High school football is officially back in Long Island, and Week 1 brings an intriguing cross-league collision. The St. John the Baptist Cougars (CHSFL) host Queens Eagle Academy III (PSAL) in a clash of styles, cultures, and roster construction.

While St. John the Baptist represents Catholic High School football tradition on Long Island, Eagle Academy III has been quietly building a successful program in the Public Schools Athletic League. This year, however, the script has flipped: Eagle Academy III’s off-season transformed their dynamic by retooling through Catholic League pipelines.

The main storyline surrounding Eagle Academy III entering this season is the influx of talented talent coming from Catholic High School Football League (CHSFL) programs. Retooling with players who played in the CHSFL gives Eagle III a distinct edge—they bring high-level tactical familiarity and big-game experience playing against private-school schemes. Three Players who all had major contributions for Christ the King last season in Geovanni Richardson (RB), and twins Kelvin & Kendell Regis (LB/DL). While also grabbing talented two way athlete and Division 1 recruit Darnell Rink who comes from Holy Trinity, whose program folded earlier in the summer.

This core group gives Eagle III an inside track, as these players already know the play-calling cadence, physical style, and physical demands of facing a top-tier Long Island CHSFL squad like St. John the Baptist.

St. John the Baptist also took advantage of the demise of the Holy Trinity program in grabbing quarterback Devin Michaels. He must come in a fill some pretty big shoes with the departure of Maurice Scott who is now at Marist College playing football. Lucky for him he has the workhorse Kalen Percer-Hogue (RB) to hand the ball of to, who rushed for almost 700 yards and 7 TDs last season.

Keys to the Game

• St. John the Baptist: Home-field advantage and cohesion. The Cougars need to execute their balanced CHSFL offensive system, test Eagle III’s communication, and force early mistakes before the transfers fully find their rhythm.
• Eagle Academy III: Unleashing athleticism and CHSFL inside knowledge. The Eagles will look to play aggressive defense and rely on their transfer unit to quickly set the tempo on foreign turf.

Top Players to watch:

Eagle III: Geovanni Richardson (RB), Darnell Rink (ATH), Daryus Mohammed (WR)

St. John the Baptist: Devin Michaels (QB), Jalen Percer-Hogue (RB), Christopher Trinca (LB)

Prediction: Eagle Academy III 17, St. John the Baptist 24