SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHT:  Kellenberg Challenges Xavier for CHSFL Lead 

"I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one."— Captain Benjamin L. Willard (Martin Sheehan) in Apocalypse Now.

 
Good evening, Kids, and have I got a mission for you.  But first, many thanks to all of you who braved the wind and chill to come out to Aviator Field last Saturday night for— believe it or not— Xavier's first home game of the season.  More about that in a future E-Blast— or maybe even in the season's first official e-newsletter!  (Maybe.)  The hour grows late.
 
This Saturday night (October 25th), The Team Formerly Known as the Kaydets... and then the Bruins... returns to Aviator Field to defend their position atop the Catholic High School Football League's newly-merged Division AA-A against Long Island's Kellenberg Memorial High School.  Kickoff is at 8:00 PM.
 
Check the CHSFL standings ( http://nychsfl.org/standings.html) and you will see that Xavier (4-1 CHSFL AA-A; 5-1 overall) is currently engaged in a dogfight for first place with Kellenberg, arch rival Saint John the Baptist, and St. Peter's High School (Staten Island).  All four have 4-1 division records, although the Knights have been awarded the top spot in the standings by virtue of the 124 power points they have been awarded by the league, against Baptist's 122 points and 120 each for Kellenberg and St. Peter's.
 
And what are power points, you ask?  (Dammit...) Power points are awarded to teams through a formula that is slightly less complicated than string theory and which takes into account such things as strength of opponents, margin of victory (I think), and other factors.  Naturally the CHSFL's own website, which contains all manner of extraneous information and trivia (1954 Michael Cunnion Trophy winner, anyone?) has not seen fit to include an explanation of exactly what power points are and how they are calculated.  (Ah well, at least their website doesn't crash my computer anymore.)
 
Anyway, that's not important... yet.  For now, the mission of Coach Chris Stevens and his Knights is clear:  stop a Kellenberg offense that has scored 92 points in its last two games, and overcome a defense that held St. John the Baptist to just 14 points in the Firebirds' victory over the only team that's beaten Xavier in the last two years.  (Kellenberg opened its season with a 14-6 win against Division AAA Mount St. Michael.)
 
How important is this game?  Mike Quick is dispatching a crew from his Madison Square Garden Fortress of Solitude to film highlights for next Tuesday's edition of his terrific High School Weekly (on the MSG Plus channel at 10:00 PM EDT).
 
But can the 16th Street Kidz do it?  Can they bring down the high-flying Firebirds?
 
Well of course they can, ye eejits, ye.  And that's where you come in.  Your mission this Saturday night is to eat a nice hot meal, don your Aran sweaters and oilskins, grab your bumbershoots and head for Aviator Field to cheer on our lads.  And don't forget to pack at least two thermoses— one with hot chicken broth and another with Jameson's.  (NOT Bushmill's, Tony Paolozzi, lest you be mistook for a Protestant or some other bloody heathen.)
 
Yes, Boys and Girls, the weather report for Saturday evening is not good:  wind, rain and temperatures dipping down to 50 degrees.  Is Coach Stevens concerned?  Quite the opposite.
 
Chris and his staff— Bill Paszke, Brian McMahon and Jon Chiacchere— like nothing better than to fire up the Amazing, Fantastic Gridiron Way Back Machine and take it out for a spin on nights like this.  And the darker, wetter, windier and colder it is, the better.  In fact, Chris would order up some thunder and lightning for added effect except that it would cause the officials to suspend the action.
 
Ever see the Disney classic Fantasia?  Remember the "Night on Bald Mountain", with the demon conjuring up the worst Mother Nature has to offer?  Yeah, well that's Chris.  (Sorry about the "Bald" part, Coach.)
 
And remember the segment in that film with Mickey Mouse as "the Sorcerer's Apprentice"?  When he brings the broom to life but then can't stop it from multiplying in dozens and then hundreds of brooms— all advancing on him at once?  Well, this Saturday night will be Kellenberg's first encounter with the single wing and Chris and his boys are hoping that the Firebirds' D will feel like poor Mickey after an evening of trying to stop Famous Seamus Kelly, Mad Jack Wilson and their running mates.  (By the way, did you know that Xavier's offensive line has a nickname, too?  Kelly's Heroes.) 
 
So come on out on Saturday night, Boys and Girlz!  With just two weeks left before the playoffs, it's crunch time again and our kids need to know that we have their backs again this year.
 
(And wait until I tell you how this year's playoff format is going to work.  Of course, you could decide not to wait and go directly to the CHSFL's official website for an explanation.  Good luck.)
 
