The first CHSFL weekend gave ATS something preseason rankings always need eventually:
results that challenge the order.
Monsignor Farrell looked every bit like a top-two team, Stepinac took care of business, St. Joseph-by-the-Sea put up the biggest offensive number of the weekend, and Kellenberg delivered the result most likely to shake up Thursday’s ATS Top 25.
Kellenberg changes the conversation
Kellenberg went into Chaminade and won 21-10.
That is easily the most rankings-relevant CHSFL result of the weekend.
Chaminade entered the preseason ATS Downstate NY Top 25 at No. 8. Kellenberg was outside the rankings. A direct head-to-head win over a Top-10 team gives the Firebirds a strong argument to move onto the ballot immediately.
It also creates the opposite problem for Chaminade.
One loss does not erase the Flyers’ overall profile, but a home loss to an unranked opponent has to matter.
Farrell does exactly what No. 2 should do
Monsignor Farrell opened with a 28-14 road win over Holy Spirit in New Jersey.
Farrell entered the weekend at No. 2 in the ATS rankings, and this is the kind of result that helps a highly ranked team stay exactly where it is.
The Lions did not need a dramatic statement. They simply needed to look like a contender against quality competition.
They did.
Around the CHSFL
Archbishop Stepinac opened with a convincing 27-7 win over Fordham Prep.
St. Joseph-by-the-Sea produced the weekend’s biggest scoring output, beating Holy Cross 54-28.
Curtis handed St. Peter’s a 41-14 loss, while St. Francis Prep beat Mount St. Michael 20-6.
Xaverian also finished the weekend with an interstate win, defeating St. John’s Catholic Prep 23-14 in Maryland.
Players whose stock is up
Nahum Pierre, Archbishop Stepinac — The Spring Valley transfer made an immediate impact in his Stepinac debut, scoring three touchdowns in the Crusaders’ 27-7 win over Fordham Prep. Pierre showed the physicality and burst that made him one of the more intriguing offseason additions in the CHSFL.
Kellenberg Defense — The Firebirds’ defense was the difference in the 21-10 win over Chaminade, producing two defensive touchdowns — a pick-six and a fumble recovery returned for a score. In a game with major ATS rankings implications, Kellenberg’s defense delivered the plays that changed the outcome.
ATS Rankings Watch
Monsignor Farrell: Hold. The No. 2 team did what it was supposed to do.
Kellenberg: Strong case to enter the Top 25 after beating No. 8 Chaminade.
Chaminade: Likely to move down.
Stepinac: A clean, convincing opener strengthens its position.
St. Joseph-by-the-Sea: Fifty-four points gets attention and puts Sea on the early watch list.
Xaverian: An interstate road win gives the Clippers something to build on.
The big picture
The top of the CHSFL remains mostly stable.
Farrell looked like Farrell.
Stepinac handled business.
But below that top tier, the picture changed quickly.
Kellenberg now owns one of the most important early wins in the league. Chaminade has a loss to answer for. Sea’s offense is suddenly worth watching, and Xaverian comes home from Maryland 1-0.
The preseason rankings told us what we expected.
Week 0 started telling us what is actually happening.
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