Friars Sports.com Ceases Publishing

Friars Sports.com will cease publishing at the end of the fall season. Tough economic times, along with a lack of commitment from coaches, make this venture impossible to continue. We wish the entire St. Anthony’s community all the best in the future. Go Friars!

Schreiber Undergoes Surgery

St. Anthony’s junior quarterback Tom Schreiber underwent surgery to repair a spiral fracture of the fibula on Sunday at Winthrop University Hospital in Garden City. Schreiber was injured in the first quarter of Friday’s CHSFL Class AAA quarterfinal game against St. Francis Prep. We at Friar Sports.com wish him a speedy recovery.

State Football Rankings

CHSFL Playoff Seeds

BY JASON MOLINET

The CHSFL football playoffs seeds are out with quarterfinal opponents set. The coaches meet Monday night to finalize dates and game times.

As expected, St. Anthony’s earned the second seed. The Friars will host No. 7 St. Francis Prep at 7 p.m. Friday at Cy Donnelly Field in South Huntington. These teams didn’t meet during the regular season.

In the mean time, here are the CHSFL matchups:

Class AAA
No. 8 Mount St. Michael (3-6) at No. 1 Iona Prep (9-0)
No. 7 St. Francis Prep (4-4) at No. 2 St. Anthony’s (7-2)
No. 6 Chaminade (5-4) at No. 3 Holy Cross (5-4)
No. 5 St. Joseph by the Sea (5-3) at No. 4 Xaverian (5-3)

Class AA
No. 8 Kellenberg (6-3) at No. 1 Stepinac (4-5)
No. 7 St. Peter’s (6-3) at No. 2 Holy Trinity (4-5)
No. 6 Xavier (7-1) at No. 3 Farrell (2-7)
No. 5 St. John the Baptist (6-3) at No. 4 Fordham Prep (3-6)

CHSFL Class AAA Standings

AAA - AA
Team (Preseason Rank)	League			Overall		PF	PA
	W	L	PWPTS	W	L
Iona Prep (6)	6	0	136.67	8	0	262	147
St. Anthony’s (1)	5	1	126.67	6	2	260	151
Holy Cross (10)	4	2	113.34	4	4	143	124
Chaminade (2)	3	3	111.67	5	3	163	160
Xaverian (8)	3	3	110.00	4	3	184	146
St. Joseph by the Sea (4)	4	2	108.34	5	2	214	131
St. Francis Prep (12)	3	3	100.01	4	3	146	146
Stepinac (9)	3	3	100.01	4	4	190	171
Mt. St. Michael’s (7)	3	3	94.99	3	5	94	136
Holy Trinity (5)	1	5	91.67	3	5	151	191
Fordham (11)	1	5	85.01	3	5	138	186
Monsignor Farrell (3)	0	6	81.67	1	7	141	177

State Football Rankings

Honoring Lucas

Chris Carberry has Atiq Lucas on his mind.

BY JASON MOLINET

Because of the weather and travel involved, the St. Anthony’s coaching staff recommended that Atiq Lucas stay home on Saturday. But Lucas was still very much with the Friars as they took on Iona Prep in New Rochelle.

It’s been an emotional week. Lucas, a senior running back, broke his right leg in a Week 7 win over Chaminade. He underwent surgery last Sunday and was released from the hospital on Tuesday.

Lucas and his parents returned to the school for the Thursday night practice. He was in a wheelchair at Cy Donnelly Field. It was one of the few times all year Lucas couldn’t escape the rush. That’s because the entire team reportedly took turns giving Lucas a hug.

Lucas is expected to make a full recovery. But his football season is done.

To honor their teammate, St. Anthony’s added Lucas’ No. 30 to the backs of their black helmets. Some even scawled the number on their eye black patches.

And as the game progressed, it was clear the Friars missed the breakaway threat. It had been suggested that St. Anthony’s could sustain the loss of Lucas because of its unusual depth in the backfield. The Iona Prep game, a rare 41-21 loss, proved that Lucas can’t be replaced.

Football Preview: Iona Prep

Not only has the St. Anthony’s football team been forced to deal with the emotional fallout this week of losing its most dynamic and well-liked player in senior running back Atiq Lucas, who broke his leg in Saturday’s win over Chaminade. But how do you replace someone who has proven to be a threat running the ball, catching the ball and as a return man?

That’s the challenge Saturday against unbeaten Iona Prep. Friars coach Rich Reichert said Nicholas Flynn and Jaffrea Corley-Woods would get more playing time as a result. But the reality is running back is the deepest position on a talented team. Senior Nick Mercurio and Chris Carberry will be the featured backs with Mercurio proving particularly dangerous catching passes out of the backfield.

The real question this week is the health of junior quarterback Tom Schreiber. He hurt his knee in the fourth quarter against Chaminade and did not return. Schreiber is expected to play, but quarterback is one position that’s already taken a hit. Preseason backup James D’Aprile was lost for the season with a back injury before the first game.

That said, this one is all about the defense. The Friars (6-1 overall, 5-0 CHSFL) are on the road for the fourth straight week, facing Iona Prep (7-0, 5-0) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in New Rochelle.

The secondary had been playing injured. But cornerback Matt Metalios and safety Ryan Fumai are expected to be close to full strength. They will be tested in run support and against the pass. Iona Prep might be the most complete offense the Friars have faced.

Remember Chris Alfano? The wideout proved impossible to cover in last season’s 23-20 semifinal won. Alfano caught touchdown passes of 35 and 62 yards. He’s now a senior and just as fast.

And the Gaels got a four-touchdown performance last week from running back Jeff Mack in a 27-12 win over Holy Trinity. Quarterback Tyrae Woodson-Samuels left the game with a concussion, but he is expected to play against St. Anthony’s. The undersized signal caller has proved to be deadly accurate.

The winner likely locks up the top seed in the CHSFL Class AAA with one game left in the regular season. As if the Friars didn’t have enough motivation, no doubt they will dedicate the Iona Prep game to Lucas. This one should be emotional.

– JASON MOLINET

State Football Rankings

State Football Rankings

Next Page »