Stepinac Beats St. Anthony’s for First Time Since 1983, Stays Undefeated

St. Anthony’s High School football program in Melville, New York, is a class operation lead by legendary Head Coach Rich Reichert. It is not just that the Friars have won 11 of the last 13 CHSFL AAA Titles that earns them that respect, Friars sportsmanship is as respected as their winning percentage on the field.

When Stepinac (7-0) arrived at St. Anthony’s to challenge the Friars and protect their undefeated record. St. Anthony’s Head Coach Reichert and Athletic Director Donal Buckley met the Crusaders bus and helped them carry their equipment to their sidelines. They also supplied them with ice. “They are a very classy organization,” said Stepinac’s Athletic Director and Head Coach Mike O’Donnell.

However, after all the pleasantries subsided and Stepinac was welcomed to the field, a new team arose with the potential to compete this year with the Friars, as the marquee team in the CHSFL.

The Crusaders displayed the fight and resiliency of a true champion team when they defeated St. Anthony’s, 38-21, on Friday night to remain undefeated, at 7-0. It was the first time since 1983 that Stepinac beat St. Anthony’s and the first time they have ever beaten them on their home field.

“It is awesome to come out here and get a win on Long Island against a storied program like St. Anthony’s. They are what everybody else wants to be and I think we have taken a step forward this year,” said an enthusiastic O’Donnell.

The Crusaders did not succumb when Friars quarterback Steven Genova completed his first nine passes of the game and star running back Jordan Gowins scored on a one-yard run.

The Friars (4-3) were leading 10-3, after the first quarter on their Homecoming Night but that did not faze the Crusaders. At the start of the second quarter, Stepinac’s quarterback Brandon Coleman leaned back on one foot and hit wide receiver Giancarlo Furio with a 30-yard touchdown pass. Then kicker Matthew Tierney threw on his cape and tied the game. Tierney would kick five extra points and a field goal on the night.

The Stepinac secondary devised a plan to stop Genova from controlling the game and who else to implement it but cornerback Gavin Heslop and linebacker Tyquan Ennis.

At 9:38 of the second quarter, Ennis snatched a Genova pass out of the sky to stop a Friars threat on the 25-yard line of Stepinac. Two minutes and 18 seconds later, Heslop changed the momentum and the score of game.

With the Friars threatening to score again on Stepinac’s 32-yard line, Heslop intercepted a Genova pass and ran 68 yards for a touchdown. “Gavin makes big plays. His interception really turned the tide of the game. They were doing anything they wanted on offense and he changed the perplexities of the game,” commented O’Donnell.

Stepinac went into their locker room at halftime with an unpredicted, 17-13 lead and both defenses made sure it stayed that way until five minutes into the third quarter.

Crusaders speedster Malcolm Major seemed to break the game open, when he ran 68 yards into the end zone. However, the touchdown was called back because of an illegal blocking penalty on Stepinac.

Nonetheless, on the same drive running back Tyquan Ennis would not be denied. At 3:55 in the third quarter with Stepinac facing a fourth down and four yards to a first down; Ennis ran 56 yards for the Crusaders third touchdown, to make the score 24-13.

But Genova and the Friars also showed their resiliency. At 3:03 in the third quarter Genova hit Danny Jones for a TD, to make the score 24-21. Suddenly, the game was what everybody expected, a battle of the best in the CHSFL.

In the fourth quarter, as fate would have it, Ennis left the game with a leg cramp. Heslop replaced him at running back and figured, why waste the opportunity, and scooted 28 yards for a touchdown. “I just wanted to make a play for my team, so we could get this win and as you can see we got a great team win today,” said Heslop.

Major sealed the game by getting in the end zone again, while dashing 49 yards for a touchdown and this time it counted. Major carried the ball 13 times for 136 yards and a touchdown, in the Stepinac historic victory. Gowins for the Friars gained 111 yards on 17 carries.

On defense, Ennis led the team with 11 tackles and linebacker Daniel Negron seemed as if he was in on every tackle with nine tackles and six assists.

Coleman is heading to Annapolis next year and gets to put this victory on his resume. Coleman’s poise and leadership at quarterback behind a steadfast offensive line led the Crusaders to victory.

Coleman completed 8-of-12 passes for 96 yards and one touchdown. “It is a great feeling because this is probably the biggest win in our program’s history and to beat them at home is awesome,” commented Coleman. “Like I said after the Iona game, I could tell there is something special about this team and we showed it tonight,” said Coleman.