Game Previews: Iona Prep Vs St Joseph By the Sea

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Breakdown </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Spagnolo</strong> led his Gaels to an <strong>11-2</strong> record in 2024. Iona Prep suffered two early loses against New Jersey Teams like <strong>Bergen Catholic and Delbarton</strong>. Some key wins from last year included <strong>Archbishop Stepinac, St. John the Baptist, Chaminade, Monsignor Farrell, St. Anthony's and Canisius</strong> in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2025 Schedule </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gaels started off the season with back to back wins against difficult opponents in Paramus Catholic and Somers. Following this weeks matchup, the Gaels have seven games remaining on their schedule. Key matchups for Iona Prep include <strong>Archbishop Stepinac, Kellenburg Memorial, Chaminade, Cardinal Hayes, and St. Anthony's.</strong> The Gaels are the top team in the state for a good reason and I expect a State Championship for Coach Spagnolo and Iona Prep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players To Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>2026 DL <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/dalton-lozin/">[player_tooltip player_id='600090' first='Dalton' last='Lozin']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2026 OL <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/anthony-dinapoli/">[player_tooltip player_id='735875' first='Anthony' last='Dinapoli']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2026 OL <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/carlos-malespin/">[player_tooltip player_id='402255' first='Carlos' last='Malespin']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2026 RB <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/crew-davis-2/">[player_tooltip player_id='1001144' first='Crew' last='Davis']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2026 QB <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/julian-guzman/">[player_tooltip player_id='735876' first='Julian' last='Guzman']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2026 EDGE <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/orion-trujillo/">[player_tooltip player_id='535645' first='Orion' last='Trujillo']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2027 DL <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/austin-farrell/">[player_tooltip player_id='741080' first='Austin' last='Farrell']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2027 DB <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/mamadee-sangaray/">[player_tooltip player_id='741078' first='Mamadee' last='Sangaray']</a></strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Keys To The Game</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Control The Line</strong>: Iona Prep has top prospects on both sides of the LOS. In order to win this game, the Gaels need to control the line allowing both offense and defense to prosper throughout the game. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735876' first='Julian' last='Guzman']</strong>: The starting QB for Iona Prep has been playing some top tier football to start 2025. A key to winning this game will be for him to continue this trend against St. Joseph By the Sea.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Limit Mistakes</strong>: Winning a game against a trick opponent like St. Joseph By the Sea will require mistakes to be limited, in order to stop potential advantages during the game. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">St. Joesph By the Sea Breakdown</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Baptiste led his Vikings to an 11-2 record in 2024 .he Vikings were crowned the winners of the AA tournament in the Catholic League last season. Fordham Prep, and St. Peter's were the two loses from last season. Some key wins included Holy Cross, Xavier, St. John the Baptist, and Holy Trinity twice. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2025 Schedule </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three games have been played by the Vikings this season, with a 2-1 record so far. St. Peters is the one loss, while Holy Cross, and Fordham Prep are the wins so far. Following this week, six games remain on schedule for the Vikings, with key matchups against Archbishop Stepinac, Monsignor Farrell, and Xaverian. A tricky schedule remains for the Vikings, but I see another AA playoff run in the future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players To Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>2027 ATH Joey</strong> <strong>Moran</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2027 ATH Kenny Moran</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2027 QB Peter Tronolone </strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Keys To The Game</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Stop Playmakers</strong>: This Iona Prep Offense is loaded, if St. Joseph By the Sea wants to win, they need to stop players like [player_tooltip player_id='1001144' first='Crew' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='735876' first='Julian' last='Guzman'], [player_tooltip player_id='402261' first='Eric' last='Pirrello'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1624499' first='Joe' last='Wolf'].</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>No Mistakes</strong>: Iona Prep has a top offense in the state. Making a mistake and allowing this offense good field position, is a major problem this Vikings team needs to avoid.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Consistency</strong>: Three tough opponents for the Vikings to start the season, they beat two of them. To win against the Gaels, they need to have consistency throughout the game on both offense and defense. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->