STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— The Petrides Panthers will have a shot at perfection on Saturday when they face the East Harlem Pride in the PSAL 1A championship game at Old Boys and Girls HS in Brooklyn, entering the title matchup with an undefeated 12-0 record.
“It’s always a great feeling knowing that we are playing on the last day of the season,” head coach Dave Olah, who is 1-3 in title games over the course of his Petrides tenure, said.
“It would be awesome to finish the season with a second championship in program history. We are looking forward to the challenge,” he continued.
A win would also mark the first time Petrides would ever finish a season unbeaten.
Olah’s squad — which entered the postseason as the division’s No. 2 seed with an average margin of victory of more than 30 points per game — continued its dominant form in the playoffs, rolling past A-Tech 34–0 in the quarterfinals and then blanking William E. Grady 30–0 in the semifinals last week.
Meanwhile, No. 4 East Harlem Pride shocked top-seeded Mott Haven with a 22–0 semifinal win after losing to them 18–6 in their regular-season opener — a result that, according to Olah, means his team will need plenty of preparation to be ready for Saturday.
“East Harlem possibly has the best player in the league and another who is top five. Making sure we know where they are at all times will be key; either one is able to score just about any time they touch the ball,” Olah said.
“Our main focus is in the details. With it being a holiday week and a 10 a.m. game time, the practice schedules are hectic. But making sure the kids are dialed into the game plan, staying focused, watching film and keeping everyone healthy is key,” he continued.
The Panthers have relied all season on a potent offense led by dynamic quarterback David Lee (874 yards passing with 12 TDs and 192 yards rushing with five TDs) and a suffocating defense anchored by ball-hawking defensive back Jeremiah Kaska — a formula they’ve executed week after week.
In fact, the Panthers defense has posted seven shutouts this season, including four straight heading into the title game.
The Petrides defense will have to deal with a pass-happy Pride squad, led by sophomore signal-caller Asher Lipman. The top-rated QB in the conference has passed for 1,063 yards and thrown 16 TD passes while only getting picked off four times.
Petrides beat Grady, 30-0, last week in the semifinals. (Kara Buzga for the Advance/ SILive.com).
But Olah knows that in a game of this magnitude, veteran leadership may very well be the deciding factor.
“Ultimately, we need our senior leaders to step up; most notably Mike Giordano, Josh Okwuabueze, Luke Burmaster, Quardi Shofuyi, Darien Niles and Aiden Gonzalez,” Olah shared.
With the sting of a recent championship loss in 2023 and the lingering excitement of the program’s 2019 title win, Olah has experienced both sides of this stage. He knows that a victory on Saturday would firmly establish Petrides as the team to beat in the 1A division in just its first year competing at that level.
“I think a championship just validates our program. It shows we play competitive football even though we may not play the large schools,” Olah concluded.
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NOTES: Okwuabueze is the team’s leading rusher with 780 yards and 11 TD runs … The Panthers also have a great placekicker in Giordano, who has converted 23 of 27 PAT kicks. A defender, he also leads the team with three interceptions … East Harlem, which has won nine straight since losing its opener, has posted four shutouts this season, including the playoff quarters and semifinals.