Preseason Rankings: Monsignor Martin Top Three Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Monsignor Martin League has produced some impressive teams and players over the last few years. In this article we predict the top three teams across the Monsignor Martin league. Only three teams will be featured in this article, as I believe multiple are tied for the #4 and #5 slot on this list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Canisius </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach: <strong>Kraig Kurzanski</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Kurzansk</strong>i, led his Crusaders to a<strong> 9-3</strong> record in 2024. Canisius picked up key wins against <strong>St. Francis, St. Joseph Collegiate, Bishop Timon St. Jude, and Scranton Prep</strong>. The three loses for the Crusaders came at the hands of <strong>Washington, Cathedral Prep, and Iona Prep</strong> during a deep playoff run. Key loses for Canisius include <strong>ATH Jahyden Clark, DL's Anthony Pitts Jr, and Mason Alnutt</strong>. Key returners include <strong>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1345135' first='Amir' last='Hernandez'], LB [player_tooltip player_id='806776' first='Arno' last='Mbaiyo'], and DL [player_tooltip player_id='1621875' first='Javez' last='Caldwell'], 2027 RB [player_tooltip player_id='778700' first='Elijah' last='Kimble'], and WR [player_tooltip player_id='1506749' first='Jack' last='Africano']</strong>. I have the Crusaders finishing with a <strong>7-2</strong> record through their nine games. Key wins for the 2025 season include <strong>Bishop Timon St. Jude, Walsh Jesuit, Scranton Prep, and Ironton</strong>. The two loses fall at the hands of <strong>St. Francis, and St. Joseph Collegiate</strong>. A playoff run is the standard for the Crusaders in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/buffalo/canisius/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/buffalo/canisius/football/schedule</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>St. Joseph Collegiate Institute </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach: <strong>Mike Corona</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Corona</strong> led his Marauders to a <strong>6-4</strong> record in 2024. Key wins from last season include <strong>Jamestown, McKinley, and Bishop Timon St. Jude</strong>. The loses from last season fell at the hands of an unnamed opponent, <strong>St. Francis, and Canisius in the regular season and the playoffs</strong>. Key loses for the Marauders are <strong>RB Giorgio Panepinto, LB Gavin Schmidt, DL's Jeremiah Guerrero, and Peyton Brock</strong>. Key returners include <strong>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1624510' first='Stone' last='Rozak'], 2027 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1514902' first='Damone' last='Harden'], [player_tooltip player_id='1257837' first='Owen' last='Kicinski']</strong>, and many other star players. I have the SJCI with a <strong>7-1</strong> record through the eight games listed in 2025. Key wins for the Marauders include <strong>Cardinal Hayes, Jamestown, Canisius, and University Prep</strong>. The one loss comes at the hands of <strong>St. Francis</strong>. St. Joseph Collegiate brings in a veteran roster in 2025. A deep playoff run is doable for the Marauders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/buffalo/st-josephs-collegiate-institute-marauders/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/buffalo/st-josephs-collegiate-institute-marauders/football/schedule</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <strong>St. Francis</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach: <strong>Jerry Smith</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Smith</strong> led his Red Raiders to a <strong>5-5</strong> record in 2024. Key wins for St. Francis include <strong>Benedictine, St. Joseph Collegiate, and Bishop Timon St. Jude</strong>. Key loses from last season came from <strong>Canisius, Ironton, and St Joseph Collegiate</strong> in the playoffs. Despite the record, the St. Francis team returns some of the states top players like, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1814227' first='Larry' last='Davis III'], [player_tooltip player_id='747257' first='Matt' last='Zielinski'], [player_tooltip player_id='743702' first='Nico' last='Pinelli'], [player_tooltip player_id='807867' first='Tavio' last='Hoose'], [player_tooltip player_id='747253' first='Tim' last='McCann'], 2027 Domonic Cook Jr, [player_tooltip player_id='1364035' first='Alexander' last='Bacon'], Romelloo Dunn, [player_tooltip player_id='501394' first='Trent' last='Buttles'], and Tyrone Clark</strong>. With one of the most stacked rosters in the state, I predict a perfect record for the Red Raiders in 2025. Key wins include <strong>Williamsville North, St. Joseph Collegiate, Canisius, Bishop Timon St. Jude, and Catholic Memorial</strong>. This 2025 St. Francis team will be historic and at the top of the Monsignor Martin league. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/hamburg/st-francis-red-raiders/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/hamburg/st-francis-red-raiders/football/schedule</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->