Saturday, for the 103rd time: St. Joe's vs. Canisius.
 
The Crusaders return home after two matchups at Ohio powers to host the rivalry game and open the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association football season against a fellow top-ranked team in Western New York.
 
Kickoff is 2 p.m. Saturday on our new turf on Koessler Field at the Stransky Memorial Athletic Complex. 
 
Canisius has won 11 straight and 21 out of the last 22 rivalry games, including last year's MMAA Association championship game. CHS leads the overall series, 51-48-3. The Crusaders took over the series lead in 2023 for the first time since 1986.
 
Junior Elijah Kimble, who set the all-time Canisius High School touchdown record two weeks ago, is 118 yards away from the all-time CHS rushing record of 4,147 held by Qadree Ollison '14. Kimble is 29th on the all-time Western New York rushing list (see below).
 
A sellout crowd of thousands is expected. Tickets are $5 and are available at both schools' reception offices this week. The game will be broadcast by WNY Athletics.
 
#AMDG
 
CANISIUS VS. ST. JOE'S: GAME 103
GAME NOTES 
 
WHAT: Canisius Crusaders (1-2) vs. St. Joe's Marauders (2-1) in the teams' rivalry game and Monsignor Martin Athletic Association opener.
 
WHEN: Saturday, 2 p.m. (gates open at 12:30 p.m.)
 
WHERE: Koessler Field at Robert J. Stransky Memorial Athletic Complex, 2885 Clinton St., West Seneca.
 
TICKETS: $5. On sale this week at both schools; a limited number of tickets will be available at the gate upon entrance to the Stransky Complex parking lot. The game is expected to be a sellout. 
 
BROADCAST: WNY Athletics. Livestream also available at canisiussports.com/live

THE RIVALRY: This is the 103rd meeting of a rivalry that began in 1921.
 
THE ALL-TIME SERIES: Canisius holds a 51-48-3 lead.
 
CHS TAKES THE RIVALRY LEAD: The Crusaders took the series lead over for the first time since 1986 in the 2023 postseason as CHS won the Monsignor Martin semifinal.
 
11 IN A ROW A RECORD FOR CRUSADERS: Canisius won its 11th straight in the series in last year's MMAA final, which marked an all-time high for CHS in the rivalry. It surpassed the 10-game run from 2012-2018 which comprises the first half of the current run in which Canisius has won 21 of the last 22 games between the schools.
 
SERIES RECORDS & GAME-BY-GAME RESULTS: See bottom of these notes.
 
THE RANKINGS
  
NYS Sportswriters Association Class AA state rankings: 14. Canisius; 19. St. Joe's.

MaxPreps New York State rankings: 14. Canisius; 45. St. Joe's.
 
MaxPreps Buffalo metro rankings: 2. Canisius; 4. St. Joe's. 

WNY Athletics – Frank Wolf's Large School Power Rankings: 1. Canisius; 3. St. Joe's
 
WNY Athletics – Tom Prince's Large School Power Rankings: 2. Canisius; 3. St. Joe's

The Buffalo News large school poll: 2. Canisius; 5. St. Joe's. 
 
LITM (@litminc) WNY Top 25: 2. Canisius; 3. St. Joe's.
 
WNY Football Report (@wny_football.report) Top 10 large schools: 3. Canisius; 5. St. Joe's
 
@716football Top 25: 2. Canisius; 3. St. Joe's
 
NEW TURF: This is the second football game to be played on our brand-new colorful turf on Koessler Field at the Stransky Memorial Athletic Complex. "CANISIUS" and "CRUSADERS" are painted in gold-on-navy blue in the end zones while there is a shaded green pattern on each 5-yard sections of the field. The Jesuit tenet of "AMDG" adorns the center of the 50-yard line. AMDG is an acronym of the Latin phrase "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" – meaning "for the greater glory of God" – a central part of the mission of Jesuits and Jesuit schools.
 
CHS ALUMNI TAILGATE: There is a special CHS Alumni tailgate with covered seating, a full spread and more, starting at 11 a.m. See canisiushigh.org/tailgate for more.
 
