At the halfway mark of the season, Xavier High School’s Varsity Football team stands strong with a 6-2 record, positioning the Knights as serious contenders in the NYCHSFL AA-I. Both losses came by just one possession against strong opponents, showing that the boys from 16th Street have the ability to make a deep playoff run in November. However, recent performances have raised some concerns. The Knights fell short to AAA powerhouse Archbishop Stepinac and then narrowly escaped with a seven-point win over the AA-II Xaverian Clippers. While the overall outlook remains promising for the Knights, the past two weeks suggest that some points need addressing in order to take home a championship to 16th Street.
So, how real is Xavier’s playoff potential? Let’s take a closer look at their season so far and what lies ahead.
Week 0 – Xavier vs. Indian Hills (NJ)
In their first game of the season — fresh off summer two-a-days — the Knights defeated Indian Hills, 27–0, in impressive fashion, putting Xavier on the radar for the rest of the AA-I squads to take notice. As usual, Xavier dominated on the ground, totaling 36 carries for 220 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. They also built up an aerial assault, including a 13-yard touchdown pass to Liam Averill, revealing a new element of their offense.
Week 1 – Xavier vs. Kellenburg
The game against Kellenberg was highly anticipated as the Knights took on their first league opponent of the season. The game was actually postponed by a day due to lightning, but that did not stop Xavier. Kellenberg entered the season with high expectations to be a strong contender in the AA-I, and the Knights were ready. Scoring in each quarter and letting Kellenberg get their only seven points in the 2nd, Xavier took an easy win to reach 2–0.
Week 2 – Xavier @ St. Peters
The Knights’ first away game of the season came against a formidable opponent: the St. Peter’s Eagles. In previous years, this matchup did not draw much attention, but this season was different. St. Peter’s had become one of the most anticipated teams in the league, thanks to an influx of transfer students from Moore Catholic, a program that went from being one of the AA-I’s powerhouses to folding altogether. The game was close in the first half, 14–10, and was predicted to stay that way, but the Knights pulled through and scored another touchdown and a field goal, sealing the deal. Two interceptions and a dominant offense won Xavier this game.
Week 3 – Xavier @ St. Francis
This game was a major game for both programs involved. The winner would claim the top spot in the AA-I, and it was a long-awaited rematch from both teams’ JV championship year, when Xavier beat St. Francis twice on the way to a JV championship victory. The Knights were on the road once again, and the Terriers’ fans showed up in full force. Every third down was deafening and the constant noise clearly disrupted Xavier’s offense. The Knights went into halftime with a slim 7–6 lead. St. Francis came out strong in the second half, punching in a touchdown to retake the advantage, but Xavier quickly responded with a score of their own to go up 14–13. Throughout the game, Terriers quarterback Jack Leary delivered an impressive performance. St. Francis drove down the field late, scoring and converting for eight points to take a seven-point lead that sealed the win. It was a huge victory for the Terriers and a wake-up call for the (previously smoking hot) Knights.
Week 4 – Xavier @ The Pingry School (NJ)
Third straight away game for the boys from 16th Street and this one was a battle from start to finish. Xavier’s defense came up huge, recording seven sacks on the day. A clutch interception was able to halt Pingry’s offense, however, the Jersey squad was able to muster a strong defensive stand of their own. Xavier finally broke through in the fourth quarter, stretching their lead to 29–16 before closing it out 29–22. A hard-fought win and a great bounce-back performance for the Knights.
Week 5 – Xavier @ Holy Cross
Expectations were modest heading into this one. The Xavier Knights, sitting at 4–1, faced off against the AA-II Holy Cross Knights, and it quickly became clear which squad had the sharper armor. Xavier’s offense was unstoppable all night, racking up 324 rushing yards and five touchdowns. On defense, Robert Milacci snagged two interceptions (nearly taking one to the house), while the entire unit combined for 55 tackles, holding Holy Cross to just six points. When the dust settled, Xavier walked away with a commanding 34–6 victory.
Week 6 – Xavier vs. Stepinac
This matchup was billed as Xavier’s toughest test of the season, perhaps even tougher than any team awaiting them in the playoffs. Archbishop Stepinac, a perennial AAA powerhouse known for sending multiple athletes to Division I programs each year, entered the game in an uncharacteristic slump.
Through three quarters, both defenses dominated. Stepinac managed to break through the Knights defense twice, taking a 13–0 lead while Xavier remained scoreless. But in the fourth quarter, the Knights came alive, erupting for 14 unanswered points to take a 14–13 lead. Then came the controversy. With under a minute to play and Xavier clinging to a one-point advantage, the Knights appeared to seal the game with an interception along the right sideline with the defender keeping one foot inbounds. However, the officials ruled the pass incomplete, citing a lack of clear evidence and no referee in a position to confirm the catch. Given a second chance, the Crusaders made it count, the very next play they launched a 4th down bomb with a receiver free. He caught it. Stepinac scored a touchdown with one minute remaining, plus the two-point conversion, to escape with a 21–14 victory. Pictures of the controversial “no-catch” are shown below:
Week 7 – Xavier vs. Xaverian
In the final matchup before the bye week, a “home” game for both teams, Xavier faced off against Xaverian under the bright Saturday night lights in front of a packed crowd. Xavier struck first, taking an early 7–0 lead, but Xaverian answered immediately with a 50-yard screen pass that turned into a highlight-reel touchdown after three missed tackles. From there, the Knights regained control, scoring twice more to build a 21–7 advantage. Xaverian battled back, closing the gap to 21–14, keeping the game far closer than many expected. Despite some defensive struggles, Xavier found their rhythm late, pulling away for a hard-fought 28–21 victory heading into the bye. It was a high-intensity, loud match that pushed the Knights to a strong 6–2 record on the season.
Recap
As we approach the playoffs, Xavier has established itself as one of the most competitive programs in the NYCHSFL AA-I Division. Sitting at 6–2, with both losses coming by a single possession, the Knights have demonstrated toughness and the ability to compete with any opponent. Xavier’s dominant rushing attack and disciplined defense have been the cornerstones of their success. However, recent performances have also highlighted key areas for improvement, particularly in maintaining defensive intensity and closing out tight games. Coming off the bye, the Knights have a crucial stretch ahead. With just one regular-season game remaining before the playoffs, Xavier finds itself in a strong position to secure a home playoff game and make a deep postseason push. If the Knights can refine their execution and carry their early-season momentum into November, there’s every reason to believe that a championship run could be within reach for the boys from 16th Street.
