CHSFL predictions: Week 1

By MARC RAIMONDI and JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

Xavier vs. Pine Bush @ Middletown HS (Saturday, 12 p.m.)

Staszewski: Pine Bush is coming off a 1-8 season with a team that was filled with juniors who are now seniors. That year of experience could make for an improved season. The Knights, on the other hand are a junior-laden but experienced squad possibly ready for a big, big season behind Brent Scardapane. While in past years I have haven’t been kind to Xavier in these predications, I feel a wind of change coming. The single-wing offense will be too much for Pine Bush to adjust to as the Knight leave victorious. Pick: Xavier

Raimondi: Thank you for doing that research for me. I couldn’t tell you the difference between Pine Bush and a pine cone. I’ll be honest. I was just going to pick Xavier because it’s a city team, I expect a good year from the Knights and coach Chris Stevens is a great guy. I feel better about my selection now – I appreciate it. Pick: Xavier

No sleeping on junior-heavy Xavier

By MARC RAIMONDI

Chris Stevens had a team heavy on juniors four years ago. One of them, Seamus Kelly, ended up being one of the best running backs in the city as a senior. So it was only natural that Stevens and his staff pinpointed the following year to be huge for Xavier football.

As it turned out, the Knights ended up going 10-1 in 2007 and winning the CHSFL ‘A’ title. Stevens sees many similarities between that season and now.

“That was kind of like a sleeper year,” the coach said. “I think this could be a sleeper year, too.”

There’s no phenom like Kelly was back then. But Brent Scardapane had a pretty incredible 2010 season in his own right. Filling in for the injured Chris Mattina, Scardapane was the focal point of Xavier’s vaunted single wing offense, rushing for 984 yards and 17 touchdowns, the latter good enough for second in CHSFL ‘AA-A.’

He’ll be back as a senior in the same role this year and Stevens expects big things.

“For Brent to step up like he did last year was huge,” the coach said. “He’ll run the show for us well.”

Scardapane, the closes thing Xavier has to a quarterback in the single wing, will also have plenty of tools at his disposal, starting with 6-foot, 230-pound fullback Luis Carpio. Speedy sophomore Trey Solomon, the freshman team’s top player last season, will be at running back and seniors Matt Cilmi and Charles Guiraud are on the wings. Cilmi is steady with good hands and Stevens calls Guiraud the fastest player on the team, who also happens to bench 275 pounds and squat 455.

Add in 6-foot-4 tight end Connor Sweet and Xavier will be very big and athletic on offense.

“Next year is the banner year, but we’re happy with what we have now,” Stevens said.

The offensive line will be anchored by Ricky Comis and he’ll be surrounded by new faces on varsity. But the entire group played together on the lower levels, so there is chemistry. Stevens and his staff chose not to move anyone around for that reason.

Comis will also be a key cog on the defensive line, inside at tackle with Mike Palillo. Sweet and Carpio will provide explosive ends and senior Erik Nicholes has stepped into the role of SAM linebacker extremely well, joining returning outside backer Chris Castro. The staff is excited about Ryan Kilgallen at strong safety and Solomon will be in place at free safety, where he started the final two games last year coming up from the JV. Jimmy Wolfer and Mike Green will start at the corners with Scardapane another possibility back there.

One of the things Stevens is somewhat worried about is depth. Xavier is lower in numbers than it has been – only 38 players came out to tryouts. But as the 10th-year coach says, none of them are deadwood.

“There’s no fluff,” Stevens said.

Which is why the expectations are that Xavier will be in the mix in ‘AA-A,’ a division he calls the perfect fit for the Chelsea school.

“I think we’re top three in the division and I think we’re always contenders,” Stevens said.

Even in a sleeper year.




	CHSFL predictions: Week 1 By MARC RAIMONDI and JOSEPH STASZEWSKI Xavier vs. Pine Bush @ Middletown HS (Saturday, 12 p.m.) Staszewski: Pine Bush is coming off a 1-8 season with a team that was filled with juniors who are now seniors. That year of experience could make for an improved season. The Knights, on the other hand are a junior-laden but experienced squad possibly ready for a big, big season behind Brent Scardapane. While in past years I have haven’t been kind to Xavier in these predications, I feel a wind of change coming. The single-wing offense will be too much for Pine Bush to adjust to as the Knight leave victorious. Pick: Xavier Raimondi: Thank you for doing that research for me. I couldn’t tell you the difference between Pine Bush and a pine cone. I’ll be honest. I was just going to pick Xavier because it’s a city team, I expect a good year from the Knights and coach Chris Stevens is a great guy. I feel better about my selection now – I appreciate it. Pick: Xavier




