Manhertz Catches 1st Pass of 2022

Cardinal Spellman High School graduate Chris Manhertz caught his first pass of the season for the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 29-21 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Manhertz and the Jaguars will host the Houston Texans on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The 6-foot-6, 255 pound tight end signed a two-year, $7.25 million deal with the Jaguars in March 2021 and finished last season with six receptions for 71 yards and one touchdown in 17 games, 10 being starts.

For his career, the 30 year old has 18 catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns.

Manhertz played basketball at Canisius College in Buffalo and was offered a tryout by the Buffalo Bills following his collegiate career. After the Bills released him, he was on the practice squad for the New Orleans Saints in 2015 and was in uniform for three games in 2016 before being released.

The Carolina Panthers claimed him off waivers from the Saints and he played five seasons with the Panthers.

Koonce Assists Raiders Defense

Archbishop Stepinac High School graduate Malcolm Koonce finished with a solo tackle as the Las Vegas Raiders won its first game of the season with a 32-23 victory over the visiting Denver Broncos on Sunday.

It was the second consecutive week the second-year defensive end finished with a solo tackle for the Raiders, who will play Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City on Sunday.

In 2021, Koonce played in five games and finished with three tackles, two being solo tackles, and two sacks.

The Raiders drafted Koonce out of the University of Buffalo in the third round with the 79th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Stepinac Graduate Koonce Finishes with First Tackle of 2022 for Raiders

Archbishop Stepinac High School graduate Malcolm Koonce finished with his first solo tackle of the season for the Las Vegas Raiders in a 24-22 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Koonce is a second-year defensive end for the Raiders, who host the Denver Broncos next Sunday. In 2021, Koonce played in five games and finished with three tackles, two being solo tackles, and two sacks.

The Raiders drafted Koonce out of the University of Buffalo in the third round with the 79th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Former Jets Linebacker Raising Money for Tunnel to Towers

Dwayne Gordon will serve as one of the hosts as Spring In Fitness and the Eastchester Inn are teaming up on Tailgate for a Cause on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 12:30 p.m. at the Eastchester Inn, 220 Main St., Eastchester.

Gordon is a former linebacker for the New York Jets, who attended Our Lady of Lourdes High School. Gordon played eight seasons in the NFL, the last four with the Jets where he started 17 of the 63 games he played and finished with 215 tackles

Tickets are $25 and all proceeds will go to Tunnel to Towers charity. 

Dolphins Place Williams on IR

Archbishop Stepinac High School graduate Trill Williams was placed on injured reserve by the Miami Dolphins and is expected to miss the season.

Williams tore the ACL in his left knee during his team’s preseason game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished with two solo tackles, including one tackle for a loss.

Williams played in one game, dressed and did not play in four games, and was inactive for 12 games in 2021. In his one game against the New England Patriots on Jan. 9, he did not record any stats in his NFL debut.

The cornerback was signed as an undrafted free agent and released three days later by the New Orleans Saints in May 2021. The Dolphins signed him three days after his release from the Saints.

At Stepinac, Williams played cornerback, wide receiver and running back. As a senior, he earned first-team all-state honors from the New York State Sportswriters Association after helping Stepinac win the 2017 Catholic school state championship. He finished with 46 tackles, five interceptions and 19 passes defensed. On offense, he had 317 rushing yards, 217 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

Williams played three seasons at Syracuse University before declaring himself eligible for the 2021 NFL Draft.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIAMI DOLPHINS

Giants Release Heslop

Archbishop Stepinac High School graduate Gavin Heslop was released by the New York Giants on Tuesday.

Heslop finished with two tackles, one being solo, during a 23-21 victory last Thursday for the Giants over the New England Patriots in the preseason opener for both teams.

Heslop is now a free agent and may sign with any NFL team as the preseason continues.

Heslop The six-foot, 197-pound defensive back played three games for the Seattle Seahawks in 2021 before suffering a season-ending leg injury. He participated in four defensive and 30 special teams snaps, finishing with a special teams tackle.

