Prediction: St. Anthony's (N.Y.) can't get past Iona Prep

The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in less than six weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we head over to the Empire State and predict the St. Anthony Friars 2025 football season. The Friars are coming off a 9-4 campaign in which they fell short of competing for a NYCHSFL‘s AAA state championship. With Iona Prep in its way once again, can St. Anthony figure the Gaels out this fall?

Player Spotlight: RB Xavier Bala

Xavier Bala is undoubtedly one of the best the Northeast has to offer and he will be the focal point of the Friars’ offense heading into his junior year. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back has earned over a dozen Power Four offers after rushing for 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024. Now with quarterback Gary Merrill graduated, Bala will be seeing a lot more touches which will equal for a boatload more production offensively.

Others to watch: WR Johnny Russo, TE Jax Prokop, OL Jack Ortiz

Season Prediction: 7-3

The way last season ended for the Friars had to have left a bad taste in their mouths as they could not get past Iona Prep. The problem is making it happen on the field is easier said than done. Though we predict the regular season will turn out just fine for the Friars, history will repeat itself in the state championship game. St. Anthony’s makes back-to-back appearances in the state final but comes up just short again.

Game-By-Game Predictions

Aug. 29 – McDonogh School (Md.) Eagles – L
Up against one of Maryland’s top teams, the Friars open up the season with a loss at home.

Sep. 6 – at University Prep Charter School For Young Men (N.Y.) Griffins – W
The St. Anthony’s football team bounces back in Week 2 with a rout of the Griffins.

Sep. 13 – Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) Ironmen – L
This one gets out of hand fairly quickly as the Friars can’t hang with the Ironmen.

Sep. 19 – Kellenberg Memorial (N.Y.) Firebirds – W
Fuming after a blowout loss to the Ironmen, the Friars take out their frustrations on the Firebirds.

Sep. 26 – Monsignor Farrell (N.Y.) Lions – W
Welcoming in one of the New York’s top football programs in the Lions, Friars put on their most impressive showing yet in a 35-14 victory.

Oct. 3 – Iona Preparatory School (N.Y.) Gaels – L 
In a rematch of last year’s NYCHSFL’s AAA state championship, St. Anthony’s falls 36-20.

Oct. 10 – Cardinal Hayes (N.Y.) Cardinals – W
It’s been a gauntlet of games since the midway point of the season, but St. Anthony’s rises to the occasion in a narrow 32-28 victory.

Oct. 18 – Chaminade (N.Y.) Flyers – W
Another solid win as the Friars begin to heat up as the regular season comes to a close.

Oct. 25 – at Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) Crusaders – W
Three wins in a row against some of the state’s better competition and it brings the St. Anthony’s football team record to 6-3 heading into the home finale.

Oct. 31 – Fordham Prep (N.Y.) Rams – W
The Friars close the season out in style with a 42-8 blowout win over the Rams.