Iona Prep 2022 Season Preview
Twitter: @ionafootball HC: Joe Spagnolo (@Joespags12) 2021 Results (11-1) Loss @ Don Bosco Prep 21-7 Win vs. Bishop Hendricken 35-14 Win vs. Monsignor Farrell 24-10 Win vs. Christ the King 63-20 Win vs. Archbishop Stepinac 34-7 Win @ Kellenberg Memorial…
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HC: Joe Spagnolo (@Joespags12)
2021 Results (11-1)
Loss @ Don Bosco Prep 21-7
Win vs. Bishop Hendricken 35-14
Win vs. Monsignor Farrell 24-10
Win vs. Christ the King 63-20
Win vs. Archbishop Stepinac 34-7
Win @ Kellenberg Memorial 35-6
Win vs. Cardinal Hayes 35-21
Win @ St. Anthony’s 35-34
Win @ Chaminade 42-14
Win vs. St. Anthony’s 35-28 2OT (Playoffs)
Win vs. Monsignor Farrell 49-15 (Playoffs)
Win vs. St. Francis 38-22 (Playoffs)
Team Preview
Last year’s CHSFL Varsity AAA Championship & NYSCHSAA State Championship Game Winner Iona Prep rebounded from a first-game loss to Don Bosco Prep. Iona Prep rattled off 11 straight wins, many of which in dominating fashion. Headed into the 2022 season Iona Prep is ranked the #1 team in New York State, which is no surprise. Likely the most talented roster in New York, Iona Prep has multiple division I commits and many players garnering some recruiting attention at all levels of the college ranks. Led by last season’s New York State Player of The Year, Ajani Sheppard Ajani Sheppard 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Iona Prep | 2023 State NY Iona Prep brings back their most dynamic playmaker in Sheppard, who was responsible for over 3,300 yards through the air and the ground last season. The Old Dominion Commit will have to blend with some new receivers as he lost four of his top five targets from last year to college or transfer. Expect the trio of Mike Senatore, Ethan Acevedo, and Dylan Iorgoveanu to be relied upon heavily in the passing game.
Iona does have some significant holes to fill. Most notably, cornerback star Ellis Robinson IV transferred to IMG to finish his high school career. Luckily cornerbacks Jaden Codrington Jaden Codrington 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Iona Prep | 2024 State NY and Terron Johnson have experience from rotating across from Robinson IV last season. While both may not be on the level of Robinson IV, they could still be one of the state’s best boundary duos. The defense has a lot of size up front, with Jaylin Hicks, Zakar Morris, and Capri Martin Capri Martin 6'2" | 270 lbs | DL Iona Prep | 2023 State NY above 250lbs. These three guys should open up space for the defensive star Zyian Moultrie-Goddard Zyian Moultrie-Goddard 6'2" | 240 lbs | LB Iona Prep | 2023 State NY LB to make plays.
Also, something that needs to be pointed out is that Iona Prep may have the best Specialists in the entire North East. Sean O’Neill is a New Hampshire Commit, the best punter in the state. Sam Bisesi is only a Junior garnering some pretty significant Division I attention.
Iona Prep will be hard to stop this year, and it is hard seeing them loos handle on their reign atop the Catholic AAA League. Their biggest threat is St. Anthony’s, with whom they had some battles last season on two separate occasions. Still, until someone proves they can stop Ajani Sheppard Ajani Sheppard 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Iona Prep | 2023 State NY behind center, Iona Prep will be in control of the Catholic AAA league. As the best team in New York, Iona Prep has scheduled some tough New Jersey competition as they look to avenge their loss to Don Bosco Prep and face new blood from Akron, Ohio, in Archbishop Hoban, who sports some excellent FBS/FCS talent.
2023 Prospects to Watch
Ajani Sheppard Ajani Sheppard 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Iona Prep | 2023 State NY QB 6’2/230lbs (2,357 passing yards, 1,041 rushing yards, 38 total TDs, Old Dominion Commit, New York State Player of The Year)
Zyian Moultrie-Goddard Zyian Moultrie-Goddard 6'2" | 240 lbs | LB Iona Prep | 2023 State NY LB/RB 6’/230lbs (131 tackles, 23 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 323 rushing yards, 7.2 YPC, 7 TDs, Syracuse Commit)
Capri Martin Capri Martin 6'2" | 270 lbs | DL Iona Prep | 2023 State NY DL 6’1/260lbs (52 Tackles, 14 TFL, 4 Sacks, Villanova Commit)
Jorge Ruiz Jorge Ruiz 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Iona Prep | 2023 State NY OL 6’4/290lbs (Georgetown Commit)
Sean O’Neill P 6’/170 (New Hampshire Commit)
Colin O’Garro RB 6’/210lbs (454 yards, 5.5 YPC, 7 Games due to injury)
Mike Senatore WR 5’11/170lbs (28 Rece, 400 Yards, 6 TDs)
Ethan Acevedo WR 5’11/180lbs (24 Rec, 349 yards, 4 TDs, Played for Don Bosco Prep)
Keiran Connolly OLB 6’/195 (43 Tackles, 3 INTs)
Tomas Schulz-Langendorf OL 6’3/300lbs
Terrence Walden DB 5’8/155lbs (79 Tackles, 1 INT)
2024 Prospects to Watch
Jaylin Hicks DL 6’3/250lbs (34 Tackles, 10 TFL, Multiple FBS offers)
Sam Bisesi K 6’1/170lbs
Dylan Iorgoveanu WR 6’1/175lbs
Adande Nartey Adande Nartey 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Suffield Academy | 2025 New E DB 5’10/175lbs
Jaden Codrington Jaden Codrington 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Iona Prep | 2024 State NY DB 5’10/170lbs (2 INTs, 16 Tackles)
Zakar Morris DL 6’1/280lbs
Dan Pauletti OL 6’1/260lbs
2025 Prospects to Watch
Rowan Byrne Rowan Byrne 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL Iona Prep | 2025 State NY OL 6’5/285lbs (Multiple FBS Offers)
Jayden Nicolau OL 6’5/320lbs
Terron Johnson DB 5’11/170lbs (2 INTs, 25 Tackles, 1TFL, Played Varsity as a Freshman)
Nathaniel Shillingford TE 6’3/200lbs
Steven Dowdy WR 5’11/170lbs
Levi Altshuler QB 6’/170lbs
2026 Prospects to Watch
Brennen Pressley Brennen Pressley 5'10" | 190 lbs | LB Iona Prep | 2026 State NY RB/LB 5’10/170lbs
Schedule
9/3 @ Archbishop Hoban
9/10 @ Cardinal Hayes
9/17 vs. Don Bosco Prep
Don Bosco Prep currently sits atop the New Jersey State Rankings meaning this will be a matchup between the preseason #1’s. Iona Prep looks to avenge last year’s 21-7 loss to the New Jersey powerhouse. One unique storyline is that Don Bosco Prep’s leading receiver from last season, Ethan Acevedo, will be catching balls from Ajani Sheppard Ajani Sheppard 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Iona Prep | 2023 State NY in an Iona Prep Jersey. Certainly, a matchup to watch between neighboring states’ two best teams,
9/24 @ Christ The King
10/1 vs. St. Anthony’s
Perhaps the biggest threat to Iona Prep in the Catholic AAA league last season, Iona Prep won both games between the teams by a combined 8 points. St. Anthony’s will have this game circles, and you should too. Iona Prep will be facing it stiffest league competition in what is their technical home opener.
10/8 @ Archbishop Stepinac
10/15 vs. Kellenberg
10/22 @ Monsignor Farrell
10/29 vs. Chaminade