Reporter: Akin Taylor
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — If there were any lingering questions about how running back Nahum Pierre’s skill set would translate following his move from Spring Valley High School, he answered them in definitive, explosive fashion on Friday night.
In just his third game powering the Archbishop Stepinac offense, the junior tailback delivered a statement performance, spearheading a 38-16 victory over New Jersey’s Immaculata.
Standing 5’11” and a built 210 pounds, Pierre has the college-ready frame that turns heads on the recruiting trail. Against Immaculata’s defense, that size paired seamlessly with lethal track-star bursts.
Pierre turned 17 carries into a staggering 280 rushing yards and three touchdowns, breaking open what started as a tight non-conference battle. His ability to fuse physical, downhill running with home-run speed, highlighted by touchdown sprints of 80 and 60 yards, signals that the former Spring Valley standout is quickly transforming into one of the most intriguing prospects in New York’s 2027 class. If Friday was any indicator, Pierre is placing himself firmly on the radar as a potential three-star recruit before his junior campaign concludes.
The night did not start as a runaway. Immaculata struck first in the opening quarter with a 3-yard touchdown rush and a successful two-point conversion to grab an 8-0 lead.
Stepinac answered early in the second quarter when quarterback Marco Espinal connected with wideout Giovanni Bowley for a 35-yard touchdown strike. Later in the quarter, Pierre ignited the crowd with an 80-yard house call to put the Crusaders ahead. Though Immaculata tied the game at 14 before the break, the second half belonged entirely to Stepinac’s dominant ground attack and disciplined defense, as Immaculata tried and failed to contain Pierre down the stretch.
While Pierre set the pace on offense, junior outside linebacker Josiah Mitchell anchored the Crusaders’ defense with an equally impactful performance of eight tackles and two sacks. Mitchell was a constant disruption in the backfield, setting up a physical tone for Stepinac’s second-half shutdown.
Looking ahead, with the victory, Archbishop Stepinac improves to 2-1 on the season as they gear up for Catholic AAA action against St. Anthony’s. The matchup carries extra weight for the Crusaders. St. Anthony’s blasted Stepinac 49-21 in their previous meeting, giving the White Plains squad plenty of motivation entering this high-stakes league clash Saturday afternoon.
However, with Pierre supplying game-breaking backfield speed and Mitchell anchoring a re-energized defense, Stepinac brings a vastly different identity into this rematch.