Aviator Sports Complex, located at Brooklyn's historic Floyd Bennett Field, has plenty of free (and secure) parking, a food court and a sports bar where you can buy Coach Stevens and his staff a postgame round (or two).
 
For directions to Aviator Field (from all points) and a map, please visit:  http://departments.xavierhs.org/athletics/football/2008webpage/Kellenberg%20Memorial/aviatordirections.htm
 
 
IN OTHER XAVIER FOOTBALL ACTION THIS WEEKEND...
 
Coach Rod ("Call Me A.D.") Walker leads his Jay Vee Knights across the Verrazano Narrows in a Saturday morning raid against St. Peter's High School of Staten Island.  Kickoff is at 10:00 AM.  Fifth-place Xavier (2-3 CHSFL; 3-3 overall) will attempt to break .500 on the season and switch places in the standings with the 4th-place Eagles (3-2; 4-2).
 
Out on Long Island, Gentleman John Kelly will lead his Fighting Frosh in a simultaneous 10:00 AM assault against Kellenberg.  Xavier (4-2) is currently tied with the Firebirds (4-2) for first place.  
                    
AND FINALLY....  Yes, I've done it again.  Sent out two E-Blast No. 32's this week.  So I've skipped No. 33 and made this one No. 34.  Order has been restored.  All is well.
 
Stand by....
 
Tom O'Hara '69
 
     
 

 
     
 

 
     
 

 
CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL LEAGUE of METROPOLITAN NEW YORK

   

Player of the Week Nomination

Nominee: Tommy O’Neill                                                           School: Xavier High School

Position: Power Back                                                                 Opponent: Kellenberg Memorial

Date of Game: 10/25/08   Ht. 5’10”    Wt. 190      Class: Sr.      Hometown: Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Details of nominees performance:
In a driving rain, Xavier defeated Kellenberg Memorial 46 – 12 to go 6-1 Overall and 5-1 in the CHSFL AA-A Division.  The Xavier Offensive unit managed to score 6 TDs and 5 2pt. conversions while gaining 541 yards on 38 carries for a 14.2 yards per carry average without a single turnover in terrible conditions.  Senior Running Back, Seamus Kelly rushed for 378 yards on 19 carries and 5 TDs.  This week’s nominee Tommy O’Neill plays the Power Back position. In the Single Wing system, the Power Back is a cross between Quarterback, Full Back and Guard.  The Power Back calls the offensive plays in the huddle and the cadence on the field, he runs the offense and is the primary blocker opening holes for the running backs.  In only 7 games, the Xavier Offensive Unit has rushed for 2931 yards for an average of 418 yards per game.  They have also scored 351 points for a 50 point average per game.  In recognition of the unsung heroes in Xavier’s Offensive scheme, we nominate Power Back Tommy O’Neill as Player of the Week. 

Class Honors:
Tommy has a 86+ average at Xavier and has achieved 1st honor grades in three marking periods over the last three years.

League Honors:
Last year, Tommy started on Xavier Varsity Football Team at the Power Back position.  In 2007, the Xavier Varsity team (10-1) had the most wins in a single season in Xavier history.  They rushed for 3681 yards which was the most in the State of New York .  In the process of winning the CHSFL A Division, the CHSFL A Playoffs and the Turkey Bowl vs. Fordham Prep. on Thanksgiving Day, Xavier scored 410 points which was the most points in the CHSFL and the most in Xavier history.

Other Sports & Honors:
In 2007, as a Sophomore, Tommy was a traveling member of the Xavier “B” Division National Championship Rugby Team.  In 2008, as a Junior, he was the starting Scrum Half for the Xavier Rugby Team which won the Northeastern Championship Tournament at West Point and which finished 5th at the National High School Championship Tournament in Pittsburgh , Pa.   During the past two seasons he has been selected as a starter for the Under 17 Met New York All-Star Rugby Team.


 Nominations must be received by the Monday Night Meeting.

All winners will be announce on the league website on Tuesday after the Monday Night Meeting.

 
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
 
NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN:  Xavier 46, Kellenberg 12
 
"I'm going to burn in hell for this," Xavier head coach Chris Stevens told me last night.  "I prayed for darkness, wind, rain and cold— but no lightning— and I got it!"
 
Attacking relentlessly under monsoon conditions that neutralized their opponent's passing game, The Team Formerly Known as the Kaydets... and then the Bruins... battered Kellenberg Memorial High School 46-12 at Aviator Field last night.
 
Once again, Famous Seamus Kelly led the Amazing, Fantastic Gridiron Way Back Machine, scoring five touchdowns and five two-point conversions for a total of 40 points, while the Xavier D stopped the Firebirds on the ground.
 
12:30 mass beckons— more to follow....
 
Stand by...
 
Tom O'Hara '69