Game Previews: St. Joseph Collegiate Vs Cardinal Hayes

<!-- 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><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>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2025 Schedule </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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> Bishop Timon St.Jude, 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: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 LB <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/stone-rozak/">[player_tooltip player_id='1624510' first='Stone' last='Rozak']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2026 LB/RB <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/davion-becker/">[player_tooltip player_id='1344757' first='Davion' last='Becker']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2026 OL <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/ben-foglia-albrecht/">[player_tooltip player_id='1257159' first='Ben' last='Foglia-Albrecht']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2027 LB/EDGE <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/damone-harden/">[player_tooltip player_id='1514902' first='Damone' last='Harden']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2027 ATH <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/owen-kicinski/">[player_tooltip player_id='1257837' first='Owen' last='Kicinski']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2027 RB <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/glen-echeverria/">[player_tooltip player_id='1811630' first='Glen' last='Echeverria']</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>Defense</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='1624510' first='Stone' last='Rozak'], [player_tooltip player_id='1344757' first='Davion' last='Becker'], Damon Harden, and [player_tooltip player_id='1257837' first='Owen' last='Kicinski'] combine to make for an impressive defense roster. Using their strength on defense is important in winning this game. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Experience</strong>. This SJCI team is full of experience and depth. With a tough matchup against Cardinal Hayes a key to winning will be using their experience. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Set The Tone</strong>. New season, New team, New opponent. In a regular season matchup against Cardinal Hayes in Albany, SJCI needs to show how WNY plays football if they want to win. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cardinal Hayes Breakdown</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach O'Neil led his Cardinals to an 8-4 record In 2024. Cardinal Hayes made the AAA playoffs where they suffered a semi-final loss to St. Anthony's. The Friars marked two of the four loses last season with DePaul Catholic, and Iona Prep being the other two. Key wins from 2024 included Moore Catholic, Monsignor Farrell, Chaminade, Kellenburg Memorial, and Catholic Memorial. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2025 Schedule </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals have ten games listed on their schedule in 2025. Following the neutral site matchup against St. Joseph Collegiate, the Cardinals travel to Montvale for a matchup against St. Joseph Reigonal. Following this weekend nine games remain on the schedule for the Cardinals. Key games for 2025 include Iona Prep, St. Anthony's, Archbishop Stepinac, St. Peter's, and Monsignor Farrell. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/bronx/cardinal-hayes-cardinals/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/bronx/cardinal-hayes-cardinals/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 ATH <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/ahmed-toure/">[player_tooltip player_id='1364921' first='Ahmed' last='Toure'] </a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2026 OL <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/ali-farhat/">[player_tooltip player_id='402253' first='Ali' last='Farhat']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2026 OL <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/alyjah-lozada/">[player_tooltip player_id='1364876' first='Alyjah' last='Lozada']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2026 DL <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/zaire-walden/">[player_tooltip player_id='1364892' first='Zaire' last='Walden']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2027 OL <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jamarr-malcolm/">[player_tooltip player_id='1649249' first='Jamarr' last='Malcolm'] </a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2027 QB <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kyle-mercorelli/">[player_tooltip player_id='1649268' first='Kyle' last='Mercorelli']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2027 TE <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/saleh-atariwa/">[player_tooltip player_id='1814209' first='Saleh' last='Atariwa']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2027 DL <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/samuel-harris-3/">[player_tooltip player_id='1649260' first='Samuel' last='Harris']</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>New QB</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='1649268' first='Kyle' last='Mercorelli'] transferred in from Hudson Catholic and should start for the Cardinals. Cardinal Hayes needs him to hit the ground running in this game. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Experience</strong>. The Talented Cardinals lose some key playmakers from last season but have tons of depth on their roster. The Cardinals need to use their experience against a tough opponent. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Control the line</strong>. The Cardinals have tons of playmakers on both sides of the line. A key to winning this game is controlling the line of scrimmage and stopping/creating pressure. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->