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The Connecticut state finals were held this weekend, wrapping up all the action in the Tri-state area. Since the two Connecticut teams in the poll, New Canaan and Staples, both lost, it allows two familiar teams to re-enter the poll for its finality. With the help of ESPNHS, Let's take a look at the final poll:

1. Don Bosco (11-0): Bosco went wire to wire as the No. 1 team in the country and claimed the title as the mythical national champions.

2. St. Anthony's (10-0): St. Anthony's has not lost now in the Catholic High School Football League for the past two seasons and continues to be the league's dominant team.

3. St. Joseph (Montvale) (10-2): St. Joseph had a tough loss on Thanksgiving against Bosco but winning the Non-Public Group 3 title is all any of the players will rememeber.

4. Wayne Hils (11-1): Wayne Hills won the Section 1 Group 4 title but its the suspension of the nine players that is going to be remembered about this year.

5. Bergen Catholic (8-3): For the second straight year, Bergen Catholic's quest for a state title fell short as the Crusaders lost to Bosco. No shame in that.

6. Delbarton (11-1): It's never easy to lose in a title game but that one loss to St. Joseph (Montvale) ended up being Delbarton's only blemish on the year.

7. Lincoln (13-0): Lincoln has not lost a game in the PSAL over the past two seasons and won its first Public Schools Athletic League title since 1993.

8. Piscataway (11-2): Piscataway won the Section 2 Group 4 title and moves up two spots for the final poll of the year with Staples and New Canaan losing.

9. Montclair (11-1): Montclair was a steady presence in the poll all year but a loss to North Bergen in the North 1 Group 4 title game stopped a perfect season.

10. Masuk (11-1): Masuk ran into a rock in the Class "L" semifinals as it lost to Daniel Hand, who went on to win the entire tournament.

Once the teams in Connecticut finish up, football in the Tri-state region will be over. Don Bosco won its state title this weekend, Lincoln won the PSAL title and there were plenty of other champions. With the help of ESPNHS, Let's take a look at the poll:

1. Don Bosco (11-0): Bosco dominated Bergen Catholic to win its sixth straight title and second straight against Bergen Catholic. Up next: Season over.

2. St. Anthony's (10-0): St. Anthony's moves up to the No. 2 spot in the poll with Bergen Catholic losing this past weekend. Up next: Season over.

3. St. Joseph (Montvale) (10-2): St. Joseph makes the big jump up the rankings after beating Delbarton for the Non-Public Group 3 title. Up next: Season over.

4. Wayne Hils (11-1): Without its nine suspended players, Wayne Hills still defeated Northern Valley for the Section 1 Group 4 title. Up next: Season over.

5. Bergen Catholic (8-3): For the second time this season, Bergen Catholic fell to Don Bosco, this one for the state title. Up next: Season over.

6. Delbarton (11-1): Delbarton lost its first game of the year to St. Joseph (Montvale) in the title game. Up next: Season over.

7. Lincoln (13-0): Lincoln won its first PSAL title since 1983 by defeating Erasmus Hall on Tuesday night. Up next: Season over.

8. Staples (12-0): Staples makes its first appearance in the poll and will be playing for the Class LL title. Up next: Dec. 10, vs. Xavier.

9. New Canaan (11-1): After defeating Windsor, New Canaan will meet Daniel Hand for the Class L title on Saturday. Up next: Dec. 10, vs. Hand.

10. Piscataway (11-2): Piscataway makes its first appearance in the poll after winning the Section 2 Group 4 title against Elizabeth. Up next: Season over.

The high school football season is over in New York City. Lincoln ended it with a dramatic 20-12 win over Erasmus Hall for the Public Schools Athletic League title. Let's take a look at the last poll of the year:

1. St. Anthony's (10-0): How would a matchup of St. Anthony's vs. Lincoln gone? For one, there would have been a lot of running involved.

2. Lincoln (13-0): One year after losing a heartbreak at Yankee Stadium, Lincoln returned to the title game and brought home the title this year.

3. Erasmus Hall (9-4): A lack of a legitimate passing game came back to doom Erasmus Hall on Tuesday night against Lincoln.

4. Tottenville (10-2): With Brandon Barnes returning, there's no reason to not think that Tottenville won't be among the city's best the next year.

5. Stepinac (9-3): Stepinac will be losing some key seniors from this year's team. Will the Crusaders be able to turn in another great campaign next year?

