Davis, Guzman Propel Iona Prep to NYSCHSAA Football Championship Over Canisius, The Gaels Second in History

Iona Prep (New Rochelle) used three touchdown rushes from Crew Davis and three scoring passes from quarterback Julian Guzman to blow by Canisius (Buffalo), 42-26, in the New York State Catholic High Athletic Assocation (NYSCHSAA) title Saturday at Koessler Field at the Stransky Complex in Western New York.

The win is the Gaels first NYSCHSAA title since 2021, and second in program history.

Guzman started of the scoring by completing a touchdown strike to Matthew Davitt on the opening drive of the contest for an Iona Prep (12-2) 7-0 advantage with 9:57 left in the first period.

However, after starting with good field position, Canisius (9-3) scores a touchdown of its own to draw the tilt to a point at 7-6. But the Gaels responded with a TD to take a 14-6 lead in the first quarter.

Not to be outdone, however, the Crusaders’ Elijah Kimball runs it in with 57 seconds left in the first period. Canisius then converts the two-point rush to knot the score at 14-14 late in the first period.

In another lead change, Guzman throws a touchdown pass to Joe Wolf for a 21-14 Iona Prep advantage with 11:17 left in the second quarter.

But Crusader junior running back Amir Hernandez hits paydirt to slice the deficit to 21-20. Unfortunately for Canisius, it missed the two-point pass play with 9:32 to go in the first half, keeping it a one-point affair.

Refusing to lay down, the Crusaders intercept a tipped ball and return it to its own 22-yard line. But the Gaels’ defense stood tall and turned aside Canisius.

With Iona Prep driving down the gridiron, the Crusaders stymied the Gaels’ drive and forced a turnover on downs.

But Canisius failed to convert the opportunity into points, as Iona Prep’s Xander Poole picked off a pass to end the half at 21-20.

With the snow coming down in the third period, the Gaels intercepted the ball inside Crusader’s 40.

Iona Prep quickly went to work and took a 27-20 lead with 6:40 remaining in the third quarter. It made good on the ensuing extra point for an eight-point cushion.

To make matters worse for Canisius, Davis ran it up the gut for a 35-20 lead with 1:56 to go in the third quarter.

Moving the ball again, Iona Prep coughs off the pigskin inside the red zone, ending its drive, and giving Canisius a measure of hope.

The Crusaders, after moving the ball down the field, are stopped at the Gaels’ 13-yard line, forcing a turnover on downs.

Davis seals the victory on a 54-yard rushing TD to extend Iona Prep’s advantage to 41-20 with 4:04 left in the affair, as the extra point made it a 22-point game.

Not waving the white flag, Canisius’ Jahyden Clark catches a defected ball off the hands of two Gael defenders before it resulted in a touchdown pass to draw a bit closer at 42-26 with 1:15 to go in the tilt.

But it was a little too late for the Crusaders.

— Jerry Del Priore