As the offseason continues, I try to only release content when I have something compelling to write about. I know that most folks want to see content about current teams, but the CHSFL retains its gravitas and relevance because of the rich tradition it has. 

The stories that can be told about the league, and the importance it has on the present day is critical for understanding the why things are the way they are today. We must celebrate, and understand the past to appreciate the present. So I decided I would do a series highlighting the different dynasties, or the compelling stories of programs in the past. The catch is that my knowledge is limited to what has happened over the past 20 or so years, and what I can get from the internet. 

If anyone has a story that can be told, please let me know, I will tell your story. 

The first story I would like to tell is one that has shaped the NYCHSFL the most over the past 30 years, the dynasty of St. Anthony’s in Huntington, Long Island. The dominance exhibited by this program is something that the league had not seen, and is something that they will never see again. It all starts with Rich Reichert, the St. Anthony’s Alumnus from 1970, took over the program in 1986, off the heels of St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School’s champion run in the 1980s (the Cougars won 4 championships in 5 years from 1980-1985). After the Cougars won the championship in 1984, New York City dominated the CHSFL, winning all the CHSFL championships, except for 1987, when it was won by Chaminade. 

Rich Reichert took over the team, and quickly turned them around, going to the title game in 1989 (losing to St. Francis Prep amid their 3 peat from 1988-1990). Something just clicked in 1993, as the Friars finally broke through and started an unprecedented period of dominance over the CHSFL.  The Friars won their own 3 peat from 1993-1995. They capped off this 3 peat with a 29-0 drubbing of St. Francis Prep in 1995. The Friars proceeded to make it to the ‘AAA’ championship every year from 1993-2013, except for 1998. After their 1993-95 run, the Friars would not win until 2001, where they would win the title from 2001-2007, 2009-2011, and in 2013. 14 titles in 21 seasons. To get a better picture of just how dominant the Friars were, I looked at their record each season (on maxpreps). St. Anthony’s won 265 games under Reichert, and had 28 winning seasons.

The St. Anthony’s Dynasty can be best described by the ‘AAA’ title game list from 1993-2013.

Year	Champion	Runner Up	Score
2013	St. Anthony’s	Chaminade	35-0
2012	Chaminade	St. Anthony’s	17-16
2011	St. Anthony’s	Stepinac	14-0
2010	St. Anthony’s	Iona Prep	41-23
2009	St. Anthony’s	Holy Trinity	28-21
2008	Iona Prep	St. Anthony’s	48-35
2007	St. Anthony’s	Mount Saint Michael	26-20
2006	St. Anthony’s	Mount Saint Michael	21-20
2005	St. Anthony’s	Iona Prep	28-7
2004	St. Anthony’s	Monsignor Farrell	17-14
2003	St. Anthony’s	Monsignor Farrell	31-12
2002	St. Anthony’s	Chaminade	34-32
2001	St. Anthony’s	St. Francis Prep	28-14
2000	Monsignor Farrell	St. Anthony’s	24-13
1999	Monsignor Farrell	St. Anthony’s	6-0
1998	Chaminade	Monsignor Farrell	27-6
1997	Mount Saint Michael	St. Anthony’s	40-14
1996	Mount Saint Michael	St. Anthony’s	21-7
1995	St. Anthony’s	St. Francis Prep	29-0
1994	St. Anthony’s	Chaminade	21-18
1993	St. Anthony’s	Monsignor Farrell	21-13

Which brings me to the main topic of this post, Iona vs St. Anthony’s. 

The Gaels of New Rochelle have been a mainstay of the ‘AAA’ division in the 21st century, and while they have not been as successful as the Friars, they have frequently challenged them for the title. This is perhaps the best non-traditional rivalry in the CHSFL. The rivalry is relatively recent, as Iona had not been to a ‘AAA’ championship game from 1967 to 2005.  

The first game in the ‘AAA’ Championship was in 2005, where the Gaels, led by quarterback Sean Mara and running back Joseph Manuel, went 6-2 in the regular season, losing to Holy Cross and St. Anthony’s before making their championship run to play St. Anthony’s. The Friars were led by do-it-all quarterback Christopher Eanuzel, scoring a total of 27 touchdowns, running and throwing out of the triple option attack Reichert employed. While the Gaels kept it close early, they only dressed about 30 players for this game, and St. Anthony’s overwhelmed them to secure their 5th straight championship 28-7. 