6. Xaverian (7-3): It would be intriguing to see Xaverian play some of the elite Brooklyn teams in New York City like Lincoln and Fort Hamilton.

7. Fort Hamilton (8-3): Fort Hamilton has to wonder if it would have made it to the title game had Marvin Centeno not been injured.

8. Iona Prep (6-4): With quality players returning across the board, Iona Prep will be in the hunt for the CHSFL title next season.

9. Dewitt Clinton (8-4): For the second straight season, Dewitt Clinton has proved to the best team from the Bronx.

10. Boys & Girls (7-4): To show Brooklyn's strength in the PSAL: Boys & Girls is the 10th best team in the city but the fourth best team in its borough.

All ten teams in our poll have already won their titles or will be playing for them in the next weeks. Of course, we have a great game on tap this week with Don Bosco taking on Bergen Catholic. With the help of ESPNHS, we present this week's rankings.

1. Don Bosco (10-0): Take a minute to think about how impressive their Thanksgiving win against St. Joseph (Montvale) was. Up next: Dec. 2, vs. Bergen Catholic.

2. Bergen Catholic (8-2): After beating Paramus Catholic on Thanksgiving, Bergen now gets its rematch vs. Bosco. Up next: Dec. 2, vs. Bosco.

3. St. Anthony's (10-0): The Friars remain in the three spot as their season is already over. Up next: Season over.

4. Montclair (11-0): An easy win over Bloomfield and Montclair is now undefeated as it will play for the North 1 Group 4 title. Up next: Dec. 2, vs. North Bergen.

5. Masuk (10-0): Masuk destroyed Newtown on Thanksgiving and is now the top seed in the Class "L" playoffs. Up next: Nov. 29, vs. North Haven.

6. Delbarton (11-0): Delbarton will play St. Joseph (Montvale) for the Non-Public Group 3 title. Up next: Dec. 2, vs. St. Joseph (Montvale).

7. Wayne Hils (10-1): Unfortunately, Wayne Hills is making news for all the wrong reasons heading into its title game with nine players being suspended . Up next: Dec. 2, vs. Northern Valley.

8. St. Joseph (Montvale) (9-2): We can't drop St. Joseph that far for losing to Don Bosco last week. Up next: Dec. 2, vs. Delbarton.

9. Lincoln (12-0): Lincoln is back to the PSAL final and looking to atone last year's loss to Fort Hamilton. Up next: Dec. 6, vs. Erasmus Hall.

10. Erasmus Hall (9-3): Erasmus Hall has made it to the PSAL title game after upsetting Tottenville in the semis. Up next: Dec. 6, vs. Lincoln.

Just one game remains this season. Erasmus Hall and Lincoln will meet for the Public Schools Athletic League title on Dec. 6 at Yankee Stadium. Every other team is already looking to next year. With that in mind, let's check out the poll:

1. St. Anthony's (10-0): Like we say every year, it would have been sweet to see St. Anthony's take on the PSAL champion. Up next: Season over.

2. Lincoln (12-0): Lincoln is back to the finals after beating Dewitt Clinton. Can it make up for last year's loss? Up next: Dec. 6, vs. Erasmus Hall.

3. Erasmus Hall (9-3): Erasmus Hall is one win away from winning the PSAL title as the five seed. Up next: Dec. 6, vs. Lincoln.

4. Tottenville (10-2): Tottenville has to wonder what would have happened had Brandon Barnes not gotten injured. Up next: Season over.

5. Stepinac (9-3): Stepinac defeated its rival White Plains on Thanksgiving to pick up its ninth win. Up next: Season over.

6. Xaverian (7-3): Despite losing in the semis, Xaverian is taking steps in the right direction as a program. Up next: Season over.

7. Fort Hamilton (8-3): Fort Hamilton was supposed to have been the other team in an all-Brooklyn final. Up next: Season over.

8. Iona Prep (6-4): The question for Iona now becomes what school will Justin Combs commit to? Up next: Season over.

9. Dewitt Clinton (8-4): Dewitt had a heck of a season but fell short in the PSAL semifinals against Lincoln. Up next: Season over.

10. Boys & Girls (7-4): Boys & Girls in the top 10 is more proof of how good Brooklyn was this year. Up next: Season over.

There's only one slight change to the poll this week as Red Bank Catholic falls out of the top 10 after losing to Delbarton and undefeated New York City power Lincoln enters the mix. With the help of ESPNHS, let's check out the rankings.

