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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 (5-1)
Previous: #1

Recap: It wasn't easy at all as early in the third quarter it was the Dutchmen trailing 22-14 to Abraham Lincoln on the road in Coney Island but Erasmus scored 23 straight points to close it out. Andre Hines had a pair of long TD runs, while Jordan Armstead threw a late TD to put the game away and E-Hall took a hard fought 37-22 victory over the Railsplitters to stay perfect in PSAL play. Next: Saturday vs. #5 Tottenville.

2) Christ the King (5-1)
Previous: #2

Recap: The Royals stay at the No. 2 spot this week even though they had their worst performance of the season by far on Sunday afternoon, falling to another one of NY's best in Stepinac 45-7. Tirek Murphy had the lone TD for Christ the King but if the Royals want to maintain their position a week from now a much better defensive effort is going to be needed. Next: Sunday vs. Iona Prep.

3) Cardinal Hayes (4-2)
Previous: #3

Recap: After their tough loss a week ago to Christ the King the Cardinals came back with a big performance on Saturday night in the Bronx against Msgr. Farrell. Henry Belin had three TDs passes, while Tafari Blackstock had a 42-yard TD run for his lone TD of the game as Cardinal Hayes dominated from start to finish en route to the 40-6 victory. Next: Saturday @ Archbishop Stepinac.

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

Recap: Taking on South Shore at home on Saturday afternoon proved to be an easy one for the Warriors as Sam Martin showed why he is among NYC's best. The sophomore RB finished with three TDs, one on the ground and two via the air, as Curtis easily coasted past the Vikings 30-12 with QB Gennaro Basciano throwing for 194 yards and two TDs as well. Next: Saturday @ Fort Hamilton.

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

Recap: Heading over the bridge to Brooklyn proved to be no problem for the Pirates as they controlled the game on the ground with RB Roland Dempster again pacing the way with a pair of TD runs. Anthony Pucciarelli ran another in on a QB keeper with Tottenville rolling past Canarsie 32-0 in another fine performance from the Pirates on both sides of the ball. Next: Saturday @ #1 Erasmus Hall.

6) Midwood (4-2)
Previous: #6

Recap: When you can get scores on defense or special teams you know you are doing things right. It may not have been the most crisp game for the Hornets offense but they got a defensive TD and a punt block return for a score as Midwood was able to fight off a scrappy Fort Hamilton team on Friday afternoon to take a 24-14 victory and stay in the mix of the best in the PSAL. Next: Friday @ South Shore.

7) Abraham Lincoln (2-4)
Previous: #7

Recap: If there is a positive about the Railsplitters' 37-22 loss to our No. 1 Erasmus Hall team it's the fact that for three quarters they more than held their own against the Dutchmen with a long TD run from Israel Abanikanda in the third giving them a 22-14 lead. The defense wore down late in the game but there are more than enough positives to take after what was a tough Friday night defeat. Next: Friday @ Canarsie.

8) Lehman (4-1)
Previous: #8

Recap: Once again this week the offense for the Lions came alive as Dante Nelson made good things happen from under center, throwing for a pair of TDs and running for two more as Lehman easily took down Brooklyn Tech on Saturday, 48-6. Tony Windley scored once on the ground and one on a long TD strike as Lehman continued to assert itself as a major threat in the PSAL. Next: Saturday @ Boys & Girls.

9) JFK (5-1)
Previous: #9

Recap: For much of the fourth quarter it was looking like the Knights would pitch the shutout before a late New Dorp score with under two minutes to go in the game made it a dominating 38-6 victory for JFK on Friday. It was more great ground work from the Knights as Karamogo Sylla had three TDs helping JFK rally after last week's defeat and get themselves back on the winning track. Next: Saturday vs. Susan Wagner 10) Msgr. Farrell (2-4)
Previous: #10

Recap: Staying in at the final spot in our rankings are the Lions as even though they haven't been able to beat the elite teams in the CHSFL, they at least are going out and playing New York City's best week in and week out. On Saturday Farrell went to the Bronx to take on Cardinal Hayes and even though they got a Anthony Travers TD pass to Matt Wessels it wasn't enough in a 40-6 loss to Cardinal Hayes. Next: Friday @ St. Anthony's.

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Class A

1) New Utrecht (6-0)
Previous: #1

Recap: Mixing it up with Michael Alexis and Christopher Molien each having a couple TDs on Saturday afternoon, the Utes stay atop the rankings this week after a 36-20 victory over Eagle Academy II. New Utrecht showed that they could truly run the ball against anyone and everything with the dynamic duo proving to be too much for the defending PSAL Bowl Division runners-up. Next: Saturday vs. Franklin K. Lane.

2) Moore Catholic (5-1)
Previous: #2

Recap: It was nothing short of a game to remember for Mavericks WR Anthony Perlongo as the senior had six catches for 194 yards and four TDs to help Moore Catholic to a 50-30 victory over Holy Trinity on Long Island in an offensive shootout. Nick Heineman was the QB for Moore who tossed all four TD passes to Perlongo as the Mavericks remain undefeated on the year. Next: Sunday vs. #6 St. Joseph by the Sea.

