It’s football season in New York City, and Friday night lights were shining bright as the Xavier Knights faced off against the Xaverian Clippers in an exciting non-conference matchup at Aviator Fields in Floyd Bennett Field on October 17th.
The Knights pulled off a hard-fought victory, edging out the Clippers 28–21, in front of a spirited crowd that filled the stands for Xaverian Football Senior Night 2026.
Over 1,100 attendees were in the crowd, but the biggest surprise of the evening didn’t happen on the field — it happened on the sidelines. During halftime, fans got an unexpected “show” when mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa made a surprise visit. The longtime New Yorker and Guardian Angels founder was greeted with loud cheers from both sides as he made his way through the crowd, shaking hands, taking photos and chatting with fans about city issues.
Sliwa even received a shout-out over the loudspeaker as cheerleaders and players alike joined in the excitement. The spontaneous energy of the moment captured the community spirit that makes high school sports in New York so special.
As the Xavier Knights celebrated their win, Sliwa’s appearance added an unexpected twist to an already electric night — one that reminded everyone that in New York, football season isn’t just about the game; it’s about the city that rallies behind it.