{"id":70029,"date":"2025-12-13T22:24:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T22:24:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/70029\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T22:24:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T22:24:11","slug":"staten-island-hs-football-farrell-tottenville-seniors-shine-as-south-team-records-big-victory-at-2025-fugazzi-bowl-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/70029\/","title":{"rendered":"Staten Island HS football: Farrell, Tottenville seniors shine as South team records big victory at 2025 Fugazzi Bowl (photos)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"U2T7J6OXONA33HP74ZSHCMZVJQ\">STATEN ISLAND N.Y.\u2014 A matchup between Monsignor Farrell and Tottenville is a dream scenario for Staten Island high school football fans, and at the 2025 Fugazzi Bowl, which showcases the borough\u2019s top senior players, the Lions and the Pirates certainly left their mark.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"4QSNJYHGEJHRTEMRFX6GPUTXHQ\">Led by Monsignor Farrell head coach Rocco Del Priore, the South squad dominated the North with a huge 33\u20130 victory, as Tottenville quarterback Justin McGuire (4 total TDs, 141 passing yards) earned Offensive MVP honors while Monsignor Farrell defensive lineman Cole Savino (4 sacks) was named Defensive MVP.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"DQ7WEI574BCGJC3TZLMYGHGOKY\">\u201cThey\u2019re all tremendous football players,\u201d Del Priore said following the South squad\u2019s win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"C4KENK3JCBCPBIAOWLSIBH4KQ4\">\u201cThis is a great week. It really showcases what Staten Island football is all about; we\u2019ve got 10 fantastic programs, great coaches and even better players.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image-gallery-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/QOET5LLSPNE4LA7QVVZWHWDJ7M.jpg\"  loading=\"lazy\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image-gallery-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CQZMDWRAM5DCDNDWKR3QDSOJ5M.jpg\"  loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>1\/66<\/p>\n<p class=\"image-gallery-caption\">44th Annual Fred Fugazzi Senior Bowl at Curtis<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"GDEYNGCOEBBEFKRSPNQIIGUGO4\">After a scoreless first quarter, the South seniors found their rhythm when McGuire connected with St. Joseph by-the-Sea wideout Miles Sinclair on a 26-yard TD strike to go up 7-0.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"DTD7TTRF4NHZVOSPWYF4537YJQ\">Two drives later, the Pirates-Lions connection struck, as Farrell\u2019s Alex Ustun hauled in a touchdown of his own with an incredible effort off a deflected pass from 25 yards out, extending the lead to 15\u20130.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"5C3GNTXYQ5EKXB6CH6YZ4UISFA\">The Lions continued to put their fingerprints on the game as kicker Jake Burrowes booted a towering field goal from 42 yards out, giving the South crew a hefty 18\u20130 halftime advantage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"5A55RXRTBFAW5BFABHL4EPHAQE\">In the second half, McGuire picked up right where he left off, using his legs to punch in a two-yard quarterback sneak, extending the lead to 24\u20130 by the third quarter. <\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"KWCAKX6SYFCGVHTTBGTW42LC3I\">He then found Ustun once again in the fourth on an improvised, backyard-style play to make it 31\u20130, capping an outstanding final performance for the Pirates\u2019 signal-caller.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"42Y4BHZOCFEG5MLEIVAVNNBIPE\">\u201cI knew how great he was as a four-year starter for Tottenville. Anytime his games were on, we watched. He ran the offense Coach [Brian] Murphy put in extremely well today, made some great off-platform throws, and kept plays alive,\u201d Del Priore said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"U3WUMMHSA5H6ZM5YC5HO5TIIGE\">McGuire called his own performance one that he\u2019ll certainly remember.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"IJU2EJGWGBFIBJLECEOG5JWUFE\">\u201cIt felt great, honestly. Just coming out here for the last game of my high school career makes it even more special. I\u2019m with all the guys I\u2019ve been with since I was a kid. It\u2019s a fun game, I was just out here having fun with my friends,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"HFRBNCK6ONDS7HD67I47O4FCD4\">As impressive as the Pirates\u2019 quarterback was, the South defense matched that effort, racking up seven sacks while also recording interceptions by Tottenville\u2019s Kamano Alimano and Matthew Levine, along with a fumble recovery by New Dorp\u2019s Anthony Fernandez.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"56D5SPAVXNAV5FPMHIF32ASD64\">It was also fitting that Del Priore\u2019s defense sealed the game with a safety on the final play, capping a dominant performance by the All-Star unit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"XTMMUUVQNJEVFM2T2JHUDZW6JI\">Savino relished the opportunity to suit up and record some more sacks one more time, saying that, \u201cIt felt pretty good. I\u2019ve worked through all the adversity over these four years and finally got a chance to prove something.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"43JFAIB2TNAHNOEVC5JUBFPWI4\">He also shared just how special it was to play under his head coach one more time, saying that, \u201cIt\u2019s an honor. I love that man with all my heart; he made me into the man I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"NFGMDAO7HBAJDE6QG32EKFYJYI\">Del Priore reciprocated those feelings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"JAISJJKPVNAIPGGDWTQ6CEQB2I\">\u201cCole was a two-year starter for me and was really just consistent in everything he did; never missed anything. He had a great offseason and a dominant senior year for us. He led the Catholic AAA in sacks, and it showed today with a dominant effort,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"KVWY2JH4BJGUZLY4MYDQ7SPEMM\">The final score wasn\u2019t as important as giving seniors the chance to share the field one last time, but even Del Priore couldn\u2019t deny that it felt great to earn one more win after a standout season for his Lions.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The 44th Annual Fred Fugazzi Senior Bowl is held at Curtis High School Saturday afternoon.\" class=\"article__image-content\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2ERD3H5OVBGPFE2BKBLCI374FY.jpg\"  \/>Players congratulate eachother after the 44th Annual Fred Fugazzi Senior Bowl at Curtis High School Saturday afternoon. December 13, 2025.  &#8211; (Angela Barca for the Staten Island Advance) ABAB<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"QDQ6OYCMW5BORFYLPBHO47IBPU\">\u201cTo do it with my kids and guys like Coach Neville, Coach Murphy and Coach Giovanelli, who are some of the top coaches in New York State, was awesome. I learned this week, had fun, a lot of laughs and played a great game. The hard part is now we have to wait nine months for the next one,\u201d he added with a chuckle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"HPOGHJT5BZCCNF6KR44SD2S5JU\">Now 2-0 as a head coach in Fugazzi Bowls, Del Priore, who\u2019s a self-described \u201cavid Island sports fan,\u201d says that he certainly sees himself trying to make it 3-0 in the future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"U37TJOHTXRFWZECZUXF2TDXM24\">\u201cI\u2019d never pass this week up. It\u2019s an opportunity for another week of football; it\u2019s special. I don\u2019t take it for granted,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"STATEN ISLAND N.Y.\u2014 A matchup between Monsignor Farrell and Tottenville is a dream scenario for Staten Island high&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":70030,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[9,24,63,134,136,135],"class_list":{"0":"post-70029","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-staten-island","8":"tag-new-york","9":"tag-new-york-city","10":"tag-nyc","11":"tag-staten-island","12":"tag-staten-island-headlines","13":"tag-staten-island-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70029"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70029\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}