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

Bad Break For Lucas

Atiq Lucas has scored nine touchdowns in six games.

BY JASON MOLINET

Atiq Lucas was expected to be released from Winthrop University Hospital in Garden City on Tuesday night, three days after suffering a broken leg in the first quarter of Saturday’s 24-6 win over rival Chaminade, according to St. Anthony’s coach Rich Reichert.

The senior running back, one of the top prospects on Long Island, suffered a broken right tibia and fibula when a Chaminade defender fell awkwardly on the leg. Lucas gained 4 yards and a first down before hitting the turf in pain at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale.

Lucas lay on the field for 25 minutes as both benches took a knee and the crowd grew silent.

“The first thing is you feel horrible for the kid,’’ offensive coordinator Fred Gallagher said. “Then you think, ‘Where do we go from here?’’’

St. Anthony’s and its deep backfield should be just fine. By all accounts, so should Lucas.

The school’s principal, Bro. Gary Cregan, accompanied Lucas as he was transported by ambulance. The 5-11, 185-pound Lucas underwent surgery on Sunday. A rod was inserted into the leg, Reichert said.

“It was a clean break and the doctor was happy with the surgery,’’ Reichert said. “They said he should be running again in February.’’

The rehabilitation process has already begun.

Gallagher visited Lucas in the hospital on Monday and the teen has just finished his first rehab session. No one felt worse seeing Lucas hobbled and in pain than Gallagher, who watched him grow into a feared playmaker.

Inronically, Lucas got his chance to shine as a junior when Chris Carberry was lost for the season Week 4. Lucas developed into a scoring threat and scored a 25-yard touchdown run in the championship win over Mount St. Michael.

“This is horrible,’’ Gallagher said. “He’s someone who did everything you asked. He was at speed and weight training on Wednesdays and Sundays over the summer. His enthusiasm was contagious. He set an example and each week more and more players showed up.’’

That dedication should help Lucas, who accounted for five rushing, two receiving and two kickoff returns for touchdowns in six games, recover quickly. As for his future, Reichert said the back has a strong enough body of work to remain a legitimate college recruit.

As for the Friars, there hasn’t been much time to dwell on the loss of the team’s most dynamic player. The biggest game of the season to date looms. St. Anthony’s hits the road for the fourth straight week to face 7-0 Iona Prep at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Westchester.

That doesn’t mean Lucas has been forgotten. Far from it.

“We told the kids to stay away from the hospital to let him rest,’’ Reichert said. “The kids all went and saw him anyway. [Lucas] was feeling down. So it was a good thing.’’

The Friars have a new rallying cry. Atiq Lucas may no longer be able to carry the team physically, but he should serve as an inspiration to them all. That may carry the Friars far indeed.

10-18-08 @Chaminade 24-6 W

Jaffrea Corley-Woods scored on an 11-yard run.

BY JASON MOLINET

St. Anthony’s senior Nick Mercurio scored twice to help offset the loss of Atiq Lucas in a costly 24-6 win over rival Chaminade on Saturday night before a huge crowd at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale. The battle of 5-1 teams saw the Friars reassert themselves on defense and show just how deep they can go.

The Friars (6-1 overall, 5-0 CHSFL) took a real blow to their collective psyche and the offensive game plan when Lucas went down after pounding up the middle on third-and-1 from the St. Anthony’s 48-yard line. Lucas ran for 4 yards before going down at midfield. After a 25-minute delay, Lucas was carted off the field by paramedics.

Lucas had a protective cast placed around his lower leg. The nature of his injury – or how long Lucas will be out – is still unclear. He reportedly broke his ankle. It’s likely Lucas, a surefire Division I-AA prospect, has played his final game as a Friar.

Without Lucas, perhaps Long Island’s top playmaker, St. Anthony’s fed the ball to senior Nick Mercurio. He ran for a career-high 115 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns.

Mercurio got the Friars on the board one drive later. After breaking away for a 40-yard run down to the Chaminade 5, Mercurio finished off the drive with a 1-yard plunge with 41 seconds left in the opening quarter. Nick Ferrara’s point after kick made it 7-0.

Undersized junior running back Jaffrea Corely-Woods stepped up in the second quarter, putting the Friars in front 14-0 with a 11-yard scoring run with 7:54 left.

Ferrara extended the lead to 17-0 with 56 seconds left in the half. His 25-yard field goal capped a drive that began at the Friars’ 32 and lasted 12 plays.

