CHSFL predictions, Week 3

By DYLAN BUTLER and JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

Cardinal Hayes @ Xavier  Saturday, September 25th 7:00 p.m.

Butler: I watched both teams lose in back-to-back games at Aviator Sports Complex last week and both will look to build on strong fourth quarters. Bishop Ford quarterback Xaviah Mattocks executed an impressive late-game drive, coming inches short of scoring the winning touchdown as time expired, while Nick Conte tossed a pair of touchdowns and Brent Scardapane is a solid runner for Xavier. Scardapane told me to keep picking the Knights and I’ll do that this week. Pick: Xavier

Staszewski: This is a week were the single wing offense wreaks havoc. Sure the Knights are still finding their way without star Chris Mattina and come off a loss to Cardinal Hayes, but Bishop Ford is a young team. Many of those players haven't seen Xavier's unique attack and that's a problem. Plus coach Chris Stevens’ defense has been pretty stout over the years. Ford has Devon Mitchell but doesn’t have the array of athletic threats Hayes does. Pick: Xavier

 
     
 

 
     
 

Catching on: O'Grady, Conte lead Xavier past Ford

By JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

Like his Xavier team, it's been a process for Patrick O'Grady.

The senior missed four weeks last season with a staph infection in his groin and considered not playing. He admittedly said he didn’t work out hard enough. Xavier coach Chris Stevens said he had the physical tools to play, but needed to improve on the mental side of the game. Now they are starting to come together.  "The kid is in the gym working hard, getting big, getting more fit," Knights quarterback Nicholas Conte said. "Last year he was developing, learning his role. Now he is putting it out on the field and showing everybody what he can do."

What O'Grady does is make big plays in the air and give the maturing Xavier offense a much needed weapon as its' run game develops. O'Grady caught three pass for 110 yards and a touchdown and set up other in a sloppy 12-6 win over host Bishop Ford in a CHSFL AA/A game at Aviator Sports Complex Saturday night. It was Xavier's first victory this season and the only time it has led this year.  "I think I have good hands," the 6-foot-3, 190-pound O'Grady, whose father Vinny played football at Xavier and St. John's University, said. "I am taller than most of the players in this league. Conte has a great arm. He just finds a way to get it to me."

That is exactly what he did to respond to Devon Mitchell escaping tacklers and taking Bishop Ford's first play of the game 71 yards for a score. Conte connected with O'Grady to the right sideline for a 51-yard strike to tie the score at 6 with 3:17 left in the first quarter. His 14-yard grab set up Brent Scardapane's 2-yard touchdown run to give Xavier a 12-6 lead with 5:53 remaining in the game.  Conte completed 7-of-8 passes for 150 yards. Scardapane rushed for 138 yards on 24 carries.  "He is a guy you get excited to throw the ball to because you put it around him and he will find it," Stevens said of O'Grady.

Turnovers kept Xavier (1-2, 1-1) from finishing off drives and taking advantage of Ford mistakes. Scardapane fumbled a snap at the Ford 6 on a drive that started at the Knights 32 in the second quarter. He lost the ball again in the end zone with 5:39 left in the game as Xavier was looking to put the game away. Stevens believes punching those in are the next step for his developing offense.  "We have grown up a lot from the first game where we couldn’t drive ball," O'Grady said. "Now we are driving the ball very well. We still have to finish."

Bishop Ford (1-2, 0-2) moved the ball, but not enough. There were no big plays outside of Mitchell's run to open the game. He ran for 140 yards on 16 carries. Xavier crowded the line to stuff the run, trying to make Falcons sophomore quarterback Xaviah Mattocks beat them in the air.  "We will get it going on offense," Ford coach Jim Esposito said. "It takes a little time, but I'm happy….I think we are on the right road."

Xavier hopes this win paves this way for more as the season goes on.  "This is going to be the fire starter for our year," Conte said. "This is the turning point that is going to turn our whole season around."

 
     
 
Good evening, Ladies and Geniuses.
 
The newsletter is not finished yet and it's getting (very) late, so let me give you the details and directions for Saturday's gridiron action....
 
Xavier Varsity vs. Bishop Ford at Aviator Field (7:00 P.M.) 
 
The Team Formerly Known as the Kaydets... and then the Bruins... lost a close one to Cardinal Hayes last Saturday afternoon to fall to 0-2.  Chris Stevens's gridironmen turned their season around at this point last year, and they're going to do it again Saturday night against the Falcons of Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School.  (Yes, Ex-Midshipman Tweedy, we are playing the Ford Falcons.  From Brooklyn.)
 
Aviator Sports Complex is also Bishop Ford's home field, and tomorrow night is their home game.  That means their fans will be out in force and we're going to have to respond in kind.
 
The weather forecast is for a beautiful Indian summer evening on the shores of Jamaica Bay, so why not make a night of it by having dinner before the game at any of several fine Xavier-connected establishments on the lovely yet vaguely threatening Irish Riviera.  There's the Harbor Light Pub on Newport Avenue at 129th Street in Rockaway (owned by Bernie Heeran P '96); the Bungalow Bar and Restaurant on 92nd Street at Beach Channel Drive, also in Rockaway (owned by the Fighting Tubridy Brothers:  Terrence '99, Martin '97 and Patrick '93); and Kennedy's in Breezy Point (managed by Lizann a.k.a. Mrs. Richie Maher '80).
 
Attention all other Xavier-connected eating and/or drinking establishments within range of Aviator— or out of range for that matter (For we of the Xavier Nation are a restless and nomadic people.)— send me your info and I'll pass it along to the rest of our tribe.
 
And if any such establishment has a Xavier Football pre- or post-game special you'd like me to mention, think of me as a cornfield— all ears.  (Hey, when I was growing up back in Ohio that joke killed.)  Send me the details  and I'll pass it along. (But please do it ASAP.  I'm heading over to Morristown, New Jersey Saturday afternoon to watch a bit of rugby.)
 
See you at Aviator. 
 
Xavier Junior Varsity vs. St. Peter's High School at St. Peter's (10:00 A.M.)
 
The J.V. Knights are 2-0 after bopping the Baptists of St. John's 20-6 at Xavier's Marine Park outpost last Saturday morning.  Rod Walker's juvenile delinquents are looking good, so come on out to Staten Island and check out Xavier Football's future.
 
St. Peter's does not feel it necessary to publish directions on its website, so you'll have to find your own way there.  The address is 200 Clinton Avenue, Staten Island NY 10301.   
 
Xavier Freshmen vs. Monsignor Farrell at Marine Park, Brooklyn (10:00 A.M.)
 
John Kelly's Fighting Frosh made an auspicious gridiron debut indeed last Saturday morning when they traveled out to West Islip, Long Island and knocked St. John the Baptist silly, 50-14, in front of the hometown fans.  As classy as ever, the Baptists turned off the scoreboard in the third quarter when things began to get out of hand.  Didn't work, though.  The kids still won.
 
This Saturday morning, Xavier's gridiron rookies play their first "home" game at Marine Park against the Lions of Division AAA Monsignor Farrell.  Word is that this is one rambunctious bunch of youngsters, so if you're in the area, drop by and introduce yourselves to the Class of 2014!
 
AND FINALLY... MARK YOUR CALENDARS, HIRE A BABYSITTER AND DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO MAKE BAIL....
 
The Annual Xavier Football Homecoming Game goes down next Saturday night, October 2nd, at Aviator Field when Stevens's Gridironmen look to complete this season's sweep of those Baptists from St. John's.  Kickoff at 7:00 PM.  Details to follow.

Stand by....
 
Tom O'Hara '69