Senior wide receiver Sean Binckes will bring you into the world of the Xaverian Clippers football team, one of the best in the city. The highly recruited Binckes and the senior-laden X-Men are trying to claim the CHSFL Class AAA title. Read all about the ups and downs of the season in his bi-weekly diary.
There was a playoff atmosphere around the CHSFL and especially at Kings Bay Football Field last Saturday night.
Our crowd was second to none and turned Kings Bay into the most enthusiastic environment in the city. They might have made the place louder than the crowd did at LSU vs. Alabama. The tailgaters were out early getting the BBQ fired up and fans piled into Kings Bay for the quarterfinal matchup.
Coming off a huge win over Chaminade, 41-21, we were feeling confident and pumped entering the game. Over the past couple of years, we have started to look at playing Monsignor Farrell as a rivalry game and we wanted nothing more than to win, and win big. The fireworks went off after the national anthem and it was game time.
The first half ended in a 6-6 tie with both of our defenses looking to outshine the other. Every play there were guys from both teams swarming to the ball as the offensive presence was not felt from either squad. We have not had many games where we were in this position going into a half, being tied, and it was a situation that tested us. We were challenged with adversity and it was either respond with a second-half explosion or watch our season be taken from us.
Many people may have been nervous in the stands but in the locker room it was different. Everyone was calm and confident that we were going to win the game and that is what we did. We took over and finished off our home stretch with a 32-6 victory and, just like after every victory, the crowd went from going crazy at the game to enjoying a great meal at Roll ‘n’ Roaster. Unfortunately that was the last game at home for the seniors and I but it was a great way to go out — with a big playoff win.
We have reached the semifinal game for the second time in four years but that was not the goal at the beginning of the year. We are traveling to play a very good Stepinac team on Saturday but we are not ready to pack up and call it a great season. The goal was stated from the very beginning: win a championship.
We are two wins away from being the first team in the history of the school to win a ‘AAA’ varsity championship and we are determined to make this team be remembered forever. For some, making it this far may seem good enough but we are not looking to settle for just good enough and Saturday at 1 p.m. in White Plains we are hoping to prove that.
Two more wins. That’s our goal.
Check back with Sean Binckes every other Wednesday during the season. His next diary will run Nov. 23 should Xaverian reach the CHSFL Class AAA final.