The defense did its job. One week after surrendering 28 points to St. Joseph by the Sea, the Friars gave up just two first downs in the first half against Chaminade (5-2, 3-2). The Flyers didn’t cross midfield until the fourth quarter. That drive was stopped at the Friars’ 10 when Chaminade quarterback Stephen Chmil was stuffed on fourth-and-1.

A late fumble set up the Flyers’ lone score. Chmil hit John Urbank in the back of the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 5 with 36 seconds left in the game. The kick failed.

Iona Prep plays Holy Trinity at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Westchester. If the Gaels win, it sets up a showdown of unbeaten CHSFL teams in New Rochelle next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. That’s how tough the schedule has been for the Friars: Every week seemingly is the biggest game yet.

SCORING
TEAMS…………………………………..1……2……3…..4 — FINAL
St. Anthony’s…………………………7…..10……7……0 — 24
Chaminade……………………………0……0……0……6 — 6
SA — Mercurio 1 run (Ferrara kick)
SA — Corley-Woods 11 run (Ferrara kick)
SA — FG Ferrara 25
SA — Mercurio 14 run (Ferrara kick)
C – Urbank 5 pass from Chmil (kick failed)

Football Preview: St. Joseph Sea

It will be up to St. Anthony’s linebackers such as Storm Harris to stop the Vikings.

BY JASON MOLINET

One down. Three to go. The St. Anthony’s football team is in the midst of a brutal four-game stretch of road games. And not just any opponents. After dispatching Farrell last week, the Friars return to Staten Island to face St. Joseph by the Sea.

The game is 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. (At least the traffic on the Verrazano Bridge should be light.) And while St. Anthony’s (4-1 overall, 3-0 CHSFL) can’t afford to look ahead, showdowns with Chaminade and Iona Prep await.

This week is all about the Vikings. St. Joe’s (3-1, 2-1) was unbeaten and ranked ahead of St. Anthony’s by the state Sportswriters Association just one week ago. Chaminade jumped on the Vikings early and scored a 31-14 knockout.

That bodes well for the explosive Friars, who have outscored foes 55-21 in the first quarter and 71-33 in the second so far this season.

The defense stepped up and shut down the Vikings’ often-times confounding single wing offense a year ago. The Friars will need a similar effort to slow the Vikings’ impressive ground attack. Lyle McCombs and Andrew Armarto have each rushed for at least 500 yards and five touchdowns this season.

The Vikings are one-dimensional. But they will have to stop a St. Anthony’s team that’s scored on special teams, and with the run and pass. Get Atiq Lucas in open space and he’ll break a big play. Junior Tom Schreiber — who Newsday’s Gregg Sarra called the top quarterback on Long Island this week — has great field awareness.

It all adds up to another Friars win. And a long bus ride home.

9-28-08 XAVERIAN 38-14 W

Friars special teamer Benjamin Aloi scores on a 70-yard kickoff return. [PHOTO BY JAMES ESCHER]

BY JASON MOLINET

No sooner had the ball been kicked into play than it found the hands of junior up man Benjamin Aloi. The St. Anthony’s special teamer did what anyone would with 11 opposing players closing in.

He ran.

Aloi broke free down the left sideline before being corralled at the Xaverian 27-yard line. His 40-yard return set up the Friars’ first possession of the game nicely. And it underscored just how potent the St. Anthony’s return game has become this season.

Aloi may not be a marquee name. But his contributions were as significant as anyone’s in Sunday’s 38-14 win over Xaverian in a CHSFL football game before a homecoming crowd of 3,000 at Cy Donnelly Field in South Huntington.

Not only did St. Anthony’s capitalize on the prime field position Aloi gave the offense to open the game — Chris Carberry would eventually score on a 1-yard run — but Aloi struck again just before halftime. He grabbed another squib kick and raced 70 yards for a touchdown. Nick Ferrara added the extra point for a commanding 28-7 lead.

The kickoff return for a score was the third in as many weeks for the Friars. Atiq Lucas provided the first two. Which is why the Xaverian coaching staff opted not to kick in his direction. It didn’t matter.

And Lucas still made his presence felt with two catches for 40 yards and a 3-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

Once again, junior quarterback Tom Schreiber made all the right moves. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 248 yards, highlighted by a 41-yard touchdown strike to Tim Wine in a 14-point first quarter.

