Greg Galligan, Jordan Gowins, Naim Jones lead power St. Anthony's offense in win over Farrell
St. Anthony's running back Jordan Gowins runs the football against Monsignor Farrell in the first half of a CHSFL football game. (Sept. 27, 2013) Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
This was the projected 1-2 punch for St. Anthony's offense. The hard inside running of halfback Jordan Gowins and the breakaway speed of halfback Naim Jones were the ingredients for a championship season.
Both of those players and the golden arm of quarterback Greg Galligan were on full display Friday night in South Huntington. Galligan threw for three touchdowns, Gowins rushed for 148 yards and a score and Jones added two touchdowns as St. Anthony's upended Monsignor Farrell of Staten Island, 41-21, before a crowd of 2,000.
"We had it all working tonight," said Galligan, who completed 12 of 20 passes for 187 yards. "The protection gave me time in the pocket to find our receivers and the backs really came together and contributed in a big way."
Farrell (3-1, 3-1) got on the scoreboard first after Chris Caraballo blocked Eamon Campbell's punt and the ball was recovered at the Friars' 14-yard line by linebacker Matt Brucato. On the ensuing play, Farrell quarterback Vinny Aranda burst up the middle on a keeper for a touchdown. Nick Pucciarelli added the kick and the Lions led 7-0 with 7:01 left in the first quarter.
St. Anthony's (3-1, 3-0) responded by scoring on four straight possessions. The Friars tied it on a Jones' 1-yard touchdown run to cap a 10-play, 58-yard scoring drive. Robert Fuentes added the kick to make it 7-7. Galligan keyed the drive with an 18-yard pass to Nick Esposito on a pivotal third-and-10.
The same pair helped the Friars take the lead on the next possession. Galligan mixed a 10-yard completion to Jones with a 13-yard run by Gowins before he fired a 22-yard touchdown strike to Esposito with 2:22 left in the first half. Esposito finished with five receptions for 107 yards.
"The passing sets up our run game," Gowins said. "[Galligan] was on target and he had time so you have to credit the guys on the offensive line."
It was all Gowins on the next drive by the Friars. He capped a six-play, 70-yard march with a 5-yard scoring run. He rushed four times for 43 yards, including a 32-yard burst to the Lions' 5-yard line.
St. Anthony's defense suffocated Farrell and forced five first-half punts, giving the offense a short field over and over. Galligan hit Jones with a 15-yard scoring pass on a bubble screen.
Jones ran behind two beautiful blocks from Esposito and Dave Antonacci to reach the end zone and give the Friars a 28-7 halftime lead.
Galligan added a 28-yard scoring pass to Mike Russo with 5:38 left in the third quarter before St. Anthony's cleared the bench. Halfback Evan Killen added a 4-yard scoring run for the team's last touchdown.
