STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Prior to the start of the season, Monsignor Farrell head coach Rocco Del Priore was downright giddy about his team’s prospects in 2025.
One of the reasons for his optimism was sophomore quarterback Bryce Moye.
Del Priore had seen enough from his young signal-caller in a handful of late season games in 2024, and he knew Moye would just keep getting better.
Three months later, the elusive and innovative Moye has the Lions on the doorstep of their first CHSFL AAA crown since 2000.
“He’s (Patrick) Mahomes,” said Del Priore, comparing his QB to that of the Kansas City Chiefs’ three-time winning Super Bowl champion QB.
What makes Moye so good?
“It’s truly a combination of maturity, versatility, and competitiveness he brings every single day,” the coach said. “He can impact the game in multiple ways, he processes coaching fast, and he has a natural leadership presence that raises the standard for everyone around him. He’s the kind of kid who works like he’s behind, even when he’s ahead.”
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And who’s to argue with the Farrell mentor after watching Moye operate this season in leading the Lions to a 9-1 mark thus far and the No. 2 ranking in the state heading into the CHSFL AAA title game Saturday at 2:30 p.m. vs. defending champion and perennial power Iona Prep at Fordham University in the Bronx.
All Moye has done this year is throw for 1,765 yards, fire 18 TD passes, run for seven scores and get picked off only once. To boot, he has completed nearly 75 percent of his passes (117 for 157).
Mahomes … er, Moye … will have to be all that and more against Iona Prep Saturday. The Lions won the regular season matchup between the two schools, 28-21, on the road in a game the Lions led 28-7 at one time. The win knocked IP off their perch as the state’s top-ranked team and put Farrell in the championship conversation.
“Beating them earlier helps in terms of film and understanding what they like to do, but it can also be a disadvantage if you start thinking it guarantees anything,” said Del Priore, whose Lions dropped a 49-15 decision to IP in the 2021 CHSFL AAA championship game. “They’ve improved, they’ll adjust, and we have to treat this like a brand-new matchup.”
No. 2-seeded IP, 9-1, hasn’t lost a game since losing to top-seeded Farrell in Week 7 and really turned heads with a dominating 42-0 semifinal victory over St. Anthony’s last Saturday in a game the Gaels could have put up 60 points.
Julian Guzman is the trigger man in IP’s offense, passing for 1,907 yards (second in the league). He’s tossed 17 TDs and has only four interceptions. He’s backed by running back Crew Davis, who is third in the league with 1,055 yards to go along with 14 rushing TDs.
The Farrell defense, which is tops in the AAA and is led by Andrew Doyle, Dan Mastroguilio, Charlie Costanzo, Cole Savino, Anthony Vento and Joe Vitale, slowed down the Gaels once, but can they stop them again?
“It starts with discipline. They’re explosive when teams make mistakes, so we need to tackle well, win first down, and limit their chunk plays,” said Del Priore. “Our front has to be disruptive without losing gap integrity, and our secondary needs to stay sound against their play-action. It’s about playing assignment football for four quarters.
“Defensively, it’s tackling, discipline, and not letting them dictate tempo. We have to make them earn everything.”
What scares Del Priore the most about IP?
“They run a few core plays extremely well out of multiple looks, and their runners are tough, downhill kids,” he said. “Their defense is talented enough to change a game fast.”
The Lions came out of last Saturday’s 34-3 semifinal win against Chaminade relatively healthy and are set to roll.
Farrell running back Kevin Gumb, the division’s top rusher with 1,276 yards, including 15 TDs, keeps defenses honest and away from Moye.
Meanwhile, Moye’s favorite target is his twin brother, Braxton, who is second in the division with 617 yards on 39 receptions, including seven TDs.
“Offensively, it’s about efficiency — winning the line of scrimmage, staying ahead of the sticks, and finishing drives,” Del Priore said.
No matter how many athletes each team has, Del Priore said the game will be won in the trenches.
“Championships are won up front, and their ability to control the trenches will dictate how the game flows,” he said. “If they set the tone early, it changes everything for us.”
Del Priore said he hasn’t talked much to his troops about the Lions’ championship drought: “We don’t dwell on history — we focus on the group in front of us.
“But the kids know what a championship would mean to the school and the alumni. They take pride in trying to leave their mark, not carry the weight of something from years ago.”
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