The Saint Anthony’s Boys Varsity Football team got their preseason started with pad-less practices on August 16th. Fortunately, on the second day of training, Friar Scoreboard had the opportunity to talk with head coach, Joe Minucci, regarding the pressures, expectations, takeaways, and hopes that come with being reigning CHSFL AAA and New York State Champions.
You have an amazing group of returning players this year, all of whom now have a championship ring on their resume, who do you expect to step up as leaders from that group?
JM: You know, it’s very hard to pick particular leaders out of this special and solid bunch we have, and there’s guys who have risen up already and accepted leadership roles. They’ve all done a great job, but you have guys like Alex Menghi (TE, 2024), KJ Duff (WR/TE, 2024), Braden Mehm (WR, 2024), Davin Foote (LB, 2024), they’ve all come around and have separated themselves to some extent.
After last season’s state title run, what do you want your guys to take from that last campaign and apply to this season?
JM: I think that last year we were a very talented group of guys that played very unselfishly, we shared the football around which was key to our success, and we never gave up. Realizing that if we believe in ourselves, do things as a team, and never give up, then we’re never out of a game. That was the case at Stepinac last year, we thought we were gonna drop it, but we came up with some magic on the very last play that got us over the hump in the end. That’s something from last year that I’m sure we can lean on now and could help us tremendously.
The goal remains the same in terms of winning those league and state titles, but has any emotion or driving force changed now that you already have a championship to your name?
JM: I don’t think so, you know, a number of the returning guys are itching to do it again and show that Saint Anthony’s football is back where it belongs. The new faces are ready to prove themselves; plus you have those seniors who didn’t play much last time and still have a lot to prove. This class wants to be who they are and still enjoy those 2022 memories, as they cement their legacy as seniors during this season.
The pre-season’s only just started, but is there anything you want to make sure you instill on these guys during these early practices?
JM: Well, I think first and foremost is sportsmanship out here, obviously we want to win and do things that haven’t been done before, we want to contend for another league title, we want to repeat. But most importantly is doing the right thing. Being out here and supporting one another, it’s all part of sports, following the mission of Brother David in the building, and translating that out here on the football field.
This Friars roster still stands as one of the most talented groups in not only the division but the state, and when you have practice standouts with the likes of Alex Menghi, Christopher Novelli, and KJ Duff, the repeat these boys are “itching” for is looking like more of a reality every moment they step onto the field.
St. Anthony’s BVFB kicks off their schedule with a home game vs Delbarton on 9/2 @ 1:00 P.M.
Eamon Bevan is a Senior writer in his fourth year working for Scoreboard at St. Anthony’s High School. He is a member of the Varsity Soccer team and is involved in several clubs and ministries.