CHS THIS SEASON: The Crusaders (1-2) opened with a 41-28 home win over Scranton Prep, dropping the Cavaliers to an 0-3 start one year after it had lost just two games. Canisius then lost back-to-back games at outstanding Ohio programs, defending state champion Ironton and Ohio top 10 program Walsh Jesuit. Ohio has seven Divisions, arranged by school size, with Division I the largest; Walsh Jesuit is in Division II, Ironton in Division V.  
 
SJCI THIS SEASON: St. Joe's (2-1) began the season with a loss to New York City power Cardinal Hayes (28-14) in Albany before home wins against Section VI power Jamestown (25-6) in Week Two and St. Andrew's College of Ontario (41-0) last week. St. Andrew's also lost at St. Francis, 20-15, in Week Two and will visit CHS in Week Seven (Oct. 25).
 
KIMBLE & CHS HISTORY: Elijah Kimble '27 became the all-time leader in touchdowns for Canisius when he ran for two scores at Ironton; his 58 touchdowns are one more than the 57 of Qadree Ollison '14.
 
Kimble is now 118 yards from the all-time CHS rushing record of 4,147, also held by Ollison.
 
KIMBLE BY THE NUMBERS: After the third game of his junior season, Elijah Kimble '27 has rushed for 4,029 yards on 464 carries, an average of 8.7 yards per rush and 155.0 yards per game.
 
In his sophomore season, he carried the ball 216 times for 1,778 yards while running for 31 touchdowns.
 
As a freshman he rushed for 1,821 yards on 191 carries and scored 19 touchdowns.
 
The all-time Western New York career rushing record is 6,559 yards by Jehuu Caulcrick of Clymer (1999-2002). Kimble is currently 29th on the all-time WNY rushing list.
 
WESTERN NEW YORK ALL-TIME RUSHING LIST
From all-time NYS rushing list at newyorksportswriters.org 
 
6559     Jehuu Caulcrick          Clymer                               1999 - 02
5883     Dustin Bowser             Southwestern                2001 - 03
5490     Wade Turner                 Lackawanna                   1995 - 98
5055     Jeff Tundo                       Orchard Park                  2006 - 08
5020     Keien Williams              Eden                                    2001 - 03
4989     Paul Paddock                 Cattaraugus & Springville      1995 - 98
4984     Reggie Garner                Cardinal O'Hara           2004 - 07
4901     Aaron Wahler                 Cleveland Hill                2015 - 18
4820     Isiah McDuffie               Bennett                              2013 - 16
4645     Major Cole                       Turner-Carroll & Cardinal O'Hara      1994 - 97
4633     Chris McDuffie              Williamsville North     1998 - 01
4553     David Schmidli             Wilson                                1993 - 96
4531     James Mallory               Kenmore West               2001 - 04
4518     Trevor Barry                     Iroquois                             2021 - 23
4505     Brandon Munson         Albion                                 1998 - 00
4468     Brandon Murie              Iroquois                             2005 - 08
4437     James Henley                South Park                       2000 - 03
4358     Ted McDuffie                  Grover Cleveland         1989 - 92
4345     Okoya Anderson          Orchard Park                  2009 - 11
4295     Aaron Leeper                  Jamestown                      1997 - 00
4274     David Fluellen               Lockport                            2007 - 09
4274     Jaylen Butera                  Jamestown                      2019 - 21
4189     Eric Everett                      Cleveland Hill                1998 - 00
4177     Joe Kuzmierski              Tonawanda                      1996 - 98
4168     Ray Braxton                     Lackawanna                   1984 - 87
4147     Qadree Ollison         Canisius                           2010 - 13
4145     Joe Cerminera               Lewiston-Porter            2000 - 03
4088     Zak Kedron                      St. Francis                        2002 - 04
4029     Eli Kimble                        Canisius                           2023 - present
 
ELIJAH KIMBLE '27 HAS 37 SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS: A list that includes Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Georgia and Notre Dame began with his first offer from Oregon midway through his freshman season. Kimble was a guest of Ohio State at its huge 2025 season opener against Texas.
 
