The St. Anthony’s varsity football team from Melville, NY, will host Cardinal Hayes from the Bronx, NY, in a home playoff game on Friday, November 15, at 6:30 PM.
Here’s what you need to know:
What: New York High School Football
Who: Cardinal Hayes vs St. Anthony’s
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 6:30 PM ET
Bracket: 2024 Boys Fall Football NYCHSFL State Tournament – AAA
Live Stream: Watch Here
Game Preview: Cardinal Hayes vs. St. Anthony’s
This Friday, Cardinal Hayes and St. Anthony’s face off in a high-stakes playoff game that promises excitement for New York high school football fans. Both teams have had impressive seasons and look well-matched on paper, setting the stage for an intense battle.
Team Overview
Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, NY)
- Overall Record: 7-3
- League Record: 4-2
- Home Record: 2-3
- Away Record: 5-0
- Win Percentage: .700
- Points Scored (PF): 270
- Points Allowed (PA): 186
Cardinal Hayes has proven resilient, especially in away games, maintaining a perfect 5-0 record on the road. Their offense has averaged 27 points per game, while their defense has been solid, allowing only 186 points over the season.
St. Anthony’s (Melville, NY)
- Overall Record: 8-3
- League Record: 4-2
- Home Record: 4-1
- Away Record: 4-2
- Win Percentage: .727
- Points Scored (PF): 382
- Points Allowed (PA): 276
St. Anthony’s enters the playoffs with a strong 8-3 record. Known for their high-powered offense, they average nearly 35 points per game, having scored 382 points this season. They’ve also had solid results both at home and away, showing consistency across various matchups.
Recent Matchup Recap
The last time these two teams met, St. Anthony’s came out on top with a 42-34 victory. In that game, St. Anthony’s surged in the second half, putting up 28 points across the third and fourth quarters to edge out Cardinal Hayes. Although Cardinal Hayes fought hard, especially with a 13-point fourth quarter, they couldn’t overcome St. Anthony’s second-half momentum.
Team Scoring Averages
| Quarter | Cardinal Hayes | St. Anthony’s |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 5.3 | 10.2 |
| Q2 | 9.5 | 8.0 |
| Q3 | 5.4 | 8.8 |
| Q4 | 6.4 | 7.7 |
| Final | 27.0 | 34.7 |
St. Anthony’s typically starts strong, averaging 10.2 points in the first quarter. This early scoring advantage has often set the tone for the rest of the game. Cardinal Hayes, on the other hand, tends to pick up steam in the second quarter, averaging 9.5 points. However, St. Anthony’s ability to score consistently across all quarters gives them an edge in maintaining leads.
Key Stat Comparison
| Stat | Cardinal Hayes | St. Anthony’s |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing Yards/Game | 91.3 | 229.6 |
| Passing Yards/Game | 115.2 | 148.3 |
| Total Yards/Game | 206.5 | 377.9 |
| Tackles/Game | 36.3 | 30.0 |
| Sacks/Game | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| Points/Game | 14.0 | 27.4 |
St. Anthony’s offense is more balanced, boasting strong rushing and passing games, averaging 229.6 rushing yards and 148.3 passing yards per game. In contrast, Cardinal Hayes is more dependent on their passing game and has lower rushing numbers, averaging only 91.3 yards on the ground. This statistical edge in yardage and points per game makes St. Anthony’s offense one to watch.
Key Players to Watch
Cardinal Hayes
- John Weaver (#24): Leading rusher with 45.8 yards per game
- Rich Belin (#3): Passing leader with 192.0 yards per game
- Ken-g Burnham (#1): Top receiver with 79.8 yards per game
- Ayden Smartt (#6): Defensive leader with 8.2 tackles per game
St. Anthony’s
- Gary Merrill (#16): All-purpose player, leading both in rushing (153.7 yards per game) and passing (148.3 yards per game)
- Will Hart (#5): Top receiver with 51.0 yards per game
- Nicholas Skjeveland (#26): Defensive leader with 5.7 tackles per game
Both teams have standout athletes who drive their respective offenses. For Cardinal Hayes, quarterback Rich Belin and receiver Ken-g Burnham have been instrumental, while St. Anthony’s relies heavily on Gary Merrill, who plays multiple roles, contributing significantly in both the rushing and passing departments.
Common Opponents
| Opponent | Cardinal Hayes Result | St. Anthony’s Result |
|---|---|---|
| Monsignor Farrell | Won 18-12 | Won 35-27 |
| Kellenberg Memorial | Won 27-7, 34-6 | Won 34-20 |
| Iona Prep | Lost 34-27 | Lost 48-40 |
| Chaminade | Won 16-14 | Lost 31-28 |
| Archbishop Stepinac | Won 24-3 | Won 35-6, 50-14 |
Both teams have performed well against common opponents, though St. Anthony’s has generally shown a higher offensive output. Notably, both teams lost to Iona Prep in competitive games, but Cardinal Hayes managed a narrow win over Chaminade, whom St. Anthony’s narrowly lost to early in the season. Both teams also won convincingly against Archbishop Stepinac.
Record Breakdown
| Category | Cardinal Hayes | St. Anthony’s |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 7-3 | 8-3 |
| League | 4-2 | 4-2 |
| Non-League | 2-1 | 3-1 |
| Head-to-Head | 0-1 | 1-0 |
| Home | 2-3 | 4-1 |
| Away | 5-0 | 4-2 |
| Playoff | 0-0 | 1-0 |
| In-State | 7-2 | 8-2 |
| Out-of-State | 0-1 | 0-1 |
Both teams are evenly matched in league play, each with a 4-2 record. However, Cardinal Hayes has excelled on the road, remaining undefeated in away games, while St. Anthony’s has shown a slight advantage in overall record and scoring.
Prediction and Keys to Victory
For Cardinal Hayes to win, they’ll need to focus on limiting Gary Merrill‘s effectiveness on offense and look to establish their passing game early. St. Anthony’s, however, will aim to exploit Cardinal Hayes’ weaker rushing defense with Merrill’s dynamic rushing abilities.
Given their recent high-scoring contest, fans should expect another close, hard-fought game that could come down to execution in the final minutes. Whichever team can capitalize on their offensive strengths while minimizing defensive lapses will likely secure the win in this much-anticipated rematch.
