Game 4
Lions drop CHSFL AAA league opener to the visiting Friars; move to 1-3 overall
STA QB Gary Merrill is surrounded by Lions. (Ed Seaman/smugmug.com photo)
There are no easy weeks for the Lions as their demanding 2024 schedule matched them up with yet another top-ranked team. In the first three weeks of non-league play, the Lions faced the defending Rhode Island State Champions (Bishop Hendricken), the defending NY State Champions (Rye), and Delbarton, ranked #6 in New Jersey. After defeating Hendricken, the Lions let a second-half lead slip away against Rye and were shut out at home against Delbarton.
In week four, perennial CHSFL AAA powerhouse St. Anthony's traveled to The Den for the Lions' first league game of the season. The Friars, 1-2 entering the contest, were led by the University of North Carolina-bound senior QB Gary Merrill. The 6'1" signal caller, who will be playing lacrosse for the Tar Heels next year, accounted for 388 of STA's 469 total yards of offense.
“Our game plan was to try to contain him’' said the Lions' Head Coach Rocco Del Priore '05 of Merrill. "We just weren't able to do it," he added. The Friars QB ended the night rushing for 165 yards and three touchdowns on 31 attempts and completed 16 of 22 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
The Lions' offense more than kept pace with Merrill and the Friars, amassing 337 total yards, led by senior captains running back Nafis Muhammad and quarterback Ryan Walsh. Muhammad, who continues to be the workhorse for the Lions, carried the ball 23 times for 135 yards and a touchdown while Walsh added 150 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air, connecting on 9 of 16 attempts and adding another touchdown on the ground.
Senior RB and co-captain Nafis Muhammad on the carry in front of a packed Lions Den. (Ed Seaman/smugmug.com photo)
Tied at the Half
After Walsh scored on a QB sneak (Jake Burrowes' kick) to put the Lions up 14-7 in the second, it appeared they would take the lead into the locker room. However, STA scored with no time left on the clock when Merrill found the endzone from 2 yards out. The extra point made it 14-14 at the half.
Walsh led the offense with two passing touchdowns to open the second half. His 14-yard touchdown pass to Braxton Moye was countered by Merrill's TD pass to wide receiver Johnny Russo (3 for 90, TD). Walsh responded with a 57-yard strike to speedster Tyler Rivera. A blocked extra point made the score 27-21 with just over seven minutes left in the third quarter.
Merrill then accounted for two touchdowns, both on the ground. His 1-yard run put the Friars up 28-27. Halfway through the fourth quarter, Merrill scored again from the Farrell 29.
Trailing 35 - 27, the Lions' threatened with just over 5 minutes left in the game. With the ball on the STA 6-yard line, Walsh's attempt was intercepted in the end zone by Parker McDonald. The Friars controlled the clock for the remainder of the game, chewing up 53 yards and four first downs to thwart the Lions' comeback.
The Lions fell to 1-3 overall, 0-1 in the CHSFL AAA division. They will travel to Columbia University on Friday, September 27th to face the defending AAA champions, Cardinal Hayes, ranked #2 in NY State by MaxPreps. Kickoff is at 7pm.