Score: St. Anthony's 28, Holy Cross 14
Records: St. Anthony's 2-0, 1-0; Holy Cross 1-1, 0-1
Hero: St. Anthony's senior middle linebacker Tyler McLees seemed to get in on every play on Friday night before a crowd of 2,000 in South Huntington. He stopped CHSFL rival Holy Cross runs cold twice on fourth-and-1 plays, turning the ball over to the Friars. McLees, the son of linebackers coach and Carey High School athletic director Matt McLees, finished with 12 tackles and two sacks. After surrendering a first-quarter touchdown, the defense held Holy Cross out of the end zone until the final minute of the game.
Turning Point: Friars senior quarterback Charlie Raffa, a Maryland recruit in lacrosse, changed the tone of the game just before halftime. He jumped-started the option offense with a weaving 60-yard run to set up St. Anthony's at the Holy Cross 1-yard-line. Senior fullback Mike Schillizzi capitalized two plays later with a 1-yard dive into the end zone. James Doktor's point after kick put the Friars in front 14-7 with 14.8 seconds left in the second quarter. Raffa finished with 11 carries for 122 yards and a touchdown.
Quote: "I thought Tyler played good, very steady,'' said St. Anthony's coach Rich Reichert, who earned his 192nd career win.
Bottom Line: It wasn't sexy, but the Friars' option attack moved the chains and got in the end zone four times. The team amassed 274 rushing yards, 191 in the first half alone . . . On the defensive side, tackle Jonathan Desir came alive in the fourth quarter with three stops in a row . . . Senior cornerback Eddie Finocchiaro suffered a broken right tibia with 2:05 remaining and is likely done for the season . . . This was a rematch of last season's CHSFL Class AAA semifinal, won by the Friars.
Key Stat: The Friars held Stanford-bound wide receiver Devon Cajuste in check. Aside from a 31-yard reception in the first quarter, Cajuste was a non-factor until he hauled in a 1-yard touchdown reception with 20 seconds left and the game already decided. Credit Friars cornerback Matt DeLea, who matched up well with the 6-4 Cajuste.
Who's Next: Sept. 24 St. Anthony's @ Farrell (Staten Island), 7 p.m.
CHSFL
TEAMS…………….1….2….3….4 – F
Holy Cross……….7….0….0….7 – 14
St. Anthony’s….7….7….7….7 – 28
HC – Durkan 37 run (Durkan kick)
SA -- Schillizzi 1 run (J. Doktor kick)
SA -- Schillizzi 1 run (J. Doktor kick)
SA – Raffa 15 run (J. Doktor kick)
SA -- LoCascio 1 run (J. Doktor kick)
HC – Cajuste 1 pass from Gavalas (Durkan kick)
