NEW YORK – Iona Prep did it again.
The Gaels acted like they’ve been here before, defending their CHSFL AAA title with a fast and physical 42-20 win over Monsignor Farrell on Saturday at Fordham University.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” Iona Prep senior quarterback Julian Guzman said. “We expected this. … It was harder to repeat than it was to win the first one. You have to live up to all the expectations, keep all the guys focused and it has to be one team, one goal.”
There was just one regret, a regular-season loss to the Lions.
When the Gaels mapped out the season back in August, they set a goal to finish undefeated. They were humbled by the setback. They were plenty mad, too, after watching Farrell celebrate all over the hill.
“They were running around the field, jumping over the fence like they just won the Super Bowl,” Iona Prep senior running back Crew Davis said. “A team like us, we’re tough kids and we took that personally.”
For the last month, the level of urgency has been reflected in the final scores.
“We haven’t been locked in for the last week,” Iona Prep coach Joe Spagnolo said. “We’ve been locked in for the last 35 days, since we lost to them at home. We wanted to make a statement right away.”
Takeaways
Iona Prep used the entire playbook. And the Gaels went right to work, scoring on each of their first two possessions. Guzman connected with six different receivers. Davis got the bulk of the carries, but Chase Reeves and Brennan Pressley were running the ball, too. And when Farrell came out in the second half and got a quick score, the answer came quickly. Iona Prep’s best two defensive players, Mamadee Sangaray and Josh Simmons, were even making timely grabs on the other side of the ball. With so many individual playmakers involved, there’s no way Farrell was prepared to cover all the angles.
The push up front by the Iona Prep offensive line was impressive, too.
After being overshadowed by a talented offense most of the season, the Iona Prep defense has been making a lot of noise these last two weeks. Shutting out St. Anthony’s in the semifinals was highly impressive. And while the Gaels did give up a pair of touchdowns on explosive plays in the championship game this week, they came up with three takeaways along with a critical fourth-and-1 stop with a 14-6 lead three minutes into the second quarter. Iona Prep gave up 39 yards rushing and made Farrell one dimensional.
Player of the game
Davis was in playoff mode. He’s good in the regular season. He’s insanely good in a win-or-go-home situation.
By the numbers
Iona Prep (10-1): Davis collected 196 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. He caught four passes for 36 yards. … Guzman completed 15 of 21 passes for 178 yards and one touchdown. He carried 12 times for 69 yards and two touchdowns. … Mamadee Sangaray caught three passes for 50 yards and one touchdown. … Eric Pirrello caught three passes for 42 yards. … Simmons caught a 31-yard pass to gain a first down and help run out the clock. … Zander Poole and Simmons each had an interception and Eric Camacho recovered a fumble.
Monsignor Farrell (9-2): Bryce Moye completed 12 of 20 attempts for 186 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted twice. Braxton Moye caught five passes for 45 yards and one touchdown. … Alexander Ustun had a 49-yard catch and run for a touchdown and a 61-yard touchdown reception.
They said it
“Our senior class, they have been unbelievable role models and spokesmen for the program,” Spagnolo said. “There’s only one way they end this run and that’s with a (state championship) game at home.”
“I think losing to them earlier was good for us,” Guzman said. “I think it humbled us and let us play with a chip on our shoulder again. It brought us back here to win this championship.”
“We had a hard time running the ball against them last time,” Davis said. “I knew if we went out there right away and had a nice, long drive, it would set a tone for the rest of the game and that’s exactly what we did. … I’ve got my whole family here, a bunch of my buddies, so many kids from school came down and the stands were packed, when you have an atmosphere like that, it’s easy to have big games. They bring you up and motivate you to play a little better.”
Next
Iona Prep hosts Buffalo-area champion St. Francis for the state Catholic school championship Saturday, Nov. 29 at a time to be determined.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Iona Prep football goes back to back, wins CHSFL AAA championship
Reporting by Mike Dougherty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
