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NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Iona Prep football ended its season Saturday with a 41-16 home loss to Chaminade in the CHSFL Class AAA semifinals.
Chaminade handed Iona (8-2) its only losses of the season, both of them in New Rochelle, and bounced the Gaels from the playoffs. Head coach Victor Quirolo said it was not the matchup with the Flyers but the Gaels’ performance that ended their season.
“We just didn’t have our A game that day,” Quirolo said. “They’re a physical team. We just didn’t have our A game, and I’m not sure it was just one particular thing.”
Prep ran through much of its competition this season and earned the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The Gaels also had a quality win against St. Anthony’s in week two en route to their 8-2 record.
Iona averaged more than 37 points per game and allowed less than 18 points per game this season. So even though the Gaels fell short in the playoffs, Quirolo reflected on the season feeling positive about his team.
“You have to put things in perspective,” he said. “Any time a team goes 8-2 and to be as dominant as we were, you have to look at that as a successful season.”
Quirolo must deal with the loss of seniors such as quarterback Mario Biaggi when looking ahead to next season. The coach said that as skilled as his seniors were on the field, “they were better character people.”
“It’s going to be tough to replace them,” Quirolo said.
The Gaels have had great success in the past several years and will look to continue that next year. Quirolo said the team must stay positive.
“We’re always optimistic,” he said. “We’ve grown as a program.”
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