Westchester Football Stars Make Super Bowl Picks

WESTCHESTER, N.Y. – The New York Giants are in Indianapolis this week to  prepare for a clash with the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl Sunday. While millions of football fans argue the outcome Sunday’s rematch of the 2007 Super Bowl, won by the Giants over the Patriots, local high school and college football stars weighed in on the big game and offered their expert predictions.

Dobbs Ferry High School football players Darien Bica and Tom Fleming, who helped lead the Eagles to a New York State Class C title in November, know what it takes to win on the big stage. The Eagles, who won 11 straight games after losing on opening day in September by a point to defending Class C state champion Bronxville, won their championship in the cavernous Syracuse Carrier Dome.

 “New York Giants of course,” Bica said. “And I would say that it’s going to be very much similar to their last Super Bowl meeting. But the Giants are going to be a little bit more dominant this time around.”

Fleming sees the game as a defensive struggle.

“I feel like the first half is going to be pretty slow, 13-7 Patriots,” Fleming said. “And in the second half it is going to be a shootout. Giants win 31-30 on a last second field goal to win the game.”

Westchester area high school and college football players predict:

Tim Soave, Dobbs Ferry High School, 2011 Class C State Champion – “27-24 Giants. The Pats can't stop the pass game or Ahmad Bradshaw."

Joe Tarricone, Hastings High School – “Tom Brady is a phenomenal player and he always finds a way to win, especially when the stakes are high and they are in a must-win situation, however, I think the Giants will win. I believe their passing attack will be too much for the Patriots secondary to handle. The giants also became extremely hot at the perfect time, as did the Patriots, but the giants will prevail. In my opinion the Giants are more complete and have true superstar talent, not talents created from Brady's talent. I also believe it'll be a great game and come down to the wire just as Super bowl XLII when the Giants beat the Patriots to destroy their perfect season.”

Josh Almodovar, Ossining High School –  “I think the giants are going to take it. They have momentum on their side which makes their chances that much higher. It's going to be a close game though going against an experienced Patriots team. They win the game 31-28.”

Joe Lombardo, Somers High School – “I’m predicting a Giants win over the Patriots because the Giants have been on fire lately, and I feel if the Giants can disrupt (Tom) Brady's rhythm, they will come out on top. Giants win 27-24.”

Jeff Avery, White Plains High School -- “Personally, I'm a New York Jets fan and I’m pulling for the Giants in the Super Bowl, but I have to say I think the Pats are going to come away with this one. Tom Brady is probably the best quarterback I've ever watched and the combination of him, (Rob) Gronkowski, (Wes) Welker, (Deion) Branch and (Aaron) Hernandez might be too much for the giants secondary.”

Rick Del Gatto, Eastchester High School -- “I see the Giants winning in a 17-10 final. The second game (Giant won regular-season game) will be a defensive slugfest.”Michael Walker, Tuckahoe High School, 2010 Class D State Champions -- “The Pats, 26 to 21. And Eli Manning throws a pick to end the game.”

Mario Biaggi, Iona Prep -- “It’s a tough one for a Jets fan, but Patriots 23-17.”

Matt Adipietro, Hastings High School – “Both defenses are going to show up and play their hearts out. Pierre Paul and the rest of the Giants pass rush will get to Brady’s head and make a difference in this close game.”

Stephen Shoemaker Bronxville High School/Yale University – “Giants 38, Pats 12.Giants D-line is going to get after it and take the game over.”

Kyle Ricciardi, Croton High School, Two-time Section 1 Class B champion -- “I’m a Jets fan, so I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but Patriots 30, Giants 24.”

Nick Reisman, Tuckahoe High School, 2010 Class D State Champions – “Giants will win 27-20. The Giants have so much momentum going into this game. They just beat the Packers, the defending champs. And last Sunday they came out on top over the Niners, who have the number one defense. Patriots won’t be able to stop Eli and the Giants will have the game on (Victor) Cruz Control.”

Austin Taps, Archbishop Stepinac High School,  2010 CHSFL AA Champions-- "Giants 35, Pats-17. Go Giants.”

Nick Vallo, Sleepy Hollow High School – “My prediction is Giants 30, Pats 24. I think the Patriots start off strong, but the Giants D-line eventually gets to Brady and as Eli has shown all year long, he's going to come up big in the big game during crunch time. So, Eli's fourth-quarter play and the Giants D-Line will be what does it for them.”

Darrell Everett, White Plains High School – “I think it will be a close game but at the end the Giants will come out with the win just based on their defensive line and a better running game. Brady can't do it all.”

Andrew Brennan, Irvington High School -- Giants 100 percent, but it's going to be a very close, tough game because of the Giants defense matched up with Tom Brady and the Pats offense.”

Andrew DiRienzo, New Rochelle High School – “Well, I've been a big Giants fan my whole life so I'm kind of biased, but I'm picking the Giants to win by seven, 27 - 20. If the Giants pass rush could stop Brady like they did earlier in the year I'm hoping they'll pull it out, but it should definitely be a fun one to watch. I do think there will be more of a defensive game then people expect instead of the shootout people are predicting.”

Sean Callahan, Bronxville High School, 2010 Class C State Champions – “I’m a huge Giants fan, so I say it will be close but high scoring. I'll say the score will be 35-31 Giants.”

Jesse Gwin, Stepinac High School, 2010 CHSAA AA Champions – “I think that the Giants will win the game, but it is going to be another close call like the Packers game. I also think that the game will be a back-and-fourth game with the Giants leading and then the Patriots leading, but in the end the Giants will win.”

Jesse Mainiero, Croton High School, Two-time Section 1 Class B Champions -- "Giants will win. I expect a similar close game that comes down to the last drive and the Patriots have the ball but the Giants defense stands tall on a fourth down to ice the game. I’m a Jets fan, but the way the Giants are playing, I think they will be the favorite.”

Colin Orr, Briarcliff High School – "Patriots 23, Giants 20."

Anthony Lombardo, Somers High School/Binghamton University – “Giants, 31-27. I was thinking of saying 17-14 but this game will be a much higher scoring game then last time they met in the Super Bowl.”

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