What started as a three-game showcase has grown into one of the most interesting weekends on the early-season Catholic football calendar.
The Battle of the Bridge traces back to 2019, when Iona Prep coach Joe Spagnolo helped put together a three-game New York-versus-New Jersey event at MetLife Stadium. That first edition featured three teams from each state. Seven years later, the concept has expanded well beyond one stadium and one tripleheader, with programs on both sides of the Hudson using the weekend as an opportunity to test themselves before league play takes over. This year’s slate includes six games this weekend, with Cardinal Hayes having already played its New Jersey matchup last week.
St. Peter’s Prep at St. Anthony’s — Friday, 7 p.m.
St. Anthony’s gets perhaps the toughest assignment of the weekend when undefeated St. Peter’s Prep comes to Melville. The Friars are looking to respond after allowing 62 points in a 62-41 loss at Red Bank Catholic, while St. Peter’s Prep enters 2-0 after beating Dillard 17-7 and St. Thomas More 30-27. For St. Anthony’s, the offense already showed it can score against quality competition. The question Friday night is whether the defense can settle in against another talented New Jersey opponent.
Immaculata at Archbishop Stepinac — Friday, 7 p.m.
Stepinac has something to prove after last week’s 62-24 loss at CBA Albany. The Crusaders opened with a 27-7 win over Fordham Prep, but last week’s result was too lopsided to ignore. Now they get an immediate opportunity to respond against an Immaculata team that just scored 50 in a 50-28 win over St. Joseph-by-the-Sea. Immaculata enters 1-1 after opening with a loss to Glassboro, so this matchup should tell us a lot about whether Stepinac can quickly regain its footing before CHSFL play begins.
Paramus Catholic at Iona Prep — Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Iona enters the weekend with as much momentum as any team in New York. The Gaels opened their season with a convincing 38-18 win over CBA Syracuse, ending CBA’s 41-game winning streak and strengthening Iona’s case as the team to beat in the state. Paramus Catholic arrives at 1-1, with a 35-14 win over La Salle College followed by a 54-14 loss last week. Iona has already made one major early-season statement. Saturday gives the Gaels another opportunity to show that performance in Syracuse was only the beginning.
Seton Hall Prep at Chaminade — Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Chaminade may have played one of the more dramatic games of Week 1, going on the road and beating Bishop Hendricken 18-17 after dropping its opener to Kellenberg. Now the Flyers return home against an 0-2 Seton Hall Prep team whose record doesn’t tell the entire story. The Pirates lost 28-21 to Mount St. Joseph and 28-17 to undefeated DePaul Catholic. That makes this another legitimate measuring-stick game for Chaminade. The Flyers have already shown they can respond after a loss; now they get a chance to build on that momentum.
Hudson Catholic at St. Peter’s — Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
For St. Peter’s, this one is about getting the season moving in the right direction. The Eagles have opened 0-2 after losses to Curtis, 41-14, and Monsignor Farrell, 38-0. Hudson Catholic also had a difficult opener, falling 40-8 to Irvington. Somebody gets an opportunity to reset Saturday afternoon on Staten Island. For St. Peter’s, after facing two of the better teams in the ATS coverage area to begin the season, this is a chance to turn that difficult early schedule into progress.
DePaul Catholic at Monsignor Farrell — Saturday, 1 p.m.
This may be the most intriguing game of the Saturday slate. Farrell has been dominant through two games, beating Holy Spirit 28-14 and St. Peter’s 38-0. DePaul comes in 2-0 and is currently one of New Jersey’s highest-rated teams, with wins over Red Bank Catholic, 35-28, and Seton Hall Prep, 28-17. Farrell has looked every bit like one of Downstate New York’s best teams so far. DePaul provides the Lions with their biggest test yet and a chance to add a major interstate win to an already strong early résumé.
The Battle of the Bridge has become more than a one-day event. It’s now a weekend that gives New York Catholic programs an early chance to measure themselves against some of New Jersey’s most established programs — and those results can shape how we view both leagues long before the playoffs arrive.
Cardinal Hayes already got its turn last weekend.
The Hayesmen traveled to Pope John and jumped out to a 15-0 lead, scoring first on a safety and getting two rushing touchdowns from quarterback Johnnye Booker. Pope John answered before halftime and eventually took the lead in the third quarter, handing Hayes a 21-15 loss. It was a physical game in which Hayes showed it could compete with a quality New Jersey program, but the Cardinals were unable to finish after controlling the early portion of the game.
This weekend, six more New York programs get their shot.
New York versus New Jersey. The bridge is open.