‼️Stanfel Cup Legacy Game‼️ Riordan vs Sacred Heart Cathedral – GSF Game of the Week (Fall 2021)

The 2021 Nicholas Stanfel Cup Legacy Game was initially scheduled at Kezar Stadium but due to rain, the time and location of the game were changed. Sacred Heart Cathedral, the home team, hosted Riordan at Westmore High School in Daly City for an afternoon showdown.

The Fightin’ Irish started off hot with two quick scores by 3-Star National Recruit Jerry Mixon Jr. in front of some college coaches scouting the game. The 6’2″, 200lb RB looked like he was about to have a big game but Riordan matched SHC’s effort and eventually stopped the Fightin’ Irish’s momentum mid-first. One key player on the Crusaders’ defense was Kemoeatu Kefu, a massive 6’0″, 200lb RB/NG who played physical throughout the game especially in the first half.

Mixon scored on a 16-yard run followed by a scoop and score on defense a couple of minutes later. Down 14 to nothing, Riordan got on the board with a 43-yard TD pass from QB Emilio Cruz to Zachary Jones. Prior to that, however, SHC committed a personal foul that added 15 yards to Cruz and Jone’s first connection, a 22-yard gain. SHC still had the lead at the end of the first, 14-7 but it ended with a 3rd down QB sack by Kefu that forced the Fightin’ Irish to punt.

Riordan tied the game with a double pass from Cruz to Will Narvaez who unleashed a 70-yard bomb to a streaking Zion Wells, which ignited an additional 21 point run for Riodan. Cruz ended up throwing three touchdown passes to three different receivers, a 42-yard to Jones, a 72-yard bomb to Christopher Murray, and an 8-yard floater to Wells. Kefu added two long touchdown runs, a 49 and a 63 yarder in the fourth quarter to punctuate the win. In between Kefu’s touchdowns came SHC’s only other touchdown of the game which started with Bruce Uperesa catching a slant that he stretched out to a 42-yard gain. QB Ray John-Spears ran the ball to the one-yard line followed by a sneak by RL Miller.

Riordan executed their game plan and won the turnover game. Their defense shut down SHC’s playmakers and took some calculated risks with the deep passes on offense that paid off. Wells caught all the passes thrown his way which earned himself the iconic GSF Game of the Week Playmaker shirt while Kefu got rewarded the MVP. He literally punished SHC as a defender with his physical style of play and proved that he’s the best player on the field when he scored two long touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Final score: Riordan 48, SHC 21.