Archbishop Stepinac 2022 Season Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: @StepinacSports</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach: Michael O'Donnell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offensive Coordinator: Joe Venice</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive Coordinator: Jonathan DeMarco</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2021 Results (7-4)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win @ Donovan Catholic (NJ) (Donovan Catholic Forfeit due to playing Ineligible players) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loss @ All Saints (TX) 38-28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win @ St. Peter's 47-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win vs. Moore Catholic 55-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loss @ Iona Prep 34-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win @ St. Anthony's 40-36</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win vs. Christ The King 49-18</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win vs. St. Joseph-by-the-Sea 37-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loss @ Cardinal Hayes 50-48 (OT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win vs. Kellenburg 42-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loss @ Monsignor Farrell 24-21 (Playoffs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Team Preview</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most well-rounded teams in the NYCHFL, Archbishop Stepinac looks to rebound from a disappointing postseason performance as far as their expectations go. They return 12 total starters and have several role players from last season ready to take the next step. The most significant losses will be Quarterback James McCauley and Wide Reciever Dae'Shawn Allen, who transferred to St. Thomas More in Connecticut. Losing your best playmaker and your quarterback is never easy for any team. However, Junior Lefty [player_tooltip player_id='277898' first='Will' last='Currid'] will step in behind the center and come with some varsity experience and production. Currid will have a reliable target in All-League receiver [player_tooltip player_id='237044' first='Gjok' last='Dedvukaj']. Someone that could make a massive jump at the receiver position is [player_tooltip player_id='241145' first='Jahi' last='Gary']. With Allen leaving, there will be plenty of targets to be had. Gary's 6'5 frame is elite at the high school level, and he could become a dominant force in the passing game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Where Archbishop Stepinac could excel this year is in the trenches. The offensive line, one of the biggest in the state, is led by Senior tackle [player_tooltip player_id='235880' first='Michael' last='Cogoni']. Cogoni is joined by guards Jalen Williamson Thomas, Ryan Diaz, Harrison Brown, and DJ Williams. The lightest of the group weighs 260lbs, and there is a good chance we see a few of these guys play at the next level. Williams is the most likely to potentially make it to the Power 5 level as he already is sporting an offer from UCONN.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the defensive side of the ball, Archbishop Stepinac brings back one of their leaders at every level of the defense. Harvard commits [player_tooltip player_id='233621' first='Jack' last='Donahoe'] could be making waves as one of the best safety prospects in the state by year's end. Defensive Tackle Wayne Coleman and Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='237045' first='JT' last='Krivinskas'] bring back the heart of the defense and combined over 200 tackles and 8 sacks from last season. Look for Junior Defensive ends Kevin Johnson and Dandre Newby to make jumps as high-impact players on the defense potentially. Last season's senior class was responsible for 30 sacks, so getting pressure on the quarterback will have to come from some new areas. Where there may be questions on where the pressure will come from on the edge, the defensive backfield returns several starters and should have no problem making opposing quarterbacks struggle to get into a rhythm. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My player to watch this season will be RB Lorenzo Robinson. A player who has a college-level size and speed combination could be the heart of the offense. He quickly breaks through arm tackles and is hard to take down, making him a big run threat every time he touches the ball. There will be a committee approach to the RB room with Jordan Osborne garnering some solid action as a downhill runner, but I think Robinson could be the main guy come playoff time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expectations at Archbishop Stepinac are always high so they will look to rebound on last season's record and performance. The defense will be the heart of this team early on as [player_tooltip player_id='277898' first='Will' last='Currid'] gets settled into his role as the quarterback and leader of this team. I think if Currid can find some success early and build his confidence, he has the weapons at his disposal to help Archbishop Stepinac make a run in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Top 2023 Prospects to Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='235880' first='Michael' last='Cogoni'] T 6'3/285&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='237055' first='Bodhi' last='Ogg'] TE 6'3/210 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='237044' first='Gjok' last='Dedvukaj']&nbsp; WR 6'1/185&nbsp;(46 catches,760 yards,6 TDs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayne Coleman DT 6'2/278 (77 tackles, 4 sacks)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='233621' first='Jack' last='Donahoe'] S 6'3/205 (Harvard Commit)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='237045' first='JT' last='Krivinskas'] LB 6'1/220 (124 tackles 4 sacks)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Serge Lagardere WR/KR (736 All-Purpose Yards &amp; 8 TDs)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jalen Williamson Thomas G 6'/260</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jandiel Jimenez OLB/SS 6'/195</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Top 2024 Prospects to Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='277898' first='Will' last='Currid'] QB 6'2/188 (1301 yds, 12 TDs, QB Rating 114)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='241145' first='Jahi' last='Gary'] WR 6'5/197</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deonte Douglas CB/S 6'/180</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sam Madu CB 6'2/165</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jordan Osborne RB 6/200</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eddie Palumbo MLB 6'4/205</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lorenzo Robinson RB 5'10/200</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harrison Brown T 6'5/260</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ryan Diaz G 6/300</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kevin Johnson DE/ OLB 6'3/225</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marco Graci K/P 6'/165</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dandre Newby DE 6'3/230</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Top 2025 Prospects to Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DJ Williams Tackle 6'4/295 (UCONN offer)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garrison Heslop WR 6'/160</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zaire Spellman WR 5'10/160</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2022 Schedule</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/3 vs. Christ The King</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9/10 vs. Monsignor Farrell</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Archbishop Stepinac's last opponent of last season, this game was circled on the schedule as soon as it came out. The key will stop RB [player_tooltip player_id='233590' first='Messiah' last='Burch'], who ran for almost 200 yards in last year's playoff loss. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/17 vs. Depaul (NJ)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/24 @ Chaminade</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/1 @ Moore Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/8 vs. Iona Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/15 vs. Cardinal Hayes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/23 @ Kellenberg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10/28 vs. St. Anthony's</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If New York State's #1 team, Iona Prep, cruises through the regular season this game could very well be for the 2nd seed in the Catholic AAA League. Not only would a win here mean a rebound from last season but also would but Archbishop in a position to meet Iona Prep in the NYCHFL AAA Finals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->