This is mercifully the last week of nonleague play. I always feel these first three weeks are a bit much, but who knows. Anyways, where weeks 0 and 1 had a plethora of non-league games in New York, out of state, and even against each other, this week really drills down two major NYCHSFL traditions. One is the Battle of the Bridge, the annual series between New York and New Jersey, and the last bit of traditional games and tuning up.

I got to be straight up with you all, I am not really a fan of the Battle of the Bridge. The streams are rarely available without payment, and the games are often not competitive at the end of the day.

As I said in my the past, while these nonleague games obviously mean something to the players, they do not mean anything when you consider the goal of every team. NYCSHSFL programs aren’t really looking for clout. They’re testing themselves against difficult opponents to get themselves ready for the true goal of every season, an NYCHSFL Championship. This goes for the top division, and the bottom division.

There are 14 games this week. 6 of them are Battle of the Bridge matchups. See below:

• Poly Prep (MIFL) vs Christ the King (No Stream Available)
  • Poly Prep is a strong power in the MIFL, and once went play for play with the likes of Iona Prep in the NYCHSFL. Nowadays, the MIFL is not as strong in football, but as we saw last week, there are still plenty of MIFL teams that are capable of putting the hurt on CHSFL teams, especially smaller, and younger programs. That is exactly what Christ the King is, as they come off a stinging loss in New Jersey against Morristown Beard. I think that they will need to fix these mistakes, and just focus on playing disciplined, and clean football. Do I think the Royals will put together this week? I think it is possible, but I will still take Poly Prep to win this game.
• Cardinal Hayes vs Middletown HS (DE) (Sage Media Stream)
  • Both programs have championship pedigree. Middletown from Delaware, the Cavaliers come off a championship winning season. Cardinal Hayes has already started their season. A tough, physical matchup in New Jersey, the Hayesmen showed they belong at the top of the ‘AAA’ division. The Cavaliers come to New York City to take on the Hayesmen at Columbia. Johnnye Booker will need to be a distributor, led by Erik Drobnak that complements a strong run game, led by Kymonni Valentine, and a physical, tough defense. I will be trying to watch this game on Sage Media to see how Cardinal Hayes looks against another very good opponent. I will be a homer here and pick Cardinal Hayes to send the Cavaliers back to Delaware with a loss.
• Kellenberg Memorial vs South Shore (PSAL AAAA) (No Stream Available yet)
  • The Firebirds are back in Long Island after a disappointing game up in New Rochelle on a last second field goal at Fosina Field. The name of the game for Kellenberg is balance, as Brayden Farrely has passed for 321 yards on the year, throwing to Brandon McCabe, Ryan Kuntz, and Brendan Barkley who combine for 16 receptions, and 219 yards. Barkley seems to be the swiss army knife of the offense, rushing for 70 yards, and having an additional 51 yards receiving. On the ground, Quinn Saccheri, Doug Cristales, and the aforementioned Brendan Barkley make up a three headed monster, rushing for 267 of the Firebirds 296 total rushing yards. The Firebirds need to begin to finish drives and turn this offensive output into points. South Shore, a PSAL ‘AAAA’ team, played last week and lost to Sheepshead Bay. I think it will be difficult for the Vikings to handle with the Firebirds size. I think Kellenberg will win this game.
• St. Anthony’s vs St. Peter’s Prep (NJ) (Varsity Media Stream)
  • St. Anthony’s welcomes the #4 team in all of New Jersey this week, with the St. Peter’s Prep Marauders traveling to Huntington. This is going to be a great game, and will likely be decided on if the Friar defense can tighten up just a bit. We know what the offense can do, led by Anthony Diieso and Xavier Bala, the Friars put up 41 points to Red Bank last week. The Marauders already have two games under their belt, and are looking to prove that the Friars’ offensive performance last week was a fluke. I don’t have much more information on either of these teams. I am inclined to go with St. Peter’s Prep, but I am deciding to pick St. Anthony’s to win at home.
• Archbishop Stepinac vs Immaculata (NJ) (Sports Engine Stream)
