Game 1
Senior Ryan Walsh threw for 3 touchdowns and ran for another in his first start at QB for the Lions.(Staten Island Advance/Annie DeBiase)
Lions defeat defending Rhode Island State Champion in season opener
Kevin Gumb’s late TD the difference as Farrell wins another thriller over Bishop Hendricken, 34-30
By James Speciale Silive.com
Another season-opener, another barn-burner between Monsignor Farrell and Rhode Island state champ Bishop Hendricken to kick off the 2024 high school football campaign.
And more importantly for Farrell and head coach Rocco Del Priore, another victory as the Lions once again came back from another fourth-quarter deficit to snatch a 34-30 non-league win at jam-packed and loud Dennis Barrett Stadium, Oakwood.
The rivalry between the two schools has now taken on a life of its own as Farrell has claimed victory in each of the last three lid lifters — all in dramatic fashion.
The Lions won the 2022 season opener 31-27 in Oakwood as Shawn Keegan took a kickoff to the house with 0:30 seconds left in the game. Last year, senior QB Christian Pinto hooked up with wide receiver Nick Souffrin on a fourth-down play with 0:21 ticks to go as Farrell escaped with a scintillating 23-20 triumph at Bryant University, RI.
The third chapter in the series lived up to equal billing as Farrell led 21-7 at the break, only to withstand a second-half fury from the visitors that saw them take their first lead of the game when Scot Belford Jr. nailed a 40-yard field goal early in the final stanza to give BH a short-lived 30-28 lead.
"Winning a game like this against a good team is a great way to start the season.”
- QB Ryan Walsh
“Unbelievable, program; ridiculous coaching staff,” exclaimed Del Priore when describing Bishop Hendricken. “They impress me each and every year with the way they play their game. But I’m proud of our boys. Week 1 we battled against a tough opponent and we got down, they came back on us, but we just stuck with it and made plays at the end when we had to on both sides of the ball,” added the third-year mentor.
The two schools are developing a Rocky-themed rivalry filled with post-season-like drama in Week 1. Maybe next year’s fourth contest will be held in Moscow!
This edition’s drama was highlighted by a punch-for-punch second-half after the Lions pretty much controlled the opening 24 minutes.
The Hawks burst out of the locker room with a nifty six-play, 80-yard drive, culminating with a 15-yard scoring pass from QB Dylan Lynch to receiver Sebastian Nault. Belford’s PAT made it a one-score game at 21-14. Farrell went three-and-out on its next series and BH drove another 80-yards to pay dirt as junior running back Jeremy Dennis went in from three yards to make it 21-20. A bad snap on the PAT kept Farrell’s advantage at a single point.
“We knew we would get their best shot and we did,” claimed Del Priore.
On the ensuing kickoff, junior up-back Kevin Gumb then provided a spark for the Lions as he returned a bouncing ball 52 yards to the Hawks 30 and immediately swung the momentum back to the home team.
“We pride ourselves on specials and special teams coordinator Vincent Minichello prepares the unit so well,” Del Priore said. “We know each week our specials will make an impact.”
Monsignor Farrell attempts to deny Bishop Hendricken a touchdown at the goalline. (Staten Island Advance/Annie DeBiase
After an incomplete pass on first down senior tailback Nafis Muhammed (29 carries, 172 yards) ran three straight times for 25 yards as the Lions set up shop first-and-goal at the 4. First-time starting QB Ryan Walsh then covered the final four yards and Farrell regained an eight-point bulge (28-20) at the 3:11 mark of the third.
“I’m just looking to do anything I can to help the team and that was a big score for us as they closed the gap,” said Walsh. “I was really nervous before the game and I threw a pick on the first drive and I knew I had to lock in after that.
But Farrell showed its mettle once again. The combined power running of Muhammed and Gumb would pave the way for an 80-yard scoring drive when Gumb (9 carries, 66 yards) weaved in and out of would-be tacklers for a 41-yard jaunt to make the score 34-30. Walsh’s two-point PAT pass fell incomplete.
William Aguirre (75) lifts Alex Ustun in the air after the latter scores a touchdown. (Staten Island Advance/Annie DeBiase)
The Lions would seal the deal on the game’s next possession as the defense came up with its biggest play of the contest when senior linebacker Joe Giovanelli (five tackles) tipped a ball on a blitz that landed in the arms of DB Justin Rodriguez for a back-breaking interception.
Prior to the play Del Priore and his staff called a crucial timeout that keyed the ensuing turn of events.
“It feels great to make a play like that and it feels great to get a win like this in a great atmosphere like it was here tonight” - LB Joe Giovanelli
“We aligned wrong; our nickel went out to the boundary and their best player (Sebastian Lora) was going to be open and we immediately called the timeout. We sent a certain blitz that we had sent all night with our two senior linebackers (Gerard) Sheehan and Giovanelli and we held our ends back. We pride ourselves on takeaways and sacks and we needed one their; the boys executed,” praised Del Priore.
“It feels great to make a play like that and it feels great to get a win like this in a great atmosphere like it was here tonight,” Giovanelli admitted. “After the timeout we called the linebacker blitz and I was untouched, then I seen a little slip screen developing and I just put my hands up got the tip and we made a play. Great feeling.”
Monsignor Farrell's Tyler Rivera prepares to catch what will eventually be a TD pass. (Staten Island Advance/Annie DeBiase)
“Program kid, nothing more you can say about him,” once again Del Priore praised. “The development of this young man has been incredible. He put a ton of work in and we kind of knew this was going to happen for him. Couldn’t be happier.”
Will Andrade (2) and Kevin Gumb attempt to take down a Bishop Hendricken receiver. (Staten Island Advance/Annie DeBiase)
NOTES
Lineman Cole Savino had an active night for the Lions with six tackles and two pressures ... Rocco Del Giorno and Sheehan each had a pass defensed ... Kicker Jake Burrows was 4-for-4 on PAT’s ... The Lions had 16 first downs to the Hawks 12 ... Farrell special teams also produced a nice 35-yard KO return from Will Andrade ... The Lions o-line led by center Dom Spatola was equally tough in the run and pass games ... Guards Anthony Lombardi and Nick Pica and tackles Carlo Della Ragione and William Aguirre also shined on the line ... Farrell will continue its tough non-conference sked as they travel to Rye HS for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday night ... BH is the defending RI state champ and has won 12 state titles since 2010 under the tutelage of head coach Keith Croft.