CHSFL and Independent football team-by-team previews for 2025
Xavier Bala (No. 8) of St. Anthony's charges in for a touchdown with less than two minutes left in the CHSFL AAA final against Iona Prep on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Uniondale. Credit: Dawn McCormick
CHAMINADE (8-4)
Coach: Tom Claro, second year
Five Key players: Luca Smith, LB, Sr.; Declan Miller, G, Sr.; Brady Murray, TE, Sr.; Anthony Trapani, LB, Jr.; Michael Genovese, WR, Jr.
The Flyers: Improved by seven wins in 2024 and will look to build off a semifinal appearance. Smith (52 tackles, five sacks and three touchdowns) will be a focal point of the defense. First-year starter Sean Carnevale will take over at quarterback after backing up the position last season.
HOLY TRINITY (1-10)
Coach: Gino Tassone, second year
Five Key players: Danny Burgin III, DE, Sr.; Ian Williams, S/WR, Sr.; Darnell Rink CB/WR, Jr.; Damarien Singh, HB, Jr.; Stephane Jean, OL/DL, Sr.
The Titans: Look to make big strides in year two of their rebuild under coach Tassone. Burgin (56 tackles and three sacks) and Williams (62 tackles and one interception) will anchor the defense. Singh had 248 yards in three games before an injury and will play a big part in the offense.
KELLENBERG (3-8)
Coach: Eric Meisse, fourth year
Five Key players: Daniel Licari, QB, Sr.; Christian Jean-Francois, OT/DE, Jr.; Chris Biondi, DL, Jr; John Kitson, OL, Jr.; Mark Chernaski, WR/S, Sr.
The Firebirds: Will be making an exciting move for their fans, shifting their home games from Mitchel Athletic Complex to the Kellenberg campus. Experience on the offensive line with Jean-Francois, Kitson and Nick Nilsen should help negate inexperience at the skill positions. The defense will feature numerous first-time varsity starters and rely heavily on Jean-Francois (13 tackles and a sack) and Biondi (16 tackles and three for a loss).
ST. ANTHONY’S (9-4)
Coach: Joe Minnuci, seventh year
Five Key players: Xavier Bala, RB, Jr.; Kevin Moore, WR/DB, Sr.; Bryce Ciancuielli, OL, Sr.; Daniel Garcia, DL, Sr.; Johnny Russo, WR, Sr.
The Friars: Bala totaled 1,009 rushing yards and eight touchdowns after taking over as starter last season and is poised for an even bigger year. Moore (54 tackles, two for loss, four interceptions and a TD) excelled in the secondary and will now look to make just as big an impact on offense. The Friars fell in the AAA championship game to Iona Prep last year but will utilize a versatile offense that should have them in the hunt once again.
ST. DOMINIC (5-3)
Coach: RJ Del Giorno, second year
Five Key players: Vincenzo Sicuranza, DT/OL; James Brown, WR/DB, Sr.; Matt Defranza, RB/LB, Sr.; Alfonso Terana, OL/DE Jr.; Mike Ford, TE, Jr.
The Bayhawks: They return impact players in Sicuranza and Brown, who helped the team make a three-win improvement last season. Defranza and Terana will look to deliver the punch for coach Del Giorno’s Power I offense and 5-3 defense. After being unable to compete in the playoffs a season ago, the Bayhawks will look to be a postseason factor.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST (2-8)
Coach: Phillip Alba, seventh year
Five Key players: Maurice Scott, QB, Sr; Brandon Moloney, DL, Sr; Kevin Peters, WR, Sr.; Jahmad Jackson, DB/WR, Soph.; Guillermo Rodriguez, OL, Jr.
The Cougars: Took a step back after winning the AA-I title two seasons ago. Scott (365 passing yards, 80 rushing yards and four TDs) and Peters (370 yards and four TDs) will lead the offense. An influx of young talent, including Jackson (125 receiving yards, 170 rushing yards and two TDs) and offensive lineman Nicholas Bykuc, will aid the Cougars’ resurgence.
INDEPENDENT
LONG ISLAND LUTHERAN (6-4)
Coach: Tiquan Garner, first year
Five Key players: Jacob Butler, WR, Sr.; Trevor Benjamin Jr., OL/DL, Sr.; Peyton Robinson, QB, Sr.; Kameron Roy, WR, Sr.; Patty Lynch, C, Sr.
The Crusaders: Garner shifts from offensive coordinator, replacing Chris Reno, who was a part of the LuHi coaching staff for 27 years. Butler, a Stanford commit, is a dynamic player who totaled 1,614 all-purpose yards and 18 TDs. Roy had 367 receiving yards and six TDs in four games and will provide dual-threat quarterback Robinson, (2,146 passing yards, 28 TDs, 527 yards and four rushing TDs) with the necessary firepower for a dominant offense.
COACHING SPOTLIGHT
Tiquan Garner, Long Island Lutheran
Garner served as an assistant coach for Long Island Lutheran for the past six years and now has the opportunity to lead his alma mater as head coach. Garner graduated from LuHi in 2013 and was a four-year varsity starter. He still holds the school record for rushing yards in a single season with 2,714. Garner played collegiately at Wagner and served as LuHi’s offensive coordinator last season.
GAMES TO WATCH
St. John the Baptist at Kellenberg, September 27, 1:30 p.m.: Two programs looking for bounce -back seasons should provide plenty of offensive firepower in this matchup. They haven’t faced off since 2022, when Kellenberg won. .
St. Anthony’s at Chaminade, Oct. 18, 1:30 p.m.: The Flyers recovered a fumble with 50 seconds remaining to seal a victory last year. St. Anthony’s has ruled the rivalry, winning 11 of the previous 13 matchups, but Chaminade is looking to start a winning streak.
St. Peter’s at Holy Trinity, October 25, 1:30 p.m.: These teams lit up the scoreboard in St. Peter’s 44-41 win last season. A total of 41 points were scored in the fourth quarter.
Christ the King at St. Dominic, October 25, 1 p.m.: St. Dominic played in just one game decided by a single possession last season, a 22-16 win over Christ the King.
Huron Heights (Canada) at Long Island Lutheran, Nov. 8, TBD: The Crusaders take on Huron Heights for the second straight season. LuHi surrendered a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter but scored late to earn a 41-33 win.
FIVE-YEAR TREND
Class AAA
2019: Cardinal Hayes
2021: Iona Prep
2022: St. Anthony’s
2023: Cardinal Hayes
2024: Iona Prep
Class AA
2019: Chaminade (AA-I), Moore Catholic (AA-II)
2021: Chaminade (AA-I), Holy Trinity (AA-II)
2022: Holy Trinity (AA-I), Xavier (AA-II)
2023: St. John the Baptist (AA-I), Mount St. Michael (AA-II)
2024: St. Joseph by the Sea (AA-I), Xaverian (AA-II)
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