  • Archbishop Stepinac will be looking to get back in the win column, after being humbled in Albany last week. This week, in White Plains, the Crusaders welcome the Spartans to town. Immaculata is no stranger to the NYCHSFL, playing St. Joseph by the Sea last week and running away with a strong win. In this year’s battle of the bridge, Immaculata plays a ‘AAA’ team in the NYCHSFL, not a ‘AA-I’ program, and they may be in for a surprise this year. The new look Immaculata Spartans brought in a new coaching staff, and they ran wild all over the Viking defense last week. Stepinac should expect a heavy dose of Jaiden Drake-Murray on the ground. I think this could be a shoot out type game as Stepinac will rely on Dylan Wrona who has thrown 327 yards and 2 touchdowns on the year, throwing to Gio Bowley (6 catches 98 yards), and Nick Harrison (8 catches 171 yards 2 touchdowns), as well as on the ground, Nahum Pierre (22 carries, 178 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Ronnell Chambers (7 carries, 38 yards and a touchdown). This Crusader offense is very balanced , compiling over 320 yards of offense passing and running over the first 2 games of the season. They can attack you in many ways, and I am confident that Stepinac will get back on track in White Plains. I am picking Archbishop Stepinac in this one.
• Mount St. Michael vs Xaverian (Hudl Stream)
  • The Mount welcomes the red hot Xaverian Clippers, who come in off of two big wins. The Clippers won on the road in Maryland in week 0, and won in the Battle of Bay Ridge this past week. In those two games, QB Jake Price has been steady, throwing for 255 yards, and 3 touchdowns, running for an additional 2 touchdowns, efficiently running the spread offense. While Price is orchestrating the offense, the potent Clippers offense is clearly centered around their running back, Richie Aiken, who already has put up an impressive 282 total yards and 3 touchdowns on 37 total touches. Christian LaRocca is the big target outside, hauling in 5 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown. On defense, the Clippers are led by Aiden Flood and Jack Hayes, who both have 4.5 sacks a piece, and Jaydon Salomon lead the defense in tackles, along with Cameron Mattone, Christian Serrano, and Richie Aiken, who also has 2 interceptions. On the Mount, they have played arguably tougher competition, going to Mitchel Field to play St. Francis Prep, and a rejuvenated Yonkers program. They are led by quarterback Jacob Jimenez, who has passed for 245 yards on the year. On the ground, Victor Declet and Dylan Turenne lead the way on the ground, rushing for a combined 143 yards and 2 touchdowns. The X factor on offense is Jamir Abney– who already has 5 catches, 129 yards and a touchdown. Turenne and Abney are also impact players on defense each with interceptions. For this match up, Mount St. Michael looked to get revenge after the Clippers won last year 36-15. This is Mount’s 3rd tough game in a row and need to put on a good showing as they go into league play. Xaverian, on the other hand, would like to keep their run going. The Clippers have won 5 games in a row, and want to go into a ‘AA-I’ gauntlet red hot. I am picking Xaverian to win this game.
• Iona Prep vs Paramus Catholic (NJ) (Accelerate Sports Network Note: Paywalled)
  • This was an absolutely wild game last year. Iona ended up needing all of their 58 points scored to get passed the Paladins 58-48. This year, Iona welcomes them to New Rochelle with new faces. The Gaels, already having dispatched of the defending NYSPHSAA champion CBA-Syracuse last week, are now the undisputed kings of New York. Well, now they try their hand at the #7 ranked team (according to Maxpreps) of New Jersey. On Iona’s side, they have played 1 game, and looked dominant on offense, scoring 28 points in the 1st quarter, and 38 overall. The ground game will be imperative for Iona, as they will rely on Chase Reeves, Jaydin Jackson, and Tyron Muchatt to chew up yardage. Reeves and Jackson had a combined 114 yards against the Brothers, and Muchatt at 93 yards receiving off of those pop passes that Iona loves to employ. Iona chewed up 447 yards on offense last week, so we know they will find ways to score. Paramus goes into the game 1-1, with one of their losses coming to a team from Virginia. Walker Snee has thrown for 254 yards and 2 touchdowns, but the ground game has been very impressive. Snee himself has 184 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground, and Chukwuma Odoh has chewed up 234 yards and 2 touchdowns. These two players have made up a very potent rushing attack that has averaged 7.2 yards a carry with 449 yards through 2 games. Iona’s big defensive front with Josh Simmons, Austin Farrell, and Brady Morrison will need to slow this vaunted rushing attack down, but I think the X factor on defense will be in the secondary where Xander Poole and Lamar Lewis will need to cover Nehki Martin (3 catches 155 yards 3 touchdowns) and Yahzied Sylvester (4 catches 76 yard). I am going to go out on a limb and say Iona proves themselves yet again to be one of the premier powers of the North East. I am taking Iona Prep to win this.
