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   Leading off today: Mike Libert tracks 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) Erasmus Hall (1-1)
Last Week: #1

Recap: After falling in their opener to St. Peter's Prep of New Jersey, the Dutchmen got into league play on Friday and pitched a shutout as in a rematch of last season's PSAL City Championship. It was Erasmus again showing themselves to be the better squad as Andre Hines and Justin Bellido each had TD's in the Dutchmen's 29-0 victory over South Shore to get PSAL play off to a good start. Next: Friday @ Fort Hamilton.

2) Christ the King (2-0)
Last Week: #3

Recap: Going to Pennsylvania to take on Pottsgrove on Friday night proved to be just another chance for the Royals to show that they are easily among New York State's best. Noah Bodden led the offense from under center while RB Tirek Murphy put together another strong showing as Christ the King would come home with a dominating 52-14 victory to make a major statement moving forward. Next: Friday @ #8 Msgr. Farrell.

3) Cardinal Hayes (1-1)
Last Week: #2

Recap: When you take on one of the best team's in the country it's no easy to task, which is what the Cardinals dealt with this Saturday in their matchup with St. Joseph's of New Jersey. Hayes made a few too many mistakes even though they were able to move the ball fairly consistently. Jalen Smith had a 21-yard TD run as a highlight in the Cardinals' 33-7 loss to show they could hang with anyone put in front of them. Next: Saturday vs. St. Anthony's.

4) Curtis (1-1)
Last Week: #4

Recap: Doing a bit of everything for the Warriors was sophomore RB Sam Martin as he had a pair of TD runs to go along with a beautiful 33-yard TD reception off a great pass from QB Gennaro Basciano in a 32-22 road victory over Abraham Lincoln. Curtis trailed 22-20 at the half but the defense stepped up and kept Lincoln scoreless the rest of the way. Next: Saturday vs. Canarsie.

5) Tottenville (1-1)
Last Week: #5

Recap: Getting into PSAL play was just the remedy that the Pirates needed from an opening-week loss as six Tottenville players scored, including star RB Roland Dempster who also rushed for 113 yards. They blanked Fort Hamilton at home on Friday night 48-0. It was a nearly flawless showing on both sides of the ball for a Tottenville team with title-winning aspirations this season. Next: Friday @ #6 Midwood.

6) Midwood (2-0)
Last Week: #8

Recap: It looked as if Midwood was done in while down 20-14 with under a minute to go on the road Friday at Canarsie. But QB Zade Edwards called his own number and tied the game with a 7-yard TD run to send the game into OT. Both teams scored in the first extra session and it was a David Stephens run that won it for the Hornets in the second OT as they went on the road and took a tough 32-26 victory. Next: Friday vs. #5 Tottenville.

7) JFK (2-0)
Last Week: #8

Recap: Ground and pound is the name of the game this season for the Knights and on Saturday afternoon it was all about RB Emmanuel Enkwocha, who ran for three TDs and 122 yards in a 36-6 victory for JFK over Harry Truman. It was sloppy in the early going for the Knights, who led 16-6 at the break, but Enkwocha got going in the third and JFK didn't look back to stay perfect on the season. Next: Friday vs. Brooklyn Tech.

8) Msgr. Farrell (1-1)
Last Week: #7

Recap: A week after shutting out Fordham Prep in their opener the Lions made the trip up to Rhode Island to take on one of that state's best in LaSalle Academy. A 42-yard TD reception from Christian Tait put Farrell up 14-13 early in the fourth quarter but the Lions couldn't hold on as a late LaSalle TD meant it was a 19-14 Msgr. Farrell defeat in the tough road contest. Next: Friday vs. #2 Christ the King.

9) Abraham Lincoln (0-2)
Last Week: #6

Recap: Going into halftime with a 22-20 lead over Curtis in a marquee PSAL opening week showdown on Friday night, the Railsplitters had a ton of confidence knowing they could move the ball up and down the field. An injury in the third quarter to star RB Israel Abanikanda slowed the Lincoln run game down and they went scoreless the rest of the way in a tough 32-22 loss to the Warriors in Brooklyn. Next: Friday @ South Shore.

10) Lehman (1-0)
Last Week: NR

Recap: Having their non-league game last week against Monsignor Bonner of Pennsylvania called off at the last minute because of poor field conditions at Evander Childs meant Lehman was one of the last teams in NYC to hit the field. They got going on Saturday and looked sharp as Dante Nelson and Elijah James each had big games to lead the way in a 39-6 victory over Susan Wagner. Next: Friday @ New Dorp.

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Class A

1) Bayside (2-0)
Last Week: #2

Recap: It's going to be very tough to slow down this Commodores offense this season as for a second straight week Brian Nezaj threw for a pair of TDs. RB Jordy Chen rushed for 151 yards and 3 TDs in another Bayside victory as they took down East Harlem Pride on Friday afternoon 38-6. With the defense playing just as well as the offense right now it's clear why the Commodores are our new No. 1. Next: Saturday @ Eagle Academy II.

2) Moore Catholic (2-0)
Last Week: #3

Recap: For the second week in a row it was Justin Lacks who was dominant in the backfield as the star RB for the Mavericks had 3 TDs -- including a 95-yard scamper -- to get Moore Catholic going in a 26-0 victory over Xavier in their league opener. Nick Heineman also threw a TD pass for the Mavericks, who look like the clear-cut top team in the CHSFL right now. Next: Sunday vs. Kellenberg.

3) Tilden (2-0)
Last Week: #4

Recap: Building off of a strong Week 1, the Blue Devils ran the ball with successfully Saturday against DeWitt Clinton

  
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as the trio of DoMorri West, Kevon Patrick, and Giovanni Philippe each scored on the ground to help Tilden to a 40-14 victory. Defensively the Blue Devils were just as solid holding Clinton scoreless until the fourth quarter as Tilden looks to be a major force in the Bowl Division in the PSAL. Next: Saturday @ East Harlem Pride.

