Football Game Preview: Iona Prep Gaels vs. Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders

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Previous Games

09/21/24 - Away	42-13 W
10/07/23 - Home	12-13 L
11/12/22 - Home	41-28 W
10/08/22 - Away	42-35 W
10/02/21 - Home	34-7 W
+ 5 more games

Iona Prep is 8-2 against Archbishop Stepinac since October of 2017 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Saturday. The Gaels will be playing at home against the Crusaders at 1:30 p.m. Iona Prep will be strutting in after a win while Archbishop Stepinac will be coming in after a defeat.

On Saturday, Iona Prep humbled Kellenberg Memorial with a 47-13 victory. The Gaels haven't had any issues with the Firebirds recently, as the game was their eighth consecutive victory against them.

Iona Prep's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Julian Guzman, who threw for 127 yards and one touchdown while completing 91.7% of his passes, and also punched in one TD on the ground. Crew Davis was another key back, rushing for 55 yards and one score on only five carries.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Stepinac faced St. Anthony's in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Saturday. The Crusaders took a blow against the Friars, falling 49-21. The Crusaders' loss signaled the end of their four-game winning streak.

Iona Prep will have to contain John Smith as he made an impact in Archbishop Stepinac's last game. He picked up 72 receiving yards and one TD, and also rushed for 78 yards on only eight carries. Julani Graham was in the mix as well, providing Archbishop Stepinac with two touchdowns.

Iona Prep's victory bumped their record up to 7-1. As for Archbishop Stepinac, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-3.

Everything came up roses for Iona Prep against Archbishop Stepinac in their previous matchup back in September of 2024, as the squad secured a 42-13 win. In that contest, the Gaels amassed a halftime lead of 35-6, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Saturday.