As the cliche suggests, “Defense Wins Championships”….And for two of our three selections today; that prophecy turned to fruition!!! Each of them a consummate playmaker who “makes things happen” whether the ball is in their control or not; this threesome was credited with generating 12 opposing turnovers (7 interceptions, 5 fumbles caused) to accompany the 200+ combined tackles they recorded!! Signifying the past (senior), present (Junior), and future (sophomore) of all that is the hard-nosed, “take no prisoners” mentality of the NYCHSFL, these consummate shutdown gems emptied the gas tank week in and week out in and were unapologetic in the carnage that ensued!!! We bow our heads and pay homage in recognition of the transcending values/characteristics displayed by our 2025 O’Connor honorees—-Joseph Henn (AA-2; Holy Trinity), Robert Milacci (AA-1; Xavier), & Mamadee Sangaray (AAA; Iona Prep)!! Reggie Francklin (Holy Cross; 2007/2008) and Kennedy Catholic’s Cole Esposito (2017/2018) the only
What do you get when you cross a revolutionary talent, a generational talent, and a “tough as nails” stallion? The answer is that you get 5,954 yards and a mind-blowing 70 touchdowns out of a trio that not failed to amaze at every stage of the 2025 Catholic football season!!! Two of our winners leading their schools to titles, while the third was the lifeblood of a resurrection in Queens; the respective bodies of work assembled by these gentlemen will not soon be forgotten!!! It is with the utmost pride and gratitude (for the countless memories) that we welcome the following to the Riverso Memorial annals—-Isaiah Smith (AA-2; Christ the King), Peter Heaney (AA-1; Xavier), & Crew Davis (AAA; Iona Prep)! The most prolific performer in the entire NYCHSFL regardless of classification; Smith took Metro Catholic football by storm in his first season as a Royal (transferred in from Malverne)
A combined 765 pounds of “Grade A” beef; the 2025 Thomas winners were responsible for aiding their respective schools in stockpiling over 12,000 yards and 132 touchdowns this fall….Two of our three choices serving in an “Ironman” capacity; they also collectively register over 80 stops, 17 TFLs, and 12 sacks this season…Representing teams that all earned top-3 playoff seeds in their respective classifications, two of today’s awardees were invaluable in culminating successful repeat title bids… It is with utter respect and admiration that we welcome Aiden Flood (Xaverian; AA-2), Anthony Brown (St. Francis Prep; AA-1), and Anthony DiNapoli (Iona Prep; AAA) to the Thomas fraternity! Called the “anchor of the trenches” by Clippers head coach, Dominick Aluotto, Flood dominated on both sides of the line of scrimmage in helping Xaverian repeat as Metro Catholic champions….Credited with 23 pancake blocks, his presence on the OL made it possible for the boys
“The thing about special teams, and I think football in general, is sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you.” -John Harbaugh If the words of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl winning mentor ring true; then the three gentlemen celebrated this morning won’t need to be dining on bagels, muffins, eggs, etc… Proverbially speaking, their stomachs are full from feasting on Grizzlies, Polars, and Kodiaks!!! A role that blends the best of offense with the finest of defense; the contributions of kickers/punters/return men often does not garner the respect and spotlight that is warranted… But alas, it is because of the undeniable excellence delivered by the likes of Antoine Williams (AA-2; Holy Cross), Vincenzo Coppola (AA-1; St. Peter’s), and Justin Jones (AAA; Chaminade) that proper attention was commanded!! We extend our congratulations to this “Trustworthy Trio” on being the 2025 picks as the preeminent practitioners and/or foremost
