John Jay Scores Big Upset over Top Seeded Clarkstown South

When John Jay lost to Mahopac two weeks ago, the Wolves lost control of their destiny. They needed a Pelham victory over Eastchester and a favorable calculation in the tiebreaker formula.    Both scenarios working out, John Jay drew the top seed at Clarkstown South on Friday night and obviously the math was not on their side this time. Seeded sixth, the consensus around the section concurred. “Everyone thought we were losing,” said quarterback Craig Galea. But that’s why they play the games.

John Jay ran away with a 55-27 victory and face Rye on Friday.

Even so, Clarkstown South came out like the favorites and had first down at the John Jay 27. But Michale Holder was picked off in the end zone by Michael Mendicino, and the Wolves  immediately hit their stride.  

Of course, it was John Jay’s alpha that led the way. On second down from the 21, Christian Shapiro broke outside for a 79 yard touchdown run. 

Up 6-0 on the blocked extra point, the defense did not rest, and three plays later, the offense returned. Happily among them was Chris DiChiara who finally got back on the field a few weeks ago. “It was really painful not playing. I just wanted to be out there with my teammates,” he said, and the receiver’s first reception yielded a 24 yard gain to the 43.

DiChiara then drew a pass interference to the Clarkstown 31 - and with no need for greed -  he let the other weapons take over. Mendicino had a run and reception to situate John Jay at the 13, and Austin Zaccagnino grabbed a first and goal on a sideline screen.

For once, though, run Shapiro came up short, so pass Shapiro would have to do. Shapiro pulled in the screen for a 12-0 lead, and Clarkstown did a double take when the back caught another screen for two more. 

Down 14, Clarkstown now got in gear. Holder hit Josh Gilden over the middle, and he rumbled  to the John Jay 18. Two plays later, Gilden scored on a 11 yard touchdown pass, and with 2:50 left in the first, Clarkstown trailed 14-7. 

Unfazed, the Wolves packed up again. On second and 20, Galea hit Zaccagnino for 15, and staying in the mix, Shapiro broke outside for a 53 yard run. 

Primed at the 35, John Jay seemed to waste the outburst after the next three plays had them fourth and 12. But Luca Duva had no reservations when Coach Candarelli decided to go. “I knew he was going to put me in the right spot,” said Duva, and Galea found him.

With three defenders on his heels, Duva pulled in Galea’s loft at the three, and Shapiro took care of the rest. A 21-7 lead with 11:48 left in the half, the defense appeared to take its turn.  

Two completions going for minus four yards, Duva dug deep on third down. The corner made the tackle, and Clarkstown was forced to punt.

Special teams fell a little short, though. The punt was fumbled, the Vikings took over, and Holder hit Gilden on an 18 yard touchdown pass at 9:33.

Nonetheless, Coach Candarelli kept calm on the sideline and implored his boys that they were still winning the game. The Wolves didn’t waiver very long either.

Shapiro burst through the middle for a 23 yard run, and DiChiara drew another pass interference.  First down from the 18, Shapiro gobbled up the yardage on three runs, and doubled up Clarkstown by a score of 28-14.

Seven minutes left in the half, there were no mistakes when Clarkstown punted three plays later.  There was also no reprieve for the Viking defense. 

Even with fourth down forced, Shapiro gave the Viking no reason to celebrate. He converted, and unlike most previous Jay opponents, coverage duties have increased exponentially.  “We got Zaccagnino and DiChiara as deep threats now,” said Galea. “You can’t guard both of them at the same time.”

One and not the other, the duo stuck to the game plan on the next drive. DiChiara first ran under a wide open route to the six, and Zaccagnino climbed the ladder in the end zone to extend to 34-14.

Mathias Baez’s extra point made it 35, and the Wolves were sitting pretty at intermission. But the pageant was far from over, and the crown went to the returning hero. On first down from the 42, DiChiara left everyone in the dust again and went in untouched for a 42-21 advantage. 

To their credit, Clarkstown hung around and had a first and goal at the one. But the Vikings fumbled, and Charlie Burt recovered.

Now on life support, the Vikings flatlined, and it was no surprise who made the call. DiChiara pulled in touchdown passes of 19 and 55 yards to cement the final score. But afterwards, there were more than touchdowns on his mind. “My teammates have been so supportive, and I’m so happy to be out there,” DiChiara asserted.

The feeling is obviously mutual, and that doesn’t bode well for Rye in the semifinal matchup on Friday night.

For all 2022 Football Pics

Click for Rye game