The Catholic High School Football League regular season is at the halfway point and No. 1 St. Joseph by the Sea is the only ‘AAA’ team that remains undefeated after a 48-14 thrashing of Kellenberg Sunday. The bad taste from a home loss to Holy Trinity has been erased from Holy Cross’ palates, replaced by a savory taste of a thorough win against No. 7 Fordham Prep.
Thanks to a stingy defense, Monsignor Farrell has won two games in a row and on the ‘AA-A’ level, No. 8 Cardinal Hayes earned some revenge and remained undefeated by beating Xavier, 26-13, Friday night at Maritime College.
Here’s what the CHSFL weekly top 10 looks like for Week 4.
1. St. Joseph by the Sea (3-0) (Last week: 1)
There was no St. Anthony’s letdown for Greg Manos’ club. Sea took advantage of two first-quarter Kellenberg turnovers and running back Lyle McCombs had three touchdowns in less than two minutes in a 49-14 beat down at Hofstra. The senior posted 225 yards of total offense. The Vikings are rounding into the team to beat in the league, but face a tough test against Chaminade at homecoming on Sunday.
Next: Chaminade (Oct. 11, 1:30 p.m.)
2. Holy Cross (3-1) (2)
Dean Marlowe showed why he’s one of the best players in the CHSFL this year. He had two interceptions, two touchdown runs, including one for 51 yards, and threw one TD pass in a 27-8 victory against Fordham Prep. The athletic and physical Knights defense also held Fordham Prep’s Bruce Grant to just eight yards on nine carries.
Next: @ No. 3 Monsignor Farrell (Oct. 10, 5 p.m.)
3. Monsignor Farrell (3-1) (3)
It certainly wasn’t pretty, but when you’re a program fighting to get back on an upswing you will take it. The Farrell defense again proved it has the ability to change games with a fumble recovery by John Gogarty to set up the Lions’ only touchdown, the only points they would need in a 9-6 win over St. Francis Prep. Farrell will see if they can hang with the elite teams in the league when explosive Holy Cross enters the Lions Den Saturday.
Next: No. 2 Holy Cross (Oct. 10, 5 p.m.)
4. Xaverian (2-2) (4)
After some early success the Clippers have hit a skid, dropping their last two contests. Coach Joe DeSiena’s club is showing its youth as penalties and turnovers have hindered them. With that said, they were still within a touchdown of defending Class AAA champion Iona Prep Friday night and saw its defense control the Gaels attack for the most part.
Next: @ Holy Trinity (Oct. 11, 1:30 p.m.)
5. Fordham Prep (1-3) (5)
Coach Pete Gorynski said his team was outmanned in a 27-8 loss to Holy Cross on Sunday as the Knights shut down Bruce Grant like no other team. The senior back broke out once for a big run – a 70-yard touchdown that would have cut the Rams’ deficit to 14-7. But the score was brought back because of an illegal motion penalty. It was that type of day for Fordham Prep, which faces a must-win Friday night against Kellenberg.
Next: Kellenberg (Oct. 9, 7 p.m.)
6. Mount St. Michael (0-3) (6)
We knew it would be tough for Mount, which took its medicine in a 48-0 trouncing by an upset St. Anthony’s squad. That comes a week after a heartbreaking 20-14 overtime loss at Kellenberg. The young Mountaineers need a win in the worst way to turn their season around and will attempt to do so against struggling St. Francis Prep Saturday at home.
Next: No. 7 St. Francis Prep (Oct. 10, 3 p.m.)
7. St. Francis Prep (0-4) (7)
The Terriers used the absence of legendary coach Vince O’Connor, because of a one-game suspension, as motivation Saturday in what eventually was a loss to Monsignor Farrell. The SFP defense stopped the Lions’ excellent rushing attack and did everything they could to give their team a chance to win. St. Francis Prep continued to have its struggles offensively and hurt itself with penalties.
Next: @ No. 6 Mount St. Michael (Oct. 10, 3 p.m.)
8. Cardinal Hayes (3-0) (8)
There are two undefeated teams from the CHSFL that play inside of the city limits and they couldn’t be more polar opposites, at least in terms of the offenses. While St. Joseph by the Sea prefers to run, run and run some more right up the gut, Hayes is wide open, utilizing its tremendous athletes, senior quarterback Kwamayne Davis and a plethora of receivers, including Syracuse-bound Jeremiah Kobena, who ripped off a critical 62-yard touchdown to lift Hayes to an emotional 26-13 win against Xavier Friday night.
Next: @ St. John the Baptist (Sunday, 1 p.m.)
9. St. Peter’s (2-1) (10)
The Eagles’ 35-14 loss in the opening week of the league season to St. John the Baptist seems like years ago after a second consecutive blowout win on Saturday. St. Peter’s defense delivered big time and Hakim Rice had another huge game on the ground. Granted the two wins have come against Christ the King and Cardinal Spellman, two of the worst teams in the league. St. Peters’ has a brutal second half of the season, though, beginning with Xavier in Week 5.
Next: Xavier (Oct. 10, 4 p.m.)
10. Bishop Ford (2-2) (9)
There were plenty of disappointments in the Falcons’ 21-6 loss to St. John the Baptist Saturday. The Bishop Ford offense never got going and it watched the Cougars rip off three big scoring plays, including a 90-yard kickoff return to start the second half. Coach Jim Esposito was visibly disappointed in his team performance and his players talked about all aspects needing to improve.
Next: Archbishop Stepinac (Oct 10, 3:30 p.m.)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: Xavier (1-2)