• Chaminade vs Seton Hall Prep (NJ) (Varsity Media Stream)
  • Two tough games for the Flyers, Chaminade goes into this week to play Seton Hall Prep at Gold Star Stadium in Mineola. No breaks for them, as they escaped with a win in Rhode Island last week on a last minute heave by Sean Carnavale to Michael Genovese. The Pirates boats a powerful rushing attack, that has racked up over 400 yards of offense in two games, with three players having 15 ore more carries. The three headed monster of Leonard West (25 carries, 157 yards), Adonis Rabrun (15 carries 154 yards), and Jaylin Bullock (25 carries, 93 yards) will give the usually stout Chaminade defense all they can handle. It will come down to how the Flyers execute and move the ball throughout the game. As with every game for Chaminade, if it’s close late, they may make a play. Michael Gowen has been filling in nicely at running back, but I am sure Carnevale would love to have Anthony Trapani back. This is an important game for Chaminade, and a win here will send a message that the week 0 loss to the Firebirds is firmly in the rearview mirror. I am less convinced. I am taking St. Peter’s Prep to win this one.
• St. John the Baptist vs St. Dominic’s (NOTE: League Game) (No Stream Available yet)
  • The Cougars, now led by Devin Michaels at quarterback, and returning running back Kalen Percer, made a statement last week, crushing Eagle III 42-14. St. Dominic’s had a tough outing against a good Hackley team. This game is another story. This is a league game against a ‘AA-I’ team that is looking to win now and wants to get off to a strong start. The nonleague season, as well as camp is officially over for both teams as this is a game that matters. BJ Hunter, Redding, Chris Trinca will all be roving the field to take advantage of mistakes that may be made. I do think St. Dominic’s gets up for this game and gives them all they have. There are some good players on the Bayhawks, but overall, I think the Cougars are too much. St. John the Baptist wins this one and officially starts the season 1-0.
• St. Peter’s vs Hudson Catholic (NJ) (No Stream Available yet)
  • The Eagles have had a tough beginning of the year, possibly playing the two best football teams in New York City back to back. In both games, they have been physically outmatched, and while Anthony D’Acunto and Victor Baez have shown flashes in both games, St. Peter’s will need to put it all together as league play starts. Hudson Catholic comes to Staten Island looking to win their second game in a row. The coaching staff at STP will have their guys ready to play, and you have to think there will be a breakthrough, but I just have no seen enough to confidently pick them. Not that I know anything about Hudson Catholic either, there are no stats posted, but they scored 38 points in their last outing. I am going to pick Hudson Catholic to win this one.
• Monsignor Farrell vs DePaul Catholic (NJ) (Sports Engine Stream)
  • The Lions have been rolling over the past two weeks, shocking me in defeating Holy Spirit and taking care of business against their Staten Island rivals. Bryce Moye looks as poised as ever, throwing for 379 yards on 19-25 passing, with 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He has also 29 yards on the ground with an additional touchdown. The Moye QB seems to be headed towards another brilliant season throwing to a new, and old cast of targets. Headlining this group is his twin brother, Braxton Moye, who along with being a strong edge defender, has hauled in 6 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. Bryce has spread the ball around, hitting 4 different receivers for touchdowns, including Joseph Augustin, who has 3 touchdowns, along with Mason Morales, and Charles Costanzo. As always with Farrell, it is next man up in the backfield, and sophomore running back Jayden Burch is tearing through the league, with already over 300 rushing yards, and 2 touchdowns. The defense is on brand as well, living in the backfield with already 12 tackles for loss on the year as a unit, led by Angelo Stallone and Chase Reganbogen. Their opponent this week is DePaul Catholic, a program that is also