Game Previews: Somers Vs Iona Prep

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top matchups of Week One will feature two stacked teams, let's break down the matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Breakdown</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Somers has won 27 straight games, dating back to the 2023 season. The Garnets have won three straight state championships and have looked like a top team in the state the last year. Key wins for the Huskers included Rye, Mahopac, Yorktown, Averill Park, Cornwall Central, and Whitesboro in a blowout state championship game 51-27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2025 Schedule </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The season for the Huskers starts out with one of the top matchups this season as <strong>Iona Prep and Somers collide in Albany</strong> for the Heroes bowl supporting Tunnel for Towers which will feature six of the state's top teams. I predict Somers winning streak will end and start over at the same time as I see a fourth straight sate championship but a <strong>7-1 </strong>regular season with a loss to Iona Prep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/lincolndale/somers-tuskers/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/lincolndale/somers-tuskers/football/schedule</a></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 WR <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/dean-palazzolo/">[player_tooltip player_id='1206376' first='Dean' last='Palazzolo']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2026 K <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/gavin-kelly-2/">[player_tooltip player_id='1624651' first='Gavin' last='Kelly']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2026 RB <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/nate-mitchell-2/">[player_tooltip player_id='1345190' first='Nate' last='Mitchell']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2026 OL <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/randolph-peterson/">[player_tooltip player_id='1624524' first='Randolph' last='Peterson']</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>Fix Holes</strong>. Somers had a solid group of Seniors graduate. Fixing the holes is crucial against a stacked Iona Prep Squad. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Special Teams</strong>. This game features two strong gritty teams. Mistakes can't happen, making special teams an important aspect with kicking, punting and solid tackling needed. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Somers Brand</strong>. Somers has won 27 straight games, dating back to 2023. Each year they have lost key playmakers. To win this game, they need to play their brand of football that has won them 27 straight games. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Iona Prep 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> I predict a perfect <strong>9-0</strong> record for the Gaels in 2025. Iona Prep opens up in Albany at the Heroes Bowl against Somers who have won 29 straight games. Key wins for this season include <strong>Somers, 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:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/new-rochelle/iona-prep-gaels/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/new-rochelle/iona-prep-gaels/football/schedule</a></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>Offense</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='735876' first='Julian' last='Guzman'] leads a stacked offense which features [player_tooltip player_id='1001144' first='Crew' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='1624499' first='Joe' last='Wolf'], Eric Peril, and many other talented players. To win this game Iona Prep needs this talented offense to contribute. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Defense</strong>. This Defense is equally as stacked. Players like [player_tooltip player_id='600090' first='Dalton' last='Lozin'], and [player_tooltip player_id='741078' first='Mamadee' last='Sangaray'], and EDGE [player_tooltip player_id='535645' first='Orion' last='Trujillo'] are major threats and need to impact this game. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Control The Line</strong>. In the 2026 class alone, Iona Prep has three stacked Lineman. Controlling the line and allowing Guzman and Davis to create plays is the key for Iona Prep to win this game. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->