Finally, after more than three weeks, Iona Prep and Stepinac will return to the field today as their CHSFL playoffs finally begin. The quarterfinals were wiped out twice by the remnants of Superstorm Sandy. Top-seeded St. Anthony’s opened up with a 42-0 shutout of No. 8 Monsignor Farrell on Saturday night.
James Carlucci will be at Iona Prep for today’s game. We’ll have updates on that one and on Stepinac’s game down in Staten Island. Check my Twitter feed @LoHudInsider for live updates and check here later for final scores, recaps and stats.
Sunday’s games —
CHSFL AAA quarterfinals
Iona Prep 41, Xaverian 20
Chaminade 21, Holy Cross 0
St. Joe’s by-the-Sea 22, Stepinac 20, OT
GAME RECAPS
CHSFL AAA quarterfinal
Iona Prep 41, Xaverian 20: Second-seeded Iona Prep marched past seventh-seeded Xaverian 41-20 in the CHSFL AAA Division quarterfinal Sunday at Iona Prep.
Senior wide receiver Chris Cooper caught eight passes for 179 yards and four touchdowns, and senior running back Shaquille Townsend scored twice. With 4:43 left in the first quarter, senior quarterback Mario Biaggi threw a 24-yard strike down the middle to Cooper for the game’s first score.
“It was a good read by Mario,” Cooper said. “We repped that play in practice constantly, and when the opportunity came around, we just handed it to them.”
On the Gaels’ subsequent possession, Biaggi used his feet to get the ball to Xaverian’s 5-yard line, setting up Townsend’s first score of the day.
With 2:38 left in the second quarter, Xaverian’s senior running back Laray Smith broke free for a 24-yard touchdown run, which, following the extra point, made it 14-7 Iona Prep. But Biaggi’s 24-yard run and 41-yard touchdown pass to Cooper comprised a lightning fast two-play, 23-second drive that pushed the lead back up to 14 before halftime.
“That chemistry goes back to spring,” Biaggi said regarding his three TD passes to Cooper. “We work on routes every day. Me and Coop have good chemistry, and it shows when we connect on passes.”
Townsend ran 52 yards for a touchdown 30 seconds into the second half. Following a 30-yard catch by Townsend, Biaggi threw a 5-yard pass to Cooper with 5:31 to play in the third quarter. Minutes later, junior quarterback Nicholas Kryza connected with Cooper for a 59-yard touchdown reception.
Biaggi finished with 200 yards passing and another 85 yards rushing.
“(Biaggi and Cooper are) our captains,” Iona Prep coach Vic Quirolo said. “We were kind of out of sorts at times today, and those guys really gave us a big boost when we needed it.”
Iona Prep’s defense allowed just seven points through the first three quarters. The Gaels’ defense was led by senior outside linebacker Aaaqil Sheppard, who had three sacks.
“Aaaqil Sheppard I thought really got pressure on the quarterback,” Quirolo said. “Kyle Bonci was all over the field. Those two guys I thought really played well.”
Iona Prep will look to avenge its 34-31 Week 3 loss to No. 3 Chaminade in the semifinals this Sunday at 1 p.m. at Iona Prep.
“I know we lost to them earlier in the season, but I know coach is going to prepare us well so we could have a good chance at beating them,” Cooper said regarding the Gaels’ match up with Chaminade
St. Joe’s by-the-Sea 22, Stepinac 20, OT: In a CHSFL AAA quarterfinal game at No. 4 St. Joe’s by-the-Sea, the No. 5 Crusaders were stopped on a two-point conversion to end the game.
Ryan Burnett rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, but he was stopped short on the two-point play in overtime. Danny Hoffer had 12 completions for 101 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 47 yards on seven carries.
“The kids played their hearts out,” said coach Mike O’Donnell. “We just came up on the losing end of it.”
