On the day they were supposed to play Xaverian the second time, Iona Prep split its offense and defense. The Gaels spent last Saturday’s practice with the two groups going helmet to helmet, pads to pads, right to the cusp of a full-contact scrimmage.
Linebacker Kyle Bonci said his defense played for bragging rights. The offense didn’t exactly back down, either.
“It was fun. It kept our minds in it,” senior wide receiver Austin Jones said. “Our coaches did a great job of keeping us ready to play.”
Both Iona Prep and Stepinac have been forced to meet that same challenge. Neither has played in three weeks after the CHSFL moved to postpone the beginning of its playoffs twice in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.
Member schools on Long Island and Staten Island were devastated. A few still couldn’t practice last week because of power outages.
“You have to understand, obviously, with Staten Island and Long Island being hit much harder than here,” Stepinac coach Mike O’Donnell said. “And we still had people that didn’t have power up until this week. Some of our students were trying to do homework by candlelight.”
O’Donnell compared the situation to 9/11. His team’s 2001 game against Iona Prep was postponed a week, but the program dealt directly with the loss of coach Joe Riverso, who was killed in the attacks.
Even in the wake of that tragedy, the football season resumed after a week off. “That was different,” O’Donnell said. “This has been strange.”
The teams geared up to play last weekend before the games were postponed again. It left coaches scrambling to keep their players engaged. While Iona Prep decided to scrimmage, Stepinac condensed practices and increased competition by adding 20 junior varsity players after their season was canceled.
The second postponement left the Crusaders in a scheduling bind. They will play Sunday at St. Joe’s by-the-Sea on Staten Island and Thursday in the annual Turkey Bowl against White Plains. If Stepinac beats St. Joe’s, it will play St. Anthony’s or Monsignor Farrell on Tuesday, Nov. 27.
“It’s a big challenge,” senior running back Ryan Burnett said. “Everybody has to be mentally prepared and physically prepared. It’s going to be tough physically playing three games in a couple of days.”
The league asked Stepinac not to play White Plains, but the Crusaders refused. They hoped to play St. Joe’s before Sunday, but the CHSFL forbids teams from scheduling games on Friday nights or Saturday afternoon during SAT exams. (Exams were also postponed to this weekend by the storm.)
Surviving the layoff has been “all mental,” according to Bonci. His team harbors championship aspirations, but can’t meet them until it returns to the field for real.
“Practice is great and all, but we practice to play the games,” said Bonci, whose team hosts Xaverian Sunday. “We haven’t been able to do that yet.”
* * *
SCOUTING REPORTS
CHSFL AAA quarterfinal
No. 2 Iona Prep (7-1) vs. No. 7 Xaverian (2-6)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Where: Iona Prep
Key players: Iona Prep — Chris Cooper (5-11, 185), Sr., WR/CB; Mario Biaggi (6-0, 195), Sr., QB; Shaquille Townsend (5-9, 190), Sr., RB; O’Shea Morris (6-3, 260), Sr., OT; Kyle Bonci (6-1, 195), Sr., LB; Aaaqil Sheppard (6-2, 210), Sr., LB. Xaverian — Laray Smith (6-1, 190), Sr., RB; Zach Kearney (5-9, 185), Sr., QB/DB; Jonathan Badyna (6-3, 230), Sr., WR/LB; Peter Tuohy (6-0, 180), Sr., WR/LB; Christopher Jones (6-0, 245), Sr., OL/DL/P.
Outlook: On the heels of its only loss of the season, Iona started slowly the next week against a struggled Xaverian team. But by the time the dust had settled, the Gaels appeared to find their footing, routing the Clippers 41-10. The game marked a return from an ankle injury that cost him two games and has limited the effectiveness of both him and his team. The senior is one of the most coveted players in the state, receiving scholarship offers from the likes of Tennessee, Purdue and Syracuse, among others. He and the electric Kearney were expected to help Xaverian contend right alongside Iona. But the Gaels have been the superior team. They sounded defeated the Clippers behind Biaggi’s 183 yards passing and three touchdowns, including two to Cooper. There’s no reason to believe Iona can be stopped in the rematch.
