Now for the top division, which I am sure was just a joy to schedule. Seeing as many of these teams participate in the Battle of the Bridge, and moreso will be doing Tunnels to Towers, most of the ‘AAA’ League games would have to take place starting in mid-September.

I won’t waste my time with my rambling, here is the ‘AAA’:

‘AAA’ League Schedule

#6 Cardinal Hayes

• Week 0: Open
• Week 1: Pope John XXIII Regional HS (NJ)
• Week 2: Middletown High School (DE)
• Week 3: @ Kellenberg Memorial
• Week 4: St. Peter’s
• Week 5: @ Chaminade
• Week 6: Iona Prep
• Week 7: Monsignor Farrell
• Week 8: Fordham Prep
• Week 9: @ St. Anthony’s

The Hayesmen had a rough season last year, their wins coming from a quasi game with Erasmus Hall, and a tough win against St. Joseph Collegiate Institute. They were young, with 17 new starters. Now those folks will have moved up, and they go into a schedule where they play 3 ‘AA-1’ foes. They have a rematch with St. Peter’s which ended rather tense. CJ O’Neil will have this program ready to bounce back strong this season.

#5 Archbishop Stepinac

• Week 0: Open
• Week 1: Open
• Week 2: Immaculata (NJ)
• Week 3: St. Anthony’s
• Week 4: St. Joseph by the Sea
• Week 5: @ Monsignor Farrell
• Week 6: @ Chaminade
• Week 7: St. Peter’s
• Week 8: St. John the Baptist
• Week 9: Iona Prep

New head coach AJ Magee righted and stabilized the ship last season after their legendary coach Mike O’Donnell retired. Still though, the Crusaders fell in a first round playoff game at home against Chaminade. Furthermore, it became clear, especially down the stretch that Stepinac struggled against the powerhouses of the league, and did just enough to beat ‘AA-1’ teams on their schedule. Now ranked #5, the Crusaders play a mix of AA-1 and AAA teams. They will be tested.

#4 Chaminade

• Week 0: Open
• Week 1: Open
• Week 2: Seton Hall Prep (NJ)
• Week 3: Monsignor Farrell
• Week 4: @ St. Francis Prep
• Week 5: Cardinal Hayes
• Week 6: Archbishop Stepinac
• Week 7: @ St. Anthony’s
• Week 8: @ Iona Prep
• Week 9: @ Fordham Prep

They Flyers have a great deal of toughness, grit, and determination, but when it comes to playing with the top teams of the league, they can seem outclassed. Six of their games were decided by seven points or less, including two games that went to overtime. If the game is close, Chaminade more than likely will prevail, but if they get down early, it becomes difficult for them to catch up. At 15-9, and two semifinal exits, I know the Chaminade faithful are looking for their program to take the next step.

#3 St. Anthony’s

• Week 0: Open
• Week 1: Open
• Week 2: St. Peter’s Prep (NJ)
• Week 3: @ Archbishop Stepinac
• Week 4: Xavier
• Week 5: @ Iona Prep
• Week 6: St. Peter’s
• Week 7: Chaminade
• Week 8: @ Monsignor Farrell
• Week 9: Cardinal Hayes

By St. Anthony’s standards, the last season was not good. Going 7-5, with a lot of younger folks, and an exit in the semifinal round in a shut out in New Rochelle, the Friars and their coach Joe Minucci are going to be looking for improvement. The positive? Xavier Bala is back for his senior campaign. The Friars ability to score has never been in question though, as St. Anthony’s topped 30+ points in 8 of their games last season. They will need to solidify their defense to make a title run.

#2 Monsignor Farrell

• Week 0: Open
• Week 1: Open
• Week 2: DePaul Catholic (NJ)
• Week 3: @ Chaminade
• Week 4: @ Iona Prep
• Week 5: Archbishop Stepinac
• Week 6: Xavier
• Week 7: @ Cardinal Hayes
• Week 8: St. Anthony’s
• Week 9: @ St. Joseph by the Sea

A deflating end to a dream of a season, Monsignor Farrell has now been to the championship game twice in the last decade (2021 and 2025). The Lions won’t be a surprise this year, taking the #2 spot in the ‘AAA’. Rocco Del Priore is eager to reload to make another title run. With the Moye twins back in their junior season, I will be very interested in seeing how Farrell looks to replace key pieces that graduated last season. Last year’s squad was senior laden, and it showed.

#1 Iona Prep

• Week 0: Open
• Week 1: Open
• Week 2: Paramus Catholic (NJ)
• Week 3: @ St. Joseph by the Sea
• Week 4: Monsignor Farrell
• Week 5: St. Anthony’s
• Week 6: @ Cardinal Hayes
• Week 7: Fordham Prep
• Week 8: Chaminade
• Week 9: @ Archbishop Stepinac

The gents from New Rochelle come in looking to put their stamp in NYCHSFL, and Iona Prep history by taking home another championship. The Gaels though, this year, will look much different without elder statesmen like Joe Wolf, Julian Guzman, Crew Davis, Anthony DiNapoli all senior leaders that superb last season. Can they secure their 3rd title in a row, and their 4th title in 6 years? The NYCHSFL has been dominated by Iona Prep, but now is the hard part. Is this sustainable?

Here are my thoughts:

• A great job was done by the NYCHSFL this year. I only had a few headscratchers throughout the whole league, but generally, it seemed logical. Is the schedule perfect? No, but marked improvements in interdivision matchups show progress. Of course, I could be changing my tune when the season starts, but as of now, kudos to them. No notes for the ‘AAA’
• For the schedule as a whole I did notice that:
  • No midseason byes. Every week from 3-9 is filled. Furthermore, every game after week 2 is a league game. This takes a lot of confusion out of the equation by getting rid of late season non league matchups.
  • Battle of the Bridge is very limited this year, only 6 games in that week 2 slot. Do “week 1” NJ games count as part of this series? I don’t think so.
  • I will be very interested to see the non-league matchups, which are now exclusively taking place from Week 0-Week 2.
  • Tunnels to Towers Bowl– I hope it happens again. Maybe they come downstate this time?

What do you think? Any comments? Concerns? Complaints?