Week 0 is in the books. I am amazed that teams are playing football just two weeks after camp opens. Not to bore you, but typically, the first scrimmage of the season would be this week, and then a week following would be the first game. Of course, as the demand for more games has come, these games have been pushed back. From my perspective, it is a safety issue. I just don’t think it is enough time to be prepared for full games. New York needs to start their football camp earlier. Anyways, onto week 0 recap.
It is important to note that none of these games actually count for anything, save for bragging rights. I watched three games this weekend, and I stayed focused on them. Something I felt last year was that I tried to keep an eye on too many games at once. I was at Archbishop Stepinac vs Fordham Prep, and I streamed Curtis vs St. Peter’s, and Xaverian vs St. John’s Catholic. I was able to skim through some of the other games, like Chaminade vs Kellenberg and Holy Spirit vs Monsignor Farrell. I will always tsk tsk at schools that don’t stream their games. It is hard for me to have good recaps for those matchups.
Onto the results:
St. Joseph by the Sea 54-Holy Cross 28:
I am not sure I expected this type of game out of the Vikings. A game that was supposed to be a Saturday afternoon game in Queens, was moved to St. Joseph by the Sea on Friday afternoon on short notice. With no stream due to field renovations, I only got a glimpses of what occurred, and it was the Joey Moran show, early and often, as he accumulated 5 touchdowns, 2 on the ground, 2 receiving, and 1 interception return for a touchdown. Pete Tronolone had 4 touchdown passes, 1 to Nick Laona, and Sal Leto with the other 2 to Moran. The front and defense for Sea was too much for Holy Cross to handle. Not that the Knights did not fight back, the score was 14-8 early on and 28-16 lead by their senior quarterback, Madden Martinez. While driving into Sea territory down 28-16, Madden was unfortunately banged up and did not return. A strong showing by the Vikings, St. Joseph by the Sea took care of business. They travel to Immaculata in New Jersey next week, where they will see some familiar faces. Holy Cross travels upstate to take on a Monsignor Martin league team, St. Mary’s of the ‘B’ division of the MMHSAA.
Archbishop Stepinac 27-Fordham Prep 7:
A rivalry renewed, the Rams came to White Plains to play. Archbishop Stepinac looked really good with running back Nahum Pierre scoring three touchdowns on the ground. Quarterback Dylan Wrona looked poised, hitting Gio Bowely on several key plays, and Nick Harrison on a big 48 yard touchdown to put the Crusaders up 21-7 before halftime. The Rams had a lot of success running the football behind a revitalized offensive line and senior running back Luke McKay. Quarterbacks George Jackson Jr. and Vinny DiPasquale split time at quarterback, both showing promise. Fordham Prep had some well run drives, and capped off a drive with a 6 yard touchdown run by Lake Chiesi in the 2nd quarter to cut the lead to 14-7. Overall, an encouraging game for the Rams, while Stepinac looks polished and ready to make a championship run. Both teams have a lot to improve on moving forward. Fordham Prep welcomes fellow Jesuit school from Florida, Belen Jesuit, to the Bronx. Archbishop Stepinac travels to Albany to play the football power of the region, the Christian Brother’s Academy of Albany.
