Turkey Bowl MVP

Senior Frank Masella #44 LB/PB

Wins the President's Trophy

CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL LEAGUE of METROPOLITAN NEW YORK

Player of the Week Nomination

Nominee: Frank Masella                                                                                                                                    School: Xavier High School

Position: Linebacker                                                                                                                                    Opponent: Fordham Prep.

Date of Game: 11/26/15        Ht. 5’9”        Wt. 200        Class: Sr.                                                            Hometown: Queens, New York

Details of nominees performance:
The 88^th Turkey Bowl between Fordham Prep and Xavier was played as a close affair at Aviator Field on Floyd Bennett Air Base at the east end of Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn.  As was the case in many Xavier football games during this historic 11 win season, the defense controlled the game long enough for the offense and the breaks of the game to turn the tide in Xavier's favor late in the game.  Fordham scored in the second quarter after #4 QB Matt Valecce broke the tackles of two would be Xavier sackers to find #23 RB Rory Allen streaking up the sides after running a drag route across the field for the big gain that set up a back shoulder fade throw to #3 Will Loffredo for Fordham's first score.  Xavier ended the half throwing an interception into the endzone from the Fordham 20 yard line and the score was 7-0 at the half.  On the opening possession of the 3rd quarter Xavier drove 80 yards on 16 plays for a score, but failed to tie the game, bouncing the extra point kick off the crossbar.  After a pair of three and outs by both teams, Xavier's #23 KS Matt Lydon intercepted a bobbled Fordham pass at the Fordham 39 yard line, but the Xavier Offense still could not move the ball.  Xavier Punter, #7 Joseph Morelli then pinned Fordham deep with a Coffin Corner kick down to the 2 yard line setting up the strangest play of the day.  Throwing the ball from their own end zone, Fordham Prep was called for a holding penalty which resulted in a safety for Xavier giving them the lead 8-7 with 9:19 left to go in the game.  After another pair of three and outs, Xavier received a Fordham punt on their own 45 yard line and mounted their second touchdown drive of the game which included #39 RB Mike Chiarovano's longest run of the day for 26 yards.  Fordham then used 2 1/2 minutes of the final three minutes of the game to mount their best drive of the day, 13 plays for 80 yards included a 10 yard pass from Valecce to #7 WR Jack Casella with 34 seconds left on the clock.  This play set up for the second year in a row, a 2 point conversion that would make or break Fordham's Turkey Bowl chances.  Fortunately for Xavier, Valecce's 2 point conversion pass was thrown behind Casella and fell harmless incomplete in the endzone.  #7 RB Joseph Morelli would then cover up the Fordham onside kick to seal the win for Xavier for the fourth straight year in a row and a combined 3 point margin of victory for Xavier over the last two years.  

During the past two seasons Frank Masella has been the defensive captain calling the defensive huddle for the Xavier Varsity Football Team.  Last year, he amassed 103 tackles, 18 Tackles for Loss and 4 sacks.  He was named name CHSFL Player of the Week for Xavier’s 56-0 win over St. Francis Prep.  On Thanksgiving Day he made the tackle on the 2 point conversion in overtime sealing Xavier’s 35-34 victory.  At the end of the season, he was named Xavier’s Best Defensive Player.  This year Frank has led a Xavier defense which is the least scored upon defense in the entire CHSFL giving up only 134 points or 11.1 points per game.  He has amassed 125 tackles, 9.5 Tackles for Loss and 1 sack.  He was named CHSFL Player of the Week for Xavier’s 14-7 win over Holy Trinity.  For amassing over 225 tackles and leading the best defense in the CHSFL, Xavier is proud that Frank Masella has been awarded the Turkey Bowl MVP.

Xavier wins fourth straight Turkey Bowl title over Fordham Prep

by Elio Velez on Thu, Nov 26, 2015 3:58 PM — @eliovelez  

Chris Stevens has guided some talented teams in years past as the head coach at Xavier and has studied the history books going back to the first squad to step on a gridiron late in the 19th century.

Xavier had just capped off a great season by defeating Fordham Prep, 15-13, in the 92nd Annual Turkey Bowl held Thursday at a sunny Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn. The Knights have won four straight games in this rivalry since pulling off the same feat from 1983 to 1986.

Stevens proudly proclaimed to his team huddled around him that the Knights were the best team in school history. It’s hard to disagree with the facts he stated after Xavier, who captured the CHSFL Class AA title on Saturday, earned its record setting 11th victory with senior running back Michael Chiarovano rushing for 159 yards on 40 carries with two touchdowns. 

