Football Game Preview: Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders vs. St. Anthony's Friars

Archbishop Stepinac and St. Anthony are an even 5-5 against one another since September of 2017, but not for long. The Crusaders will be playing in front of their home fans against the Friars at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Archbishop Stepinac is coming into the game hot, having won their last four games.

If Archbishop Stepinac beats St. Anthony's with 21 points on Saturday, it's going to be the team's new lucky number: they've won their past two matchups with that exact score. The Crusaders enjoyed a cozy 21-7 victory over Kellenberg Memorial on Saturday. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Crusaders' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' New York football rankings (they are ranked ninth, while the Firebirds are ranked 87th).

Xaidan Brand

Rushing Yards (Career)

10/18/25 vs Kellenberg Memorial	100
10/11/25 @ Xavier	30
08/30/25 vs Lincoln	15
09/12/25 @ DePaul Catholic	10

Xaidan Brand was a one-man wrecking crew as he rushed for 100 yards and one TD on only nine carries. Those 100 rushing yards gave him a new career-high. Archbishop Stepinac also got help from Nicholas Harrison, who showed off his sure hands for 80 receiving yards.

They were just one part of a punishing run game: Archbishop Stepinac was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 246 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.

On the other side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Archbishop Stepinac's defense and their six sacks. Leading the way was Ka'Mauri Guinyard with two. He is becoming a predictor of Archbishop Stepinac's success: when he posts at least one sack the team is undefeated (and 1-2 when he doesn't). Nieem Hardy was another major factor on D, making 12 total tackles and defending one pass.

Meanwhile, St. Anthony's strolled past Chaminade with points to spare on Saturday, taking the game 33-19. The Friars pushed the score to 26-3 by the end of the third, a deficit the Flyers cut but never quite recovered from.

Archbishop Stepinac's win bumped their record up to 6-2. As for St. Anthony's, the victory got them back to even at 4-4.

Archbishop Stepinac took a serious blow against St. Anthony's in their previous meeting back in November of 2024, falling 50-14. That contest was all but decided by halftime, at which point the Crusaders were down 34-7.