Here is the complete list:
 
Ohio State
Michigan
Notre Dame
Oregon
Georgia
Florida
Penn State
Syracuse
Ole Miss
UCLA
Miami
University at Buffalo
Pittsburgh
Maryland
Kansas
Michigan State
Oklahoma State
Purdue
Texas Tech
West Virginia
Washington
Oregon State
Arizona State
South Carolina
Tennessee
North Carolina
Arkansas
Minnesota
Boston College
Wisconsin
Southern Methodist
Indiana
Toledo
Marshall
Liberty
Delaware State
Texas-San Antonio
 
CONNOLLY CUP & KIMBLE: Kimble was named one of the 10 finalists for the Connolly Cup, awarded to Western New York's most outstanding player, after both his freshman and sophomore seasons and is considered by many outlets to be a leading candidate for this year's award. Kimble was awarded the Dick Gallagher Buffalo News Player of the Year last season. He made the Connolly Cup honor roll after his 2025 Week One performance against Scranton Prep (14 carries, 315 yards, three touchdowns).
 
CHS LAST SEASON: Canisius finished the season as Western New York's top-ranked large school. The Crusaders went 13-3 and were undefeated against local competition as they won the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association title. CHS rolled to a big early lead in a 32-22 victory over St. Joe's in the title game before losing the state Catholic title game to Iona Prep of Westchester County.
 
CHS-SJCI LAST SEASON: The Crusaders won in Week Four and then again in the MMAA title game. 
 
Elijah Kimble '27 earned MMAA championship MVP honors as the Crusaders took control early in a 32-22 win over St. Joe's on Koessler Field before a crowd of thousands at Robert J. Stransky Memorial Complex. Kimble ran for 181 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries. The Crusaders scored the game's first 20 points, were up 26-6 after three quarters and built a 32-14 lead with less than four minutes to play.
 
Canisius surged in the second half to win at St. Joe's, 24-17, in Week Four. The Crusaders trailed in the second quarter and after the third, but used businesslike execution on offense and stifling defense to own the fourth quarter. Kimble scored three touchdowns, including a fourth-quarter run that put Canisius up 22-17 after St. Joe's (1-2) had finished the third with a 17-16 lead. Kimble also scored on a two-point conversion run to put CHS (2-2) up by seven.  
 
CHAMPION CHS: The Crusaders' 2024 title was its eighth in 13 years and first under head coach Kraig Kurzanski '84.
 
It was the ninth Monsignor Martin championship for Canisius since the league went to its postseason format in 2002. Canisius has won titles in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017. 2019, 2020, 2024.
 
HEAD COACH KRAIG KURZANSKI '84: Kurzanski is in his fourth season of his current tenure at CHS, having gone 9-3 last year in winning the MMAA championship and appearing in three straight MMAA title games. He has compiled a 20-17 overall record while playing some of Western New York's very best (and toughest) schedules.
 
Kurzanski has been one of Western New York's best coaches for three decades, amassing a 177-114-2 record in what is his 32nd season. His win total is 15th on Western New York's all-time list, which is topped by CHS legend Johnny Barnes, who had 287 upon his retirement in 1973.
 
Kurzanski's win total is second-highest among active WNY coaches (Jerry Smith of St. Francis entered the season with 194) and is 13th among active coaches in New York State.
 
The South Buffalo native was 88-49 in 15 years at Williamsville South, where he retired as a science teacher and coach prior to returning to Canisius in 2022.  He went 5-6 in both 2022 and 2023. He coached previously at Canisius from 2001 to 2003, including one Monsignor Martin Association Large School championship game berth.
 
Kurzanski is a member of the Canisius High School Athletic Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2002 for his achievements in both football – in which he earned All-Western New York first-team honors at center in 1983 – and baseball.
 
BILLS COACH McDERMOTT ON CANISIUS: Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott was interviewed this summer by Russell Kingsbury on the Hoops & Highlights show on WEBR AM 1440 / FM 105.3 / webrradio.com.
 
Coach McDermott was asked about his son Gavin McDermott '29, who is part of the CHS football program, as he was heading into his first year of high school. 
 
"He's just getting started in the sport, right … It's a real honor to be at a school like Canisius – a lot of great schools in the community, we're all very blessed to have so many good options in our community to attend school, get a good education, and play some sports at the same time.
 