undefeated on the year, and has a habit of beating up on NYCHSFL teams, especially over the past two years. On this year, the Spartans have already beaten fellow Jersey Catholics in Red Bank Catholic, and St. Peter’s Prep, two major powers. They held the Caseys to just 28 points, and we know RBC scored 62 last week. This is a major challenge as DePaul quarterback Frank Morano has 440 passing yards and 5 touchdowns on the year, backed up by running backs Sean Nevers and Gavin Sblendorio, who both have over 100 yards and average more than 5 yards a pop. This is going to be a tough game for the Lions, but they seeing DePaul at home. My gut feeling is that DePaul continues their streak. I am picking DePaul Catholic to win this game.
• St. Francis Prep vs Holy Cross: Battle of the Boulevard (Varsity Media Stream)
  • The Terriers and Knights go into this legendary rivalry both 1-1. St. Francis Prep won against the Mount in the Battle of the Blue Bloods 26-12 and had a tough game out in Ohio against the Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldogs. Holy Cross had a tough game against St. Joseph by the Sea 54-28 in week 0, but came back on an offensive explosion against Monsignor Martin program St. Mary’s to win 46-38. The Terriers have a vaunted rushing attack led by Roderick Fordham Jr. who has 172 yards on 25 carries. Rafael Espinal (20 carries 150 yards), Daniel Faludon (10 carries 66 yards), and Holy Trinity transfer Demarion Singh (8 carries 62 yards) round out a ground attack that has rushed for over 500 yards this season already. New quarterback Frank Quartarolo has passed for 3 touchdowns and 130 yards to complement this rushing attack. On Holy Cross’ side, Madden Martinez is the storyline. He was all over the field in week 0, but sat out week 1. He should be back for this game, but in the meantime, the Knights rushed for over 350 yards with Brandon Glaudin rushing for over 200 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, and Caleb Rivera had over 100 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Battle of the Boulevard has been played nearly yearly since 1974, and this one, by my count is the 50th meeting between the two schools. While the game was canceled last season, SFP and HC split the last four matchups since the pandemic.
    • 2021: Holy Cross 30-15
    • 2022: Saint Francis Prep 25-14
    • 2023: Holy Cross 20-12
    • 2024: Saint Francis Prep 34-7
  • I am picking St. Francis Prep to win this year.
• Long Island Lutheran vs St. Joseph by the Sea (Sports Engine Stream)
  • St. Joseph by the Sea comes off a tough game against New Jersey power Immaculata, but they look as potent as ever on offense, both on the ground and in the air. Pete Tronolone has thrown for 447 yards and 6 touchdowns, throwing to Joey Moran who has 8 catches 194 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Nick Loana, who has 5 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, you guessed it, Joey Moran leads the way with 119 yards. LuHi goes into this game off a tough season in 2025, and will play a battled hardened and experienced Sea team. In a battle of Catholics vs Protestants, I am picking St. Joseph by the Sea to win this one.
• Cardinal Spellman vs Xavier (No Stream Available yet)
  • Both of these schools come off convincing wins over PSAL teams, with Spellman beating Frederick Douglass Academy 32-0, and Xavier defeating A. Philip Randolph 29-8. No stats are posted for either game, but Xavier brings in a strong Single Wing attack, scoring 3 touchdowns on the ground, as well as returning a strong defense– returning a fumble for a touchdown. Cardinal Spellman, a young team last year, looks to make statement defending their home turf. I am just not sure the Pilots have enough to keep with ‘AA-I’ defending champion. Xavier travels this game, but that is nothing new. I will be taking Xavier to win this game.

The Game of the Week this week is fairly obvious for those that know me at all. It is the Battle of the Boulevard. The Battle features St. Francis Prep vs Holy Cross, two schools that are traditionally very strong powers in the NYCHSFL, and are both located on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Queens just a mile from each other. The game has been played since 1974.

St. Francis Prep leads the series 28-19-2, but both teams have split the last four matchups. The Battle of the Boulevard was not played last season due to inclement weather, and it was not able to be rescheduled due to a Holy Cross ‘AA-II’ championship run.

See season by season results here.

Pete’s Prognostication Record: 19-7