1. Don Bosco (9-0): Don Bosco is going to try to win its sixth straight Non-Public Group 4 state title after it demolished Paramus Catholic in the semis. Up next: Nov. 24, at St. Joseph (Montvale).

2. Bergen Catholic (7-2): Bergen dominated St. Peter's Prep in the semifinals and will get a rematch for the state title against Bosco. Up next: Nov. 24, Paramus Catholic.

3. St. Anthony's (10-0): The Friars continued their reign as the top team in New York City after winning their 10^th CHSFL title in the past 11 years with a win over Archbishop Stepinac in the "AAA" final. Up next: Season over.

4. Montclair (10-0): Montclair is off to the the North 1 Group 4 finals after a shutout against West Orange. Up next: Nov. 23, at Bloomfield.

5. Masuk (9-0): Masuk had the week off and looks to secure an undefeated regular season when it hosts Newtown. Up next: Nov. 23, vs. Newtown.

6. St. Joseph (Montvale) (9-1): St. Joseph obliterated Immaculata in the Non-Public Group 3 semifinals to set up a final against Delbarton. Next, it gets the nation's top team on Thanksgiving. Up next: Nov. 24, vs. Don Bosco.

7. Delbarton (9-1): Delbarton survived a tough game against Red Bank Catholic in the semifinals and will play St. Joseph for the title. Up next: Nov. 25, vs. Randolph.

8. Wayne Hils (10-1): Wayne Hills is one win away from a state title after defeating Paramus, 48-21, in the North 1 Group 3 semifinals. Up next: Dec. 2, vs. Northern Valley.

9. Tottenville (10-1): The Pirates return to the PSAL semifinals after an easy win at home against Campus Magnet. Up next: Nov. 26, vs. Erasmus Hall.

10. Lincoln (11-0): Lincoln makes its first appearance in the poll and is one win away from a repeat trip back to the PSAL finals. Up next: Nov. 26,vs. Dewitt Clinton.

The CHSFL has handed out all its hardware.. The PSAL "Championship" division is down to its final four teams. With just a few games left in the year, let's look at the rankings.

1. St. Anthony's (10-0): Another perfect season for the Friars, who capped off their undefeated year with a 14-0 win over Stepinac. Up next: Season over.

2. Tottenville (10-1): Tottenville is back to the semifinals following a win over Campus Magnet in the semifinals. This week's game against Erasmus Hall is the best game in New York City. Up next: Nov. 26, vs. Erasmus Hall.

3. Lincoln (11-0): The Railsplitters are the only undefeated team left in the "Championship" Division and get the No. 7 seed in Dewitt Clinton. Up next: Nov. 26, vs. Dewitt Clinton.

4. Stepinac (8-3): Stepinac, like every other team in the CHSFL, failed to beat St. Anthony's and lost to the Friars in the title game. Up next: Nov. 24, at White Plains.

5. Erasmus Hall (8-3): There's no doubt that Erasmus Hall is playing to the level of its talent after whooping Boys & Girls in the PSAL quarters. Up next: Nov. 26, at Tottenville.

6. Xaverian (7-3): Do the Clippers look at this season as one of great success or one of what could have been? Up next: Season over.

7. Fort Hamilton (8-3): Fort Hamilton had injuries catch up to it at the end of the year and found itself ousted from the playoffs in the quarters. Up next: Season over.

8. Iona Prep (6-4): Iona Prep will again be one of the best teams in the league next year with plenty of talent remaining on offense. Up next: Season over.

9. Dewitt Clinton (8-3): The Governors are the lowest seed remaining in the playoffs but are on quite a roll after beating Fort Hamilton in the quarters. Up next: Nov. 26, at Lincoln.

10. Boys & Girls (7-4): Boys & Girls saw its season come to an end after losing to Brooklyn rival Erasmus Hall in the PSAL quarterfinals. Up next: Season over.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Archbishop Stepinac football coach Mike O'Donnell preached to his team this week that it had to focus on ball security and couldn't afford to turn the ball over Friday night in the CHSFL "AAA" title game against St. Anthony's.

Ultimately, and unfortunately for Stepinac, the coach's words proved to be true as his team lost a fumble, threw an interception and turned the ball over on downs and it made the difference in a 14-0 loss to St. Anthony's on Friday night at Mitchel Field in Uniondale, N.Y.

The big play came when Vincent Narog fumbled after being tackled hard by St. Anthony's Tim Stackpole and the ball landed in the arms of St. Anthony's linebacker Anthony Leggio, who returned it 61 yards for a score to make it 14-0 with 3:09 left in the third quarter.