Kellenberg Memorial 21-Chaminade 10:
Pete’s Game of the Week, the Marianist Matchup, I have to say this one shocked me, and should have shocked the community. While I will 100% eat crow for this pick, I want to point out that 79% of you chose Chaminade to win this game as well. The engine on offense for Chaminade, Anthony Trapani was out for this game, and the Firebirds took full advantage. Behind a ferocious defense, Kellenberg smothered Chaminade in a shocking win. The Flyers would strike first with a field goal from Stapleton late in the 1st quarter top cap off a 7 minute drive to start the game. The drive was orchestrated by senior quarterback Sean Carnevale connecting with Michael Genovese. Some ill time penalties, and a dropped pass prevented Kellenberg from responding in the 1st quarter. But a combination of Brendan Barkley, Doug Cristales, and Ryan Kuntz runs, and catches with quarterback Brayden Farrelly running the Firebird offense drove the ball deep into Chaminade territory. An ill timed sack forced a punt, which gave the ball to Chaminade at the 6 yard line. Backed up, the swarming Kellenberg defense forced a punt, which was subsequently block. This gave the ball back to their offense on the Chaminade 29 yard line. With much of the 2nd quarter being played in the shadow of Chaminade’s endzone, the Kellenberg defense would come up big. Will Auerbach would force a fumble by Sean Carnevale. The ball was scooped up by Christian Eleazar and returned for a touchdown to make it 7-3 with about 7:53 left in the 1st half. Chaminade would march right back down the field, but with just under 4 minutes left, the Firebirds would come up with a big interception. Will Auerbach would intercept Carnevale and return it 74 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 14-3. One the ensuing drive, Carnevale hit Foschi, and Genovese with some well timed passes to drive the ball into the redzone where running back Michael Gowen would pound the ball into the endzone to cut the lead to 14-10. Late in the 3rd quarter, Brayden Farrelly and a big play by Ryan Kuntz orchestrated backbreaking drive. The drive was capped off by a a QB sneak by Farrelly from the 1 yard line to take a 21-10 lead on the 1st play of the 4th quarter. On the next drive, the Kellenberg defense hit Carnevale as he was throwing to force an interception by James Wisniewski. It was Chris Biondi who stuffed Jared Jackson on 4th down that ended another Chaminade drive in Kellenberg territory with 8 minutes remaining. And now, it was time for the Firebirds to do what they do best. Their steady run game broke open with Quinn Saccheri bursting down the sideline. The Firebirds used their plodding, steady offense to run the clock down to around 3 minutes left. Chris Biondi ended the final gasp from Chaminade with a sack on 4th down, sealing the win for the Firebirds. Kellenberg is on the road again, this time going to Westchester, to take on the New Rochelle Huguenots. Chaminade needs to lick their wounds, as they go on the road as well, but to Rhode Island to take on Bishop Hendricken.
Monsignor Farrell 28-Holy Spirit (NJ) 14:
The Lions and Rocco Del Priore consistently challenge themselves with high profile non-league matchups, and this year is no different. Last year, they traveled up to Albany for the Tunnels to Towers Bowl to play the Christian Brother’s Academy of Albany, the then reigning Section 2 champions. This year, they participated in a 3 day, 12 game marathon near Ocean City, NJ called the Battle at the Beach. Bryce Moye got the scoring started, after a sensational punt return, Moye ran it in untouched from 4 yards out in the 1st quarter to make it 7-0. Just 3 and half minutes into the second quarter, after a big time throw and catch to Braxton Moye, and a big run by Jayden Burch, Bryce Moye found Mason Morales for a 26 yard touchdown to extend the lead to 14-0. Gabe Walker from Holy Spirit responded, taking a sneak in from the 1 yard line to cut the lead to 14-7 going into halftime. Moye would throw for his 2nd touchdown, hitting Lucas Sini for a 11 yard touchdown pass, midway through the 3rd quarter. Lucas Sini would again come up with a big play, intercepting a pass, to end a promising Spartan drive. The Moye to Moye connection would begin immediately as the 4th quarter started as they connected on a big gain to get down to the Spartan 15 yard line. A 3 yard touchdown pass on a shovel pass from Moye to Charles Costanzo capped off the scoring for Monsignor Farrell as the lead ballooned to 28-7. Holy Spirit would respond with a big passing play, and a physical run to cut the lead to 28-14. Jayden Burch would end the day with 163 yards, and the Farrell defense, led by Lucas Sini, Angelo Stallone, and Chase Regenbogen, shut down a very physical Holy Spirit offense. Next week, Monsignor Farrell returns to the Lion’s Den to pay their Staten Island rival, St. Peter’s.