“We’re the smallest team, we practice at four different locations and we have high academic expectations, but the kids got grit, they got moxie and they got character. We find a way,” Stevens said. “We go into the locker room and we figure it out and then we exploit what they were hurting us with. We are always tough in the second half.  It’s very exciting, but its very nerve wracking at the same time.”

The Knights defense stopped a potential tying two-point conversion attempt by the Rams with 29 seconds remaining in regulation. Xavier, who are ranked No. 10 in New York City by MSG Varsity, ended the season at 11-1 with its only loss in the regular season coming to Christ the King.

Xavier had pulled off an epic 28-25 win Saturday over Christ the King when Jack Abbruzzese scooped up a Rory Kinsella blocked punt for a 44-yard touchdown with under a minute left in the fourth quarter. Yet there was no chance Chiarovano said the Knights would have a letdown, especially facing Fordham Prep in the oldest New York City Thanksgiving high school football rivalry going back to 1905. 

“A part of me thought no, obviously we are still the champions, but then the other half thought if we lose today then the rest of the day is shot,” Chiarovano said. “You can’t just leave the season going out on a loss so it was just as big to win today as it was to win like we did last week.”

Xavier didn’t get the offense rolling in the first half and Fordham Prep struggled until breaking through on the scoreboard in the second quarter. 

Rams quarterback Matt Valecce had thrown seven straight incompletions to start the game but the sophomore eluded heavy defensive pressure to find Rory Allen in the flat on a 51-yard pass reception into Xavier territory. Valecce (11 of 27, 169 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT), connected on his fourth straight completion to Will Loffredo in the back of the end zone to give the Rams a 7-0 lead with 5:19 remaining in the first half. 

The 5-foot-7 Chiarovano has carried the load on the ground this season and did so again on the Knights’ first possession of the second half. The team’s leading rusher finished off an impressive 16-play, 80-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown drive to cut the Fordham Prep lead to 7-6 with 4:11 remaining the third quarter.

Chiarovano, had rushed for 224 yards in last year’s Knights 35-34 Turkey Bowl overtime win over the Rams.

“Every week he takes a pounding. He has been durable, He’s 175 pounds and he’s not even 5-8. He’s beast mode,” Stevens said. 

The Knights defense did a sound job putting pressure on Valecce, who had thrown 25 touchdowns and just two interceptions coming into the game. Even though Xavier wouldn’t capitalize on the interception made by Matt Lydon, the senior had an impressive punt to pin the Rams at its own two-yard line. 

Xavier regained the lead on a safety with 9:19 left in the game when Fordham Prep’s offense was assessed a holding penalty during a Valecce pass attempt in the end zone. Chiarovano then added on to the lead with a 7-yard touchdown run and Lydon’s extra point extended the lead to 15-7 with 3:07 remaining. 

The Rams (7-4) kept a last ditch drive alive on fourth and goal when Valecce connected with Jack Casella on a 10-yard touchdown pass, but the duo could not convert in the back of the end zone on a two-point conversion attempt to tie the game. Xavier clinched the game when Joseph Morelli recovered an onside kick. 

“It’s a tough game to lose but it shows us a lot about our toughness. It shows us a lot about ourselves to come out next year in Rose Hill and hopefully deliver a win,” Valecce said. 

Xavier linebacker Frank Masella, who was awarded the game’s Most Valuable Player Award, can’t wait to sit at the dinner table and looking back on a history-making season.

“It’s a dream. I do have the Senior Bowl but this was my last game with everybody on the field so I think its going to settle in a couple of days,” Masella said. “It hasn’t settled in, but maybe it will while I’m eating some turkey.”

Article: http://www.msgvarsity.com/brooklyn-bronx/xavier-wins-fourth-straight-turkey-bowl-title-over-fordham-prep-1.1755314

Photos: http://www.msgvarsity.com/brooklyn-bronx/photos-fordham-prep-v-xavier-football-92nd-turkey-bowl-1.175528

Video Highlights: http://www.msgvarsity.com/brooklyn-bronx/highlights-xavier-15-fordham-prep-13-92nd-annual-turkey-bowl-1.1755199

Full Game Replay: http://www.msgvarsity.com/brooklyn-bronx/game-replay-xavier-15-fordham-prep-13-92nd-annual-turkey-bowl-1.1755047

NYC Football Power Rankings (11/25): http://www.msgvarsity.com/brooklyn-bronx/power-rankings-nyc-football-11-25-1.1755154