"Obviously the turnover on the reverse was pretty much the game," O'Donnell said. "We kind of had momentum, down 7-0, and really in good position. We had just stopped them and it seemed like momentum was going in our favor and we went to a play that has worked for us all year. The kid got a good shot in, the ball popped loose and their kid made an unbelievable play."

The Crusaders (8-3) struggled to get anything going offensively. They only got the ball into the redzone on the final drive, when they were stopped at the five-yard line with less than one minute left in the game.

On the first drive of the game, quarterback Daniel Hoffer threw an interception on a pass to the endzone on fourth down at the Friars' 25-yard line. Stepinac was led by quarterback Mark White, who ran for 82 yards and threw for 24 yards in a game centered around the defenses.

"Their defense played great, St. Anthony's defense is probably the best in the league and they showed why they are so good today," O'Donnell said. "They swarmed to the ball and hit you hard."

While Stepinac fell short, it was a banner season for the Crusaders. After winning the "AA" title last year, they made the "AAA" title game for the first time in program history. Stepinac proved it belonged with the big boys in the league and ultimately came a few plays short against the league's perennial powerhouse.

"We're really proud of the kids and how they played," O'Donnell said. "All year long we got better and better and I think there isn't much more you can ask from a bunch of kids."

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- After suffocating the Archbishop Stepinac football team in the Catholic High School Football League Class "AAA" title game Friday night, St. Anthony's senior defensive back Tim Stackpole shared the secret to his team's dominating defensive performance.

"Our coaches scout all day, every day, they're there until like 12 o'clock at night," Stackpole said. "I told you, we know every single play they were going to run. Every single time, every play."

It'd be hard to argue that point.

In perhaps their most impressive defensive performance of the season, the top-seeded Friars won their third straight title and 10^th in 11 years with a 14-0 shutout of second-seeded Stepinac on Friday night at Mitchel Field in Uniondale, N.Y.

Defensive lineman Pat McHugh was named the MVP of the game while St. Anthony's (10-0) also completed its second straight undefeated season.

"Defensively we know that there was no one who could score," Stackpole said. "We really don’t think anyone could score on us to be honest with you. But we've had a couple of injuries but we really don’t think anyone can score on us."

Minus the first and last drives of the game, St. Anthony's contained Stepinac on each of its drives. The Crusaders (8-3) couldn't find a rhythm running or passing the ball and struggled to put together quality drives. They only were able to get the ball into the red zone on their final drive, when Stepinac stopped them at the five-yard line on fourth down.

The defining moment of the game came in the third quarter, of course provided by St. Anthony's defense. After failing to convert on fourth down, the Friars turned over the ball to the Crusaders at midfield while leading 7-0. On 2^nd-and-1 at St. Anthony's 41-yard line, Stepinac ran a double reverse with Vincent Narog trying to get around the left edge.

After Narog secured the first down, Stackpole met him and put his head on the ball, popping it straight into the arms of junior linebacker Anthony Leggio. He took the ball and ran down the right sideline 61 yards untouched for the momentum-changing score that gave St. Anthony's a 14-0 lead with 3:09 left in the third quarter.

"We block all the time, in practice this week and it just worked in the game," Leggio said. "I knew I wasn't going to be caught."

St. Anthony's defense even helped lead to the squad's only offensive touchdown on the night. On the first drive, Stackpole intercepted a pass in the end zone on fourth down to end what had been a promising drive by Stepinac.

On the ensuing drive, Anthony Anderson, who rushed 16 times for 44 yards, scored from one yard out to give the Friars a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. Anthony Duggan led the Friars offense with 67 yards on 13 carries while Stepinac quarterback Mark White led all players with 102 total yards of offense.

"That was huge because it settled everything down," St. Anthony's coach Rich Reichert said of the interception. "We came out a little nervous on defense and that was the first time we didn't take the ball. We wanted to have the ball in the second half to open up."

All year long, there had been talks of vulnerability with this St. Anthony's team. The offense stalled at times, it barely survived several games against tough competition and even changed quarterbacks at the end of the season.

Yet, games would come and go, and the Friars would find a way to win, continuing their dominance of the league. And on this night, they were buoyed by their defense.

"We knew it was going to be a close game and we just put it on our defense this year," Reichert said. "It was their time to carry a team and they did."

Around this time a year ago, all the talk in the Catholic High School Football League focused on a game that would never happen.

