Oh say can you Sea! What a win by the Vikings, who trekked from deep in Staten Island to Suffolk County and returned home with the biggest win in school history – a 28-24 victory against perennial powerhouse St. Anthony’s Friday night.
While that was the biggest story of Week 2 of the league season, there were several other interesting subplots, as well. Monsignor Farrell took a step forward in its quest for respect with a 26-0 blasting of visiting Xaverian, while Xavier also went into Suffolk County to beat St. John the Baptist, 26-0, for its first win of the season.
How did these results, and others, affect The Post’s weekly CHSFL top 10? We’ve got those answers, and more, below.
1. St. Joseph by the Sea (2-0) (Last week: 1)
You’ve got to love Greg Manos. Moments after his team pulled off a massive win, his program’s signature victory, the Vikings coach was downplaying a road win against St. Anthony’s. “Wins are about the stands…It ain’t about the scoreboard,” he said after the game. “That’s for mommy and daddy.” Manos said he’s more concerned with his team showing up day in and day out, and on Friday night, in front of 5,000 fans at Cy Donnelly Field, the Vikings showed up in a big way.
Next: @ Kellenberg (Oct. 4, 1:30 p.m.)
2. Holy Cross (2-1) (2)
What a missed opportunity. Holy Cross had the chance to build off an emotional overtime victory against Iona Prep in Week 1, but instead was outworked by visiting Holy Trinity in a 19-14 loss Sunday at Bayside Athletic Field. An early sign the Knights were in trouble was James Madison-bound senior Dean Marlowe fumbling a punt return off his chest following the Titans’ first possession. A pair of fourth-quarter personal fouls didn’t help, either.
Next: No. 5 Fordham Prep (Oct. 4, 1:30 p.m)
3. Monsignor Farrell (2-1) (4)
The Rodney Dangerfields of the CHSFL are beginning to get the respect they desperately are searching for. After playing hard against St. Anthony’s in Week 1, Farrell returned to the Lions Den and crushed Xaverian, 26-0, on Saturday night. It wasn’t a perfect game, by any means, but the Lions made the most of Clippers mistakes and got a few big plays from sophomore running back Mike Viegas.
Next: St. Francis Prep (Oct. 3, 1:30 p.m.)
4. Xaverian (2-1) (3)
The Clippers were feeling pretty good about themselves after back-to-back wins against Xavier and Fordham Prep to open the season. But then Xaverian went on the road, paid the exorbitant toll at the Verrazano Bridge and were blasted by Monsignor Farrell Saturday night. There were problems in all three facets of the game for the Clippers, but Joe DeSiena wrapped up the loss in a nice bow. “If you lose up front on the road against a team like this, you’re going to lose pretty ugly and that’s what happened tonight,” he said.
Next: Iona Prep (Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m.)
5. Fordham Prep (1-2) (7)
The Rams have one very special player on their team and senior running back Bruce Grant broke out in a big way Friday night in a 32-25 win against winless St. Francis Prep at Coffey Field. Grant had a pair of long touchdowns and rushed for 274 yards on 33 carries for Fordham Prep, which finally claimed its elusive first win of the season. Brendan McGlynn also bounced back well, throwing one touchdown pass and catching another.
Next: @ No. 2 Holy Cross (Oct. 4, 1:30 p.m.)
6. Mount St. Michael (0-2) (5)
The Mountaineers are a young team, but Friday night’s overtime loss to Kellenberg at Mitchel Athletic Complex even surprised us. Mario Valentini’s team looked good in a scrimmage against powerhouse New Canaan (Conn.), but hasn’t been able to follow that up with a league win. That prospect is even more daunting in Week 3 of the league season with a wounded St. Anthony’s squad coming to The Bronx this weekend.
Next: St. Anthony’s (Oct. 3, 1:30 p.m.)
7. St. Francis Prep (0-3) (6)
Competing in the ‘AAA’ means every game is difficult, just ask longtime St. Francis Prep coach Vince O’Connor. His team plays hard – they always do – but haven’t been able to put things together on both sides of the ball and fell to Fordham Prep, 32-25, Friday night at Coffey Field. Now Prep has to go to the Lions Den against ever-confident and much-improved Monsignor Farrell on Saturday.
Next: @ No. 3 Monsignor Farrell (Oct. 3, 1:30 p.m.)
8. Cardinal Hayes (2-0) (9)
The Cardinals are for real, at least it seems that way after an impressive 33-18 win against upstart Bishop Ford on Saturday night. Led by Syracuse-bound Jeremy Kobena, Cardinal Hayes is explosive offensively, scoring 76 points back-to-back wins. C.J. O’Neil’s team plays its home opener Friday night against Xavier. Wonder if the Knights’ 86-42 win last season will be brought up in practice this week?
Next: Xavier (Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m.)
9. Bishop Ford (2-1) (8)
We can’t punish Bishop Ford too much for losing to Cardinal Hayes on Saturday night. After all, the Cardinals are the early-season favorite to win the Class A championship and could even have their sights set on the ‘AA’ crown. But our antenna has been raised and we’re going to keep an eye on the Falcons this weekend, facing an upset St. John the Baptist team back at Aviator Sports Complex.
Next: St. John the Baptist (Oct. 3, 7:15 p.m.)
10. St. Peter’s (1-1) (10)
The Eagles bounced back from a season-opening 35-14 loss to Baptist by beating up on Christ the King in their home opener Saturday afternoon. The one constant in both games has been the quality rushing of Hakim Rice, who had 147 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback John Woodford also added a pair of touchdowns for St. Peter’s, which hosts winless Cardinal Spellman this weekend.
Next: Cardinal Spellman (Oct. 3, 1:30 p.m.)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: Xavier (1-2) and Christ the King (0-2)