"Like all of us, he's got strengths and he's got things he needs to work on so we'll see – again, he's just getting started in this sport, he's working with a great coach in Coach K at Canisius, and a lot of great teammates around him. So all you can do is work hard and try and get better each and every day.
 
"He is a good student. That's most important in our family, in our household, really … serving God and we're happy that he's at a school that is a faith-oriented school first and foremost. And they're all about service and being in the community. So that's the most important thing, teaching him the right way to go about his business at a young age here."
 
NEXT WEEK: Canisius remains home for another MMAA game against Bishop Timon-St. Jude at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4; at the same date and time, St. Joe's hosts St. Francis.
 
CHS 2025 WEEK-BY-WEEK SCHEDULE:
 
Week One: Sept. 6 vs. Scranton Prep (Pa.) W, 41-28
Week Two: Sept. 13  at Ironton (Ohio) L, 21-55
Week Three: Sept. 19 at Walsh Jesuit (Ohio) L, 0-38
Week Four: Sept. 27 vs. St. Joe's, 2 p.m.
Week Five: Oct. 4 vs. Bishop Timon-St. Jude, 2 p.m.
Week Six: Oct. 10 at Steubenville (Ohio), 6 p.m.
Week Seven: Oct. 18 vs. St. Andrew's (Ontario), 2 p.m.
Week Eight: Oct. 25 vs. Huron Heights (Ontario), 2 p.m.
Week Nine: Nov. 1 at St. Francis, 7:30 p.m.
Week 10: Monsignor Martin Athletic Association bye week
Week 11: Sat. Nov. 15 – Monsignor Martin Athletic Association semifinals at TBA
Week 12: Sat. Nov. 22 – Monsignor Martin Athletic Association championship at TBA
Week 13: Sat. Nov. 29 – New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association championship at downstate site TBA
 
CHS No. 1 in WNY: For the second straight year, Canisius has been ranked as the Buffalo area's "Best Catholic School" and "Best All-Boys School" by Niche.com and Buffalo Business First.
 
• The top private school in Best High Schools for Athletes
• One of just six WNY schools to earn an A+ in Academics
• One of just five WNY schools to earn an A+ in Clubs & Activities
• One of just six WNY schools to earn an A+ in Resources & Facilities
• The top-ranked boys-only school in Teachers
• One of just 11 WNY schools to earn the highest grade of A for Sports
 
OPEN HOUSE OCT. 5-6: Students interested in CHS Football and the excellence only found in a Jesuit education at Canisius can learn more by reserving a spot at our Open House on Oct. 5-6 via canisiushigh.org/openhouse. This place is special. Let us show you why.
 
ALL-TIME CANISIUS-SJCI SERIES NOTES
 
Longest Winning Streak
Canisius – 11 games (2019 – present)
St. Joe's – 17 games (1983 - 1998)
 
Most Points in a Series Game
Canisius – 66 (2021)
St. Joe's – 52 (1990)
 
Most Combined Points in a Series Game
2011 – 95 points
 
Point Differential
Most Common Differential: One Point – Nine times (~9% of series)
1921 (CHS); 1924 (SJCI); 1950 (CHS); 1966 (SJCI); 1969 (CHS); 1972 (CHS); 2007 (CHS); 2011 (CHS); 2015 (CHS)
 
One-Possession Score Differential (eight points or less) in 40 games (40% of the series)
 
Note: The series was suspended from 1932 to 1947 due to the heated nature of games in the 1920s and 30s, but reinstated by the Bishop of Buffalo in 1948 with the creation of a Catholic sports league – the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association. 
 