Curtis High School (PSAL 4A) 41- St. Peter’s 14:
The highly anticipated matchup between the Staten Island rivals, now in the second year started off with a bang. First, Curtis’ starting quarterback, Christian Carter, and one of their receivers, his brother, Nick Carter, were out of commission this week. This required fellow Sea transfer Richie Rainero, who was slated to be a receiver, to be pressed into duty at quarterback. Curtis, even short handed, looked like a championship caliber team. Their defense, particularly their defensive line, was smothering. After two opening drive turnovers, Quadare Gomez got the party started with a 17 yard touchdown run to draw first blood to make it 6-0. The score would hold into the second quarter, where Gomez would break free again for a 19 yard touchdown to make it 13-0. The Eagles Anthony D’Acunto connected with Victor Baez on some big time plays, including a touchdown pass to cut the lead to 13-7. But the Warriors had all the answers, as Gomez scored again on the next kickoff to extend the lead to 20-7. Rainero hit Akai Lewis for a 14 yard touchdown to extend the lead to 27-7 just before halftime. Xavier Penceal scored on the opening kickoff of the 2nd half, extending the lead to 34-7. Kyle Charles put the nail in the coffin with a 71 yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter to make it 41-7. The Eagles showed fight though, driving the field, aided by some Warrior penalties, as Giancarlo Ciaramella darted up the gut for a 14 yard touchdown to cut the lead to 41-14. The game ended shortly after. St. Peter’s 2026 campaign does not get any easier, as they now prepare to go to the Lion’s Den to play Monsignor Farrell.
St. Francis Prep 26-Mount St. Michael 12:
The Battle of the Blue Bloods, the Mount would travel to Mitchel Field to take on St. Francis Prep in a Saturday night showdown. Of course, I did not have streaming for this game, nor did I get film. St. Francis Prep seemed to play their game. Tough on defense, especially up front, St. Francis Prep also ran the ball well against the Mount. The Mountaineers did fight with Jacob Jimenez going 9-17 for 173 yards and touchdown and an interception, and Victor Declet having 102 total yards and a rushing touchdown. Another standout player was Jamir Abney, who had 4 receptions, 97 yards and a touchdown, while adding 6 tackles and 2 interceptions on defense. The Mount racked up nearly 300 yards of offense on 33 plays. St. Francis Prep travels to play Stow-Munroe Falls High School in a NFL Hall of Fame High School Classic– the Legendary Vince Lombardi is an alumnus of St. Francis Prep, and Larry Czonka is a alumnus of Stow High School. The Mount plays a new team, the Yonkers Guardians– the football team for all Yonkers High Schools.
Xaverian 23-St. John’s Catholic (MD) 14:
A long trip to Maryland, the Clippers of Brooklyn did battle in rural Frederick County Maryland against the Vikings of St. John’s Catholic Prep. After a scoreless 1st quarter, Jake Price, taking over for a now graduated Terrence Watson, would hit Christian LaRocca on a bubble screen, who ran it into the endzone to take a 7-0 lead. The Vikings would answer just before the half, scoring a touchdown to make 7-6 at halftime. The stingy defense of Xaverian would shut down the Vikings, and Jake Price would run the ball into the endzone from 2 minutes out midway through the 3rd quarter to make it 13-6. After a Nico Vaccari field goal to extend the lead to 16-6, St. John’s would respond. Driving into the redzone, the Vikings pounded the ball into the endzone from 2 yards out, and converted the 2 point conversion to cut the lead to 16-14 with 9:47 left. But the championship pedigree of Xaverian won out, as Richie Aiken capped off a long drive to extend the lead to 23-14 with just over 5 minutes left. The score would hold and the Clippers start the year 1-0. They come back to Brooklyn next week to play Fort Hamilton, a PSAL power.
Next week is a doozy. There are 19 games starting on Thursday. May God help me.
