Football: Iona Prep overpowers St. Francis to win a state Catholic school championship

NEW ROCHELLE – There is nothing left to be done, nothing left to prove.

Iona Prep applied the appropriate finish to a memorable season, capturing the New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association championship on Saturday with a 38-22 victory over St. Francis Prep.

“This is what we worked so hard for,” senior wide receiver Justin Joly said. “My sophomore year, we lost to Hayes. My junior year, we got stuck dealing with COVID. So we all were really determined to win this. And props to St. Francis, they gave us a hell of run, but I just think we’re in the moment right now.

“We’re having fun.”

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It’s the first state title for the Gaels, who last week earned the first NYCHSFL AAA title in program history.

“Getting a state championship ring feels even better,” quarterback Ajani Sheppard said.

There was a lengthy celebration on the field that eventually traveled up the hill and into the locker room. A large contingent of alumni was right in the middle of it all.

“On Thanksgiving, we had more than 200 alumni come back to watch practice,” Gaels coach Joe Spagnolo said. “The kids who graduated last year and lost a season to COVID were back from college and their message was very clear, ‘Finish what we started.’ That was the goal from the beginning.”

There were some nerves in the early going and the Buffalo champion hung around, but Iona Prep was in control before halftime.

"I probably threw them off because I got all emotional before the game," Spagnolo said. "We probably had 200 alumni in the locker room before the game. There were things we’re not used to doing, but this is a special day and we wanted to make it special. That probably affected our play a little bit, but we got it going and when we get it going we’re a pretty good football team."

Turning point

A daring punt return down the sideline by Ellis Robinson in the final minute of the first half set the Gaels up in the red zone, and four plays later Sheppard pushed into the end zone from the 2. Sean O'Neill added the PAT, sending Iona Prep into the break with a 17-3 cushion.

A roughing-the-kicker penalty gave the Red Raiders added momentum on their first possession after the intermission. They narrowed the lead on a Jimmy Scott run, but there was little more than passing concern from the Gaels, who made it 38-9 before letting St. Francis Prep back in the end zone.

Colin O'Garro scored on a 5-yard run late with 2:10 to go in the third quarter. Joly caught a 12-yard pass from Sheppard in the fourth and ran for his third score of the day. The defense filled the space in between each touchdown with big stops.

"I don't think anybody was nervous last night," linebacker Zyian Moultrie-Goddard said. "I think we were more emotional because we knew it was going to be the last game for the seniors. I’m going to remember everything we’ve done this season, all the things we went through and the fact that we still made it."

Player of the game

Joly was busy, making eight catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns and picking up 40 yards and one touchdown on five carries.

By the numbers

St. Francis Prep (9-3): Steve Otremba completed 19 for 33 passes for 192 yards. He also ran for a touchdown ... Luke Nowak knotted the score 3-3 with a 20-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first quarter. ... Riccardo Kidd scored the final touchdown of the afternoon on a 1-yard plunge.

Iona Prep (11-1): With his third carry of the game, Sheppard became the first player in Westchester County history to surpass 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in a season. "It's not something I was thinking about coming into the game," he said. "But looking back on it now, that's a pretty cool stat." ... Sheppard completed 14 of 20 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 69 yards and one score on seven carries. ... The Gaels closed the season with 11 consecutive wins. ... Garro had 86 yards on 18 carries. ... O'Neill got Iona's first points on a 24-yard field goal. ... Jayson Vavrica had two sacks.

Quotable

"I've never had this much fun," Joly said of the season.

"This says we’re the No. 1 team in New York," Sheppard said of the championship. "That’s it. We’re the No. 1 team in New York."

Mike Dougherty covers boys soccer, boys lacrosse, girls basketball and golf for The Journal News/lohud.com. He can be reached at mdougher@lohud.com, or on Twitter @hoopsmbd, @lohudlacrosse, @lohudhoopsmbd and @lohudgolf.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Football: Iona Prep beats St. Francis 38-22, wins state Catholic title