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 (10-0, Last Week: #1) It wasn't easy in the quarterfinals on Saturday as the Vikings rested a good amount of their starters and it almost came back to bite them. But a second-quarter defensive TD allowed them to advance to the semifinals with a hard fought, 7-0 win over Susan Wagner. Next: Saturday vs. #5 Abraham Lincoln (PSAL City Conference semifinals).

#2) Erasmus Hall (9-1, Last Week: #3) Nearly everyone had a big day for the Dutchmen but it was Andrew Howell '19 who had two TDs on the ground early on to help Erasmus Hall take a quick 19-0 lead. They ran away with things after that for a convincing 39-0 victory that pushes them into next weekend's semifinals where they will stay at home. Next: Saturday vs. #4 Midwood (PSAL City Conference semifinals).

#3) Cardinal Hayes (4-5, Last Week: #2) Leading 12-6 at the half in the CHSFL championship game on Saturday against Stepinac, the Cardinals looked to be in control. But Hayes struggled to get much going on the ground in the second half and couldn't get a big stop when they needed it as the Cardinals fell 29-18 in the AAA title game. Next: Thursday vs. Mount St. Michael @ Cardinal Spellman (Turkey Bowl Game).

#4) Midwood (9-1, Last Week: #4) The Hornets got a pair of TD runs from Tyrese Weeks '20, and it was a late 99-yard fumble recovery taken to the house that propelled Midwood to a 28-18 victory over Curtis which puts them back in the semifinals next weekend. Next: Saturday @ #2 Erasmus Hall (PSAL City Conference semifinals).

#5 Abraham Lincoln (7-4, Last Week: #7) They were the only home team to win in the opening round last weekend, and this time around they were the lone road team to advance. The Railsplitters were led by Israel Abanikanda '20 who had four TD runs and 183 yards on the ground to help push Lincoln past Tottenville 34-12 in a major victory on Staten Island. Next: Saturday @ #1 South Shore (PSAL City Conference semifinals).

#6) Msgr. Farrell (5-4, Last Week: #6) The season may be over for the Lions but they still had a phenomenal year as RB Vin Wagner '19 rushed for over 1,000 yards and continues to be one of the more underrecruited talents in New York State right now. Farrell looks primed for another strong season a year from now. Next: Season over.

#7) Tottenville (7-3, Last Week: #5) Playing at home in the quarterfinals the Pirates had to be confident going into their game on Saturday against Abraham Lincoln, a team they handily defeated earlier this season in Brooklyn. It wasn't meant to be though as a slow start crushed Tottenville's chances and the Railsplitters won 34-12 to end the Pirates' season. Next: Season over.

#8) Curtis (5-6, Last Week: #8) Holding close most of the way, the Warriors went on the road this past Saturday in the quarterfinals to take on Midwood. Curtis kept it close most of the way with freshman phenom RB Sam Martin '22 doing a great job of keeping the Warriors in it, but a late Midwood TD ended things in what was a 28-18 loss for Curtis. Next: Season over.

#9) Susan Wagner (6-5, Last Week: #10) Not many gave them a chance going on the road to take on undefeated South Shore in the quarterfinals on Saturday, but the Falcons stayed in it from start to finish and had chances late in Vikings territory. They couldn't get in the end zone in what was a 7-0 loss to finish off Wagner's year. Next: Season over.

#10) Canarsie (6-5, Last Week: #9) After a number of strong defensive performances this season the Chiefs struggled mightily on Saturday as they couldn't get a stop on any of Erasmus Hall's first four possessions, falling into a big deficit and never recovering in a 39-0 defeat to close out the season. Next: Season over.

ADVERTISEMENT

Class A

1) Bayside (10-0, Last Week: #1) In the biggest game of the season to date the Commodores came up with their best defensive performance of the year as they stymied the McKee/Staten Island Tech offense and held them scoreless while Jordy Chen '20 ran for a TD in a 15-0 victory. Next: Saturday vs. #9 Eagle Academy II (PSAL Bowl Conference semifinals).

2) Xavier (7-4, Last Week: #2) Playing without their star RB Daniel Vittiburga '19 because of injury the Knights were hampered on the offensive side in the CHSFL championship game. While they tried as much as they could, Kellenberg took over late and controlled the game in what ended up being a 41-6 loss for Xavier. Next: Thursday @ #4 Fordham Prep (Turkey Bowl Game).

3) James Madison (9-1, Last Week: #3) Jumping out quickly to a 21-0 lead, the Golden Knights were paced by QB Maurace Morris '19 who had three TDs, two in the air and one on the ground. Madison ran past Lafayette 32-8, allowing only a late score to advance to next weekend semifinals. Next: Saturday vs. #8 Tilden (PSAL Bowl Conference semifinals).