ALL-TIME SERIES, GAME-BY-GAME
 
1921 Canisius 7-6
 
1922 No game
 
1923 No game
 
1924 St. Joe's 7-6
 
1925 Canisius 16-2
 
1926 St. Joe's 22-0
 
1927 TIE 0-0
 
1928 St. Joe's 6-0
 
1929 St. Joe's 6-0
 
1930 St. Joe's 12-6
 
1931 St. Joe's 6-0
 
1932 to 1947 No games
 
1948 Canisius 14-9
 
1949 Canisius 18-13
 
1950 Canisius 20-19
 
1951 Canisius 35-0
 
1952 Canisius 28-7
 
1953 Canisius 19-0
 
1954 Canisius 13-6
 
1955 St. Joe's 12-7
 
1956 St. Joe's 18-12
 
1957 St. Joe's 27-7
 
1958 St. Joe's 34-6
 
1959 St. Joe's 21-13
 
1960 St. Joe's 13-6
 
1961 TIE 7-7
 
1962 Canisius 20-6
 
1963 Canisius 19-8
 
1964 St. Joe's 25-0
 
1965 Canisius 19-0
 
1966 St. Joe's 7-6
 
1967 St. Joe's 7-0
 
1968 Canisius 14-6
 
1969 Canisius 27-26
 
1970 TIE 12-12
 
1971 Canisius 36-12
 
1972 Canisius 8-7
 
1973 Canisius 36-12
 
1974 Canisius 34-6
 
1975 Canisius 40-0
 
1976 Canisius 16-0
 
1977 Canisius 16-14
 
1978 St. Joe's 17-14
 
1979 St. Joe's 8-3
 
1980 Canisius 42-8
 
1981 St. Joe's 25-18
 
1982 Canisius 6-2
 
1983 St. Joe's 8-6
 
1984 St. Joe's 42-0
 
1985 St. Joe's 13-0
 
1986 St. Joe's 14-7
 
1987 St. Joe's 17-0
 
1988 St. Joe's 28-0
 
1989 St. Joe's 14-3
 
1990 St. Joe's 52-0
 
1991 St. Joe's 27-0
 
1992 St. Joe's 21-8
 
1993 St. Joe's 42-12
 
1994 St. Joe's 35-7
 
1995 St. Joe's 34-3
 
1996 St. Joe's 34-6
 
1996 St. Joe's 19-14
 
1997 St. Joe's 11-0
 
1998 St. Joe's 40-8
 
1999 Canisius 17-14
 
2000 St. Joe's 3-0
 
2001 St. Joe's 20-8
 
2002 St. Joe's 14-0
 
2002 Canisius 22-0
 
2003 St. Joe's 20-7
 
2004 St. Joe's 21-6
 
2005 St. Joe's 34-8
 
2006 St. Joe's 42-0
 
2006 St. Joe's 21-15
 
2007 Canisius 41-34
 
2007 Canisius 17-16
 
2008 Canisius 42-18
 
2009 Canisius 41-28
 
2009 Canisius 58-34*
 
2010 St. Joe's 50-26
 
2010 St. Joe's 35-19
 
2011 St. Joe's 34-20
 
2011 St. Joe's 48-47
 
2012 Canisius 28-21
 
2013 Canisius 21-0*
 
2013 Canisius 42-7
 
2014 Canisius 17-0
 
2015 Canisius 35-7
 
2015 Canisius 7-6
 
2016 Canisius 27-6
 
2017 Canisius 55-16
 
2017 Canisius 22-14*
 
2018 Canisius 34-28
 
2019 St. Joe's 32-21
 
2019 Canisius 15-6
 
2021 Canisius 63-0 (March)
 
2021 Canisius 48-7 (April)
 
2021 Canisius 66-0
 
2021 Canisius 35-0
 
2022 Canisius 39-22
 
2022 Canisius 17-0 
 
2023 Canisius 49-7
 
2023 Canisius 42-0
 
2024 Canisius 24-17
 
2024 Canisius 32-22*
 
*-MMAA championship game
 
CHS 4-0 IN RIVALRY FINALS: CHS is 4-0 against St. Joe's in MMAA title games (2009, 2013, 2017, 2024).
 
MORE ON CHS: See the Crusaders' complete excellent schedule, its roster and several photo galleries here at our unmatched website at canisiussports.com
 
#AMDG
 
Students and families interested in CHS Football and the excellence only found in a Jesuit education at Canisius – ranked as the Buffalo area's "Best Catholic School" by Buffalo Business First – can learn more by arranging an on-campus experience via canisiushigh.org/visit or by joining us at our Open House on Oct. 5-6.

This place is special. Let us show you why.