Leading off today: Ouch.
The Catholic High School Football League annually produces several of the sport's top contenders in New York. The likes of Iona Prep, Cardinal Hayes, Archbishop Stepinac and St. Anthony's routinely prove show up near the top of our New York State Sportswriters Association rankings.
However, this weekend demonstrated just how far New York football has to go to match the top-line talent that New Jersey has to offer. Ten CHSFL teams played Garden State opponents Friday or Saturday, and nine lost. Of the nine, Chaminade's 10-3 setback against Seton Hall Prep was the only game decides by fewer than three scores. (Full Week 1 results here.)
Five of the New York losses came to teams that MaxPreps rates in New Jersey's top seven, including No. 1 Bergen Catholic downing Iona Prep 31-10 and No. 2 DePaul Catholic defeating Cardinal Hayes 36-20.
The good news? While no one likes losing, going head-to-head with such strong competition will make the quality of play that much better when the CHSFL teams start their league schedules.
Bergen Catholic (NJ) 31, Iona Prep 10
Delbarton (NJ) 28, Monsignor Farrell 0
DePaul Catholic (NJ) 36, Cardinal Hayes 20
Don Bosco Prep (NJ) 49, St. Anthony's 10
Immaculata (NJ) 42, Holy Trinity 0
Pope John XXIII (NJ) 48, Kellenberg 14
Seton Hall Prep (NJ) 10, Chaminade 3
St. Francis Prep 34, Morris Catholic (NJ) 0
St. Joseph's Region (NJ) 43, Archbishop Stepinac 0
St. Peter's Prep (NJ) 38, Moore Catholic 6
Looking for a little help
One of our NYSSWA correspondents is looking for help on an upcoming story but needs a hand from you folks who are out seeing local high school football games each week.
Are any players in your area wearing Guardian Caps or a comparable product? Those are the soft-shell helmet covers that reduce the impact of hits to the dead.
If you've seen a team with players using that product, please send me a note at jmoriello@yahoo.com, and I'll pass the information along.
Extra points
• In a monster early-season effort, Carthage senior running back Geremiah Ademola-Sadipe highlighted a 59-33 victory over Chittenango on Friday by carrying 34 times for 458 yards and seven touchdowns.