Heslop signed with Seahawks as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2020 out of Stony Brook University and was on the team’s practice squad. He was on the active roster for one game against the Miami Dolphins but did not play.

Heslop started 37 consecutive games at Stony Brook and finished with 138 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss and a pair of fumble returns for touchdowns. He received third-team All-CAA football honors as a senior captain after having 52 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, two blocked kicks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

At Stepinac, Heslop earned first-team all-state honors from the New York State Sportswriters Association and first-team all-Catholic High School Football League honors.

Koonce Returns to Raiders

Archbishop Stepinac High School graduate Malcolm Koonce is beginning his second NFL season with the Las Vegas Raiders.

The defensive end played in five games and finished with three tackles, two being solo tackles, and two sacks.

The Raiders drafted Koonce out of the University of Buffalo in the third round with the 79th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Koonce and the Raiders will open their preseason on Thursday, Aug. 4 in the Hall of Fame Game on NBC against Cardinal Spellman graduate Chris Manhertz and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Las Vegas will begin its regular season on Sept. 11 in Los Angeles against the Chargers. 

Manhertz in Jaguars Camp

Cardinal Spellman High School graduate Chris Manhertz is in his second NFL training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The 6-foot-6, 255 pound tight end signed a two-year, $7.25 million deal with the Jaguars in March 2021 and finished last season with six receptions for 71 yards and one touchdown in 17 games, 10 being starts.

For his career, the 30 year old has 17 catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns.

Manhertz played basketball at Canisius College in Buffalo and was offered a tryout by the Buffalo Bills following his collegiate career. After the Bills released him, he was on the practice squad for the New Orleans Saints in 2015 and was in uniform for three games in 2016 before being released.

The Carolina Panthers claimed him off waivers from the Saints and he played five seasons with the Panthers.

Jacksonville will open its preseason against the Las Vegas Raiders in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 4 at 8 p.m. on NBC. The Jaguars will begin their regular season against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Sept. 11.

The Jaguars will host the Giants on Oct. 23 on FOX and will play the Jets at MetLife Stadium on Thursday, Dec. 22, a game being televised by Amazon Prime.

Stepinac Grad Williams Reporting to Preseason Camp with Dolphins

Archbishop Stepinac High School graduate Trill Williams will report to his second training camp with the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday.

The Dolphins will open their 2022 preseason at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, Aug. 13.

Williams played in one game, dressed and did not play in four games, and was inactive for 12 games in 2021. In his one game against the New England Patriots on Jan. 9, he did not record any stats in his NFL debut.

The cornerback was signed as an undrafted free agent and released three days later by the New Orleans Saints in May 2021. The Dolphins signed him three days after his release from the Saints.

At Stepinac, Williams played cornerback, wide receiver and running back. As a senior, he earned first-team all-state honors from the New York State Sportswriters Association after helping Stepinac win the 2017 Catholic school state championship. He finished with 46 tackles, five interceptions and 19 passes defensed. On offense, he had 317 rushing yards, 217 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

Williams played three seasons at Syracuse University before declaring himself eligible for the 2021 NFL Draft.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIAMI DOLPHINS

Giants Sign Stepinac Grad Heslop

Archbishop Stepinac High School graduate Gavin Heslop signed with the New York Giants and will be in training camp with the team on July 27.

The Giants open their preseason at the New England Patriots on Aug. 11.

The six-foot, 197-pound defensive back played three games for the Seattle Seahawks in 2021 before suffering a season-ending leg injury. He participated in four defensive and 30 special teams snaps, finishing with a special teams tackle.

Heslop signed with Seahawks as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2020 out of Stony Brook University and was on the team’s practice squad. He was on the active roster for one game against the Miami Dolphins but did not play.

Heslop started 37 consecutive games at Stony Brook and finished with 138 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss and a pair of fumble returns for touchdowns. He received third-team All-CAA football honors as a senior captain after having 52 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, two blocked kicks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

At Stepinac, Heslop earned first-team all-state honors from the New York State Sportswriters Association and first-team all-Catholic High School Football League honors.