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

Recap: The defense was perfect and the offense was nearly as perfect as the Golden Knights once again this week rolled

  
RoadToSyracuse.com
RoadToSyracuse.com football site

their way past another overmatched foe with Madison taking down East Harlem Pride on Saturday, 44-0. Mark Shepherd had 114 yards and two TDs, while QB Rickoy Riley tossed for a pair and run for another in a complete and total performance from James Madison overall. Next: Saturday @ Lafayette.

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

Recap: While it was a struggle on offense a week ago in the Blue Devils' first loss of the season to New Utrecht it was Tilden responding in a strong way on Friday as they got a pair of TDs on the ground from Kevon Patrick to help the Blue Devils to a 24-14 victory over Eagle Academy III. It gets Tilden back on the winning side of things and gives them momentum heading into the final weeks of the regular season. Next: Friday vs. KIPP NYC College Prep.

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

Recap: Everything went right for the Seagulls on Saturday afternoon as they went to the Bronx and came back with a 44-6 victory over DeWitt Clinton. McKee rushed for 325 yards including Charles Metayer and Chase Tierney each going over 90 yards while rushing for two TDs each. The defense was just as stout as it was a near flawless performance once again for MSIT. Next: Saturday @ Grand Street Campus.

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

Recap: A bit of everything went right for the Vikings, who continued their perfect season on Saturday with a 56-0 victory over Mount St. Michael at home. Jackson Tucker passed for five TDs, two of which went to Justin Alexander and two more to James Speciale. It was a great effort from the defense as well as St. Joseph by the Sea thrived in every way on both sides of the ball. Next: Sunday @ #2 Moore Catholic.

7) Port Richmond (4-2)
Previous: #9

Recap: Going to Queens on Friday afternoon provided the Raiders another chance to make a statement, and with RB Dezmond Fredericks on their side it was statement made as the sophomore RB ran for three TDs, including one with just under 8:00 to go in the game. Port Richmond came away with a 21-20 victory over Bayside in a contest that officially puts the Raiders in the title mix in the PSAL Bowl Division. Next: Saturday vs. #8 Frederick Douglass Academy.

8) Frederick Douglass Academy (5-1)
Previous: #8

Recap: When you have two RBs who can make things happen the way both Phoenix Terry and Shadontay Griffin can you feed them the ball as much as possible. FDA did that Saturday as each rushed it for over 100 yards, combining for five TDs on the ground as well as the Lions were able to fend off a pesky Franklin K. Lane team at home on Saturday, 35-20. Next: Saturday @ #7 Port Richmond.

9) Bayside (4-2)
Previous: #7

Recap: Things looked good for Bayside as they went up 14-7 at the half over Port Richmond on Friday afternoon in Queens, but the winds really affected the Commodores' potent passing attack and QB Brian Nezaj was limited to just one TD pass, with RB Jordy Chen picking up the slack on the ground. It wasn't enough as Bayside fell short in a 21-20 defeat. Next: Friday @ Springfield Gardens.

10) Holy Cross (4-2)
Previous: NR

Recap: Entering into the top 10 this week are the Knights, who are clicking on all cylinders at the midway point in the season. They nearly knocked off Moore Catholic before losing in OT a couple weeks back and this week took down a solid St. John the Baptist team on the road 16-6 as sophomore Devin Grant had a pair of scores for Holy Cross to put them now in the mix of the best in the second tier of the CHSFL. Next: Saturday vs. Xaverian.

Class B

1) Petrides (6-0)
Previous: #1

Recap: Putting together a strong showing on Saturday was QB Mike DiForte as he threw for 154 yards and three TDs to help the Panthers to a 33-6 victory over Evander Childs. Elvis Spahiu had a interception return for a TD to lead the Petrides defense as they once again cemented themselves as the team to beat now in the PSAL Cup Division. Next: Saturday @ Christopher Columbus.

2) A. Philip Randolph (6-0)
Previous: #3

Recap: It was another defensive shutout for Randolph. They got 113 yards rushing and two TDs from RB Enrique Guerrero but it was the solid D that made things go for the home team on Saturday in a 20-0 victory over Automotive. Guerrero did it on both ends of the ball as well as he led Randolph with 8 tackles and a sack showing he is someone who can impact the game anywhere on the field. Next: Saturday @ #4 William Grady.

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

Recap: Getting a great game from under center from QB Brayan Anaman helped the Mavericks take down Info Tech at home on Friday night 32-6 as the senior signal caller passed for a couple TDs and ran for one more. Mott Haven is in a great position to continue its momentum as the regular season moves toward the final stretch. Next: Friday vs. Far Rockaway.

4) William Grady (5-1)
Previous: NR

Recap: For the first time this season we welcome Grady into the rankings. Daniel Brown rushed for 152 yards and two TDs for the Falcons on Saturday as they knocked off previously undefeated Cardozo, 24-13. The defense did an excellent job as well against the Judges' strong ground attack and with a number of RBs for Grady finding daylight it's easy to see why the Falcons are among the PSAL Cup Division's best. Next: Saturday vs. #2 A. Philip Randolph.

5) Benjamin Cardozo (5-1)
Previous: #2

Recap: While he had dominated in every game up until Saturday, a road contest at William Grady proved to be too much for RB Tyler Ragler at Cardozo as he was held to under 100 yards on the ground for the first time this season in a 24-13 loss for the Judges. The offense struggled to get any sort of rhythm going as for the first time this season Cardozo felt defeat. Next: Friday vs. William Bryant.


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