Next up: The winner will play either No. 3 Chaminade or No. 6 Holy Cross next weekend in the semifinals at the higher seed.
CHSFL AAA quarterfinal
No. 4 St. Joe’s by-the-Sea (7-1) vs. No. 5 Stepinac (3-5)
When: Sunday, 1:30 p.m.
Where: St. Joe’s by-the-Sea
Key players: St. Joe’s — Andrew Russo (5-7, 165), Jr., RB; Ryan Minlionica (5-8, 175), Jr., QB; Nicholas King (6-1, 220), Sr., RB/LB/K; Joseph Barretta (5-7, 170), Sr., DB; Brandan Spears (6-2, 230), Sr., DL. Stepinac — Dan Hoffer (6-2, 205), Sr., QB; Dan Pomposello (6-4, 305), Sr., OT; Ryan Burnett (5-6, 185), Sr., RB; Tom Dediviani (5-9, 190), Sr., LB; Brian Harris (6-0, 230), Jr., OL/DT; Damarcus Miller (6-1, 170), So., WR/LB; Sterling Lovelock (6-0, 215), Sr., DL.
Outlook: These teams engaged in a classic on Oct. 13 that was both the only loss for St. Joe’s and the best win of the season for Stepinac. The Crusaders led 14-0 before falling into a tie, but they needed a field goal by Michael Pizzuti with two seconds remaining to win. The rematch should be the most competitive quarterfinal in the CHSFL’s AAA division. The teams’ styles couldn’t be more different. Stepinac relies on a balanced spread offense and a defense based primarily on speed. St. Joe’s runs a double-wing offense with a limited but effective playbook that produced three touchdowns or more in its other seven games. The team is physical and plodding; it has attempted just 22 passes all season, rarely punts and routinely kicks onsides on kickoffs. When Stepinac overcame all that, it began its best stretch of the season. The Crusaders, now winners of two of three, will continue their effort to save an otherwise disappointing season.
Next up: The winner will play either No. 1 St. Anthony’s or No. 8 Monsignor Farrell in the semifinals at the higher seed. (If Stepinac wins, the game will be played on Tuesday, Nov. 27 to accommodate the Crusaders’ Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving.)
90 Comments
Just,
No one is jealous a middle aged guy who around bragging about playing DIII football decades ago…the word I know of for that is ‘pathetic’. You should change your screenname to “Al Bundy’s backup”
Where did anyone bash Somers? Cut and paste where that happened. And who said Somers ‘didn’t play anyone’? Definitely not me. I’ve been praising Somers all year.
RT,
Somers broke 2 long Tds against St As, which I thought was incredibly. Somers also broke 3 long tds against New Ro in situational work – also incredible for an A team to do. But NO ONE at the scrimmage said Somers pushed around St As at all…if anything St As O line was able to dominate the line of scrimmage. PPR knows this, he’s just intentionally trying to be dishonest and distort. Its what he does, don’t fall into his trap.
PPR,
You love to say how New Ro dominated No Bergen into the 4th qtr…first of all, thats not true – No Bergen went on a 98yd drive starting in the 3rd qtr, they scored a TD on the first play of the 4th qtr. But you seem not to know that football is 4 full qtrs. The reality of the New Ro/No Bergen game is No Bergen dominated the 2nd half, New Ro dominated the 1st half.
Hoops, are you saying all these kids who make d – 3 should be ashamed?????
Wow u truly are a low life!!!!!
Al bundy played HS football… Something you never did!!!!!!!
Key word …. PLAYED!!!!!
You were on side line with Pom poms..
Ps.. Change the litter box!
Josh
Why is my previous comment under moderation?
Just,
Not at all. Playing DIII football is a great accomplishment. But what kids should NOT do is play DIII (or DI or DII football), then come on a blog decades later acting like they were Joe Namath. Thats weak and pathetic, regardless of how good you were as a HS player in the dark ages.
I’ve never met an athlete in my life who actually was a very good player who had the need to go around telling everyone how great they were decades later. So my conclusion is simple, you were likely someone who thought they should’ve been going to Alabama and were far from it. And I didn’t mean to insult your idol Al Bundy above, my apologies.
