Put the pumpkin picking off, forget shopping for that Halloween costume. Couldn’t get your hands on Yankees tickets and the pro football teams have you down? No problem.
Week 7 of the Catholic High School Football League season has the potential to be one of the greatest in league history.
What makes this week so special? Perhaps part of it is because Week 6 was so, well, weak. With two rare exceptions, every game was a blowout played in miserable weather conditions.
Game of the week? No way, there are three marquee matchups this weekend on three different days in three different boroughs.
If you’re a fan of high school football in New York City, here’s your weekend itinerary.
Friday, 7 p.m. SUNY Maritime College
Cardinal Hayes (5-0) vs. Archbishop Stepinac (6-0)
It’s a short trip across the Whitestone Bridge to get to Maritime, somewhat of a hidden gem in The Bronx. Get there early, not because of a large crowd – although there will be one there – but to get some fantastic views of both the Whitestone and Throgs Neck Bridges before the sun sets.
Pick up your program at the gate and make your way to the bleachers. Circle Archbishop Stepinac’s #1 and #7 for Cardinal Hayes. Those are the two players to look out for in this battle between the two best teams in the CHSFL ‘AA-A.’ Stepinac’s #1 is Tyrell Goodman, a quarterback made to run the West Coast offense. He’s 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, fast as lightning and elusive as a politician. He throws a great ball and he’s only a junior.
As for #7 of Cardinal Hayes, that belongs to Jeramiah Kobena, a senior running back who is heading to Syracuse next year. He’s got gears for fears, at least when it comes to opposing coaches. He’s one of those players who is worth the price of admission alone.
Saturday, 1:30 p.m. St. Joseph by the Sea HS
Iona Prep (2-3) vs. St. Joseph by the Sea (5-0)
First off, leave early because Sea is far, closer to New Jersey than Brooklyn. Plus this place gets packed and neighborhood parking is sparse.
Look beyond the records to learn what makes this game special. Iona Prep is the defending CHSFL Class AAA champions, capping an undefeated season by ending St. Anthony’s seven-year reign as champion. The Gaels have #4 Jeff Mack, who has his own highlight tape on YouTube.
The Bronx native rushed for nearly 400 yards and seven touchdowns in last year’s title game, but he missed most of the rematch two weeks ago – a 49-7 drubbing by St. Anthony’s – because of a thigh injury. Also keep an eye out for #7 Tyrae Woodson-Samuels, a run-first quarterback who is very capable of breaking big runs.
St. Joseph by the Sea could be the favorite to win the title this year, especially after beating St. Anthony’s on the road earlier this season. For Sea, a senior-laden hard-nosed squad, you have two choices, #4 Lyle McCombs and #5 Andrew Armato. That’s it. They’ll combine for about 60 carries and, if they keep getting the push from their undersized and underrated offensive line, about 450 yards. There’s no run and shoot at Sea. It’s straight power rushing up the gut.
Sunday, 1:30 p.m. Bayside Athletic Field
St. Anthony’s (5-1) vs. Holy Cross (5-1)
Unlike the other two venues, there is no parking lot at Bayside, so again get there early. And if you do, check out the upgraded concessions run by the Holy Cross Father’s Guild when you walk through the gates.
St. Anthony’s is the program all others look up to, the Yankees of the CHSFL. The Friars have won 10 Class AAA championships since 1993 and are one of the favorites to win it again this year. Rich Reichert has lit a fire under his team since a stunning home loss to St. Joseph by the Sea and St. Anthony’s has outscored opponents, 136-26, in three straight blowouts.
The player to look for on the Friars is #12 Tommy Schreiber, hands down the best quarterback in the league. The Princeton-bound senior, who is one of the best lacrosse players in the country, can do it all. He burns teams with his speed and his pin-point passing.
Holy Cross claimed a remarkable come-from-behind win against Iona Prep, but fell to undefeated Holy Trinity the next week. The Knights have two special players to keep an eye on, #23 Dean Marlowe and #36 Devon Cajuste. Marlowe is another athletic and poised quarterback who can change games with one run, while Cajuste, a 6-foot-4 junior, is arguably the best wide receiver in the city.
Of course, if you can’t make it out to any of these games, we’ll have you covered — with articles, photos and even video. But this has the potential to be one of the most memorable weeks ever in the CHSFL regular season. Would you want to miss that?