In a matchup circled in red pen on many calendars this past year, the Saint Anthony’s Varsity Football Friars once again took out to defend Cy Donnelly Field, in yet another battle with the Gaels of Iona Prep.
In a rematch of last year’s championship game, which the Friars won with purpose (50-18), both teams came to Melville ready to extend their NYCHSFL records to 2-0. Both teams took the field, with clear goals in mind, filled with more emotion than nearly any other game we have seen this season, in order to get the edge. Iona needed to contain Gary Merrill (QB, 2025) in the pocket in only his 4th start, as well as harness the best out of star defensive back Terron Johnson in his Hollywood matchup with KJ Duff (WR/TE, 2024).
For the Friars, it was all about the defense. As their schedule has moved along, this Friars defensive unit has become more productive each week. Despite the fact that they would be opposing newly transferred quarterback, Joey Gaston, who would not be an easy target to keep down. If they wanted to win, they had to give him a rough introduction to Friartown.
The game went underway, and despite a solid start by the Gaels, the Friars held them to a field goal before Merrill decided that this was his game to win. Five downs into a quality-looking opening drive, Merrill showed off the wheels and took a broken down scramble 55 yards to the house to give the Friars an early start on the scoreboard.
Not one minute later, Saint Anthony’s defense came up big again. Forcing a 3-and-out, Kevin Moore (DB, 2026) blocked the subsequent punt, and the ball rolled right into the lap of Dante Vardaro who took it into the end zone, supplying the Friars with an 11-point lead 12 minutes into the affair.
Soon after the turn of the second, a man who terrorized the Gaels in last year’s championship, KJ Duff, found some running room underneath the secondary and won a 38-yard foot race to the house to further the Saint Anthony lead.
The Friars remained stout defensively as the half came to a close, leading by 20 points as the boys made it back to the locker rooms. Head Coach Joe Minucci’s team clearly showed his side could reach their goals with ease as the defense made it a nightmare start for the Gaels. Defensive Lineman Cam Urso, Brendan Ott, and Linebacker Dante Vardaro, gave Iona Prep headaches over the first 24 minutes as they stayed relentless in their pursuit of the ball. As they made their way back out onto the field, the Friars would have to keep the momentum in order to accomplish the most important goal: the W.
It didn’t take long into the second half for these trends to continue. The first drive was a sensational on the ground drive that got Merrill and the Friars offense into prime position to once again find Duff over the middle for another 30+ yard house call.
The Gaels kept their hopes alive the next drive with a near instantaneous touchdown, only to receive a swift response from Merrill. The offense once again marched down Cy Donnelly Field, setting up the quarterback out of Bayport to take a designed run 25 yards past the pylons, extending his side’s advantage.
The fourth quarter opened and Iona and Saint Anthony’s traded blows with the scoring drives culminating in another Merrill masterpiece. Merrill shadowed previous star QB Dante Torres, as he evaded defenders for yet another rushing touchdown, icing the game out with 44 points on the board.
The clock ran out and the Friars were on top by a deficit of 44-24. They extended their winning streak over this always-tenacious Gaels varsity program to three games and picked up their second win of the AAA league campaign.
It was an incredibly positive team win, highlighted by some spectacular individual performances, including…
Gary Merrill: 13/18 Passing, 255 yards, 2 TDs – 15 Carries, 131 Yards, 3 TDs.
KJ Duff: 8 Receptions, 194 Yards, 2 TDs.
Dante Vardaro: 7 Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss, 1 INT, 1 Fumble Return Touchdown
With the burden of winning this matchup off their shoulders, the Friars now begin a treacherous stretch of away games that encompasses nearly the entire remainder of the regular season.
Next Up, it’s Saint Anthony’s Varsity Football traveling to Mineola, where they will face their fiercest rivals in the Flyers of Chaminade, the night of Friday, September 29th.
Eamon Bevan is a Senior writer and lead broadcaster in his fourth year working for Scoreboard at St. Anthony’s High School. Is involved in several clubs and ministries.
