Football Preview: Xaverian

Homecoming against an opponent that went 0-8 a year ago? Sounds like a plan — for disaster. In this case we’re talking Brooklyn-Xaverian. Not only did the Clippers give St. Anthony’s fits in two meetings a year ago, but Xaverian has a new coach and is off to a 2-0 start.

So leave any preconceptions in the parking lot. Xaverian will be game, so the Friars, coming off a couple 50-point blowouts, better be focused as well. The Clippers bring 6-5 quarterback Najee Tyler, a strong armed passer who is being looked at by Temple and UConn. He alone should give the Friars pause.

But Xaverian will have to stop an offense that’s been pretty unstoppable. The only question: Will the game be played Friday night? Rain threatens. School officals have discussed moving the game to 1:30 p.m. Sunday. But right now, Friday night is on.

– Jason Molinet

Football Preview: Holy Trinity

There are no off nights in the CHSFL and Friday is no exception when Holy Trinity travels to South Huntington to take on seven-time defending champ St. Anthony’s. The game is 7 p.m. But you better get there early if you want a seat.

Holy Trinity is 2-0 and featured back Anthony Brunetti is one of the toughest runners in the state. He’s a workhorse who has gone over 100 yards in both games this season. His presence alone makes the Titans a threat to beat St. Anthony’s. But the Titans will neeed to control the ball and the clock to win.

The Friars (1-1) are coming off an impressive 52-14 win over New Jersey power Delbarton. Tom Schreiber picked apart the secondary and a stable of backs ground it out. But it was the defense, one week after giving up just 7 points in a loss to St. Joseph’s Prep (Penn.), that really shined.

Despite graduating the league’s offensive and defensive players of the year, there are no noticeable holes in the Friars.

St. Anthony’s leads the all-time series with the Titans 24-8 dating to 1974 and has won the last 14 meetings. Holy Trinity last beat the Friars, 28-13, in 1992, part of a 3-6 season for St. Anthony’s. The Friars ran back the opening kickoff a year ago and never looked back in a 34-14 win in Hicksville.

MEDIA NOTE: The game will be broadcast live over the internet by ESPN 1050 Radio. Once again, that’s a live WEBCAST on www.1050ESPNRadio.com. The MSG crew will also be on hand. The game will be televised Sunday at 11 a.m. And don’t forget to log on to Friar Sports.com for your postgame wrap.

– JASON MOLINET

FALL PREVIEW: Boys Cross Country

Venerable Kellenberg cross country coach Kevin Buckley offered up his preseason boys rankings.

1. St. Anthony’s: Plethora of distance runners return (Sather, Walshak, Cherkis, Murphy, et al); will their slogan be “Yes, We Can,” as the Friars look to return to the halcyon days of the Carter administration.

2. Chaminade: We all know that the Flyers (Dayton U. is the hometown of the Wright Bros.) were decimated by graduation; however, Carreiro’s charges are like Mao Zedong’s Red Army in Korea (they’re numerous and relentless); Kiley leads.

3. Farrell: Many pundits have the Lions at #1, but must rebound from the debacle of last year’s XC Cities; “Alex Orlando & Dawn” will be knocking at the ceiling for the top spot.

4. Fordham Prep: Three quality returners led by the elder Jennings; if Febles can convert all the 800 meter speed to the 2 1/2 distance, the Rams can conceivably win it all.

5. Kellenberg: Better than others think; a resurgent Posch + Cook (16th last year in Cities)+ an underappreciated Nicoletti will make the State Meet (I say as a team, you say as individuals).

6. Bishop Ford: The last set of twins still standing, the Gilhuley’s lead the Falcons; back scorers are a problem for all teams from #5 down.

7. Iona Prep: Terrific one-two punch of Halpin/Shephard; Jan Mitchell will have to be at his best to bring along others; the Gaels are rated this low due to the school’s connection to the Mara family; I now must pay $5000 each for my 2 season tickets to the Football Giants for my PSL (Personal Seat License); I have had these tickets since 1963 and my wife’s father served with Wellington Mara on the USS Randolph in the Pacific during WW II (along with Soupy Sales); this is the only remaining forum in which I can complain.

8. Holy Trinity: Muller’s Titans have a nice returning core group that performed so well in 2007 XC Cities; maybe.

9. St. Joseph by the Sea: Buoyed by last year’s very strong Soph squad, the Vikings will look to improve on this rating.

10. St. Peter: James Cannon is certainly a top contender, but can last year’s Frosh Champs help enough; Eagles can be a real wild card.

11. Xavier: Two fine returnees in Mirand and Elie-Vieux, but Dormer needs a lot more.