Leading off today: Mike Libert and Elio Velez track the New York City high school football scene for the New York State Sportswriters Association. Here's Mike's weekly rundown of where the top teams stand at the moment:

Class AA

#1) South Shore (9-0, Last Week: #1) Holding the top seed in the PSAL City Conference playoffs the Vikings had a bye this week, giving the likes of RB Zuberi Mobley '22 a chance to rest up a bit before they get back going Saturday in their quest for a first football title. Next: Saturday vs. #10 Susan Wagner (PSAL City Conference quarterfinals).

#2) Cardinal Hayes (4-4, Last Week: #4) Going out to Long Island to play at St. Anthony's in the CHSFL semifinals on Friday night, not many gave the Cardinals a chance to win. But a late TD from Sofian Massoud '20 to Micheal Escobar '19 allowed Hayes to overcome an 11-point deficit and rally for the 26-25 win to advance them to the CHSFL title game. Next: Saturday vs. Stepinac (CHSFL Class AAA Championship Game @ Mitchell Athletic Field).

#3) Erasmus Hall (8-1, Last Week: #2) Coming into the postseason playing as well as anyone, the Dutchmen had an opening-round bye after a throttling of Tottenville on the road in Staten Island to end the regular season. With weapons all over the field Erasmus is definitely one of the favorites as they get their playoff run started on Saturday. Next: Saturday vs. #9 Canarsie (PSAL City Conference quarterfinals).

#4) Midwood (8-1, Last Week: #3) With just one loss this season coming on the road by six points to Erasmus Hall just over a month ago, the Hornets have been one of the more balanced teams this season in the PSAL. A solid defense, and an offense led by star RB Tyrese Weeks '20 makes them a major playoff threat. Next: Saturday vs. #8 Curtis (PSAL City Conference quarterfinals).

#5) Tottenville (7-2, Last Week: #5) It wasn't the way that Tottenville wanted to enter the playoffs as they fell at home to Erasmus Hall just over a week ago 35-14. The loss could be just what the Pirates needed to get them motivated and back on the right track to make a big playoff run after having a first-round bye this past week. Next: Saturday vs. #7 Abraham Lincoln (PSAL City Conference quarterfinals)/

#6) Msgr. Farrell (5-4, Last Week: #6) You can't call this season a failure by any stretch as the Lions proved throughout the CHSFL season that they could hang with the very best. Vin Wagner '19 had a tremendous season in the backfield for Farrell, and even though they fell to Cardinal Hayes in the CHSFL quarterfinals it was still a season to remember. Next: Season over.

#7) Abraham Lincoln (6-4, Last Week: #8) Wanting to make a statement against JFK in the opening round of the PSAL playoffs on Saturday the Railsplitters did just that as Israel Abanikanda '20 ran for three TDs in a 48-0 victory over the Knights as Lincoln looks to be peaking at the perfect time of the year. Next: Saturday @ #5 Tottenville (PSAL City Conference quarterfinals).

#8) Curtis (5-5 Last Week: #9) The regular season may have had its ups and downs but there is no one who wants to be facing the two-time defending PSAL champions in the postseason as Campus Magnet learned on Saturday when Sam Martin '22 had a pair of TDs on the ground and Curtis rolled to an easy 35-0 PSAL opening-round victory. Next: Saturday @ #4 Midwood (PSAL City Conference quarterfinals).

#9) Canarsie (6-4, Last Week: #10) It seemed as if the Chiefs were in trouble late in the fourth quarter down by two points, but a TD run late by Lamy Constent '20 put Canarsie in front and they would make a big defensive stop in the closing seconds to hold and down Fort Hamilton 20-14 and advance to next weekend's quarterfinals. Next: Saturday @ #3 Erasmus Hall (PSAL City Conference quarterfinals)

#10) Susan Wagner (6-4, Last Week: NR) Another road winner in the opening round of the PSAL playoffs, the Falcons played with their backup QB but that didn't hinder them one bit as RB James Morse '19 ran for a pair of TDs. The defense made big plays when they needed them in a major 18-16 victory against Lehman to move on to play again. Next: Saturday @ #1 South Shore (PSAL City Conference quarterfinals).

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Class A

1) Bayside (9-0, Last Week: #1) With one of the more potent offenses in all of New York City football this season the Commodores are the clear favorites in the PSAL right now as QB Douglas Flug has been doing a great job spreading the ball around through the air as he has five solid WR threats plus a ground game that continues to improve week after week. Next: Saturday vs. McKee/Staten Island Tech (PSAL Bowl Conference quarterfinals).

2) Xavier (7-3, Last Week: #4) With it being a defensive battle most of the way it was an Anthony Bruno '20 rushing TD late in the third quarter that made the difference for the Knights as Xavier went on the road on Sunday and knocked off Holy Trinity 7-0 to push them into next weekend's CHSFL title game. Next: Saturday vs. Kellenberg (CHSFL Class AA championship game @ Mitchel Athletic Complex).

