Stepinac overcomes early mistakes to win opener
VARSITY INSIDER
Mike Dougherty, mdougher@lohud.com 11:01 p.m. EDT September 9, 2016

Very little went according to the script for Stepinac in the opening half. A string of costly penalties erased a pair of touchdowns. Inconsistent execution prevented the back-to-back CHSFL AAA champions from sustaining drives.

It was a frustrating start.

Everything changed when the Crusaders forced a Cornwall fumble on the second half kickoff. They were in the end zone four plays later and well on their way to a 28-12 win Friday in the school’s annual Joseph Riverso Memorial Game.

“We were waiting for a big play,” senior captain Antonio Giannico said.

Steve Ramos covered the loose ball and in a matter of 90 seconds, newcomer Jonathan Gomez bounced into the end zone from the 8-yard line. Stepinac was ahead 14-7 after Shane Rafferty made good on the PAT.

“We had to stop making mistakes, stop taking penalties,” Crusaders head coach Mike O’Donnell said. “We came out in the second half and turned things around. It was frustrating early. I’m hoping it was first-game jitters.”

Devonte Myles ended the first Green Dragons possession of the second half when he intercepted a tipped ball. The elusive Atrillieon Williams got loose four plays later and went 20 yards for a touchdown.

And just like that, Stepinac was leading 21-6.

“It’s a new team and in the first half we were coming together, seeing what we have,” Williams said. “In the second half, we got connected.”

The next Cornwall possession was a three-and-out that left the Crusaders with a short field. Giannico capped the drive when he burst through a hole in the middle and went 20 yards for a touchdown.

Player of the game: Stepinac has another established threat in Gomez, who transferred in from Sleepy Hollow and had a serious impact the first time he got on the field. The senior running back finished with 109 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. He was not shy about dealing out punishment with the ball.

“We kind of knew what we had in Jonathan,” O’Donnell said. “We knew he ran hard, but we didn’t know he ran that hard because we really don’t hit much in practice anymore.”

Turning point: Forcing the fumble to start the second half and promptly scoring let the Crusaders relax.

Stat line: Stepinac quarterback Michael Nicosia connected with Sean Jasper for an 18-yard touchdown in the first quarter. … Giannico had 96 yards on 13 carries. … The Green Dragons were led by T.J. Gayle, who had 116 yards and two TDs on 21 carries.

Quotable: “I hope to be playing for a third championship,” Giannico said. “We have a lot of younger players in the lineup now and we have to keep reminding them about remembering what it takes to win, remembering how hard we have to work.”

Congratulations to Deuce Prince & Family . Rising Stepinac junior Deuce Prince was selected to participate in the Youth About Business’s National Advance Business Camp at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN the week of July 11th. He was selected as a Corporate CEO and negotiated business deals with other businesses using real world scenarios involving joint ventures and leveraged acquisitions.

Youth About Business (YAB) conducts one of the most innovative and immersive leadership-training programs for youth in the marketplace today. Their experiential learning model prepares youth to be successful in a business environment and provides them with role models and resources to be successful. YAB’s mission is to expose high school leaders to business theory and principles through our experiential learning model.

The Advanced Camp Champion is determined by a group of judges (senior level executives of Fortune 500 companies) who watch the student teams justify their business analysis and outcome of their case at the end of the week. After a week long research and negotiations, Deuce’s business team won the team competition. Last summer, Deuce represented Archbishop Stepinac in the YAB’s Basic Business Camp at Columbia University as well their Wall Street Camp and Championship Camp in New York City.

Stepinac goes extra holes to capture CHSAA crown

Stepinac defeated Iona Prep to win its first CHSAA golf championship since 1997. Pictured are Father Tom Collins, Chris Garceau, Brendan Cooney, Chris Collins, Paul Terminello, J.P. Collins, and coach Matt Hogan. (Photo: Contributed photo)
Chris Garceau earned his nickname for a reason. Unfortunately for Iona Prep, it learned why the hardest way possible with a city title at stake.

