2008 CHSFL Preview

Paul Alessandri is one of many rising seniors expected to step up.

BY JASON MOLINET

There are several changes in store for the CHSFL this fall. But in the chase for the top spot, one thing remains the same: St. Anthony’s is No. 1. In a vote of fellow coaches, the Friars open the 2008 season as the top seed.

The seven-time champs have played in the title game every year since 1998, when the Friars went 7-3 and fell in the semifinals. In fact, they’ve played in 14 of the last 15 title games. But for coach Rich Reichert to conjure up another championship run, he’ll need to replace all four senior captains from a year ago, including league offensive player of the year James Brady at quarterback (now at Georgetown) and defensive player of the year Scott Vallone at defensive tackle (Rutgers).

Those are just some of the changes in store. Here are more to chew on:

+ It’s a football fan’s dream. An early Labor Day means an early start to the season. For the first time, CHSFL teams can play up to nine regular season games. That’s two non-league contests and seven league games.

+ Mount St. Michael, a two-time finalist, is seeded seventh. That’s right – seventh!

+ The top seven quarterbacks in Class AAA from a year ago are gone. That includes player of the year Brady, Mount’s Jayson Holt (Southern Connecticut) and Iona’s Ryan O’Neil (Lafayette).

+ There are 21 teams in the CHSFL. Nazareth, a City school without a home field, dropped out.

+ The most competitive division, Class AAA, has expanded from eight to 12 teams. The top eight finishers will advance to the AAA playoffs while the bottom four move on in the Class AA playoffs. This allows for errors in seeding.

Xaverian simply couldn’t finish games a year ago en route to an 0-9 season and loss to top-seeded St. Anthony’s in the quarterfinals. Maybe the Clippers would have fared batter in the Class AA playoffs. If a similar situation arises this fall, that team will have new life come playoff time.

Now for the familiar:

+ St. Francis Prep coach Vinnie O’Connor, 78, opens his 55^th season with 313 wins, second in state history and tops in the CHSFL. No other CHSFL coach past or present has even 200 wins.

+ Five New York State Sportswriters Award-winners return: Iona Prep senior wideout Chris Alfano, Stepinac junior safety Maurice Easterling and senior linebacker Ryan Hunt, and St. Joe by the Sea senior lineman Thomas Oehm.

+ Did we mention St. Anthony’s is the seven-time defending champs?

2008 CHSFL SEEDS

(returning All-CHSFL players in parentheses)

1. St. Anthony’s

2. Chaminade (Sr. LB Bobby Lucas, 5-10, 180)

3. Farrell

4. St. Joe by the Sea

5. Holy Trinity (Sr. WR Tyrek Barney, 5-7, 160; Jr. RB Anthony Brunetti, 5-11, 210; Jr. LB Aaron McRae, 5-11, 185; Sr. C Ryan Murphy, 6-1, 220)

6. Iona Prep (Sr. WR Chris Alfano, 5-7, 140)

7. Mount St. Michael (Jr. DL Gary Acquah, 6-1, 230; Sr. DL Caraun Reid, 6-3, 245)

8. Xaverian (Sr. DB Donald Binckes, 5-10, 165; Sr. WR Gerald Mistretta, 6-0, 200; Sr. LB Ethan Ostermeyer, 6-0, 190)

9. Stepinac (Jr. FS Maurice Easterling, 5-8, 160; Sr. LB Ryan Hunt, 5-11, 180; Sr. LB Blake Rzemieniewsdki, 5-10, 180)

10. Holy Cross (Sr. SS Terrance Coon, 6-1, 180; Sr. LB Reggie Franklin, 5-11, 225; Sr. LB Travis Quarless, 6-2, 210; Sr. WR Tariq Tangue, 5-9, 175; Jr. RB Barrington Wallace, 5-11, 210)

11. Fordham Prep (Sr. OL Jon Annuziatta, 6-2, 250; Sr. WR Connor Brown, 6-2, 175; Sr. SS Chris Moffa, 5-8, 175)

12. St. Francis Prep (Sr. RB Tristan Akong, 5-11, 180; Sr. LB Chris O’Connor, 5-11, 185; Sr. RB Bob Dougherty, 5-10, 185)

13. St. John the Baptist (Sr. OL Guy Lindner, 6-3, 315)

14. St. Peter’s

15. Kellenberg

16. Xavier

17. Christ the King

18. Bishop Ford (Sr. DL Winston Hill, 6-3, 360)

19. Cardinal Hayes (Sr. OL Fernando Diaz, 6-2, 265)

20. Cardinal Spellman

21. Moore Catholic