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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 (4-1)
Previous: #1

Recap: For the first time this season the Dutchmen gave up points to a PSAL foe as Erasmus led 34-0 at the half and cruised to a 48-6 victory. Vincent Cajano III again controlled the game with a phenomenal performance under center while the defense was nearly perfect for the fourth game in a row as E-Hall continue to make easy work of PSAL competition. Next: Friday @ #7 Abraham Lincoln.

2) Christ the King (5-0)
Previous: #3

Recap: In what was a sure-fire statement-making game, Noah Bodden threw for a pair of TDs while the Christ the King defense dominated the line of scrimmage and never let the Cardinal Hayes running game get going in a 39-22 victory for the Royals, who stayed unbeaten and are clearly among New York State's best. They have all the tools to make a deep postseason run. Next: Sunday vs. Archbishop Stepinac.

3) Cardinal Hayes (3-2)
Previous: #2

Recap: Full of confidence heading into their matchup Saturday against Christ the King it was a tough game for RB Jalen Smith, who had a TD early in the second half but the offense as a whole seemed to struggle against the quick and physical Royals defense. Cardinal Hayes fell to CHSFL competition for the first time this season in a 39-22 loss to CK. Next: Saturday vs. #10 Msgr. Farrell.

4) Curtis (4-1)
Previous: #4

Recap: It was a battle of Staten Island on Sunday afternoon as the Warriors went on the road to take on Susan Wagner. It proved to be the Sam Martin show as the sophomore RB rushed for three TDs and had 122 yards rushing. After trailing 7-0 after the opening quarter it was Curtis rolling to a 20-7 victory as they continue to roll in PSAL play. Next: Saturday vs. South Shore.

5) Tottenville (4-1)
Previous: #5

Recap: Roland Dempster continues to be the man on the ground as the bruising RB had four TDs in total for the Pirates on Sunday as Tottenville went to Brooklyn and easily defeated Boys & Girls 42-12. It's not just the ground game that is looking good for Tottenville as the A.J. Roberts-led defense is also clicking for one of NYC's best. Next: Friday @ Canarsie.

6) Midwood (3-2)
Previous: #8

Recap: After beginning the season by moving a number of options into the QB position the Hornets now have put David Stephens under center and are benefitting for it. His ability to read defenses and get out of the pocket was on display as he ran for 146 yards and a couple TDs as Midwood went on the road and knocked off a strong Lehman team on Saturday 24-16. Next: Friday vs. Fort Hamilton.

7) Abraham Lincoln (2-3)
Previous: #10

Recap: When you have a performance like Israel Abanikanda's this week you ought to take a bow. He scored four TDs, two of which were on the ground, one on a TD reception and another coming on a return as the Railsplitters rolled with Abanikanda from start to finish. His dominating effort propelled them to a 50-28 victory on Friday night over JFK. Next: Friday vs. #1 Erasmus Hall.

8) Lehman (3-1)
Previous: #7

Recap: In the first really tough game of the season for the Lions they got a solid defensive effort and led by a touchdown at the half behind the strong play from Dante Nelson, who had a rushing and throwing TD. But they were unable to hold onto the lead as down the stretch it was Midwood making the plays necessary in a 24-16 defeat of Lehman, which suffered its first loss of the season. Next: Saturday vs. Brooklyn Tech.

9) JFK (4-1)
Previous: #6

Recap: Even though the Knights got 100-yard rushing games from Karamogo Sylla and Emmanuel Nkwocha it wasn't enough as the JFK defense struggled against Abraham Lincoln on a Friday night in Coney Island. It really wasn't until the fourth quarter when the Knights offense came alive as it was JFK's first loss of the season when they fell 50-28 to the Railsplitters. Next: Friday vs. New Dorp.

10) Msgr. Farrell (2-3)
Previous: #9

Recap: Heading up to New Rochelle to take on one of New York's best in Iona Prep wasn't an easy task and it wasn't a great result for the Lions, who fell to the Gaels 49-13. Aaron Espinet had a 16-yard TD run in the second quarter to bring Farrell within 14-7 but that's as close as they got. The Lions will look for a better result come next Saturday evening. Next: Saturday @ #3 Cardinal Hayes.

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Class A

1) New Utrecht (5-0)
Previous: #3

Recap: Tied at 6-6 in the closing seconds, it looked like New Utrecht and Tilden were headed to OT. But Tristan Peter's picked off a pass with 10 seconds left and ran it back 30 yards for a TD to give the Utes a 12-6 victory over the Blue Devils in a thrilling end to a contest between two of the PSAL's best. Next: Saturday @ #10 Eagle Academy II.

2) Moore Catholic (4-1)
Previous: #4

Recap: It was a 6-6 tie at the half but the second half was all Mavericks. Justin Lacks had 267 yards on 21 carried and scored three TDs, all of which came as Moore Catholic ran away from Xaverian for a dominating 36-12 victory in Brooklyn on Friday night to cement themselves as NYC's best in the CHSFL. Next: Saturday vs. Holy Trinity.

3) James Madison (4-1)
Previous: #5

Recap: Since a Week 2 loss to our new No. 1 team (New Utrecht), it's been complete domination from the Golden Knights. That continued Friday as Madison got five TDs on the ground led by the pair from Mark Shepherd, wth QB Rickoy Riley adding 2 more passes in the air as they easily cruised past DeWitt Clinton 58-6. Next: Saturday @ East Harlem Pride.