MONSIGNOR PETERS’ AWARD (Outstanding Student-Athlete) First bestowed in 1962, there is no greater honor and tradition within the NY Metro Catholic football league than the annual awarding of the Monsignor Matthew Peters’ Award… A “badge” of Studiousness, Christianity, and Physical gifts; in order to even be considered, it is imperative that the individual be a “triple-threat” who shines on the field, in the classroom, and within his community…. Referenced and/or jocosely cited in modern times as something of a “cheat code” that puts the recipient on a path to greatness that extends well beyond their football-playing days; past winners have gone on to achieve amazing feats within the realms of medicine, finance/business, law, military service, and just about any other respected field of professionalism/vocation! Members of this “brotherhood” routinely finding themselves on the campuses of America’s finest colleges/universities; recent predecessors—Matt DiLullo (2020, Scott Becker (2021), John Donahoe (2022), Edward Palumbo
2025 NYCHSAA STATE FINALS MVPs (Iona Prep) Offense: Julian Guzman (Sr.; QB) 3 State finals appearances…3 titles (and counting)…This is the legacy that the 6’0, 185-pound field general will be leaving behind in New Rochelle as this past weekend, he added a second straight NYCHSAA crown on the gridiron to the 2025 hardware he claimed on the baseball diamond last spring… Fresh off of a 4TD illustration (2 passing, 2 rushing) in the Metro Catholic AAA finals triumph over Monsignor Farrell and putting on the pads for perhaps the last time in a storied scholastic journey (will be focusing on baseball at the University of Maryland); if November 29th was his curtain call; then bravo to him for bringing down the house in every possible way to direct the host Gaels to a 42-21 triumph over Monsignor Martin champs, St. Francis HS!!! Garnering his first MVP honors between the four
XAVIER: Elijah Stewart (Sr.; RB/DB) Just days removed from being a legitimate MVP candidate on both sides of the ball following an 82-yard/2 TD running, team-best 11 tackles effort in propelling the Knights to their first AA-1 league title since 2015 (28-7 over St. Joe’s by the Sea); the 5’10, 170-pounder hailing from Brooklyn finally “received his flowers” on Thanksgiving as part of Xavier’s dramatic 22-21 victory in the 102nd edition of their historic rivalry against Fordham Prep! Last Thursday being the final occasion in which Stewart would wear the Xavier football jersey; like a true captain, the two-year senior starter emptied the proverbial gas tank to the tune of amassing 73 yards rushing on 10 carries (1TD) on offense, while simultaneously being among the squad’s top tacklers with 7 total stops (to go along with a pass break-up) on “D”!! His signature moment occurring during the non-stop, back-and-forth nature
AA-2: Xaverian Clippers OFFENSE: Terrance Watson (Sr.; QB) Suiting up as a Clipper for the final time in his scholastic career; the 6’0, 220-pound field general made certain that his name will forever be immortalized on the Shore Road based campus!! Serving as the conductor and/or architect of a successful Double-A-2 repeat bid from Xaverian; the senior leader with #5 on his back would unofficially amass an almost perfectly balanced 209 yards and two touchdowns of offensive production during his last hurrah! Connecting on 7-of-9 passing for 104 yards, while rushing for a believed career-best of 105 on 11 carries (not including knee downs in the midst of victory formation); the Brooklyn resident either directly or indirectly had a hand (or more literally an arm/leg) in all of Xaverian’s 21pts on Saturday morning, as they cruised to a 21-8 triumph over their rivals from Flushing, Holy Cross, to deny the
Richie Aiken (Jr.); RB/S – Xaverian Clippers 5’9, 155-pound, Richie Aiken is hard to stop under normal circumstances… But if the last two years have taught us anything; it is that when you put the Rockaway resident in a “win or go home”/playoff format; he transforms into a beast of a different breed!!! Earning his first POTW nomination since being named as the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the AA-2 title game in November 2024; the junior tailback established one new career-high and was probably one additional carry away from rewriting his entire record book in vaulting the second-seeded Clippers back to the ‘ship for a consecutive straight fall courtesy of a 33-20 conquest against the Titans of Holy Trinity during the semifinal round! Taking three separate trips to the promised land on November 15th; Aiken set a new single-day best for touchdowns as he had previously accounted for two