Fans, coaches, teammates pondered who would have won a contest between the league's undefeated "AAA" champions, St. Anthony's, and undefeated "AA" champions, Archbishop Stepinac. Since the two teams didn't meet during the regular season and rules forbade them from meeting after their title games, talking was all anyone could do.

"I know a lot of people would have liked to see us play St. Anthony's since we were the two champions," Stepinac senior tight end/defensive end Austin Taps said. "They'll get their wish this year."

Yes, they will.

Sure, it's one year later and the circumstances are different, but the heavily coveted matchup from last year will take place this Friday night when No. 1 St. Anthony's takes on No. 2 Stepinac for the "AAA" title at 7 p.m. at Mitchel Field in Uniondale, N.Y.

It's the second time in league history the defending "AAA" and "AA" champions will battle for the "AAA" title, with it last occurring in 2009 when Holy Trinity took on St. Anthony's. The Friars will also be searching for their third straight title and look to defeat the Crusaders for the second time this season.

"I think it's great," Taps said of the teams matching up in the title game one year later. "It's going to be a great game. They're a good team and we're clicking. We got to come out and give it our all and not hold anything back."

Before each season, the CHSFL has its coaches align the 20 teams into two divisions, the "AAA-AA" division for the top 12 teams and the "AA-A" division for the bottom eight. The top 12 all have the opportunity to potentially play for the "AAA" crown while the bottom eight teams can only play for the "AA" title in the best-case scenario.

Last year, St. Anthony's was in the top 12 while Stepinac ended up in the bottom eight. Stepinac coach Mike O'Donnell said he had his team in the bottom eight because there were a lot of question marks surrounding his team and constant struggles to put together a big roster with the school's small enrollment.

Ultimately, both teams went undefeated all season and won championships on the same day—raising the chatter about which team was the best in the conference and who would have won a game had the two teams been able to meet.

"It certainly would have been a good game," St. Anthony's coach Rich Reichert said.

This year, the teams were both placed in the top 12 and there were no worries about them possibly not meeting. In fact, they already have meet this season, a 55-29 win by St. Anthony's on Oct. 7, which makes Friday's title game one of adjustments.

Reichert, whose team is looking for its 10^th title in 11 years, wants to see his team play better offensively and limit big plays when its on defense. The Friars have battled some injuries along the way and it's been far from an easy road to the title game but they once again have a great shot to end up as the league's beast.

"There's a lot of pressure that guys can be putting on themselves but we want them to think it's just another game," Reichert said. "Obviously, it's a championship game but we're going about our business like we've approached it week in and week out. It just happens to be our last game."

Stepinac, meanwhile, will be looking to win its first-ever "AAA" title and cut down on the turnovers that have plagued it in its two losses.

"We're extremely excited," senior fullback Caleb Gilligan-Evans said. "Especially with the way our semifinal game ended. It's just a good opportunity ahead and we have the chance to do something special. Our entire team can't wait."

Several teams in our poll fell this week and saw their seasons end earlier than they would have liked. There are just 24 teams left playing football in the New York City leagues and after this weekend we will be down to just 10 teams. Let's take a look at the poll.

1. St. Anthony's (9-0): St. Anthony's played a solid game to oust Iona Prep and will look to win its third straight title Friday vs. Stepinac Up Next: Nov. 18, vs. Stepinac.

2. Tottenville (9-1): Tottenville made easy work of Brooklyn Tech and advances to the quarters where it has a rematch against Campus Magnet. Up next: Nov. 19, vs. Campus Magnet.

3. Lincoln (10-0): Another easy win for Lincoln vs. John Adams but this week's game against Jefferson in the quarters could be the most interesting matchup of the weekend. Up next: Nov. 19, vs. Jefferson.

4. Stepinac (8-2): Despite a total of eight miscues on offense, Stepinac won in overtime over Xaverian in a classic to reach its first ever "AAA" title game. Up next: Nov. 18, vs. St. Anthony's.

5. Fort Hamilton (8-2): Fort Hamilton needed a rally to take care of Sheepshead Bay in the first round and now takes on Dewitt Clinton. Up next: Nov. 18, vs. Dewitt Clinton.

6. Xaverian (7-3): Xaverian could not get its patented running game going and ended up losing in the semifinals against Stepinac. Up next: Season over.

7. Erasmus Hall (7-3): Erasmus Hall obliterated JFK in the first round and now has an all-Brooklyn quarterfinal against Boys & Girls. Up next: Nov. 18, vs. Boys & Girls.