Xaverian senior quarterback Najee Tyler, a Division I recruit with all the size and tools, beat the Friars deep at times. He ran for a 2-yard score and tossed a 62-yard touchdown. The Friars also intercepted Tyler twice. In the end, he was not enough.

But the Friars (3-1 overall, 2-0 CHSFL) do have trouble ahead in the form of four straight road games. Back-to-back trips to Staten Island await. Traditional rival Farrell is up next at 7 p.m. Saturday night.

Nothing has thrown these Friars for a loss yet. Not the postponement of homecoming. (The game was moved from Friday to Sunday because of weather). Not the strong-armed Tyler. And certainly not Xaverian’s attempt to negate the Friars’ special teams.

Just ask Benjamin Aloi, the Friars’ unheralded star on homecoming Sunday.

SCORE
TEAM……………1…..2…..3…..4 — FINAL
Xaverian………..0….14…..0…..0 — 14
St. Anthony’s….14….17…..0…..7 — 38
SA — Carberry 1 run (Ferrara kick)
SA – Wine 41 pass from Schreiber (Ferrara kick)
SA – Mercurio 1 run (Ferrara kick)
X — Tyler 2 run (Petrie kick)
SA – Aloi 70 kickoff (Ferrara kick)
X — Mistretta 62 pass from Tyler (Petrie kick)
SA – FG 37 Ferrara
SA – Lucas 3 run (Ferrara kick)

9-19-08 HOLY TRINITY 62-13 W

St. Anthony’s quarterback Tom Schreiber runs away from the Titans defense. [PHOTO BY JAMES ESCHER]

BY JASON MOLINET

A throbbing headache forced Atiq Lucas to shut down early. As much of an impact as the senior running back made — is there a better player in the state in open space? — he was just one playmaker in an arsenal full at the fingertips of offensive coordinator Fred Gallagher.

St. Anthony’s was on a roll Friday night at Cy Donnelly Field in South Huntington, and it’s doubtful anything could have stopped the Friars. With MSG, ESPN radio and Newsday on hand, CHSFL rival Holy Trinity showed it wasn’t up to the task.

The result was a lopsided 62-13 Friars win. St. Anthony’s put the hammer down for the second straight week.

Lucas helped the Friars take a 34-13 lead into halftime with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown — his second in as many weeks — and a 50-yard scoring run. But in the end, seven different players reached the end zone for the Friars. Lucas was just one element of a downright scary juggernaut.

One player settling into his role better than anyone could have expected is junior quarterback Tom Schreiber. He had the unenviable task of replacing 2007 CHSFL offensive player of the year James Brady.

And he’s done it. Schreiber completed 6 of 10 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 78 yards on eight carries and two more scores as host St. Anthony’s (2-1, 1-0) overpowered rival Holy Trinity. By the way, those numbers reflect three quarters of work.

But if the Titans (2-1 overall, 0-1 CHSFL) took something from an otherwise forgettable night, it was the performance of first-year starter Robert Morrisey, who completed 9 of 28 passes for 126 yards and touchdown passes of 46 and 12 yards.

Morrisey was also at the center of the play of the night. With St. Anthony’s ahead 28-13 late in the second quarter, Holy Trinity drove 57 yards to the Friars’ 8-yard line. But on fourth-and-4, Morrisey took the snap, rolled right — and got leveled from behind by St. Anthony’s senior defensive end Rafiq Wallace.

So a chance to keep the pressure on disappeared. And when Friars junior quarterback Tom Schreiber tossed a 35-yard touchdown on the ensuing drive, so did all hope of beating the Friars.

MVP
How about the entire defensive front? Wallace gets credit for the most bone-jarring hit, but junior Robert “Bubba” Welsh looked impressive for the second straight week. And what can we say about backup Eric Peccia? The 5-8, 190-pound senior is a second teammer only because of his size, but he’s shown the drive of someone much bigger. Peccia swooped in and picked up a fumbled pitch and rumbled 19 yards for a touchdown. Did we mention that the Friars held one of the league’s most dangerous backs to under 100 yards? Yeah, these guys were MVPs.

KEY PLAY
The game’s first three offensive plays were all Schreiber. He froze the Holy Trinity defense when he rolled left and then took off for an 8-yard gain. Then came a 32-yard strike to Timothy Wine down to the Titans’27. Finally, Schreiber took the snap, dropped back, shook off a would-be tackler in the backfield and jetted through a crack on the right side for a 27-yard touchdown. I doubt Rich Reichert drew it up that way, but it was masterful execution.

