2024 Varsity Football

Written on 08/27/2024
Greg Guastavino

Roster, Coaches, Team Information


2024 Varsity Football

The 2024 Monsignor Farrell varsity Lions

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2024 Game Results

Game 1 - (W) Lions 34 - Bishop Hendricken (RI) 30

Game 2 - (L) Lions 21 - Rye (NY) 31

Game 3 - (L) Lions 0 - Delbarton (NJ) 28

Game 4 - (L) Lions 27 - St. Anthony's 35

Game 5 - (L) Lions 12- Cardinal Hayes 18

Game 6 - (W) Lions 14 - St. Peter's 3

Watch Live

All home games and some away games are streamed live via LocalLive.  Click here to see the broadcast schedule.

Tickets

Tickets to home games go on sale one week prior to the game and must be purchased through the online ticketing service.  *Home games often sell out.


2024 Season Preview

The Lions remain the only Staten Island Catholic High School football program that competes in the elite CHSFL AAA division. 

Rocco Del Priore '05 returns for his third season as head coach after leading the Lions to an 8-3 record last season, reaching the CHSFL AAA semifinals.  They ended the season ranked 8th out of 660 teams in New York State.  The Lions were ranked #12 in the state preseason poll and the #1 Catholic team on Staten Island by SILive.

The 2024 season schedule is one of the most difficult in the area. Not only do they play perennial CHSFL AAA powerhouses such as Stepinac, Iona Prep, and St. Anthony's, but the Lions also have three non-league games against some of the top teams in the area.  

The schedule begins with a home game against defending Rhode Island Division 1 State Champion Bishop Hendricken on Saturday, August 31st.  The Lions came from behind to defeat the Hawks in each of the previous two season openers.

Del Priore and his squad travel to Rye, NY in week 2 (September 6th) to face Rye High School, the 2023 New York State Class B champions.  The following week, the Lions return to Coach Dennis Barrett Stadium to host Delbarton (NJ),  ranked #6 in New Jersey by MaxPreps, in The Battle for the Bridge (NY vs. NJ) on September 13th

The first league game of the season will be on September 20th when St. Anthony's visits The Den.  Last season, Del Priore led the Lions to their first victory over St. Anthony's since the 2000 CHSFL Championship game, and the first win at St. Anthony's since 1993. 

“This is a special team, led by an amazing group of connected seniors," said Coach Del Priore.  "The kids truly love one another and most of all, love Monsignor Farrell. We will continue to maintain a highly visible program while we build depth to gear up for a AAA title run," he added.

2024 Varsity Schedule

2024 Roster

Team Captains

Seniors Ryan Walsh QB, Gerard Sheehan LB, Nafis Muhammad RB, William Aguirre OT

2024 Varsity Roster

Defense

Formation: 3-and-4-man fronts
Returning Starters: 5

HS football: QB Cristian Pinto's 3 TDs, stifling defense help Monsignor Farrell steamroll Canarsie, 49-6 (photos) - silive.com

#7 Gerard Sheehan celebrates a fumble recovery against Canarsie in 2023.  (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)

 

Del Priore, who also serves as defensive coordinator, wants his defense to continue to set the tone as they did last season.  "For the defense to be successful, we need to be excellent in our fundamentals, while being sound in tackling and coverage," noted the former defensive lineman for the Lions.  "We will look to be aggressive and dictate the pace of the game."

The Lions' defense from a year ago was dominant but did lose a number of starters to graduation.  Seniors Rocco Del Giorno (safety, 39 tackles in '23) and linebacker Gerard Sheehan (56 tackles, 6.5 for a loss in '23) who were a big part of last year's defense, return for their senior season.

Will Andrade, who recorded 34 tackles at safety last year as a sophomore, will also play receiver and return kicks.

Alex Ustun and CJ Palazolla also started on the 2023 team as sophomores and will be relied upon heavily by Del Priore.  Ustun is one of the team’s top corners and will also play receiver, while Palazolla, the 6' 2" junior will help anchor the defensive line.

If Del Priore has any concerns about his defense, it is game experience.  "The 2023 defensive unit had so many stand-out players, that it kept a number of potential starters sidelined," the coach explained.

