It’s been a wild ride for Iona Prep.
THE The Gaels entered the season with very high expectations and were quickly humiliated by two Jersey powerhouses – Delbarton And Bergen Catholic. A series of injuries forced roster changes, but this group managed to get through it, winning eight straight.
And here they are, in the CHSFL AAA championship game for the fourth straight season.
Iona Prep is the No. 1 seed and will travel to Long Island on Saturday for a 2 p.m. showdown against St. Anthony’s at Mitchel Field.
After losing by one point against Cardinal Hayes a year ago, in a crazy back-and-forth, the Gaels were quietly hoping for a revenge, but they will have no problem motivating themselves to play the brotherswho beat them hands down in 2022.
Iona preparation won the regular season meeting 48-40.
“This year has definitely been a challenge, but I feel like injuries happen almost every year, so we roll with the punches,” senior linebacker Matt Plunkett said. “Hayes or St. Anthony’s, either way, we are in a position to get revenge on some former students.”
Here are five reasons the Gaels are back in the championship game:
1. The Davis crew it’s a moment
The junior running back has Division I potential in football and lacrosse and is probably the most athletic kid on the Iona Prep campus. He’s a prep version of the San Francisco 49ers’ headliner Christian McCaffreyleading the Gaels in rushing (792 yards/8.9 YPC/nine touchdowns) and receiving (639 yards/13.9 YPC/seven touchdowns).
“I always believed in my athleticism,” Davis said. “I was able to show it a little bit my sophomore year and I figured once the offseason came and I would have a chance to lift and work more with coach Spags and understand better the program, everything would become second nature. I think as a team we have grown and our chemistry is great. Whereas with this offensive line, everything has come together and the holes are opening up for me.
He’s probably in the conversation for CHSFL Player of the Year.
“The crew does so much for us,” Iona Prep coach Joe Spagnolo said. “I have never seen a kid lead a team in rushing and receiving in my 22-odd years of coaching. …And the numbers would be more impressive because he didn’t play in the second half of all four games.
2. Talent and depth of the technical staff
It’s a luxury to have the resources that this program enjoys and that extend to the coaching staff.
There is no shortage of experience on the sidelines where Spagnolo has relied on a staff that has been largely united for years, starting with defensive coordinator Lou DiRienzo and offensive coordinator Pat Gallo. The rest of the coaching list includes Mike Moffitt, Felix Petrillo, Richie Tassello, Andrew Utschig, Mike Disanto, Vic Chiappa and Dominic Zanot.
Vincent Sullivan is the strength and conditioning coach.
“Our staff is really crazy,” Spagnolo said. “I have a whole team of former head coaches. We also had very good continuity. Since COVID, there has been a lot of coaching turnover, but we have managed to stay consistent and that trickles down to the lower levels. Our freshman and JV coaches have also been there a long time, and we were undefeated (heading into the playoffs) at all three levels this season.
3. Julian Guzman is ready for anything
Hiring a new quarterback mid-season can be a challenge, but the junior has quickly gotten up to speed and continues to develop. He’s a shortstop on scholarship to Maryland, so arm strength was never a question.
Guzman completed 153 of 236 pass attempts for 2,096 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was intercepted five times. The junior also rushed for 450 yards and six touchdowns.
“He really didn’t have a bad day,” Spagnolo said. “And what’s remarkable is the fact that our top four receivers are not on the field. They are injured. None of them played after Week 2. So he’s basically aimed at our second string and a few defensive backs who have learned to run routes. Julian guided us through it all.
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4. Everyone is where they need to be on defense
The Gaels have an emerging star on defense in sophomore Mamadee Sangaray. He caught the attention of major college recruiters and moved from safety to linebacker. Zander Poole took over at safety and the defense became even quicker to the ball.
Defensive end Gabe George and linebacker Brennan Pressley are also back after missing time due to injuries.
“I think it’s time for people to see the full picture of us,” said Plunkett, Iona Prep’s leading tackler. “Every week we do a ton of film work and we get a really solid game plan that we go over rep after rep in practice, so we’re pretty much ready to take on whatever anyone throws at us.”
5. Multi-sport athletes
Not everyone on this list came to Iona Prep specifically because of the football program. Guzman is a baseball headliner. Davis was an impact player for the lacrosse team before becoming a football star. Joe Wolf is a promising basketball player who stepped in when starting players were injured.
St. Anthony can understand. Standout quarterback Gary Merrill is a five-star lacrosse recruit who has committed to play at North Carolina.
“Personally, from a lacrosse standpoint, I struggled against those Long Island boys,” Davis said. “I know a lot of kids on this team, so it will be fun to play against them in football. I’m excited for this one.
This article originally appeared in the Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Iona Prep football returns to CHSFL championship game