3) James Madison (8-1, Last Week: #2) A team with major championship potential, the Golden Knights earned an opening-round PSAL playoff bye which allowed them to rest up some nagging injuries in their quest for a title. Maurace Morris '19 has had a great season under center for Madison and his right arm and his legs will determine just how far the Golden Knights go. Next: Saturday vs. #10 Lafayette (PSAL Bowl Conference quarterfinals).

4) Fordham Prep (6-4 Last Week: #3) It's never easy to go on the road in CHSFL play but to head out to Long Island to take on unbeaten Kellenberg in the semifinals was a very difficult task. Fordham Prep would go up 3-0 but after that

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the Firebirds scored 26 straight to put an end to the Rams' chances as their playoff run ended with a 47-20 loss on Saturday. Next: Thursday 11/22 vs. #4 Xavier (Turkey Bowl).

5) East Harlem Pride (9-0, Last Week: #5) There wasn't much in terms of expectations for the Pride this season but they have shocked everyone in their path to finish the regular season undefeated and earned an opening-round PSAL playoff bye. It won't be easy for them going forward but with QB Taj Harvey '19 on their side you have to like East Harlem's chances. Next: Saturday vs. Eagle Academy II (PSAL Bowl Conference quarterfinals).

6) St. Peter's (4-5, Last Week: #6) With the emergence this season of RB Kaiwan Taylor '21 there is very little doubt that the Eagles will be among the more formidable teams in the CHSFL next season. They return a core of their offensive line which should mean a lot of big holes to run the ball, and a solid amount of them defense comes back as well. Next: Season over.

7) Xaverian (5-4, Last Week: #7) Getting the short end of a bad draw, Xaverian was suppose to play St. John the Baptist in the CHSFL quarterfinals. But because of a traditional Turkey Bowl game that conflicted in another matchup the Clippers got Xavier, a much tougher opponent, and a game they would lose which unfortunately ended their season early. Next: Season over.

8) Moore Catholic (6-3, Last Week: #8) Not the way that the Mavericks wanted to end their season when they lost on the road at Holy Trinity by a point on a late TD, Moore Catholic has a lot to look forward to in the future as they bring back star RB Justin Lacks '20 next year and should be among the title contenders once again in the CHSFL. Next: Season over.

#9) Franklin K. Lane (8-2 Last Week: #9) On a blustery Saturday afternoon the Knights played host to Frederick Douglass Academy looking to book their place in the PSAL quarterfinals. With Justin Cepeda '19 rushing for 106 yards and two TDs Franklin K. Lane were able to get the job done in a solid 28-12 victory to advance. Next: Saturday @ Tilden (PSAL Bowl Conference quarterfinals).

#10) Lafayette (8-2, Last Week: #10) There truly may not be a team playing better defense in the PSAL right now than Lafayette as for the fifth time in six games the Patriots held their opponents scoreless in defeating Franklin D. Roosevelt 26-0 in the PSAL opening round on Saturday behind a pair of rushing TDs from RB Kael Cham '19. Next: Saturday @ #2 James Madison (PSAL Bowl Conference quarterfinals).

Class B

#1) KIPP NYC College Prep (9-0, Last Week: #1) Closing out the regular season in style, KIPP ran away with things on the ground as Ale Wilson '20 rushed for four TDs and over 100 yards in a 38-6 victory over Alfred E. Smith to secure the #1 seed in the PSAL Cup Division playoffs that get underway Saturday. Next: Saturday vs. Mott Haven (PSAL Cup Conference quarterfinals).

#2) Petrides (8-1, Last Week: #2) For Petrides at this point it's as their star RB Tyheer Tucker '19 goes they go. He went far on Saturday against Long Island City as the senior had 338 yards rushing and three TDs in a dominating 37-6 victory that allowed them to lock up the #2 seed in the PSAL playoffs. Next: Saturday vs. Automotive (PSAL Cup Conference quarterfinals).

#3) Stuyvesant (8-1, Last Week: #3) He may have only completed three passes in the game but all three of the passes that Lucas Dingman '20 threw went for TDs and the Peglegs were able to hold Info Tech to just one first down all game in what would be a 28-0 win to head into the playoffs on a high note. Next: Saturday vs Long Island City (PSAL Cup Conference quarterfinals).

#3) Horace Mann (7-1 Last Week: #4) Playing for the HVFL title just over a week ago now, the Lions clamped down on the Dalton ground game and limited them to just over 50 yards on the ground. With a score early in the fourth quarter Horace Mann was able to take the lead for good to take a 14-6 victory and the overall league championship. Next: Season over.

#5) Poly Prep (5-4 Last Week: #5) It was heartbreak nearly two weeks ago now for the Blue Devils, who looked primed to take home the MIFL Championship on the road at Rye Country Day. The game was tied late and they had the ball but Poly couldn't convert and gave the ball back to Rye for a late TD, sending Poly Prep to a 34-28 title game defeat. Next: Season over.