Take a look back, the broadcast is on Youtube.

It would not take long for a rematch, as the Gaels came into 2008 with vengeance on their mind, and stormed through the Catholic League. In 2008, Iona Prep went 11-0, winning every game. Utilizing a spread offense, Quarterback Tyrae Woodson-Samuels and Jeff Mack combined for 4,656 yards, and 48 touchdowns. The Friars were led by QB Thomas Schreiber. 

In the championship game, Jeff Mack exploded for nearly 400 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Friars were never truly in the game, as they opened up a 41-16 lead in the 4th quarter. This snapped the streak of Friar championships, and was likely the first crack in the stranglehold that St. Anthony’s had on the league. 

Take a look back, the broadcast is on Youtube. 

In 2010, the Friars were back to their winning ways. Led by Charlie Raffa and a dynamic triple option attack, St. Anthony’s ran through the regular season, and cruised past a strong St. Joseph by-the-Sea 42-8 in the quarter finals, and an undefeated Fordham Prep team 39-14 in the semifinals to set a date with Iona Prep in the ‘AAA’ Championship. The Gaels were led by running back Sidney Weston, who led the team in rushing, and powered Iona past Holy Trinity, 45-17 with 306 yards and 4 touchdowns.

The Gaels kept it close, with the Friars nursing a 20-16 near halftime, allowing two big touchdowns by Weston. Charlie Raffa led St. Anthony’s on a 2 minute drill to score just before the half, and the Friars never looked back, winning 41-23, completing an undefeated season, and their second straight championship, avenging their loss from 2008.

Take a look back, the broadcast is on Youtube.

St. Anthony’s would win the championship again in 2011, and in 2013, but that would be the end of St. Anthony’s dominance over the CHSFL. The Stepinac Dynasty started officially in 2014, with 16-14 nailbiter win over Iona Prep (a story for another time).

After the pandemic in 2020, the 2021 season was a reset for many football programs. With Iona winning the ‘AAA’ over Monsignor Farrell 49-15, led by Ajani Sheppard and Justin Joly. 

The two programs would face off again in 2022, with Ajani Sheppard, and running back Colin O’Garro leading the way. With a notable win against Don Bosco Prep (NJ), the Gaels entered the championship 9-2. The Friars led by QB Dante Torres, who threw for over 3,300 yards, 35 touchdowns, ran for 500 more yards and 13 more touchdowns, and KJ Duff, who hauled in 12 touchdowns and 995 yards entered the championship game with a record of 9-1, their first appearance in the ‘AAA’ title game since 2017.

A highly touted matchup, with the winner all but certain to win the State Championship the following week, the game got off to a rough start with Dante Torres hitting KJ Duff on an 85 yard touchdown to start the game. The Friars never looked back with Torres darting up the field for a 76 yard run to take a 22-6 lead halfway through the 2nd quarter. St. Anthony’s would carry a 29-12 lead into the half, and would win 50-18. Seizing their 11th title since 2000 and first since 2017. 

Take a look back, the broadcast is on Youtube.

The latest edition of this game happened in the most recent season, the phenom Gary Merrill, rushing for more than 1,900 yards, throwing for more than 1,750 yards leading the Friars back to the title game in 2024. In their way, an unstoppable Iona game looking to reclaim the ‘AAA’ crown, after coming so close in 2023, where a field goal went wide as Cardinal Hayes captured the ‘AAA’ title 30-29. 

Crew Davis was the focal point of the offense, as he led the team in rushing, and receiving, scoring 23 touchdowns total. The game itself went back and forth, with Iona only having a 24-15 lead late into the 3rd quarter. But late game defensive heroics, and Crew Davis had the Gaels pull away late, as Davis had a 55 yard touchdown run with about 4 minutes left to go to make the game 43-15. 

Iona would win 43-22, and would continue their championship run in Buffalo the next week to win the Catholic State Title. 

Take a look back, the broadcast is on Youtube.

Besides the trip down memory lane, it is important to know the history of the league, as the offseason drags on, 2025 will be another pivotal chapter in the CHSFL’s story. The people discussed are still in college, some of them at FBS or FCS schools, playing football at the highest level. 

This is the start of a series where I look back on some of the most pivotal, and compelling stories that the CHSFL has to offer, across all divisions. 

I hope you enjoyed it!