SCORING
Team……………..1……2…..3…..4 — F
Holy Trinity………7……6…..0…..0 — 13
St. Anthony’s…..21….13….21…..7 — 62
SA — Schreiber 27 run (Ferrara kick)
SA — Schreiber 16 run (Ferrara kick)
HT – Johnson 46 pass from Morrisey (Dreiss kick)
SA – Lucas 90 kickoff return (Ferrara kick)
SA — Lucas 50 run (Ferrara kick)
HT — Walsh 12 pass from Morrisey (run failed)
SA — Schroeder 35 pass from Schreiber (kick failed)
SA – Carberry 12 run (Ferrara kick)
SA – Fiorvanti 33 pass from Schreiber (Ferrara kick)
SA — Corley-Woods 43 run (Ferrara kick)
SA — Peccia 19 fumble recovery (Ferrara kick)

9-13-08 DELBARTON 52-14 W

Friars quarterback Tom Schreiber made his home debut a memorable one.

BY JASON MOLINET


There was a moment when doubt crept into the mind of junior quarterback Tom Schreiber. One week after the St. Anthony’s offense struggled to move the ball in a downpour against nationally-ranked St. Joseph Prep in Philadelphia, the Friars found itself challenged once again.

New Jersey power Delbarton had threatened to turn Cy Donnelly Field into its own private retreat. There was the RV in the parking lot, a hub for tailgating Green Wave fans. And the painted teenagers in the stands made their presence known. But that was all just window dressing to what Delbarton did on the field.

Barely five minutes into Saturday night’s non-league football showdown in South Huntington, quarterback E.J. Schneider threw a short touchdown pass to put the Green Wave in front 14-7. Could St. Anthony’s keep up? Schreiber, making just his second career start, wondered. So did virtually everyone else among the crowd of 2500.

Boy, did St. Anthony’s ever respond. Schreiber threw two touchdowns and senior Atiq Lucas found the end zone three times as the Friars scored the game’s final 45 points in a stunning 52-14 victory. But there’s no time to enjoy the offensive output.

The CHSFL schedule begins with a big date with rival Holy Trinity at 7 p.m. Friday.

Schreiber’s night began ominously enough. He threw an interception to end the first series of the game and give Delbarton the ball at the Friars’ 17-yard line.

But after the Green Wave scored, Lucas took back the momentum with an electric 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Nick Ferrara, who missed last week’s game with a foot injury, kicked the first of seven extra points to tie things at 7.

Schneider hooked up on a 79-yard pass to set up another Delbarton score.

“I was a little worried to be honest,’’ said Schreiber, who completed 5 of 9 passes for 187 yards and two scores. “But we responded. Big time!”

As if shot out of a cannon, senior running back Kevin O’Malley took the first carry of the next possession 69 yards to the end zone. Once again, the Friars had answered.

The turning point came late in the opening quarter when linebacker John Burk reached out and pulled in an interception, giving St. Anthony’s the ball at the Delbarton 23-yard line. Junior Nicholas Flynn scored on a 1-yard run four plays later for a 21-14 edge.

With Delbarton driving, the Friars’ Ryan Fumai hauled in an interception near the goal line. It was the first of two picks for the senior defensive back.

St. Anthony’s responded with a crushing blow. Schreiber found Lucas open behind the coverage and the fleet back did the rest, turning the hookup into a 69-yard touchdown pass for a 28-14 lead with 7:58 left in the half.

It was a laugher from there.

MVP
One week after St. Joseph Prep (Penn.) shut down Atiq Lucas, the speedy senior back managed just 1 yard on three carries against Delbarton (N.J.). Really! Lucas might not have carried the load out of the backfield, but he found other ways to impact the game. First off was his 84-yard kickoff return for the Friars’ first touchdown. Then Lucas broke a 69-yard score on a catch and run. He also added a 3-yard touchdown run. His rushing stat line might not look impressive, but performances don’t come much bigger.

KEY PLAY
Any of Lucas’ three scores might fit the bill. But nothing was more jaw dropping than watching unheralded senior Kevin O’Malley burst through the line and jet through the Delbarton secondary en route to a 69-yard touchdown run. It helped forge a tie at 14 and change the dynamic of the game.

