St. Anthony’s Friars are gearing up for a promising season under the leadership of rising quarterback Anthony Diieso. Entering his third year on the varsity team as a junior, Diieso has spent the offseason preparing rigorously to build on last year’s performances.

After stepping into the starting quarterback role as a sophomore, Diieso described his initial season as a challenging adjustment but said he has since grown more comfortable in his responsibilities. “Last year was definitely a little nerve-wracking, but now I’m all settled in — been putting in all the hard work,” he remarked ahead of the fall campaign.

In July, Diieso earned recognition by winning a quarterback challenge hosted by the Suffolk County chapter of the National Football Foundation. The competition featured many of Long Island’s top young signal-callers, offering Diieso valuable experience against diverse opponents and playing styles as he prepared for the upcoming season’s training camp.

With a renewed focus on leadership, Diieso and his receivers have been dedicating extra practice time to refine their chemistry. The Friars will open their schedule with out-of-league matchups against New Jersey’s Red Bank Catholic and St. Peter’s Prep, games that Diieso views as opportunities to push the team against strong competition early on.

“I always love testing myself. Those games, they will really see what we’re made of. It’s a high-level competition, and I think it will be fun games,” Diieso said.

Last season, St. Anthony’s advanced to the semifinals of the Catholic League playoffs before falling to Iona Prep from Westchester. This year, Diieso is aiming higher, setting his sights on capturing a state championship and celebrating with his team on the field.