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Iona Prep vs. Archbishop Stepinac The Gaels’ road back to the AAA Championship only gets tougher as they face a 5-0 Stepinac team who is hungry for the title. Stepinac is balanced on all sides of the ball the one…
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Continue ReadingIona Prep vs. Archbishop Stepinac
The Gaels’ road back to the AAA Championship only gets tougher as they face a 5-0 Stepinac team who is hungry for the title. Stepinac is balanced on all sides of the ball the one of the best offensive lines in the state led by 6’1 300 pound Ryan Diaz Ryan Diaz 6'1" | 300 lbs | OL Archbishop Stepinac | 2024 State NY protecting the right side of lefty, Will Currid Will Currid 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Archbishop Stepinac | 2024 State NY . Will holds the #2 spot on the stat board in comp percentage and passing yards just behind Torres. But some would argue his game speaks louder than the stat sheet.
Early this year I highlighted Stepinac’s primary weapon Gjok Dedvukaj Gjok Dedvukaj 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Salisbury School | 2024 State NewE to keep an eye on for this season. Just 5 games in, Gjok has 618 receiving yards and 5 scores, already shattering his junior season numbers. This year he is bigger, stronger, and faster and rising to the top of the spotlight amongst New York’s best receivers.
Stepinac’s defense led by senior linebacker JT Krivinskas JT Krivinskas 6'1" | 205 lbs | LB Archbishop Stepinac | 2023 State NY who is averaging more tackles per game than his previous year with 12 per game (60 TOT) will have their biggest test against Iona’s dual threat QB. I have already mentioned Wayne Coleman Wayne Coleman 6'2" | 275 lbs | DL Archbishop Stepinac | 2023 State NY in Defensive lineman to know this Fall and he is producing at a high rate this season with 34 tackles, 8 TFL and 5 sacks through 5 games. These two athletes and their units will have to play their best games yet to stop Iona’s dual-threat Ajani Sheppard Ajani Sheppard 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Iona Prep | 2023 State NY protected by the state’s top offensive linemen, Georgetown commit, Jorge Ruiz Jorge Ruiz 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Iona Prep | 2023 State NY .
Perhaps one of the biggest keys to this weekends matchup lies with Iona Prep’s Jaden Codrington Jaden Codrington 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Iona Prep | 2024 State NY , a rising star at the cornerback position. He is 5’11 170 pounds who has the speed, footwork and ball skills to make plays on even the best of receivers. After intercepting a pass from Dante Torres Dante Torres 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB St. Anthony's | 2023 State NY in their recent loss, this may very well be a breakout game for the Gaels 2024 class defensive back.
This is a pivotal point of the season in which teams rise and fall, learn and grow closer together, and endure physical and mental hardships to play for the success of their programs. This will be the top battle to watch this weekend with so much on the line early on. Will the Gaels climb their way back to the top of the mountain? Or will Stepinac remain undefeated and continue their quest for this years championship?