Here are next week’s matchups:
-Clarkstown South (Section 1 ‘AA’) vs Kennedy Catholic
-Christian Brothers Academy of Syracuse (Section 3 ‘AA’) vs Iona Prep
-St. John the Baptist vs Eagle Academy III (PSAL ‘AAA’)
-Morristown Beard School (MIFL) vs Christ the King
-Yonkers Guardians (Section 1 ‘AA’) vs Mount St. Michael
-Monsignor Farrell vs St. Peter’s
-New Rochelle (Section 1 ‘AA’) vs Kellenberg Memorial
-Red Bank Catholic (NJ) vs St. Anthony’s
-Xaverian vs Fort Hamilton (PSAL ‘AAAA’)
-Pope John XXIII HS (NJ) vs Cardinal Hayes
-Christian Brothers Academy of Albany (Section 2 ‘AA’) vs Archbishop Stepinac
-Immaculata (NJ) vs St. Joseph by the Sea
-St. Dominic’s vs Hackley (MIFL)
-Fordham Prep vs Belen Jesuit (FL)
-Cardinal Spellman vs Frederick Douglass Academy (PSAL ‘A’)
-Xavier vs A. Philip Randolph (PSAL ‘AAA’)
-St. Mary’s (MMHSAA) vs Holy Cross
-Stow-Munroe Falls High School (OH) vs St. Francis Prep
-Bishop Hendricken (RI) vs Chaminade
My Take on week 1:
In the ‘AAA’:
Monsignor Farrell looked impressive. Jayden Burch and Anthony Vento providing a tough ground game will only make the passing game even more effective. Look for the Lions to be contenders again.
Archbishop Stepinac looks like they are back in business. The new quarterback Dylan Wrona looked comfortable throwing to Gio Bowley, and Nick Harrison against a very good Fordham Prep defense. Nahum Pierre is the real deal at running back. There are some week 0 concerns, but that will be cleaned up.
Chaminade had a lot of promising drives, but their inability to finish lost them the game. Chaminade’s defense is still ferocious. Don’t count out the Flyers.
In the ‘AA-I’:
Kellenberg is the story of the weekend, compiling over 250 yards of offense against a strong ‘AAA’ opponent, and that massive and powerful front line will ensure that they are in every game. Special teams play is a strength of this team as well. They need to cut down on penalties– but that may be worked out as just a week 0 issue.
Fordham Prep looked good against a very good Stepinac team. Their offensive line settled in later in the game, and they ran the ball very well. The defense was tough, rallied to the football, but there were just too many missed tackles. I think the Rams will be contenders.
The story begins and ends with Joey Moran– the engine of the offense and the defense, St. Joseph by the Sea put the hurt on a very good Holy Cross team. Pete Tronolone provides a steady hand at quarterback that should compliment their potent run game. Of course, the front line and defense at Sea is always stout.
Despite the score, I saw some good things from St. Peter’s. I think they just ran into a buzzsaw as Curtis is one of the best teams in the entire PSAL, and probably the entire city. 4 first half turnovers, and two special teams touchdowns is what buoyed Curtis’ score at the end of the night. Anthony D’Acunto to Victor Baez is going to be a real issue for defenses this year and the defense does play well.
St. Francis Prep is running under the radar, taking care of business against a ‘AA-II’ foe. I wish I had more information on this team.
Any time a school goes on the road, especially South of the Mason Dixon, and wins, it is impressive. This team has championship pedigree. Their defense played lights out, and the spread attack orchestrated by Jake Price played well. They will need to get the week 0 jitters out of their system quickly if they want to compete in the ‘AA-I’ this season.
In the ‘AA-II’:
Holy Cross asserted themselves well, but it is apparent they were overmatched against a strong Sea front line. The offense clearly runs through senior quarterback Madden Martinez, and can be quite potent. I think they will compete, but this was a tough matchup, especially for week 0.
Same really for the Mount. A tough matchup for the Mountaineers, but the final score showed that they have some fight. It was a 20-12 game late before the Terriers added another touchdown for insurance. Mount will compete for a ‘AA-II’ title.
The rest of the teams had scrimmages or game scrimmages. I know Eagle III was scrimmaging St. Anthony’s, Cardinal Hayes was scrimmaging Episcopal Academy from PA, and Kennedy Catholic scrimmaged Carmel High School. The season is underway!