8. Iona Prep (6-4): Iona Prep got a tough draw having to face St. Anthony's in the semifinals and lost, ending its season with a 6-4 record. Up next: Season over.

9. Boys & Girls (7-3): Boys & Girls shutout Flushing in the first round and now looks to try and upset Erasmus Hall in a rematch from earlier this season. Up next: Nov. 18, at Erasmus Hall.

10. Canarsie (7-3): Despite its loss, Canarsie will stay in the poll -- at least for this week. The Chiefs suffered the biggest upset of the weekend falling to Jefferson. Up next: Season over.

With all but one of these teams in the playoffs, there isn't much change to the poll. Masuk and Bergen Catholic flip spots and all eight teams that played won their games. This week, though, things heat up as the semifinals and finals are upon us. With the help of ESPNHS, we present the rankings:

1. Don Bosco (Ramsey, N.J.) 8-0: Bosco had a bye as the top seed in its bracket and will now take on No. 4 Paramus Catholic, a team it already demolished. Up next: Nov. 18, vs. Paramus Catholic.

2. St. Anthony's (South Huntington, N.Y.) 9-0: St. Anthony's survived its rematch against Iona Prep and now will try to win its third straight CHSFL "AAA" title . Up next: Nov. 18, vs. Archbishop Stepinac.

3. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) 6-2: Bergen Catholic also had a bye and now will take on No. 3 St. Peter's Prep on Friday. Up next: Nov. 18, vs. St. Peter's Prep.

4. Masuk (Monroe, Conn.) 9-0: Masuk rolled to an easy win against Weston and will go for an undefeated regular season next week. Up next: Nov. 23, vs. Newtown.

5. Montclair (Montclair, N.J.) 9-0: Montclair rolled to a 44-0 win vs Memorial Power and now takes on No. 4 West Orange in the semis. Up next: Nov. 19, vs. West Orange.

6. St. Joseph (Montvale) (Montvale, N.J.) 8-1: St. Joseph made easy work of Bishop Ahr to advance to the semifinals where it will meet No. 5 Immaculata. Up next: Nov. 19, vs. Immaculata.

7. Delbarton School (Morristown, N.J.) 9-0: Delbarton stayed undefeated with a win against Monsignor Donovan and will play Red Bank Catholic in the semis. Up next: Nov. 19, vs. Red Bank Catholic.

8. Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank, N.J.) 9-0: Red Bank set up a showdown of undefeated teams this week after it beat Pope John. Up next: Nov. 19, at Delbarton School.

9. Wayne Hills (Wayne, N.J.) 9-1: Wayne Hills pitched a shutout to advance to the semifinals and pick up its ninth win of the year. Up Next: Nov. 18, vs. Paramus.

10. Tottenville (Staten Island, N.Y.) 9-1: Tottenville destroyed No. 15 Brooklyn Tech to advance to the quarterfinals in the PSAL playoffs. Up next: Nov. 18, vs. Campus Magnet.

This was supposed to be the year that St. Anthony’s fell. The Friars once again entered the playoffs undefeated this season, but with so many of their victories being close games it seemed like they were finally ready to fall.

It turns out they just like winning close games.

“It's much better than blowing any teams out,” St. Anthony’s quarterback Greg Galligan of his preference to play in close games. “I love it, it's the greatest feeling ever.”

The St. Anthony’s Friars (9-0) beat the Iona Prep Gaels (6-4) in the semifinals of the Catholic High School Football League “AAA” division finals in yet another close game, 14-10, at home Saturday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Neither sides generated much offense in the first half of the game. It wasn’t until the second half when Friar’s quarterback Galligan settled down that anyone started getting any offense at all.

“He tried to do too much in the beginning,” St. Anthony's coach Rich Reichert said of Galligan. “It's his third start, I think you have to be patient, but it's hard to be patient in playoff football.”

Iona Prep actually struck first, picking up a field goal early in the second half, but with Galligan looking looser and more self assured it didn’t take long for St. Anthony’s to answer back. Galligan threw a 32-yard pass to running back Maston Ellerbe to set up a one-yard touchdown run by Ellerbe that put the Friars up 7-3.

About midway through the fourth quarter Anthony Anderson added a touchdown that made it 14-3, but the Gaels wouldn’t go down quietly. They quickly scored their first touchdown about a minute later on a three-yard run from Shaquille Townsend that made it 14-10. Unfortunately for the Gaels, that was the last of their offense.