Stepinac led 14-0 at halftime, but the Vikings rallied back to tie the game at 14. A 38-yard field goal attempt fell short for the Crusaders with 37 seconds left in regulation. Stepinac won 17-14 on a last-second field goal during the regular season to hand St. Joe’s its only loss.
In overtime, St. Joe’s scored first. Stepinac stopped the Vikings on their two-point conversion but the play was called back due to a face-mask penalty. St. Joseph converted on their second attempt.
Justin Thomas caught a 14-yard Hoffer pass to bring Stepinac within two but the Crusaders were unable to convert.
Stepinac wraps up the season on Thanksgiving day at White Plains at 10:30 a.m.
“It’s one of the biggest games of the year,” O’Donnell said. “We want to send the seniors out the right way.”
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
CHSFL AAA semifinals
Date: TBD
At higher seed:
No. 4 St. Joe’s by-the-Sea at No. 1 St. Anthony’s, TBD
No. 3 Chaminade vs. No. 2 Iona Prep, 1 p.m. (Sun.)
126 Comments
Ionapower
It’s a well coached team. Great senior class. And from I know about the coaching staff they will be well prepared.
Iona knows chaminade is a team they cannot take lightly so preparation this week is of be utmost importance.
And of I can send any message to the senior class is-this can be the last game you play in that uniform, play it as hard as you can and with respect to those who wore it before you.
Go Gaels !!!
Qb guru,
Iona needs to win this year and the next two years to be considered the premiere CHSFL team – let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I do agree that Iona has had a great string of QBs. I’m not sure yet where biaggi ranks, I’ll reserve judgment until he finishes this season. Iona’s great qb tradition goes back a long way before Cade. Howie Burke led Iona to an undefeated CHSFL title in the late 60’s, beating Stepinac (and our great qb tommy lee) in the final seconds to clinch the league title.
Hoops fan,
I do agree Iona’s qb tradition goes back further than I mentioned (just wasnt sure how far back people knew). And as far as Biaggi everyone has to be in agreement that the improvement he has shown from last year has been great.
I do have to agree that we shall wait and see what happens this year to rank him among the best.
You are correct in saying that Iona must win this year and the next few years to be considered premiere and I do believe that they the talent within the program now and will continue to attract future talent to do that. I envision great things for a great program. Go Gaels!!!!
stepinac vs white plains is a toss-up BOTH TEAM WERE SUPPOSE TO DO BETTER BUT HAD A TOUGH SCHEDULE AND HAD SOME BAD BREAKS….whomever wins SALUTE…DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE GREAT RB FOR STEPINAC,,,,,LARRY TRAVIS….HE WAS MY 6TH SON
QB guru
While Iona has excellent program that is among the top 10 programs in the State they have a long way to go before they eclipse St. Anthony- We cant discount what they have done over the last 15 years- Iona has closed the gap and has given St. Anthony some battles over the last 6 years but they need to win multiple chmpionships to overtake what they have done.
big joe,
Larry Travis? What years did he play?
CHSFL AAA Champions
2012-?
2011-St. Anthony’s
2010-St. Anthony’s
2009-St. Anthony’s
2008-Iona Prep
2007-St. Anthony’s
2006-St. Anthony’s
2005-St. Anthony’s
2004-St. Anthony’s
2003-St. Anthony’s
2002-St. Anthony’s
2001-St. Anthony’s
2000-Farrell
1999-Farrell
1998-Chaminade
1997-Mount
1996-Mount
1995-St. Anthony’s
1994-St. Anthony’s
1993-St. Anthony’s
-St. Anthony’s has played in the Championship game 19/20 yrs…’98 lost to Farrell in Semis.
-St. Anthony’s has won 13 AAA Championships in those 19 games played in.
-When Iona’s accomplishments come close to that, then maybe.