  
RoadToSyracuse.com
RoadToSyracuse.com football site

4) Tilden (4-1)
Previous: #2

Recap: Armani Scott ran for a 3-yard TD with just under 2 minutes left in the fourth quarter to help Tilden tie at 6-6 with New Utrecht on the road on Friday evening. While the Blue Devils had a chance with 10 seconds left for a Hail Mary, the throw was intercepted and run back for a TD in a heartbreaking 12-6 loss. Next: Friday vs. Eagle Academy III.

5) McKee/Staten Island Tech (4-1)
Previous: #7

Recap: Hosting our previous No. 1 team (Bayside) on Friday afternoon it was a huge day for RB Ryan Hourican as he had 217 yards on 15 carries while scoring on a pair of runs to help MSIT to a 28-22 victory. The Seagulls also got scoring runs from CHarles Metayer and Thomas Doyle in a win that puts them back in the mix of PSAL's best in the Bowl Division. Next: Saturday @ DeWitt Clinton.

6) St. Joseph by the Sea (5-0)
Previous: #6

Recap: Down late in the fourth quarter it was Kyle Gaor who scored from a yard out to put the Vikings up vs. St. Peter's, and the defense held strong for St. Joseph by the Sea on the Eagles' final drive to make it a 29-26 final. Jackson Tucker also had a couple of TD tosses for the Vikings, who continue to play well and remain unbeaten on the season. Next: Saturday vs. Mount St. Michael.

7) Bayside (4-1)
Previous: #1

Recap: Going out to Staten Island on a Friday afternoon is never easy as Bayside learned. While Jordy Chen was able to score on two TD runs and Jaheim Washington had a big outing gaining over 100 yards receiving it wasn't enough as the Commodores couldn't stop the McKee/Staten Island Tech rushing attack and ultimately fell for the first time this season 28-22. Next: Friday vs. #9 Port Richmond.

8) Frederick Douglass Academy (4-1)
Previous: #9

Recap: Falling for the first time just over a week ago, FDA got back on the winning side though it wasn't always easy in a 29-21 victory over Grand Street Campus. Phoenix Terry continues to shine as a lead runner as he had 162 yards and three TDs for Frederick Douglass Academy with the senior carrying the load and leading the Lions to the win. Next: Saturday vs. Franklin K. Lane.

9) Port Richmond (3-2)
Previous: #10

Recap: After a tough start to the new season in the Bowl Division it's all starting to come together for the Red Raiders. Dezmond Fredericks again had a big game when his team needed it most as they went to Queens on Sunday afternoon and got three TDs from the tough sophomore RB to help them to a 26-22 win that pushes them to over .500 for the first time this year. Next: Friday @ #7 Bayside.

10) Eagle Academy II (2-3)
Previous: NR

Recap: The Eagles made it to the PSAL Bowl Division title game a season ago but started this campaign 0-3. All three losses were to teams ahead of them in our rankings in James Madison, Port Richmond and Bayside, but it's now back-to-back wins for Eagle Academy II with a 14-0 win over Lafayette and a 30-14 victory over East Harlem Pride with Justin Brown throwing a TD and running for two more. Next: Saturday vs. #1 New Utrecht.

Class B

1) Petrides (5-0)
Previous: #1

Recap: Thomas Bruns helped the Panthers maintain their perfect mark on the season as the RB had a pair of TD runs and 79 yards on the ground to give Petrides a 25-16 victory over Stuyvesant on Friday night. Mike DiForte had 122 yards in the air as it was a balanced offensive attack that led the Panthers to the win. Next: Saturday @ Evander Childs.

2) Cardozo (5-0)
Previous: #3

Recap: Just give Tyler Ragler the ball and let good things happen has to be the mindset of the Cardozo coaching staff at this point. He had 188 yards on Sunday and two TDs in what was a big road win at Long Island City 32-20. It was a great effort from Wendell Sealy as well from the QB position as the potent offense of Cardozo just keeping rolling. Next: Saturday @ William Grady.

3) A. Philip Randolph (5-0)
Previous: #4

Recap: He didn't throw the ball very much, going 3 of 4 in the air, but Saul Medina Tavares had two of those throws go for TDs as Randolph was able to stifle the August Martin offense and take a 16-0 victory. It was the second shutout of the year for Randolph, which didn't come into the season as one to watch but is now putting the entire PSAL Cup Division on notice. Next: Saturday vs. Automotive.

4) Mott Haven (4-1)
Previous: #5

Recap: Having someone who runs the ball the way Zaire Wilson does has been making life a lot easier for the Mavericks. The senior RB once again stepped up and led Mott Haven with a big effort to help them to a 32-6 victory over George Washington on Sunday afternoon to keep them among the PSAL's best and setting them up for what should be a strong close to the regular season. Next: Friday vs. Info Tech.

5) Riverdale Country Day (4-1)
Previous: #2

Recap: As frustrating a game as the Falcons could've had, Riverdale went on the road on Saturday to take on an underrated Long Island Lutheran team. Harry Landis had a solid game from his QB spot with three TDs, but the defense for the Falcons couldn't stop LuHi on their final drive. The Crusaders scored and converted a 2-point try to end Riverdale's unbeaten start to the season and hand them a 27-26 defeat. Next: Saturday @ Hopkins (CT)


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