CHSFL predictions, Week 1
Xavier @ Cardinal O'Hara (Buffalo, N.Y.) Saturday, September 11 2:00 p.m.
Butler: I can’t say I know a lot about Cardinal
O’Hara, but my reasoning for picking St. Joseph by the Sea goes double
for Xavier on its trip to Buffalo. Chris Stevens’ single-wing is a
nightmare for CHSFL coaches and Chris Mattina and company will find
another victim in Cardinal O’Hara.
I have but one piece of advice for the Sons of Xavier. Go to Duff's for
your wings. Thank me later. Pick: Xavier
Staszewski: Xavier isn’t an easy team to gameplan for because of its single-wing offense. The group returning knows it well, but Cardinal O’Hara will not. Senior running back Chris Mattina will lead a strong offensive day. The Knights will have a happy trip back from Buffalo. Pick: Xavier
Xavier Brings Rugby Swagger to the
Gridiron
By DYLAN BUTLER
Last Updated: 12:43 AM, September 3, 2010
Posted: 12:42 AM, September 3, 2010
Chris Mattina is relishing his role as a leader of the
Xavier offense & defense this season.
There are no radical changes at Xavier, no need for a complete overhaul of the offensive scheme. Chris Stevens is a disciple of the single-wing and the Knights are going to run it until he decides to leave the school. So there’s no surprise that the key to a successful season is the same as it is every year. “With our offense, it’s really the maturity of the offensive line,” Stevens said. “I think we’re sticky and athletic on defense and they’ll always keep us in games. How well can we control the game and keep our defense off the field? That’s always our key.” That was the problem last year. The line, and most of the team for that matter, was young. It took the Knights some time to get into a groove and, coupled with a brutal early-season schedule, meant some serious growing pains. That’s not really a concern this year.
“Last year in the beginning we started a lot of juniors and we were really young so it was pretty difficult,” senior Chris Mattina said. “But now we’re pretty much all seniors so we have a lot more experience and we know what we have to do.” A year after 1,100 all-purpose yards, including 900 on the ground, Mattina is unquestionably the leader on offense. He’ll also start in an experienced defensive backfield. MVP in the National High School Rugby Championship Game, “He’s definitely one of the bullets in the gun,” Stevens said. Jonny Clark, a key contributor last season, has transferred out and returned to Virginia, meaning junior Brent Scardapane will get the start. Senior Nick Conte will start at fullback, replacing graduated John Gearity, the Turkey Bowl MVP a year ago.
While they rarely use the option on Saturdays, the Knights spend half of practice working on passing plays. With Mattina and Conte capable of throwing the ball and a pair of tight ends in seniors Joe Corrado and Pat O’Grady who have “real soft hands,” Xavier has the ability to air it out a bit this year. “I hope we get to dial up some passing plays,” Mattina said. Corrado and O’Grady will also start at defensive end, while starting senior defensive tackles Luna Mishoe and Chris Mattera anchor a group that can “all bench 335 or better,” Stevens said. Mishoe, perhaps, perfectly embodies the Xavier football player. At 5-foot-4, 215 pounds he’s undersized. But don’t underestimate him. “We’re never the biggest team,” Mishoe said. “We try to be the best, most athletic team though, always running, always in the weight room trying to get bigger and stronger so we can compete.” Mishoe, like every other defensive starter and nearly the entire offense, plays on the Xavier rugby team that won the national championship in May. Stevens said the players bring that swagger with them onto the gridiron. “It’s that rugby identity, the fitness, the experience of winning,” Stevens said.
How is success defined at Xavier? As it has been for a century, a winning season generally means a Turkey Bowl victory against rival Fordham Prep on Thanksgiving Day. The Knights are also eying the CHSFL Class AA regular season title. Both goals, Stevens thinks, are tangible. “When you get to the ‘AA’ playoffs, you have to get a little lucky,” Stevens said. “You have to play well and hope for a couple of breaks.”
Eman shines in 40-7 route by Canisius
over O'Hara
By Brandon Koch Greater Niagara
Newspapers
WEST SENECA — September 4, 2010
Cardinal O’Hara head football coach Angelo Sciandra knew he had a inexperienced team entering the 2010 season and a Week 1 date with a highly-touted Canisius squad. Saturday, the Hawks proved just that, surrendering five scores of more than 35 yards to fall to the Crusaders, 40-7, at the Robert J. Stransky Memorial Athletic Complex.
Sciandra said he expected a tough challenge against an explosive Canisius offense, which is led by standout quarterback Travis Eman. Although he said his Hawks matched up just fine in the hitting department, he was upset with the mental mistakes that were consistent throughout the game. “Not taking the quarterback when you have the quarterback (in coverage) and being undisciplined, upsets me,” Sciandra said. “Physically, I thought we stood up to a big, strong, physical team. Mentally, we made too many mistakes.”
Canisius opened up the scoring with a three-yard run by Mercer Timmis, who had an outstanding day rushing the football. From that point on, it was big play after big play for the Crusaders. Later in the first quarter, Eman took a 38-yard run to pay dirt before hooking up with receiver Trevor Jachimowicz for a 35-yard score and an 18-0 lead. Timmis tacked on the longest play of the day early in the second stanza, scoring on a 58-yard run to strengthen the lead to 26-0.
Robert Davis, though, would give the Hawks some life on the ensuing O’Hara drive. On a third-and-4 at the Hawks 46, he appeared to be stuffed five yards behind the line of scrimmage by a wall of Crusaders defenders before breaking free to the left side and racing toward the end zone. After a nearly-impossible extra point by Soo Young Park in 35 mph gusts, that was all Canisius would allow. Eman added another 38-yard scramble to end the first half, while Timmis added an insurance marker in the third on a 41-yard run.
Sciandra said his sophomore quarterback, Anthony DiFrancesco, had quite the learning experience in his first start. “We have a lot of kids that never played before out there today,” he said. “It was a tough opener, but it is what it is now. I just told the kids, we have two choices — we can sit here and we can blame each other, or we can come back and be even better.” Davis led the Hawks with 14 carries for 86 yards and the score, while Brandon Lyles added five carries for 26 yards. On defense, Lyles contributed with 11 tackles, including a pair of sacks. Devon Rose added 10 tackles, while teammate Kyree Carter had seven and a forced fumble.
It doesn’t get much easier next at Xavier of New York City, Sciandra said, but he expects a vast improvement from the Black and Gold. “I expect to win next week because (we) should get better,” he said. “The biggest improvement should come from Week 1 to Week 2 and it better happen this week. We better go from here to here. And I expect us to get a lot better by next week, not (only) physically, but mentally.”