mineola with a lot of buzz/momentum…Make no mistakes about it, the defending AA-1 titlists, Chaminade are still the odds-on favorites, but we simply will not sell Fordham Prep short as they attempt to return to the ‘ship for the first since 2017 (lost in the finals to Kellenberg)…For the host Flyers, who

By Matt Diano: #1 Iona Prep (8-1) vs. #4 St. Anthony’s (6-3) When: Saturday November 13th, 2021 @1pm Where: Wellington T. Mara Field on the campus of Iona Prep (255 Wilmot Rd, New Rochelle, NY 10804) Previous Meeting: 35-34 Iona Prep on October 22nd (Week #7)   Synopsis: The rematch that everyone wanted has now come to fruition! An instant classic that has to be among the best football games we have ever seen at any level of the sport, the difference between sweet victory and sour defeat on Friday October 22nd was a mere couple of yards.   After seeing their 27-7 first half lead wiped away, the host Friars had an opportunity to steal the “w” in the closing seconds, as they completed a Hail Mary just short of the goal line and desperately tried to muscle their way in, only to fall just short of the miracle!!!  Conjuring

By Matt Diano: #2 St. John the Baptist  (7-1) vs. #7 Cardinal Spellman (2-5) When: Saturday November 6th, 2021 @2pm Where: St. John the Baptist HS (1170 Montauk Hwy, West Islip, NY 11795) Previous Meeting: 49-0 St. John the Baptist on October 23rd (Week #7) Snynopsis:  A rematch from just two weeks ago, even if you subscribe to the “Little Giants” mantra of “one time”, it is hard to rationalize a way that a 49-0 ending can turn around in such a short period of time…What we will say in respect to the Pilots is that this Saturday will not be the first time that they were written off and then made the critics eat a helping of crow.  Just two years ago in the “A” title game, they transformed a pair of losses to Kennedy Catholic by an average of 17 points during the regular season into a championship

By Matt Diano: #2 Moore Catholic (4-3) vs. #7 Xavier (1-6) When: Saturday November 6th, 2021 @3pm Where: Moore Catholic HS (100 Merrill Ave, Staten Island, NY 10314) Previous Meeting: 28-14 Moore Catholic on October 2nd (Week #4)   Snynopsis: A game that we expect to be much closer than the numbers adorning their school names, when the two teams played back in week 4, the Mavericks jumped out early and never looked back.  But alas, if there is one characteristic that has defined the Knights over the years, it is their ability to process and make adjustments.  The boys of West 16th are a “second half of the year” squad and while they surely will step onto the gridiron in the role of underdog, that pooch is going to bring the bite!…The Mavericks, who won crowns in 2016 (A) and 2019 (AA-2) will likely be competing with a chip

By Matt Diano: #2 Monsignor Farrell (6-2) vs. #7 Christ the King (1-7) When: Saturday November 6th, 2021 @4pm Where: Monsignor Farrell HS (2900 Amboy Rd, Staten Island, NY 10306) Previous Meeting: 1st time this season   Snynopsis: What a week #8 it was for Monsignor Farrell; they went from unsure that they would even be advancing to the triple-A postseason to now enjoying the comforts of the #2 overall seed in the bracket…Seeking their first Metro crown on the gridiron since the back-to-back seasons in 1999 and 2000, the Anthony Garofalo mentored squad should be heavily favored this Saturday when they play host to the CTK Royals…A program that is extremely well balanced on both sides of the ball, the return of reigning POTW, Messiah Burch (565 yards and 9 touchdowns on just 36 carries) to the line-up during the second half of the year, coupled with a second

AAA Quarterfinals #1 Iona – Bye #5 Cardinal Hayes @ #4 St. Anthony’s (11/5. 7:00 pm) #7 Christ the King @ #2 Monsignor Farrell (11/6, 4:00 pm) #6 Kellenberg @ #3 Archbishop Stepinac (11/7, 1:30 pm)  AA1 Quarterfinals  #1 Chaminade – Bye #6 St. Francis Prep @ #3 St Joseph by the  Sea (11/5, 7:00 pm) #5 St Peter’s @ #4 Fordham Prep (11/5 @ Flowers Park, New Rochelle, 7:00 pm) #7 Xavier @ #2 Moore Catholic (11/6, 3:00 pm) AA2 Quarterfinals  #1 Holy Trinity – Bye #6 Xaverian  @ #3 Kennedy Catholic (11/5, 7:00 pm) #7 Cardinal Spellman @ #2 St. John the Baptist (11/6, 2:00 pm) #5 Mount St. Michael @ #4 Holy Cross (11/7, @ Flushing Memorial Field, 1:00 pm) JV AAA Quarterfinals  #8 Cardinal Hayes @ #1 Archbishop Stepinac (11/6 – 12:30 pm) #7 St Peter’s @ #2 Chaminade (11/6 – 10:00 am) #6 St Anthony’s @ #3 Kellenberg (11/6 – 10:00 am) #5 Monsignor Farrell @ #4 Iona Prep (11/6, 1:30 pm) JV AA #1 Fordham Prep, #2 St. Joseph by the Sea, #3 Christ the King – Byes  #5 St. Francis

CHSFL 2021 playoff pairing are all set!  Iona, AAA, Chaminade, AA1, and Holy Trinity, AA2, grabbed the top seeds and a bye heading into next weeks quarterfinal round.  Archbishop Stepinac, JV AAA, and Fordham Prep, JV AA, are the top seeds in the Junior Varsity playoffs.  The 2021 playoff pairings are as follows: AAA Quarterfinals #1 Iona – Bye #7 Christ the King @ #2 Monsignor Farrell (11/6, 4:00 pm) #6 Kellenberg @ #3 Archbishop Stepinac (11/7, 1:30 pm)  #5 Cardinal Hayes @ #4 St. Anthony’s (11/5. 7:00 pm) AA1 Quarterfinals  #1 Chaminade – Bye #7 Xavier @ #2 Moore Catholic (11/6, 3:00 pm) #6 St. Francis Prep @ #3 St Joseph by the  Sea #5 St Peter’s @ #4 Fordham Prep (11/5 @ Flowers Park, New Rochelle, 7:00 pm)   AA2 Quarterfinals  #1 Holy Trinity – Bye #7 Cardinal Spellman @ #2 St. John the Baptist (11/6, 2:00 pm) #6 Xaverian  @ #3 Kennedy Catholic (11/5, 7:00 pm) #5 Mount St. Michael @ #4 Holy Cross (11/7, @ Flushing Memorial Field, 1:00 pm) JV AAA Quarterfinals