SCORING
TEAM…………………..…1……2…..3…….4 — FINAL
Delbarton (N.J.)………….14…..0…..0…….0 — 14
St. Anthony’s……………14…17…21…….0 — 52
DEL – NA 1 run (NA kick)
SA – Lucas 84 kickoff return (Ferrara kick)
DEL – NA 1 pass from Schneider (NA kick)
SA – O’Malley 69 run (Ferrara kick)
SA – Flynn 1 run (Ferrara kick)
SA – Lucas 69 pass from Schreiber (Ferrara kick)
SA – FG 30 Ferrara
SA – Fiorvanti 64 pass from Schreiber (Ferrara kick)
SA – Lucas 3 run (Ferrara kick)
SA – Carberry 14 run (Ferrara kick)

Friars Rule Scrimmage

Defensive coordinator George McLaren breaks down the plan of attack.

BY JASON MOLINET

You would hardly know a dream matchup was unfolding at the Lincoln Ave. Sports Complex in Mastic. The steady rain and early-Saturday start time probably scared off many people who would have liked to see a few of the premier Long Island high school football programs scrimmage.

Not just any powerhouses. We’re talking Floyd, winner of the last three Long Island Class I titles, and seven-time CHSFL champ St. Anthony’s. Throw in perennial Division II power Bellport and you’ve got quite a bit of tradition on the same football field. An inexperienced Wyandanch squad rounded out the four-way scrimmage.

Floyd backers will tell you that stars Brock Jackolski (running back) and Joe Sidaras (quarterback) are each reshirtring at Hofstra. OK, the Friars were without the league offensive and defensive players of the year in James Brady (Georgetown) and Scott Vallone (Rutgers). Both programs were trying to turn the page.

But in a battle of first-team strength, it was clear the Friars will move into 2008 in reload mode. New quarterback Tom Schreiber, a gifted junior who is already a star midfielder in lacrosse, moved the offense. And senior running back Atiq Lucas accounted for both touchdowns against Floyd, hauling in an 8-yard scoring pass and breaking a 20-yard touchdown run.

The defense forced two turnovers. Senior cornerback Matt Metalios, a ball-hawker a year ago, showed no let up with an impressive pick on a fade pattern. Then senior linebacker Storm Harris recovered a fumble.

So much for a showdown.

A mismatch with Wyandanch awaited next. Lucas broke a 30-yard scoring run, which spelled the end of the first team offense.

The final scrimmage pitted the Bellport Clippers against the Friars. Bellport showed off some athleticism, but not enough to stop St. Anthony’s. Lucas accounted for two more scores, a 12-yard reception and 12-yard run, as the first-team offense capped a near-perfect day.

Lucas, who is getting looks from Division I-AA and I-A programs, might be the best player on Long Island. And after a 5-touchdown showing in the rain Saturday, there’s little denying he is a special player.

On defense, Harris got plenty of love from teammates. He tore his left MCL last preseason and never made it on the field. Now he is the middle linebacker in the Friars’ defense and he played with passion in the scrimmage. One of the plays of the day saw Harris drop a Bellport back for a loss, drawing chants from the Friars’ sideline.

The Friars added two fumble recoveries against Bellport.

Complete domination? Well, yeah. But it was only a scrimmage. At least that’s what St. Anthony’s detractors will seize upon.

The reality is that the Friars showed up and took on all comers. Now it gets serious. The next time the Friars face an opponent, it will be on a Saturday in Philadelphia — nationally-ranked St. Joseph’s Prep.

Football Camp Opens

Big things are expected of senior running back Atiq Lucas this fall.

BY JASON MOLINET

Football practice opened on Monday, and with it the expectations that come with winning seven straight CHSFL Class AAA titles. St. Anthony’s must replace each of its four captains from last season’s 10-1 team. Quarterback James Brady is off at Georgetown; center Austen Fletcher and safety J.B. Andreassi are at Dartmouth; and defensive tackle Scott Vallone battles for a playing time at Big East power Rutgers.

While the offense must break in a new quarterback, a stable of backs, led by senior Atiq Lucas and Nick Mercurio, should provide plenty of stability and give any game plan some pop. They are the givens.

What needs to be answered between now and opening night Sept. 6 in Philadelphia is who will fill the voids at receiver and safety, and who will step up and provide leadership on both sides of the ball? Coach Rich Reichert and Co. has his work cut out.