IonaPower November 20th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Prince
You are correct in your analysis of Iona- St. Anthony is very healthy and has 4 very very good running backs plus they have their starting QB back healthy where he did not play against Iona- St. Joes will get physical because of their style of play running the single wing-They wont beat St. Anthony but they will make it a physical game plus they wont back down as they are tough minded kids from Staten Island-
Iona will have a tough challenge but no one ever said it would be a cake walk nor should it be- I do think they have the talent to win it plus they have some players like Shaq Townsend, Chris Cooper etc that will keep the team focused on the championship.
IONA.. THIS WILL COME DOWN TO WHO HAS GOTTEN BETTER THE PAST 6 WEEKS BETWEEN INA, SAINT, AND CHAM!!.. A;; 3 TEAMS ARE A VERY CLOSE WITH ME GIVING SAINT ANTS A 3 POINT LEAD!!.. IT’S GOING TO BE A FIGHT!!!.. IF THE WEATHER IS NASTY SAINT ANT BY 10 IF IT’S 50 DEGREE DAY TOSS UP!!.. IT WILL BE CLOSE SAINT ANTS STATS INDICATE THERE BETTER THEN WEEK 3
Sir… Sisophous November 20th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Good analysis Prince but easier said than done. They are playing the Section 1 champs who know how to win the big game.
SIS… I KNOW NEW RO WILL BE PREPARED TO WIN!!.. AND COACH D DEFENSE WILL BE PREPARED!!.. I THINK ORCHARD PARK!.. IS SLOW VERSION OF IONA PREP!!... MARIO AND SHAQ ARE BETTER THEN PARK AND WILSON!!..
HAYWOOD November 20th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
PRINCE,
I WENT TO A MV FOOTBALL GAME AND THEY GAVE ME 2 DOLLARS TO WATCH THE GAME,LLLLLLOOOOOLLLLL
HAYWOOD… DID YOU GIVE IT BACK!
IonaPower November 20th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Prince
New Rochelle will beat Orchard Park by over 10 points- Senior laden team with a very experienced QB is huge in High School football.
IONA.. I THINK IF NEW RO STAYS IN THE SPREAD AND USE THERE SPEED AND ATHLETICISM OP LOSE BY 10 POINT!!.. BUT IF NEW RO TRIES TO RUN THROUGH THEM THEY WILL BE TRIED BY THE 4TH QTR… NEW RO NEED TO THROWN WR SCREENS AND AND T.E. SCREENS TO JOE CLARKE!! ... THE NEED TO ATTACK THE EDGE!!
IONA
I THINK OP IS A SLOW VERSION OF IONA!!!..
Just a fact November 20th, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Prince, I like your analysis above. Only way this is a blow out either way if turnover difference +3 in someone’s favor. One team would have to completely s the bed. I don see it happening. Going to be an exciting one.
JUST… REMEMBER I SAID WHEN TWO GOOD TEAMS PLAY!!!.. USUALLY THE TEAM WITH THE BEST 3RD DOWN PCT. WINS THE GAME!!.. KEEP THAT THOUGHT!!...
JUST
I THNK COACH D WILL HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE OFFNESIVE HE WILL TO PICK HIS SPOTS TO GO FOR A HOME RUN!!...I DN’T LIKE PLAYING FIELD POSITION WITH A BIG TEAM B/C IN THE 4TH QTR. IT START TO WEAR YOU DOWN….. NEW RO WILL NEED A DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS TO BREAK OP BACK!!...
OFF MVP…..EDNEY!!
DEF MVP…... GANLEY & CLARKE
Prince, what about Clark for O MVP?????
He seems to make every big catch…. I like rewarding guy that throws the ball do Ian thinking co – MVP ’s unless edney puts team on back this game…
Thoughts?
HOOPS
IP and PPR,
As much as I’d prefer Step to be in the semis, I think the next two weeks of the CHSFL playoffs will be excellent. I think Iona/Cham is a toss up with Iona the favorite and I think Iona/st As is another toss up with the reigning champ as a slight favorite. PPR has a good point that Iona has a tougher semis game, but I agree with you that sjbs is much tougher than he thinks. Not only is gowins a 1A player, Anderson and Jones very good as well, Femiano isnt talked about as much but he is explosive – he hurt both Iona and step.