I certainly wasn’t a superstar HS player, but even if i was I definitely wouldn’t be coming on a blog decades later acting like I was god’s gift to HS football like you do. It is pathetic. I really wonder if you actually played HS football at New Ro…all the other guys I’ve met who actually played at New Ro are classy, decent guys, you have no class…what happened to you?
josh, can you arrange to have IONA PLAY NEW ROCHELLE ….just to shut them up….NEWRO would wip IONA 40-0
“Somers is a solid team, so I don’t want to take anything away from them. But you have spent too much time watching teams compete against lesser comp, you don’t seem to realize that teams don’t look as good against better teams. ”
This isn’t at Somers??????
And “beast” saying somers cant beat step is a huge insult… They are the class A champs, and step has a losing record!!
That is what we call an insult!!!!
I Wish both New Ro and Iona the best of luck, Hope they both bring the Championships to the city of New Rochelle.
Hoops, you said I was no good in HS , just proving you again!!!!!
Meooooooooowwww!!!
Big Joe
Iona will play New Rochelle any day of the week- New Rochelle is no better than 4th in the CHSFL – Iona , Chaminade and St. Anthony are much better- New Rochelle lost to a average NJ public-
Just,
THe comment you quoted from me wasn’t directed at Somers – come on man, I know you don’t actually watch Somers play football!!! Why would I be talking about Somers. Somers actually plays in a A league with lots of parity and comp – Harrison, Pok, et, etc, etc.
I was referring to the football you watch…New Ro…too many games of you watching Lincoln, and Scarsdale and Mamk blowouts…I think you’ve forgotten that teams look better against lesser comp.
Beast is allowed to have an opinion. Unlike you and Big Joe and RT, Beast apparently has seen both Step and Somers this year multiple times. I didn’t see Somers play, so I can’t give a worthwhile assessment. You seem to forget that Step has played the #5 schedule in all of NYS this year. There a lot of teams that you think are pretty good this season that if they played Step’s schedule they’d be 3-5 or worse.
Big Fan,
Thats a very logical and reasonable thing to say, but Just and PPR are too jealous and insecure to ever want any CHSFL team to any attention or accolades. I’m rooting for Step to pull off the greatest string upsets in CHSFL history, but if that doesn’t happen I’ll be pulling for Iona in the CHSFL…and I’m pulling for New Ro in the NYPHSAA tourney.
Big Joe,
If Iona Prep makes the CHSFL finals, wHy don’t you and Rotten Tomato take a road trip down to Yankee Stadium to watch your cousin and his team play. I know you probably haven’t seen Iona play in years, but it would be worthwhile. I can even give you some great restaurant recommendations on Arthur Ave on your way home. If you seriously think New RO would blow out Iona you obviously know nothing about Iona this year or any year in the past decade.
Hoops, I have seen Step and Somers play. Msg varsity buddy. Sell your nonsense somewhere else.
And news flash, New Ro layed and beat North Rock and JJEF 2x each. Pretty impressive. Especially when Norh Rock is top 20 AA team in State.
And if that is not impressive enough for you, check this out….
New Ro
points for – 204
points against – 41
Step gave up 41 points somewhere in the middle of game#2. New Ro results after playing 10 full games… Do these STATS register with you?
Iona Power, serious question….
Is Chaminade a great team because you truly believe that or you have to say it since they beat you?
Chaminade is SSSLLLOOOWWWW….. And I am not wrong when I say that.
You guys wouldnt have lost if your special teams played better.
Just,
I’m not comparing New Ro and Step…am I? New Ro has been playing well the last 3 weeks and I’ve thought all year long this was New Ro’s year to be better than Step. Step was definitely better than New Ro the last two years in my opinion (and almost everyone else’s opinion except you and PPR). Step does have A LOT more coming back next year than New Ro does, so next year will be a different story. So enjoy this year.
Chaminade not only beat Iona, but they also lost to St As by only 1 pt. Chaminade is legit. And I also don’t think Chaminade is nearly as slow as you think they are – they definitely don’t have great speed like St As or Iona at the skill positions, but Speranza and Cerrone have good speed. You seem to forget that the fastest guys on New Ro run 4.8’s – thats not exactly blazing. Cham’s style has never been to beat you with speed – they are a big, physical, deep, bruising team. They pass well, hit very hard on D and are very well coached.
