Iona 36- Stepinac 35

This year’s game had a similar ending to last year. Stepinac was up by a lead and did not do anything in their power to stop Iona Prep from winning the ball game.

The referees initially called it incomplete. However, one referee said he saw it caught in the player’s hands and it was a fumble. After the fumble, Iona Prep wide receiver Alex Williams picked it up in the endzone.

The Stepinac bench was erupting in cheers for they thought their team had sealed the game. However, the referees changed their minds, and all the cheers were from the fans in maroon and gold.

One factor that may have changed the game was one of the captains choosing to face the south endzone in the first half of the game. Head Coach Mike O’Donnell was disgruntled when the player made that decision.

The game was back and forth, and Stepinac would have a fourteen point lead at one point. Iona Prep would have Avery Turton, and Jarel Washington find the endzone. Junior quarterback, Darius Wilson was the quarterback for the Gaels.

“Yesterday was a hard-fought battle by each team,” said starting quarterback, Joey Carino. He was one of the most productive players for the Crusaders. Carino had a 16 out of 26 completion rate for 231 yards, an average of 14.4 yards per play. He also ran the ball 18 times, and accumulated 152 yards, an average of 8.4 yards per run, scoring three of the team’s five touchdowns. “I think there were some mistakes on each phase, but I’m happy they are being done now so when the playoffs come around, we know not to make the same mistakes.

With no Nazir Hibbert, and multiple players down on defense, Stepinac must use Mekhi Greene and Kevin McKenna. McKenna is used to playing two ways. However, Greene is more of an offensive player and is new to Stepinac’s defensive scheme.

“It was a great Stepinac Iona rivalry game,” said Assistant Coach Joe Venice. “It didn’t end the way we hoped it would but our guys played tough until the end. We made key mental errors and turnovers which Iona capitalized on. We will learn from it and continue to grow each week.”

“It sucks for such a good game to come down to such a controversial play, but we had our chances to not put ourselves in that situation, and it’s a good learning point for us,” said Carino.

Last year’s game at Iona Prep was even more abysmal for the Stepinac faithful. Derek Robertson, a Coach Spagnolo prodigy, followed Spagnolo from Stepinac to Iona Prep. For as long as Robertson was the starting Varsity quarterback, Iona could make any miracle come true.

Stepinac is 2-3 against Iona Prep in the Spagnolo era. The first game on 9/17/16 was a nail biter. It was a back and forth game. Coach Spagnolo had senior Mike Apostolopolous go down the field almost every drive. If it had not been for Trill William’s pick-six, Stepinac would have lost the game.

In the 10/28/17 meeting, the Gaels were able to defeat Stepinac, whose offense was not able to produce towards the end of the game.

On 9/15/18, the Stepinac defense was not able to make crucial tackles and allowed 22 points to be given up, thus the loss.

11/10/18 is the only other win since 2016. The former 1-4 team had redeemed themselves and ran all over the field in that game.

As Joey Carino will not be in Stepinac next year, the future is unknown for Stepinac in this rivalry. The football Class of 2020 seems as if they are a loaded team, with players in every position. When the Class of 2021 played their JV game against Iona Prep, white flags were waving at halftime.

There is however some hope. This weekend was not the worst for Stepinac Gridiron fans, as the Freshman and Junior Varsity teams both won by multiple possessions.

The SAT is next week. Iona (4-0) will host Monsignor Farrell (2-2) on Saturday evening at 5 PM. Stepinac (3-1) will host St. Anthony’s (1-3) on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 PM.

There is a winning culture at Stepinac, not always against Iona Prep.