2018 NYSPHSAA football brackets 2018 Long Island football brackets 2018 NYSPHSAA soccer Boys brackets | Girls 2018 NYSPHSAA field hockey brackets 2018 NYSPHSAA cross country: Boys | Girls 2018 NYSPHSAA girls Swimming | Diving

4) Fordham Prep (6-4, Last Week: #4) After losing in the CHSFL semifinals a couple weeks back the Rams have had time to prepare for their big upcoming rivalry game on Thanksgiving Day against Xavier, a game that holds a ton of weight for both teams and is as big a rivalry game as there is in New York City. Next: Thursday vs. #2 Xavier (Turkey Bowl Game).

#5) St. Peter's (4-5, Last Week: #6) Falling to Kellenberg in the CHSFL quarterfinals ended the Eagles' season a couple weeks ago. The future is bright for St. Peter's as RB Kaiwan Taylor '21 has shown to be an elite runner and with a good amount of the defense back next season there is a lot to look forward to. Next: Season over.

#6) Xaverian (5-4, Last Week: #7) Having been the #1 seed in the CHSFL West Division it was a successful first season in the AA for the Clippers. They have a lot of young talent to grow with and even though they lost in the quarterfinals to Xavier the future is bright for the up and coming Brooklyn power. Next: Season over.

#7) Moore Catholic (6-3, Last Week: #8) Losing RB Justin Lacks '20 for a pair of games late in the season seemed to stifle any momentum that the Mavericks had. Even though he came back and had a big quarterfinal game against Holy Trinity it wasn't enough in their road 26-25 loss that ended their season in heartbreaking fashion. Next: Season over.

#8) Tilden (7-3, Last Week: NR) Back into the rankings for the first time in a month are the Blue Devils as they were able to hold off a late charge by Franklin K. Lane and take a 32-26 quarterfinal victory. Kevon Patrick '20 had two TDs on the ground to push Tilden to the win with a road game on the agenda next weekend in the semifinals. Next: Saturday @ #2 James Madison (PSAL Bowl Conference semifinals).

#9) Eagle Academy II (7-3, Last Week: NR) Going on the road to face an undefeated East Harlem Pride team in the quarterfinals on Saturday was a big challenge, but it was a challenge the Eagles were up for as Jeremiah Covington-Griggs '21 rushed for 118 yards and a pair of TDs to shock East Harlem and take a 22-16 victory. Next: Saturday @ #1 Bayside (PSAL Bowl Conference semifinals).

#10) East Harlem Pride (9-1, Last Week: #5) It was an undefeated season for East Harlem going into Saturday's quarterfinals tilt with Eagle Academy II, and while it was a great year overall it ended in heartbreak as they were dealt their first loss 22-16 to the Eagles. Taj Harvey '19 had only one TD on the day in ending what was still a year to remember for the Pride. Next: Season over.

Class B

#1) KIPP NYC College Prep (10-0 Last Week: #1) Getting three TDs from QB Keenen Bingham '19 helped KIPP roll on Saturday afternoon as they put up 35 points in the opening half in a 46-18 victory in the quarterfinals. They enter the semifinals as the clear favorites to take home the PSAL Cup title. Next: Saturday vs. Benjamin Cardozo (PSAL Cup Conference semifinals).

#2) Petrides (9-1, Last Week: #2) No shock here as it was the Tyheer Tucker '19 show for Petrides. He had 162 yards and two TDs to help them to a 40-8 victory over Autotmotive in the quarterfinals on Saturday. They have stepped it up defensively as of late and look to be a major force to reckon with as we head down toward the end of the season. Next: Saturday vs. #5 Stuyvesant (PSAL Cup Conference semifinals).

#3) Horace Mann (7-1, Last Week: #4) Having won the HVFL Championship this season, and with a non-league win over Cardinal Spellman, Horace Mann moves up a spot. They displayed a strong ground attack, and a good enough defense to compete against anyone in NYC. Next: Season over.

#4) Cardinal Spellman (6-4, Last Week: NR) Getting a fourth-quarter TD from Kyle Maysonet '19 helped the Pilots get back into our NYC top 5 as they were able to avenge two losses earlier this season to Kennedy Catholic and earn a 19-12 win for the CHSFL Class A championship. Spellman now has won back to back crowns, Next: Season over.

#5) Stuyvesant (9-1, Last Week: #3) Having to go on the road because they couldn't get their home field, the Peglegs didn't have the greatest defensive day but got a pair of TDs from Lucas Dingman '19 in the air as Stuyvesant took down Long Island City 35-20 and moved into next weekend's semifinals, where they will again be on the road. Next: Saturday @ #2 Petrides (PSAL Cup Conference semifinals).