Just,
Since New Ro has started to play better the last 3 weeks I’m not yet convinced that Cham is ‘much better’ than New ro as IP suggests. I think CHam and New Ro are pretty close at the moment. Cham is less of a bad matchup for New Ro than Iona is – Cham doesn’t run an uptempo O like Iona does that would be sure to have New Ro’s D front 4 fatigued by the 4th qtr…and Cham has a good passing game, but not as good as Iona’s. I think Cham/New Ro this year would be a great, great matchup of two completely different styles.
Justafactasaurus November 16th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Prince!!!! Cat Sweater got a big S on it!!!!
Cat name is Pat so it doesn’t give off feelings of male or female….
Just…... Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaa!!! I can not stop laughing!!! Hahahahaha!
CAT SWEATER GOT A BIG SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS ON IT!!.. Lol oh man that is a good one!!!...
Cat-dog!!...
Hoops
You keep tossing new Ro fastest guy is 4.8 I told you Dnt by into!!.. Also you can not name one that do not think new Ro is a fast team even Iona think there fast!!.. And according to you Iona is the fastest team in New York State in all the work Iona and new Ro did this year Iona speed never overwhelmed new Ro. Secondly if new Ro Fastest guy is. 4.8! What is the average speed of the teams they have played!... 5.5 also new Ro is better then Cham. If Cham had problems with Iona speed you Dnt think they will have problem. New Ro speed!!..
Cham 14
New Ro 23
A CAT WITH A BIG S ON IT …WELL ,I KNOW THAT IT STANDS FOR ….SCHMUCK…..THE OWNERS NAME …...AM I CORRECT PURPLE
GOOD MORNING FELLAS I SEE BIG JOE IS IN FINE FORM,LLLLLLOOOOOLLLLL
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL,SHOPPING IS ALMOST DONE
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL….THIS BLOG EXTENDS MY LIFE …IT IS VERY ENJOYABLE TO ME AND AS I TELL EVERYONE FOR YEARS…...MY MOTHER LEFT HOME TO GET A TURKEY AND BROUGHT ME HOME INSTEAD…..YEP, I WAS BORN ON THANKSGIVING DAY 81 YEARS AGO….HAVING A BIG BIRTHDAY PARTY AT MOLLY DERCY REST. IN DANBURY…I WOULD INVITE YOU ALL ..BUT THIS OBAMA STOCK MARKET HAS KILLED ME SINCE HE WAS ELECTED
Prince/big joe, lolol…
Big Joe happy birthday and keep on truckin!
BIG JOE November 17th, 2012 at 7:48 am
A CAT WITH A BIG S ON IT …WELL ,I KNOW THAT IT STANDS FOR ….SCHMUCK…..THE OWNERS NAME …...AM I CORRECT PURPLE
Big Jo….. Schmuck lol!!!... I was thinking a lil. Something different but I can go with that!!
Happy birthday Big Joe!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY,I GOTTA BELIEVE THAT “ROTTEN” IS GETTING YOUR GIFT AS WE BLOG,LLLOOOLLL
Big joe
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!.. Big joe!....a lil gift to a great friend!!..
http://youtu.be/k4SLSlSmW74
PPR,
You don’t want to buy into the 4.8’s, but those are the #’s posted from your own combine and on each players recruiting page. I’m pretty sure kids wouldn’t post inaccurately slow 40 times on their own recruiting pages. And 4.8’s in HS are not bad at all, its actually a pretty fast 40 time for most HS kids – I saw Justin Thomas from Stepinac timed at a 4.8 as well and I would consider him having good speed.
I never said Iona is the fastest team in NYS. I have no idea how much speed other teams have in other areas. Iona does have 3 kids running in the 4.5 range and below which is impressive – Jones, Cooper and Barbuto. And I certainly never said New Ro doesn’t have good speed – they do have good speed. But you brought up one of the key points – New Ro plays in a league that does not have a lot of speed in general – JJEF, Mahopac and No Rock (besides Connell and Respress) – so New Ro’s guys running 4.8s are a heckuva lot faster than the kids they play against. If you watched the No Bergen/New Ro game tape, you can see that No Bergen also had some good speed and New Ro did not stand out as having an athletic advantage in speed.