	No sleeping on junior-heavy Xavier By MARC RAIMONDI Chris Stevens had a team heavy on juniors four years ago. One of them, Seamus Kelly, ended up being one of the best running backs in the city as a senior. So it was only natural that Stevens and his staff pinpointed the following year to be huge for Xavier football. As it turned out, the Knights ended up going 10-1 in 2007 and winning the CHSFL ‘A’ title. Stevens sees many similarities between that season and now. “That was kind of like a sleeper year,” the coach said. “I think this could be a sleeper year, too.” There’s no phenom like Kelly was back then. But Brent Scardapane had a pretty incredible 2010 season in his own right. Filling in for the injured Chris Mattina, Scardapane was the focal point of Xavier’s vaunted single wing offense, rushing for 984 yards and 17 touchdowns, the latter good enough for second in CHSFL ‘AA-A.’ He’ll be back as a senior in the same role this year and Stevens expects big things. “For Brent to step up like he did last year was huge,” the coach said. “He’ll run the show for us well.” Scardapane, the closes thing Xavier has to a quarterback in the single wing, will also have plenty of tools at his disposal, starting with 6-foot, 230-pound fullback Luis Carpio. Speedy sophomore Trey Solomon, the freshman team’s top player last season, will be at running back and seniors Matt Cilmi and Charles Guiraud are on the wings. Cilmi is steady with good hands and Stevens calls Guiraud the fastest player on the team, who also happens to bench 275 pounds and squat 455. Add in 6-foot-4 tight end Connor Sweet and Xavier will be very big and athletic on offense. “Next year is the banner year, but we’re happy with what we have now,” Stevens said. The offensive line will be anchored by Ricky Comis and he’ll be surrounded by new faces on varsity. But the entire group played together on the lower levels, so there is chemistry. Stevens and his staff chose not to move anyone around for that reason. Comis will also be a key cog on the defensive line, inside at tackle with Mike Palillo. Sweet and Carpio will provide explosive ends and senior Erik Nicholes has stepped into the role of SAM linebacker extremely well, joining returning outside backer Chris Castro. The staff is excited about Ryan Kilgallen at strong safety and Solomon will be in place at free safety, where he started the final two games last year coming up from the JV. Jimmy Wolfer and Mike Green will start at the corners with Scardapane another possibility back there. One of the things Stevens is somewhat worried about is depth. Xavier is lower in numbers than it has been – only 38 players came out to tryouts. But as the 10th-year coach says, none of them are deadwood. “There’s no fluff,” Stevens said. Which is why the expectations are that Xavier will be in the mix in ‘AA-A,’ a division he calls the perfect fit for the Chelsea school. “I think we’re top three in the division and I think we’re always contenders,” Stevens said. Even in a sleeper year.

























	Are You Ready For Some (Xavier) Football?! The Team Formerly Known as the Kaydets... and then the Bruins... (Est. 1883) managed to evacuate Manhattan just hours ahead of Hurricane Irene, but the storm's very dangerous remnants caught up with them at Coach Stevens' Holiday Gridiron Camp for Lost Boys deep in the Pennsylvania wilderness. The Lost Planet Gridironmen and their coaches had to endure several days without power, but let's face it, Xavier Football without adversity wouldn't be Xavier Football. Anyway, lack of hardship just makes the players and coaches nervous. They adjusted and adapted— they always do— and when their head coach brought the 16th Street Kids back home on the Friday before Labor Day Weekend, he was a happy man. "It was a good camp," Coach Stevens told Xavier Football & Rugby Alumni News. "No serious injuries, a lot of weapons on offense and a few new wrinkles to the Amazing Gridiron Wayback Machine, including a significant pass game and a greater emphasis on the very deceptive Spin Series." Coach Stevens also gave a special shout out to Richie Peet '80, who once again donated his time and one of his trucks to personally haul the Knights' blocking sleds and other equipment all the way to Camp Tyler Hill— as the Holiday Gridiron Camp is known to the outside world— and back again. Richie, a former Xavier Bruin and Outlaw, owns several companies here in the New York metropolitan area, including a commercial moving company, and is one of the most loyal and generous Sons of Xavier there is. When he reads this, Richie is going to send me everything you need to know about his companies and the services they provide. I, in turn, am going to urge you to give Richie a call when you have need of a commercial mover or any of the other services Richie provides. Is this a commercial? Why, yes. It is. The very next morning after their return from Pennsylvania, The Varsity Knights were on the road again— this time up to Thornwood in Westchester County, where they were supposed to scrimmage five different schools. Three of those teams declined to scrimmage the 16th Street Kids, citing injuries or depleted rosters. Xavier defeated Westlake High School and tied Bronxville, Chris said, but he came away somewhat disappointed and frustrated because he had hoped to have his team run at least 100 plays and had only gotten to run 60. While the Varsity was offering to take on all comers in Westchester, their junior partners were in Uniondale, Long Island, scrimmaging Kellenberg and Uniondale. Coach Stevens reports that the JV Knights got the better of both opponents. As for this weekend's opponent, Chris scouted Pine Bush's season opener in Monticello last weekend and reports that their very talented fullback led the Bushmen (seriously) to an easy 40-7 victory over Monticello High School. Stand by... Tom O'Hara '69