4) St. Peter's (1-1)
Last Week: #5

Recap: Coming off a defeat at home in the non-league to top-tier CHSFL team Christ the King, the Eagles opened league play against Fordham Prep at home on Saturday afternoon. Kaiwan Taylor was more than up for the challenge that the Rams defense presented as he had 130 yards on 20 carries along with 2 TDs to help St. Peter's grab the 28-21 victory and get back on the winning side of things. Next: Saturday @ Archbishop Stepinac.

5) New Utrecht (2-0)
Last Week: #10

Recap: After being down 14-0 going to the fourth quarter a week ago in their opener and rallying for the 16-14 victory it seems as if New Utrecht is now a team to reckon with. They went on the road to the defending PSAL Bowl Division champions in James Madison on Friday and were able to get a strong ground attack from Michael Alexis, while Damian Falconer led the defense in what would be a 28-20 eye opening win. Next: Saturday @ #6 McKee/Staten Island Tech.

6) McKee/Staten Island Tech (2-0)
Last Week: #8

Recap: Staying true to what the Seagulls do best they kept the ball on the ground and ran it down the throats of Eagle Academy III on Saturday afternoon as QB Thomas Doyle and RBs Charles Metayer and Ryan Hourican each had over 75 yards and a TD to help McKee/Staten Island Tech to a 24-14 road victory that keeps them unbeaten heading into next week's third game of the season. Next: Saturday vs. #5 New Utrecht.

7) St. Francis Prep (1-0)
Last Week: #7

Recap: In the Terriers' opener against their rivals from Holy Cross it was a scoreless game at the half, with the Knights taking a 6-0 lead into the fourth quarter. Omarian Jones moved back to QB late from his new WR spot and led St. Francis Prep to a late TD. When Owen Cole hit the extra point that was enough to give the Terriers a 7-6 victory, and bragging rights for an entire year. Next: Sunday vs. Xavier.

8) Lafayette Educational Complex (2-0)
Last Week: NR

Recap: Taking on KIPP NYC College Prep, a team that hadn't lost since November of 2017 it was an daunting task for the Patriots but led by RB Reuben Smith who had a pair of TD runs it was Lafayette who surprised many with a dominating 28-6 victory as the defense nearly pitched a shutout with KIPP scoring on the last play of the game in what was a start to finish strong performance from a very talented Patriots team. Next: Friday @ Grand Street Campus.

9) James Madison (1-1)
Last Week: #1

Recap: In what may have been the biggest shocker of the weekend, the defending PSAL Bowl Division champions hosted New Utrecht on Friday in a game not many thought would be a huge challenge for the Golden Knights. That's why they play the game though as even with Mark Shepherd running for a couple of TD's the Madison defense couldn't make the big stop late in what ultimately would be a 28-20 defeat. Next: Saturday @ Port Richmond.

10) Fordham Prep (0-2)
Last Week: #6

Recap: You can't say that the Rams didn't have their chances out on Staten Island on Saturday afternoon as Fordham Prep led early in the fourth quarter and got a solid performance in the backfield from RB Zachary Wallace, who had a pair of TD runs. But the defense couldn't hold the Eagles down the stretch, the Rams lost the lead late and fell to 0-2 on the season with a 28-21 defeat. Next: Bye.

Class B

1) Petrides (2-0)
Last Week: #2

Recap: It was quite the day for Panthers QB/CB Mike DiForte as he would rush for four TDs and then return one off an interception on defense for a TD -- one of two picks that DiForte had on the day -- to lead Petrides to a 30-16 victory on the road over Far Rockaway on Saturday afternoon. A strong day from the entire defense really led to a solid performance on both sides of the ball for the Panthers, who remain unbeaten. Next: Friday vs. #4 William Grady.

2) Riverdale (2-0)
Last Week: #3

Recap: For a second straight week it was Harry Landis demonstrating why he is considered one of the best players in the Metropolitan Independent Football League. He tossed 4 TDs as the Falcons coasted from start to finish in a 35-7 victory over Dalton. Getting out of the gate early put Riverdale in a good position as they held their opposition to under 100 yards of total offense in a strong two-way performance. Next: Friday @ Hackley.

3) Cardozo (2-0)
Last Week: #4

Recap: Call it the signature win now for Cardozo as the Judges went on the road and took down our previous No. 1 team Stuyvesant 32-22. The Peglegs just couldn't stop RB Tyler Ragler as the senior had 187 yards on 16 rushes and three TDs to help carry Cardozo as they outscored Stuyvesant 26-0 in the second and third quarters to take momentum and come away with a massive victory. Next: Friday @ #5 Jamaica.

4) William Grady (2-0)
Last Week: NR

Recap: After a tremendous opening week from QB Daniel Brown it was the signal caller again who called his own number more often than not. He ran for 136 yards and three TDs to help the Falcons to a 44-14 victory over Evander Childs on Saturday. It wasn't just Brown though as RB William Stoney also ran for a pair of TDs as the offense for Grady seems to be in full force heading into a big matchup on the road this coming Friday. Next: Friday @ #1 Petrides.

5) Jamaica (2-0)
Last Week: NR

Recap: Going up against a very solid Long Island City team on Friday saw QB Nicholas Blake throw for one TD while rushing for a pair of others as Jamaica needed OT but came away with a 32-26 victory. Rodney Biroo came up with a big sack in the extra session to help Jamaica get the ball and put away the game winner to help them enter the rankings this week. Next: Friday vs. #3 Benjamin Cardozo.


  
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