Stepinac Opens 2012 Season with 35-7 Loss to Monroe-Woodbury
Monroe-Woodbury High School first year Head Coach Bernie Connolly is a 1974 graduate of Stepinac High School. Connolly returned to Stepinac to be an assistant coach from 1978 to 1979 and then became Stepinac’s Head Football Coach from 1984 to 1987.
On Sat., Sept. 8, Connelly returned to play against his alma mater in the Joseph R. Riverso Memorial Game. What is most remarkable about Connelly returning to play Stepinac in the Joseph Riverso Memorial Game is that the late Joe Riverso was a captain on Connolly’s ‘84 Stepinac team and later coached with Connolly.
Joe Riverso is a former player and assistant coach at Stepinac, who died tragically in the World Trade Center disaster, on September 11, 2001. “I think Joe was looking down on us to make sure that we got the game in tonight,” expressed Connelly, who was inducted into the Stepinac Grid Iron Club, two years ago.
The 2012 Joseph R. Riverso Memorial Game was delayed for 15 minutes due to inclement whether but the game was underway at 7:15 p.m.
Two years ago, before the New Turf Field was constructed at Stepinac High School, this game would not have been able to be played in the rainy and blustery conditions of Saturday night. But the New Turf Field drainage system proved extremely efficient. “All in all the weather was not really an issue tonight. That is the benefit of having a new facility,” commented Stepinac Head Coach Mike O’Donnell.
The Monroe-Woodbury Crusaders from Central Valley, New York, certainly enjoyed their first experience on Stepinac’s New Turf Field. They won the Joseph Riverso Memorial Game and defeated Stepinac, 35-7, in the Crusaders 2012 Home Opener in White Plains.
The Stepinac offense was stymied in the first half by three turnovers. Also detrimental to the offense was a costly holding penalty while the Crusaders were driving down the field with momentum in the first quarter. Crusaders quarterback Danny Hoffer was intercepted after the holding call on his own 35-yard line.
On the next play, Monroe-Woodbury junior running back Ricky Giraldo ran the ball 30 yards to setup a 15-yard keeper by quarterback Kevin Carr. Also, Hoffer fumbled on Woodbury’s 16 yard line, which led to senior running back Mark Tooma’s third touchdown in the first half for Monroe-Woodbury.
At halftime with it still raining and windy, which is not contusive for a Hoffer passing attack to make a comeback, the Crusaders from White Plains were 28-0 in the hole. “Monroe-Woodbury has lost only four games in the last ten years from what I understand and they are very well coached. They took it to us tonight,” commented a displeased O’Donnell.
The Monroe-Woodbury Crusaders had a winning streak of 63 games against Section 9 opponents until Newburgh Free Academy beat them last season.
Tooma was selected as the Monroe-Woodbury MVP of the Joe Riverso Memorial Game. He was presented a $250 Scholarship by William Riverso; one of Joe Riverso’s surviving brothers and the President of the Joseph R. Riverso Memorial Fund.
Tooma ran for a total of 159 yards and three touchdowns in the game, which included 94 yards from scrimmage and a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown. “Three touchdowns in any game is always a good game. It makes me feel confident about myself,” said Tooma.
The Joe Riverso Game MVP for Stepinac was junior safety/wide receiver Narendra Itwaru, who was also presented a $250 Scholarship from the Joseph Riverso Foundation.
Stepinac sophomore linebacker Damarcus Miller had a sack and fumble recovery in the game. But he was sidelined with an injury in the third quarter and did not return to the game.
The next challenge for Stepinac is Xaverian High School, who the Crusaders defeated last season to advance to the CHSFL AAA Championship game. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Sat., Sept.15, at Stepinac High School.
