Iona Prep 2022 Season Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: @ionafootball</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>HC: Joe Spagnolo (@Joespags12)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2021 Results (11-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loss @ Don Bosco Prep 21-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win vs. Bishop Hendricken 35-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win vs. Monsignor Farrell 24-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win vs. Christ the King 63-20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win vs. Archbishop Stepinac 34-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win @ Kellenberg Memorial 35-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win vs. Cardinal Hayes 35-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win @ St. Anthony's 35-34</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win @ Chaminade 42-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win vs. St. Anthony's 35-28 2OT (Playoffs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win vs. Monsignor Farrell 49-15 (Playoffs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win vs. St. Francis 38-22 (Playoffs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Team Preview</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year's CHSFL Varsity AAA Championship &amp; NYSCHSAA State Championship Game Winner Iona Prep rebounded from a first-game loss to Don Bosco Prep. Iona Prep rattled off 11 straight wins, many of which in dominating fashion. Headed into the 2022 season Iona Prep is ranked the #1 team in New York State, which is no surprise. Likely the most talented roster in New York, Iona Prep has multiple division I commits and many players garnering some recruiting attention at all levels of the college ranks. Led by last season's New York State Player of The Year, [player_tooltip player_id='233599' first='Ajani' last='Sheppard'] Iona Prep brings back their most dynamic playmaker in Sheppard, who was responsible for over 3,300 yards through the air and the ground last season. The Old Dominion Commit will have to blend with some new receivers as he lost four of his top five targets from last year to college or transfer. Expect the trio of Mike Senatore, Ethan Acevedo, and Dylan Iorgoveanu to be relied upon heavily in the passing game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iona does have some significant holes to fill. Most notably, cornerback star [player_tooltip player_id='227603' first='Ellis' last='Robinson IV'] transferred to IMG to finish his high school career. Luckily cornerbacks [player_tooltip player_id='233641' first='Jaden' last='Codrington'] and Terron Johnson have experience from rotating across from Robinson IV last season. While both may not be on the level of Robinson IV, they could still be one of the state's best boundary duos. The defense has a lot of size up front, with Jaylin Hicks, Zakar Morris, and [player_tooltip player_id='342680' first='Capri' last='Martin'] above 250lbs. These three guys should open up space for the defensive star [player_tooltip player_id='232912' first='Zyian' last='Moultrie-Goddard'] LB to make plays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also, something that needs to be pointed out is that Iona Prep may have the best Specialists in the entire North East. Sean O'Neill is a New Hampshire Commit, the best punter in the state. Sam Bisesi is only a Junior garnering some pretty significant Division I attention. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iona Prep will be hard to stop this year, and it is hard seeing them loos handle on their reign atop the Catholic AAA League. Their biggest threat is St. Anthony's, with whom they had some battles last season on two separate occasions. Still, until someone proves they can stop [player_tooltip player_id='233599' first='Ajani' last='Sheppard'] behind center, Iona Prep will be in control of the Catholic AAA league. As the best team in New York, Iona Prep has scheduled some tough New Jersey competition as they look to avenge their loss to Don Bosco Prep and face new blood from Akron, Ohio, in Archbishop Hoban, who sports some excellent FBS/FCS talent. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2023 Prospects to Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='233599' first='Ajani' last='Sheppard'] QB 6'2/230lbs (2,357 passing yards, 1,041 rushing yards, 38 total TDs, Old Dominion Commit, New York State Player of The Year)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='232912' first='Zyian' last='Moultrie-Goddard'] LB/RB 6'/230lbs (131 tackles, 23 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 323 rushing yards, 7.2 YPC, 7 TDs, Syracuse Commit)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='342680' first='Capri' last='Martin'] DL 6'1/260lbs (52 Tackles, 14 TFL, 4 Sacks, Villanova Commit)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='235891' first='Jorge' last='Ruiz'] OL 6'4/290lbs (Georgetown Commit)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sean O'Neill P 6'/170 (New Hampshire Commit)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colin O'Garro RB 6'/210lbs (454 yards, 5.5 YPC, 7 Games due to injury)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mike Senatore WR 5'11/170lbs (28 Rece, 400 Yards, 6 TDs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ethan Acevedo WR 5'11/180lbs (24 Rec, 349 yards, 4 TDs, Played for Don Bosco Prep)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keiran Connolly OLB 6'/195 (43 Tackles, 3 INTs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tomas Schulz-Langendorf OL 6'3/300lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Terrence Walden DB 5'8/155lbs (79 Tackles, 1 INT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2024 Prospects to Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaylin Hicks DL 6'3/250lbs (34 Tackles, 10 TFL, Multiple FBS offers)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sam Bisesi K 6'1/170lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dylan Iorgoveanu WR 6'1/175lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='256745' first='Adande' last='Nartey'] DB 5'10/175lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='233641' first='Jaden' last='Codrington'] DB 5'10/170lbs (2 INTs, 16 Tackles)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zakar Morris DL 6'1/280lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dan Pauletti OL 6'1/260lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2025 Prospects to Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='286675' first='Rowan' last='Byrne'] OL 6'5/285lbs (Multiple FBS Offers)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jayden Nicolau OL 6'5/320lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Terron Johnson DB 5'11/170lbs (2 INTs, 25 Tackles, 1TFL, Played Varsity as a Freshman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nathaniel Shillingford TE 6'3/200lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Steven Dowdy WR 5'11/170lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Levi Altshuler QB 6'/170lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2026 Prospects to Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='212407' first='Brennen' last='Pressley'] RB/LB 5'10/170lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Schedule</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/3 @ Archbishop Hoban</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/10 @ Cardinal Hayes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9/17 vs. Don Bosco Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don Bosco Prep currently sits atop the New Jersey State Rankings meaning this will be a matchup between the preseason #1's. Iona Prep looks to avenge last year's 21-7 loss to the New Jersey powerhouse. One unique storyline is that Don Bosco Prep's leading receiver from last season, Ethan Acevedo, will be catching balls from [player_tooltip player_id='233599' first='Ajani' last='Sheppard'] in an Iona Prep Jersey. Certainly, a matchup to watch between neighboring states' two best teams,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/24 @ Christ The King</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10/1 vs. St. Anthony's</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps the biggest threat to Iona Prep in the Catholic AAA league last season, Iona Prep won both games between the teams by a combined 8 points. St. Anthony's will have this game circles, and you should too. Iona Prep will be facing it stiffest league competition in what is their technical home opener. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/8 @ Archbishop Stepinac</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/15 vs. Kellenberg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/22 @ Monsignor Farrell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/29 vs. Chaminade</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ionafootball/status/1511049349064794125?s=20u0026t=hG4Em4UeYFOx-ycLRyFQ4g","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ionafootball/status/1511049349064794125?s=20u0026t=hG4Em4UeYFOx-ycLRyFQ4g </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->