Stepinac was edged 22-20 in overtime by host St. Joseph by-the-Sea in a CHSFL AAA quarterfinal Sunday on Staten Island.
Ryan Burnett rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, but was stopped on a two-point conversion attempt that would have tied and extended the game.
Teammate Danny Hoffer had 12 completions for 101 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 47 yards on seven carries.
"The kids played their hearts out," coach Mike O'Donnell said. "We just came up on the losing end of it."
Stepinac led 14-0 at halftime, but the Vikings rallied to tie the game 14-14.
During the regular season, Stepinac won 17-14, handing St. Joseph its only loss, on a last-second field goal. This time a 38-yard field goal attempt fell short for the Crusaders with 37 seconds left in regulation.
In overtime, St. Joseph scored first. Stepinac stopped the Vikings on their two-point conversion but the play was called back due to a face-mask penalty. St. Joseph converted with a run on its second attempt.
Justin Collins caught a 14-yard pass from Hoffer to bring Stepinac within two, but the Crusaders were unable to convert.
Stepinac wraps up the season on Thanksgiving Day at White Plains. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
"It's one of the biggest games of the year," O'Donnell said. "We want to send the seniors out the right way."
