St. Anthony’s turns to youth movement to chase Catholic League title

St. Anthony’s High School is betting on youth to end a title drought as its football team leans on a wave of sophomores who are already starting on varsity this season, including quarterback Anthony Diieso. The five starting sophomores comprise a core that coaches say is capable of powering the Friars back to the Catholic League title game—and possibly over the hump this time. The Friars are ranked among the top programs in New York, with MaxPreps listing the squad as the second-best in the state this season.

Diieso, a 15-year-old 10th grader, has been thrust into a foray many players reach only after multiple seasons. He was moved up to varsity-level duties from junior varsity midway through last year and is growing into a leadership role as the offense emphasizes tempo and execution. The team’s early schedule has been a test a year after the Friars scheduled tough out-of-conference opponents, including a win over University Prep of Rochester but losses to Maryland’s McDonogh School and Don Bosco Prep of New Jersey. A 28-0 setback to Bosco loomed large as a learning moment that the coaching staff says has sharpened the group as Catholic League play opens.

Rising behind the quarterback are a pair of underclassmen in the trenches. Right tackle Justin Joseph, 14, and guard Brody Hofmann, 15, are the young anchors who Diieso depends on for protection. Hofmann said he must keep improving and that his trust in Joseph will grow with time. Senior lineman Bryce Ciancuielli added that the two upstarts are absorbing tough lessons fast and that their effort is making the line stronger. Diieso expressed confidence in their willingness to grind for him, saying he knows they’ll block for him forever. The offense is balancing the learning curve with a sense of urgency, an approach the line coach has reinforced through repeated drills and conditioning.

Fast Friars: Running back Christian Bordeaux and wideout Rory McDermott, both 15, are expected to be high-volume scorers this season. Bordeaux said the group has to find the end zone consistently, while McDermott, a longtime friend of Bordeaux and Diieso, emphasized the need to translate hard work into points. The pair credit their summer work with setting a tone in practice, where head coach Joe Minucci pushes the group through long sessions and finishing plays with extra work, particularly at the end of drills. The two are joined by teammates who describe a culture in which older players take a big brother role with the younger group and help them grow in both football and character.

Senior receiver Johnny Russo, who was called up to varsity as a sophomore, acknowledged the challenge of integrating younger players but said it’s a reasonable price to pay for sustained success. He noted that the evolving lineup demands confidence and patience, and he believes the younger players will be valuable contributors as the season unfolds and into the playoffs. Russo also said the group’s growth is a sign of the program’s ongoing mission to build a winning culture that can endure beyond a single season. Week after week, we see them improving. They’ll be very helpful in the playoffs, he said.

As a group, the five sophomores recognize the expectations that come with carrying a storied program. Diieso summed up the mood when he said the players feel the responsibility to rise to the challenge and push each other toward a title. We’re all pushing each other, he said.

St. Anthony’s will open Catholic League play at home against Kellenberg on Friday night, a test that will gauge how quickly the youth movement can translate into wins in league play. The Friars aim to extend a tradition of success at a program known for its high standards and deep faith, while building a new generation that they hope will sustain that success for years to come.