Call it the calm before the potential storm that could hit these rankings after Week 7.
Our top six teams all won last week, highlighted by No. 5 Holy Trinity stopping No. 8 Holy Cross on the goal line to preserve a thrilling win. A fourth straight loss by Monsignor Farrell drpped it from these rankings. Enter Chris the King, which held off Cardinal Hayes. The Royals will play one of what will be many big games this week as they travel to No. 3 Archbishop Stepinac, that could shake up these rankings a week from now.
Our top seven teams all play games against ranked opponents. The big one is No. 1 St Anthony’s going on the road to take on No. 5 Holy Trinity in a rematch of last year’s AAA final won by the Friars. Keep your eye on New Rochelle where No. 6 Xaverian tries to end No. 4 Iona Prep’s five-game winning streak.
Take a good look at this week’s rankings. They may be very different seven days from now.
1. St. Anthony’s (6-0) (Last week: 1)
Can the machine that is St. Anthony’s be stopped? No one has come close yet and Long Island rival Chaminade was the latest victim, losing at home 28-0 Saturday. Charlie Raffa and Co. should get their stiffest competition in the next two weeks, playing at No. 5 Holy Trinity Saturday and No. 4 Iona Prep. St. Anthony’s wins those games and it’s unlikely anyone stops them next month.
Next: @ No. 5 Holy Trinity (Oct. 23, 1:30 p.m.)
2. Fordham Prep (6-0) (2)
The Rams perfect season continues after a less-than-stellar performance in a 29-8 victory against winless St. Francis Prep Saturday night. The defense was stout, as usual, but the offense wasn’t its usual crisp self. With another winless squad (Chaminade) on the horizon, Fordham Prep’s stiffest test will come Saturday in The Bronx when the Rams head to Mount St. Michael.
Next: @ No. 7 Mount St. Michael (Oct. 23, 2:30 p.m.)
3. Archbishop Stepinac (6-0) (3)
Stepinac again showed why it is the premier Class AA-A team. Quarterback Tyrell Goodman had a highlight-reel run for a 70-yard touchdown and running back Caleb Gilligan-Evans bulldozed his way to two long scoring runs in a 40-0 win over Bishop Ford. The Crusaders defense has only given up 27 this season, but will face its toughest test against Christ the King in a battle of league unbeatens Saturday.
Next: No. 10 Christ the King (Oct. 23, 1:30 p.m.)
4. Iona Prep (5-1) (4)
It wasn’t the ideal start, but that didn’t stop Iona from extending its winning streak to five-straight games. Sidney Weston answered St. Joseph by the Sea’s opening score by taking his first touch 55 yards to the end zone. John Castellano’s 70-yard interception return for a TD highlighted a 38-8 win. The Gaels will face another tough test next week when high-scoring Xaverian visits New Rochelle.
Next: No. 6 Xaverian (Oct. 23, 1:30 p.m.)
5. Holy Trinity (5-1) (5)
Tony Mascia loved his defense before the start of the season. The Titans coach has to be over the moon now about the group, especially the front four of Wray Fucci, Kenny Mongiardo, James Collins and Justin Thompson who just might be deserving of a steak dinner after stopping Holy Cross quarterback Kevin Durkan at the goal line to seal a 14-13 Homecoming win Saturday.
Next: No. 1 St. Anthony’s (Oct. 23, 1:30 p.m.)
6. Xaverian (3-2) (6)
Xaverian has two losses, both to ‘AAA’ unbeaten teams in Fordham Prep and St. Anthony’s. The Clippers outscored their other opponents 165-20, including a 48-0 thrashing of Farrell last Friday night. Sophomore backs Laray Smith and Zach Kearney both had huge days on the ground with payback on their mind. Xaverian is still searching for a signature win and it gets a chance against red-hot Iona Prep
Next: @ No. 4 Iona Prep (Oct. 23, 1:30 p.m.)
7. Mount St. Michael (3-2) (7)
If it’s hard for us to figure out The Mount, we can imagine how befuddled coach Mario Valentini must be about his Jekyll and Hyde group. The offense has sputtered and had a machine-like efficiency, while the defense has usually been stout. We though the Mountaineers had turned a corner after a 10-0 home loss to Holy Trinity, but Mount was stunned by Kellenberg Saturday on a last-second field goal. Which team shows up against undefeated Fordham Prep?
Next: No. 2 Fordham Prep (Oct. 23, 2:30 p.m.)
8. Holy Cross (2-4) (8)
We assure you we’re neutral at The Post, but it’s hard not to feel for Holy Cross, especially Durkan. He had the guts to ask coach Tom Pugh for the ball with the game on the line, wanting to make up for a critical missed extra point. But then the senior, who rushed for a touchdown earlier, was stopped by the Titans inches from the goal line. Durkan also gets high marks for facing the music and answering our questions after the game. More performances like Saturday’s will likely mean wins in the Knights final two regular season games.
Next: Chaminade (Oct. 24, 2 p.m. @ Bayside Athletic Complex)
9. St. Joseph by the Sea (3-2) (9)
Coach Greg Manos said after a lopsided loss to Iona Prep that his team needs to ratchet up the energy this week and Joe Ryan Field needs to be the most intense place on Staten Island. With the exception of John Diaz’s 45-yard touchdown run on their first possession, the Vikings running game struggled against the Gales. Sea travels to the Lions Den to play Monsignor Farrell in a battle of struggling Island rivals.
Next: @ Monsignor Farrell (Oct. 21, 7 p.m.)
10. Christ the King (5-1) (NR)
It hasn’t been an easy climb, but here the Royals are debuting at No. 10. Quarterback Terell Hunt has been an absolute stud, leading CK’s high-powered offense along with receivers Jayvaun Smyer and Darrius Pritchett to a perfect league record. It was sophomore running back James Coleman that starred in a win over Cardinal Hayes last week. CK will need all its weapons to be ready when they travel to Stepinac for a clash of the ‘AA-A’ division’s top two squads.
Next: @ No. 3 Archbishop Stepinac (Oct. 23, 1:30 p.m.)
New: Christ the King (5-1)
Dropped out: Monsignor Farrell (2-4)
On the bubble: Kellenberg (2-4), Monsignor Farrell (2-4), St. John the Baptist (3-3) and Xavier (3-3)