Hoops
You are looking at inbred from 2yeats ago!... And like I said before there is a technique to running the 40!!.. They have not been trained..
Hoops
now you saying new Ro only look fast because everyone in the league is slow!!.. You Dnt make any sense!..
Maybe you forgot new Ro scored 20 points. On north Bergen!!!.
PPR,
I’ve said several times I think New Ro is a fast team. They have a number of guys who run 4.8s which is more than most teams can say. My point is simple – New Ro doesn’t have blazing speed i.e. Canzeri, Cooper, Laray Smith, etc. That is a fact. But it is also true that if any fast team is playing against the likes of JJEF and Mahopac, they are going to look even faster in comparison. Against another team with good speed such as No Bergen, New Ro’s speed definitely did not overwhelm or stand out as much against No bergen. If anything, in the second half, No bergen looked like the faster team. And New Ro did score 20 pts, which is good, but it wasn’t off of pure speed outrunning NB – their O overall played a very solid 1st half.
After the section 9 thrashing of the CHSFL, I rested my case weeks ago.
Again, the CHSFL is legit but clearly over rated.
Someone .. Please clear this up… No way new ro fastest guys run 4.8…. I can still run 4.8!!! In the 30 yard dash…
S..T,I RUN A 2.0,TO THE DINNER TABLE.,LLLOOOLLL
ALL MOST TIME;
EITHER PUT UP, OR SHUT UP,NEW RO CAN NOT HAVE 2 OR MORE TURNOVERS,THEY HAVE GOT TO HOLD ON TO THE ROCK,IF THEY DO IT’S “DOME CITY”
10960 November 17th, 2012 at 4:53 pm
After the section 9 thrashing of the CHSFL, I rested my case weeks ago.
Again, the CHSFL is legit but clearly over rated.
10960…. I could not have said it better!!!!!!!!
10960,
You do realize Step and Xaverian are far from the top of the CHSFL. Iona, St As and Cham are a lot better than the rest of the CHSFL. That comparison is like Cl South and Cl North going out and losing to Two top Nassau or Suffolk teams…then LI fans saying Sect 1 is no good. You can’t judge an entire league looking at only two teams in the middle/towards the bottom of the league.
Top 3 CHSAA TEAMS BLOW OUT EVERY SECTION 9 SCHOOL.
SAT DOWN WITH SECTION 9 FOOTBALL CHAIRMAN TODAY AND HE AGREED.
SECTION 1 TOP TEAMS WOULD MAKE UP BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.
WE WILL BE HOLDING AN END OF SEASON Q & A FOR ALL THE SECTION 1 BLOGGERS IN WHITE PLAINS ON DEC. 10TH. FREE DRINKS & FOOD. PLEASE HAVE ALL YOUR STUPID QUESTIONS & POSTINGS READY FOR THAT NIGHT.
Is that the same Section 9 Chairman who saw his AA team be embarassed??? That same guy??? Where we drinking?
10463 November 18th, 2012 at 6:12 pm
Top 3 CHSAA TEAMS BLOW OUT EVERY SECTION 9 SCHOOL.
SAT DOWN WITH SECTION 9 FOOTBALL CHAIRMAN TODAY AND HE AGREED.
SECTION 1 TOP TEAMS WOULD MAKE UP BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.
WE WILL BE HOLDING AN END OF SEASON Q & A FOR ALL THE SECTION 1 BLOGGERS IN WHITE PLAINS ON DEC. 10TH. FREE DRINKS & FOOD. PLEASE HAVE ALL YOUR STUPID QUESTIONS & POSTINGS READY FOR THAT NIGHT
10463… DID HE MENTION HOW NEW RO KICK THE PINE OUT OF THE BRUSH!!... LOL!!... I H8 LIARS!!...
To All: Have a Happy Thanksgiving and think of the good things in your life that you can be thankfull for.
Bless you and your family!