TURNING POINT: Iona Prep certainly had an opportunity to add more points. After the Gaels scored their first touchdown they got St. Anthony’s to go three-and-out. With just about two minutes to go in the game, Justin Combs finally had the offense moving and it looked like they would have a good chance to take the lead.

The Gaels had the ball, momentum, and a first down at the St. Anthony’s 40-yard-line. However a screen pass from Combs to Austin Jones lead to a fumble that was recovered by Pat McHugh at 33-yard-line and the Gael’s offense was stalled.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: The Friars offense really wasn’t impressive Saturday night, but luckily they have a very strong defense to back them up. It wasn’t even one single player that stood out either, it was an entire team effort.

McHugh’s fumble recovery was the single biggest play of the game, but sacks by Bryan Rhodes and Harry Passante were also impressive.

“They were unbelievable,” Galligan said of his defense. “Every week they come up with big plays. They really are unbelievable. They are the best defense in the league, the best in the state.”

BIAGGI HOBBLED: Iona Prep’s Mario Biaggi sprained his ankle last week against Chaminade. He didn’t start this game, but he came in briefly in the second quarter. That didn’t last long though as he clearly was having trouble getting around and came out after just one drive.

STAR WATER BOY: The Gaels had a rather famous water boy. Combs’ father, rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs served as the teams water boy during the game. He was often giving his son encouragement and did a very good job helping out the team during breaks. After the game he even lined up with the team to shake the hands of the St. Anthony’s players.

“I didn’t even know he was at the game,” McHugh said. “I only found out when he shook my hand after the game. I didn’t expect that, I think I did a triple-take.”

UP NEXT: The Gael’s season is over, but St. Anthony’s heads to the finals next week to take on the surprising Stepinac Crusaders.

The Playoffs are officially upon us. The CHSFL began its playoffs last week and the PSAL begins its bracket this weekend. There were no crazy upsets in the CHSFl and we have some great matchups in store for the upcoming weeks. With that in mind, let's check out the poll, which features only teams that are still alive:

1. St. Anthony's (8-0): St. Anthony's pitched the shutout in its CHSFL quarterfinal as it blanked Mount. Next, a rematch of last year's title game as it takes on Iona Prep. Up Next: Nov. 12, vs. Iona Prep.

2. Tottenville (8-1): Tottenville didn't look like it missed quarterback Brandon Barnes too much as it rolled to an easy win against Campus Magnet and secured the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. Up next: Nov. 12, vs. Brooklyn Tech.

3. Lincoln (9-0): Lincoln got revenge on Fort Hamilton and locked up the No. 1 seed in the PSAL playoffs. Can the Railsplitters take the title this season? Up next: Nov. 12, vs. John Adams.

4. Xaverian (7-2): Xaverian used a strong second half to take care of Monsignor Farrell and advance to the CHSFL semifinals against Stepinac. Up next: Nov. 12, at Stepinac.

5. Iona Prep (6-3): Iona Prep got revenge against Chaminade in the quarterfinals. Now, it's time to see if it can exact revenge against defending league champion St. Anthony's. Up next: Nov. 12, at St. Anthony's.

6. Stepinac (7-2): Stepinac defeated Holy Cross in the quarterfinals and is now one win away from back-to-back championship games. Up next: Nov. 12, vs. Xaverian.

7. Fort Hamilton (7-2): Fort Hamilton lost to Lincoln and it ended up with a bad draw in the playoffs as there's a chance that it will have to play the two teams it lost to in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Up next: Nov. 12, vs. Sheepshead Bay.

8. Canarsie (7-2): Canarsie responded with a strong win against Sheepshead Bay to finish 7-2 and secure the No. 3 seed in the PSAL playoffs. Quite the accomplishment. Up next: Nov.12, vs. Thomas Jefferson.

9. Erasmus Hall (6-3): Erasmus Hall finishes the season on a hot streak after beating Midwood and will be one of the biggest sleepers in the PSAL bracket coming out of the No. 5 seed. Up next: Nov. 12, vs. JFK.

10. Boys & Girls (6-3): Boys & Girls makes its way into the poll after a win against Brooklyn Tech and will be the No. 6 seed in the playoffs. Up next: Nov. 12, vs. Flushing.

With the CHSFL playoffs beginning this weekend, we polled our staff of high school writers to get their takes on which teams they see emerging victorious. Matt Ehalt, Amara Grautski, Chris Hunt and Rob Abruzzese give their takes on how the CHSFL "AAA" playoffs will breakdown.