Defensive Line

  • CJ Palazolla, Junior, 6’2" 210
  • Cole Savino, Junior, 6’1" 220
  • JP Deliso, Senior, 6’2" 225
  • Mike Likakakis, 5’11" 260
  • Joseph Vitale, 5’9" 230

Linebackers

  • Gerard Sheehnan, Senior, 6’0" 210
  • Joseph Giovanelli, Senior, 5’9" 190
  • Mike Picciano, Senior, 5’9" 180
  • Brendan Mullen, Senor, 6’1" 195
  • DJ Morrisey, Senior, 6’0" 175
  • Andrew Doyle, Junior, 5’10" 175

Secondary

  • Alex Ustun, Junior, 6'0" 165
  • Matthew Tristano, Junior, 6’1" 195
  • Rocco Del Giorno, Senior, 5'10" 170
  • Biagio D’Aquino, Junior, 5’9" 165
  • Jason Rodriquez , Junior, 5'9" 165
  • Teo Tsolous, Junior, 5'10" 165

Special Teams

  • Jakes Burrowes, Junior, 6'0" 215 P/K
  • Ustin, LS
  • Will Andrade, Junio,r 5'8" 170 P/K Return
  • Kevin Gumb, Junior, 5'10" 190 P/K Return

Offense

Multiple Spread
Returning Starters: 6
 
Nafis Muhammad - Hudl
Senior RB Nafis Muhammad (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)​
 
The workhorse of the Lions' offense last season was running back Nafis Muhammad.  As a junior, Muhammad rushed for over 1000 yards and 7 touchdowns, including a gutsy performance in the road win at St. Anthony's, when he accounted for over 300 yards from scrimmage.  “He’ll run through a wall and the team would run through a wall for him," said Del Priore of the senior captain.  Backing Muhammad up will be junior Kevin Gumb.  "Kevin has had an awesome camp and will definitely get some carries behind Nafis, which will be huge come playoff time," explained offensive coordinator Joe Mariconda '89.
 
Mariconda returns for his second season back with the Lions.  The quarterback on the 1988 team,  Mariconda coached the Lions to back-to-back CHSFL AAA championships in 1999 and 2000 as OC.  He spent nearly 20 seasons coaching at Tottenville High School before returning home to Farrell last season.
 
"We're looking to build on the success we had running the ball last year which starts with the offensive line," said Mariconda, who will look to senior offensive linemen Nick Pica and three-year starter William Aguirre.  Like Del Priore, Mariconda wants to play fast.  "We have worked hard to improve our tempo this year and the kids have done a great job with this at camp," he explained.   "Our first 3 non-league games are very difficult but will be a great test to see where we are entering our league games."
 
In addition to Muhammad at running back, Mariconda looks to the QB position to make an impact.  Senior Ryan Walsh served as a backup last season but did get some game experience.
"Ryan has an incredible command of the offense," said Mariconda. "He moves well in the pocket and can make plays if our pass protection breaks down."  Del Priore also praised the senior QB, who was elected one of the team captains.  “Ryan is a true leader with great anticipation and a quick release."
 
Freshman quarterback Bryce Moye has turned some heads this preseason and will get some snaps this year.  "We're excited about our passing game this year. Both QBs have done a great job sitting in the pocket and getting the ball downfield to our receivers this preseason," said Mariconda.  The top targets for the Lions' quarterbacks will be returning standout Alex Ustun, senior speedster Tyler Rivera, 6'6" tight end Aiden Pederos (Fordham University commit), and freshman Braxton Moye, Bryce's twin brother.
 

Quarterbacks

  • Ryan Walsh, Senior, 5'11" 175
  • Bryce Moye, Freshman, 6'1" 175

Running Backs

  • Nafis Muhammad, Senior, 5'10" 180
  • Kevin Gumb, Junior, 5'10" 190

Wide Receivers

  • Will Andrade, Junior, 5'8" 170
  • Tyler Rivera, Senior, 5'10" 160
  • Braxton Moye, Freshman, 6'2" 200
  • Gianni Pasquolone, Junior, 5'10" 175
  • RJ Tait, Junior, 6'2" 185

Tight End

  • Aiden Pederos, Senior, 6'6" 240

Offensive Line

  • William Aguirre, Senior, 6'2" 285
  • Nick Pica, Senior, 6'2" 185
  • Alpha Ba, Sophomore, 6'0" 255
  • Carlo Della Raigione, Sophomore, 6’2" 315
  • Dominic Spatola, Junior, 5’10" 225
  • AJ Lombardi, Junior, 5’11" 235

Coaching Staff

Head Coach - Rocco Del Priore '05, third season

Head football coach Rocco Del Priore at the 2024 Football Alumni Day held at Coach Dennis Barrett Stadium in Oakwood on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Former coach Gary Romeo was honored by the entire Monsignor Farrell High School football program, consisting of the freshman, junior varsity, and varsity teams, along with alumni, family, and friends. (Owen Reiter for the Staten Island Advance)Head coach Rocco Del Priore '05 (Owen Reiter photo)

Defense

Defensive Coordinator - Del Priore
Defensive Line - Evan Odeseye
Linebackers - Chris Mule '13
Defensive Backs - John Travers '87
Quality Control - Mike Fina '06

Special Teams

Vin Minichello '04

Offense

Offensive Coordinator - Joe Mariconda '89
Offensive Line - Chris Sessa
Quarterbacks - Donato Fiorello '13
Wide Receivers - Frank Monte '94, Mike Regan '88
Running Backs - Anthony Panagakos
Quality Control - Sean Benitez '01