HOOPS…SJBS WILL BE DEALT WITH BY HALF TIME!!.. SAINT ANTS WILL HAVE IT’S BACKUP PLAYING 3RD AND 4TH QTR… THAT GAME IS IN LONG ISLAND!!... SJBS IS GOING TO BE SHELL SHOCKED!!.. REMEMBER THEY DID NOT PLAY ANY TOUGH TEAMS BESIDE STEP… EVEYTHING IS WAS A PUSH OVER!!.. HALF TIME SCORE!!.. 31-0
Just a fact November 21st, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Prince, what about Clark for O MVP?????
He seems to make every big catch…. I like rewarding guy that throws the ball do Ian thinking co – MVP ’s unless edney puts team on back this game…
Thoughts?
JUST EDNEY LEGS WIL DO ALOT DAMAGE THIS WEEK!!.. HE WILL BE THE LEADING RUSHER!!.. O/P DN’T HAVE ENOUGH PLAYERS FOR EDNEY ARM AND HIS LEGS!... BUT YOU CAN RIGHT EDNEY AND CLARKE!!..
PPR,
Good point about SJBS/St As being at St As – all the SI teams are better at home.
Also a good point about Edney using his legs more this game. I’ve actually been surprised Edney hasn’t done more on the ground this year – this would be a good time to pull it out.
hoops, he probably is about 45-50 years old now so go back to his age of 16-17….he was un-belieable and was all county fast and strong similar to harrisons maldonado
Prince, sorry for the bad typing… tough to see from phone some times…
I agree Edney is tough to bring down. Dont want to harp on Red Raiders, but a couple times Edney had one player to beat vs North Rock and the one player made the play. Bring it up because I think North Rock D puts them in the top 15 – 20 of AA in the State. I know Hoops wants to put them in the top 200!!!
Big Joe,
I don’t remember him. The name sounds familiar, but I don’t remember him as a player. That might not necessarily mean much because back in that period I wasn’t able to pay as much attention every season like I do now. Sounds like a great player.
Hoops fan November 21st, 2012 at 4:50 pm
PPR,
Good point about SJBS/St As being at St As – all the SI teams are better at home.
Also a good point about Edney using his legs more this game. I’ve actually been surprised Edney hasn’t done more on the ground this year – this would be a good time to pull it out.
Just… I think it’s time to give Edney some designed scrambles!!.. He has too kill op with legs first!! It will open the passing game!!
Just a fact November 21st, 2012 at 9:49 pm
Prince, sorry for the bad typing… tough to see from phone some times…
I agree Edney is tough to bring down. Dont want to harp on Red Raiders, but a couple times Edney had one player to beat vs North Rock and the one player made the play. Bring it up because I think North Rock D puts them in the top 15 – 20 of AA in the State. I know Hoops wants to put them in the top 200!!!
Just!!.. North rockland is not giving enough credit!! New Ro is the real deal!!.. North rock would beat pine bush 24-7
Prince, ye ole waggle??? Or you thinking the Fake drop back and run technique – which New Ro D will see a lot of come Saturday.
I think OP watching the YTown & Troy tape from 2010 even though they have diff offense. or too much time passed?? Similar players.. and I see the approach similar though OP running SPREAD!!!
Prince, I am thinking North Rock would have done well. My biggest concern for them was they only had Connell carrying the ball with no other weapon. Unless you are Derreck Owens, that is not going to work!! Plus Connell played a physical D as well. I wonder if that is why we did not hear as much from him in 2012. I dont have the stats but if we went by week to week game recaps and even the films I did see, he wasn’t all over the field. Against New Ro last yr in the playoffs he had a great game on D. But that year that had others that could carry the ball. That really hurth them this year not having a 2nd back.