Finally healthy, Xaverian is getting hot leading up to playoffs

October 21, 2014 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Gregory Juliano scored two touchdowns for Xaverian: one on defense to help the Clippers go up early and another on a run that helped them finish off Nazareth in a 35-12 victory on Saturday.

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In recent weeks it has been a challenge for the Xaverian football team to even field a team. While the team has 32 players when everyone is healthy, only 25 players dressed against Fordham Prep late last month, again decreasing to 15 players two weeks ago against Kennedy Catholic.

“We don’t have a large team to start with, and then it becomes really tough to play with just 25 guys — and especially just 15,” said Xaverian head coach Mike Jioia. “Losing one player is like losing three positions. Offensively, we’ve been right in every game, but injuries really killed us in a couple of games defensively.”

Luckily, the Clippers got some of their injured players back in time for its matchup against Nazareth. They showed that they can be an imposing team when healthy with their 35-12 Kingsmen defeat at Poly Prep this past Saturday.

“We needed a win like this where we can get everyone involved and get everyone who was hurt back into game mode,” Jioia said. “It’s tough when you’ve been out and all you can do is practice. Getting into game mode helps to shake off the rust because the offensive linemen are blocking at full speed so you can get your backs and your quarterback on the same page.”

The Clippers didn’t show their rust coming into the game against the Kingsmen as they scored on their first drive of the game. Brandon Peterson put them up 7-0 on a 15-yard run. The defense then forced a fumble to cut Nazareth’s drive short, which set up a 40-yard touchdown catch by Anthony Bianchi that increased their lead to 13-0.

“That big pass was enormous for us,” said Xaverian defensive back Gregory Juliano. “It really kick-started the momentum for us and probably changed the entire game.”

The defense took over from there as James Patsis intercepted a pass from Nazareth quarterback Shakur Bey. On Nazereth’s next drive, Juliano stripped the ball from running back Darrius Black and ran it back 35 yards to put Xaverian up 21-0.

Garrett Murnan scored on a five-yard run to put Xaverian up 27-0, which seemed at the time to all but end the game. However, the Kingsmen wouldn’t go quietly as Bey found Tahriq Gordon open to complete a 65-yard touchdown pass to cut the score to 27-6 just before the half ended.

Nazareth came out again and scored to start the third quarter on a 26-yard catch by Chaasad Colas to make it 27-12. That would be as close as the Kingsmen would get, though, as they botched a squib-kick attempt that set up a 16-yard touchdown run by Juliano that made it 35-12 with just 4:40 to play.

“[Juliano] played out of his mind today,” Jioia said. “That’s one of the best games I’ve ever seen a kid play in high school. Offensively, he scored a touchdown. On defense, he shreds the ball, picks it up and runs it back for a touchdown…”

The entire Xaverian squad is coming together at the right time. Finally healthy, it has now put together a two-game winning streak. It also has a bye week next week, which will give the Clippers even more time to rest their wounded before one final tune-up against Cardinal Spellman in the final week of the season.

Unfortunately, Xaverian won’t be playing for the Catholic High School Football League AA Division playoffs liked it hoped to be doing before the season started.

“Compared to the beginning of the season, we’ve definitely improved,” said quarterback Phil DePaulis. “A lot of guys are getting healthy and we’ve got momentum after winning two in a row.

It’s exciting. We just need to keep doing what has made us successful which is watching film, making sure everyone knows the game plan and keep practicing hard.”