“The kids call him ‘Wedges,’ " Stepinac golf coach Matt Hogan said. “From 50 yards in, you might as well go and place the ball on the green.”

With his match in extra holes, the Stepinac junior flopped a downhill pitch from the rough to a foot for a tap-in par. The up-and-down finished a thrilling 3-2 win for the Crusaders over rival Iona Prep Wednesday at Knollwood Country Club and earned the program its first CHSAA title since 1997.

The teams had split the first four matches, including one that wasn’t decided until the final hole. Garceau actually trailed Iona Prep’s Mark Trotta by two holes going into No. 17, but he won the last two to extend the match. With all the other matches complete, Garceau’s par on the ensuing hole gave Stepinac the title.

“It was all the way down to the wire,” Hogan said. “It was unbelievable. We had two matches that went all the way to the 18th and two matches that finished earlier. They won one early, we won one early. They won one late, we won one late.”

Stepinac’s Chris Collins and J.P. Collins won their matches while Iona Prep’s Matt Minerva and Ken Nixon won theirs. Minerva, a freshman, narrowly edged Stepinac senior Paul Terminello 1-up in a meeting of No. 1s.

The teams split two matches during the regular season. Iona Prep won 3-2 at Winged Foot and Stepinac returned the favor, 3-2, at Sleepy Hollow with Garceau winning the final match.

Twitter: @lohudinsider

CHSAA championship

Stepinac 3, Iona Prep 2

At Knollwood Country Club

Matt Minerva (IP) d. Paul Terminello, 1-up

Chris Collins (AS) d. Sebastian Naibaho, 4 and 3

Ken Nixon (IP) d. Brendan Cooney, 6 and 4

J.P. Collins (AS) d. Ted Gerrity, 4 and 3

Chris Garceau (AS) d. Mark Trotta, 19 holes

Stepinac 13, Kennedy 1: Gianni Ciffone scored three times and went over 100 career goals. Pat Magliocchino added two goals and three assists for the Crusaders while Nick Dadario came up with two goals and two assists. Tyler Rispoli made 14 saves in the win. Matt Kiernan had the Gaels’ lone goal.

The Crusaders came from behind to take very powerful St Dom’s into Overtime on Wed. The Crusaders looked like they scored a goal with two minutes to go by Nick Dadario to take a two goal lead. Goal was disallowed by official. [ tough Crease violation call]. Crusaders lost in OT 11-10.

St. Dominic 12

Overall: (3-0), Conference: (1-0)
Stepinac 11

March 30, 2016
FINAL W
1 2 3 4 1OT 2OT 3OT F
St. Dominic 0 2 6 3 1 12
Stepinac 4 2 2 3 11
TOP PERFORMERS

G. Galligan: 5 goals
J. Pucci: 4 goals
N. Dadario: 3 goals
T. Rispoli: 12 saves
Highlights

St. Dominic 12, Stepniac 11: Jack Pucci scored the game winning goal with 1:04 left in overtime off an assist from Liam McAuliffe for St. Dominic in its CHSAA opener. Pucci tied the game for St. Dominic with nine seconds left in regulation off an assist from JJ Alicea to send the game into overtime. Pucci had four goals and one assist, Grant Galligan had five goals and one assist, and Brad Baker had a goal and four assists for the Bayhawks.
Game Stats
Stepinac Goals Assists Points Saves
Gianni Ciffone 2 1 3 0
Jordan Gunther 3 0 3 0
Justin Bernhard 1 1 2 0
Kevin Gray 0 1 1 0
Nick Dadario 3 1 4 0
Patrick Magliocchino 2 2 4 0
Tyler Rispoli 0 0 0 12
St. Dominic Goals Assists Points Saves
Brad Baker 1 4 5 0
Grant Galligan 5 1 6 0
JJ Alicea 1 3 4 0
Jack Pucci 4 1 5 0
John DeSco 0 0 0 7
John DiSpigna 0 0 0 8
John Quinn 1 0 1 0
Liam McAuliffe 0 3 3 0