CHSFL team-by-team preview
Matthew Dieguez of Chaminade looks for his receiver during the first quarter of the CHSFL AA-1 final against Moore Catholic on Nov. 20, 2021. Credit: Dawn McCormick
CHSFL
CHAMINADE (7-3)
Coach: Kevin Dolan, seventh year
Five key players: Dean Aquilina, DE, Sr.; Charlie Battaglia, ILB, Sr.; Gavin Creo, WR/RB, Sr.; Matthew Dieguez, QB, Sr.; Mason Dietrich, C, Sr.
The Flyers, who won the AA I title last season, have six starters back on offense and eight on defense as they move up to Class AAA. Dolan said Dieguez had a “lights-out” preseason, but he’s also excited about the running game with Creo and junior Jack Tully. Dietrich, the offensive line’s anchor, and Aquilina (six sacks last season) are Division I recruits, and Battaglia and nose guard/defensive tackle Luke Ventura (6-4, 275) have also drawn D-I interest. Junior kicker/punter Tim Tomlinson made a 54-yard field goal as a sophomore.
HOLY TRINITY (10-0)
Coach: Kahmal Roy, third year
Five key players: Chris Bacon, DE, Sr.; Dylan Braithwaite, WR/DB, Sr., Irvin Briggs IV, OT/DE, Sr.; Josiah Brown, WR/DB, Jr.; Jameer Reeder, RB/LB, Jr.
The Titans will be chasing the AA I crown with eight offensive and 10 defensive starters back from their AA II title team. Brown (32.9 yards per catch last season), ranked No. 83 among ESPN’s top 300 recruits in the Class of 2024 and No. 1 from New York, has around 15 FBS offers. Braithwaite (23.3 per catch) is a Rutgers commit, and Briggs, the 2021 CHSFL AA II Lineman of the Year, is UConn-bound for defense.
KELLENBERG (4-5)
Coach: Eric Meisse, first year
Five key players: Sean Cannon, WR/S/K, Sr.; Claude Albert-Makelele, WR/CB, Sr.; Owen McDevitt, OT/DE, Sr.; Devin Page, QB, Sr.; Dylan Page, OT/DE, Sr.
The Firebirds have a talented senior class with up to seven players possibly bound for D-I, including quarterback Devin Page (1,221 yards and 13 TDs passing, 354 yards rushing), who has committed to Penn. This team also will try to build off its run to the AAA quarterfinals with an experienced offensive line, including Dylan Page, Devin’s Cornell-bound twin brother, linebacking group and secondary, which features Cannon (70 tackles, three INTs).
ST. ANTHONY’S (6-4)
Coach: Joe Minucci, fourth year
Five key players: Carson Ciancuielli, LT, Sr.; Korey Duff Jr., WR, Jr.; Kenyon Miles, WR, Sr.; Ian Strong, WR/DB, Sr.; Dante Torres, QB, Sr.
The Friars are stocked with talent, especially on offense with eight starters back, and expect to compete for the CHSFL AAA title and a CHSAA state championship. Torres, a 6-3 Fordham commit, threw for 2,300 yards and 21 TDs last season. The 6-4 Strong (52 tackles, two INTs) has committed to Rutgers and the 6-3 Miles (405 yards receiving, five TDs) is Villanova-bound. The 6-5 Duff (700 yards receiving, five TDs) has FBS offers, as does freshman defensive lineman Preston Carey.
ST. DOMINIC (2-4)
Coach: Gian Villante, first year
Five key players: Jon Bartolomei, QB/RB/CB, Jr.; Aidan Cornell, G/DT, Sr.; Cole Cruz, QB/RB/OLB, Sr.; Jayden Marshall, FB/MLB, Jr.; Andrew Nadler, C/DT, Jr.
The Bayhawks’ new coach is a former MacArthur standout and Hofstra All-American linebacker who retired as a UFC fighter last November. Villante wants to show this young team from the A league how to be tough and how to win games, and hopes to start turning the program around this season.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST (9-2)
Coach: Philip Alba, fourth year
Five key players: Elijah Alvarez, RB/S, Sr.; Sean Dennehy, TE/LB, Sr.; Zaire Grant, OL/DL, So.; Patrick Moloney, RB/LB, Sr.; Jayson Zeva, WR/DB, Sr.
The Cougars lost 18 starters after falling in the CHSFL AA II title game. So it’s a young team that will be counting on unproven talent on the lines to develop. Junior QB Michael Wheat, a Roslyn transfer, is a dual threat, and he has an outstanding receiver in Zeva (25 catches, 406 yards, six TDs in 2021). Alvarez ran for 315 yards and also made seven interceptions.
METROPOLITAN INDEPENDENT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
LONG ISLAND LUTHERAN (8-2)
Coach: Chris Reno, 19th year
Five key players: Jacques (Trey) Leandre, QB, Sr.; T.J. Bacon, WR/TE/S, Jr.; Matthew Kilgannon, OL/DL, Jr.; Anthony Valdez, RB/DB, Jr.; Vincenzo Verdi, C, Sr.
The Crusaders, who lost last season's Metropolitan Independent Football League title game, should be able to move the ball in their spread offense, especially with Leandre (871 yards and seven TDs passing, 323 yards and six TDs rushing), Valdez and Bacon, and with Verdi anchoring the line. Junior Dominick Gangi, who played last season for Locust Valley, is a promising wide receiver/defensive back. The defense has a solid front, highlighted by sophomores Mario Diaz and Robert Rubinstein, and secondary.