AAA BRACKET
No. 1 St. Anthony’s vs. No. 8 Mount St. Michael’s
No. 2 Stepinac vs. No. 7 Holy Cross
No. 3 Xaverian vs. No. 6 Farrell
No. 4 Iona Prep vs. No. 5 Chaminade

WHO IS THE TEAM TO BEAT?

Ehalt: St. Anthony’s: No matter how they play, until someone beats the Friars, they’re the top dogs in the league. They earned their No. 1 seed and found ways to win.

Abruzzese: St. Anthony’s: St. Anthony’s is the kick, having won nine of the last 10 championships. It’s hard to say if they have what it takes to go all the way but a 26-game winning streak is pretty convincing.

Grautski: St. Anthony’s: As if it isn’t obvious, undefeated St. Anthony’s is the one to beat. However, the Friars came close to losing twice, winning two games by only 2 points or less.

Hunt: St. Anthony’s: St. Anthony’s hasn’t lost to anyone. Regardless if the games looked good or not, the Friars are the undefeated, defending champs. That makes them the team to beat.

WHICH TEAM IS THE SLEEPER?

Ehalt: Iona Prep: Iona is a team that has three losses but played well in two of those games. If this team gets hot, they could conceivably pull some upsets and end up as the champ.

Abruzzese: Xaverian: Its offense had the most points in the league and they should thank their defense for that. Their defense is quick and efficient in shutting down other team’s and keeping their own offense on the field.

Grautski: Iona Prep: Iona Prep gave St. Anthony’s a scare, but ultimately lost to the Friars, 21-20. Iona Prep may have a chance for redemption in the second round of the playoffs.

Hunt: Xaverian: Ok, so Xaverian isn’t really a sleeper. They are the team that looks the best in the CHSAA right now. But the Clippers lost to St. Anthony’s and Holy Cross. That wasn’t last year.

WHICH TEAM COULD GET UPSET EARLY?

Ehalt: Stepinac: The Crusaders are a good team but Holy Cross could be problematic in the first round and Stepinac has had some down games in recent weeks.

Abruzzese: Iona Prep: They nearly beat St. Anthony’s last weekend, but not long before that they lost to their first round opponent, Chaminade, two weeks before that. They could get hot and go all the way or they could go out in the first round. Hard to say with them.

Grautski: Archbishop Stepinac, although ranked slightly higher than Xaverian, could fall to the Clippers. Stepinac has already lost to St. Anthony’s and sleeper pick Iona Prep.

Hunt: St. Anthony’s: The Friars are on their third-string quarterback and Dariyan Riley left the season finale against Iona Prep with a knee injury. If Iona Prep can put together two strong halves against St. Anthony’s, the Gaels could find themselves in the championship final.

WHAT’S THE TITLE GAME?

Ehalt: No. 3 Xaverian over No. 1 St. Anthony’s: It came down to the last play last time around and St. Anthony’s barely won. This time, Xaverian makes the big play it needs to claim the title.

Abruzzese: No. 3 Xaverian over No. 1 St. Anthony’s: St. Anthony’s has been the best in the league for a while, but lately their wins haven’t been as convincing. It is time for a new champion and that is Xaverian thanks to a defense that is capable of stopping teams in their tracks and an offense good enough to put them over the top.

Grautski: No. 1 St. Anthony’s defeats No. 3 Xaverian: The Friars aren’t blowing teams out every game, but they know how to win. As long as their defense – which has allowed 17 points per game – settles down, the Friars will have an undefeated season.

Hunt: No. 3 Xaverian over No. 1 St. Anthony’s: Despite their 7-0 record, St. Anthony’s looks beatable. The Friars have fought through adversity and injury all season but it’ll finally come to an end against Xaverian.

TOURNAMENT PICKS:

Ehalt: St. A’s over Mount; Stepinac over HC; Xaverian over Farrell; Iona over Chaminade; St. A’s over Iona; Xaverian over Stepinac

Abruzzese: St. A’s over Mount; Stepinac over HC; Xaverian over Farrell; Iona over Chaminade; St. A’s over Iona; Xaverian over Stepinac

Grautski: St. A’s over Mount; Stepinac over HC; Xaverian over Farrell; Iona over Chaminade; St. A’s over Iona; Xaverian over Stepinac

Hunt: St. A’s over Mount; Stepinac over HC; Xaverian over Farrell; Iona over Chaminade; St. A’s over Iona; Xaverian over Stepinac