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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) Tottenville (8-1)
Previous: #1

Recap: Much in the same way they knock offed Erasmus Hall on the road, Tottenville was able to score on a 5-yard TD pass from Anthony Pucciarelli to Nick Baggs with 17 seconds left to sneak out with a 40-36 victory on Friday afternoon on the road in the St. George section of Staten Island against their archrivals from Curtis. It was a win that also sealed the No. 1 seed in the upcoming PSAL City Playoffs to begin in a couple weeks time. Next: Friday vs. South Shore.

2) Erasmus Hall (7-2)
Previous: #2

Recap: When the offense is clicking the way it was on Friday to the tune of three TD runs from Boston College-bound Andre Hines, and when the defense is making life miserable for the opposition the way it was the Dutchmen can look unbeatable as they did in a 42-0 victory over a talented Midwood team. Combining for seven sacks on the defense, E-Hall was dominant in all phases as they come together down the stretch of the regular season. Next: Thursday vs. #4 Curtis

3) Christ the King (7-2)
Previous: #3

Recap: After a very easy win over Kellenberg to close out the regular season, the playoffs started for the Royals Saturday night when they hosted Msgr. Farrell in a CHSFL AAA Quarterfinal matchup. It was a struggle at times for the offense to get going, but much as it did the first time these two teams met up it was Noah Bodden making the plays and passes when he needed them most to help Christ the King to a 28-20 win. Next: Saturday @ Archbishop Stepinac (CHSFL AAA Semifinals)

4) Curtis (7-2)
Previous: #4

Recap: Even with a massive performance from RB Sam Martin who rushed for 3 TD's, caught another, and ran a kickoff return back for a 5th, the Warriors didn't do enough as Tottenville on Friday afternoon was able to spoil the Curtis homecoming game by knocking them off 40-36 in a game that saw the lead trade hands multiple times before a TD with 17 seconds left ultimately sealed the deal for the Pirates in an instant PSAL classic. Next: Thursday @ #2 Erasmus Hall.

5) Cardinal Hayes (5-4)
Previous: #5

Recap: QB Henry Belin had all day to throw in the pocket and would ring up 5 TD passes to make easy work of St. Anthony's at home on Saturday in the CHSFL AAA Quarterfinals with a 61-14 victory. It wasn't just Belin though as WR Kuno Mendez caught a pair of those TD's while Tafari Blackstock was nearly unstoppable in the backfield as the Cardinals easily cruised in this one to the victory. Next: Saturday @ Iona Prep (CHSFL AAA Semifinals).

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6) Abraham Lincoln (5-4)
Previous: #7

Recap: Another team who looks to be coming together at exactly the right time, the Railspitters hosted a completely overmatched Fort Hamilton team on Friday and on just 7 carries it was RB Israel Abanikanda who ran for 167 yards and 3 TD's in a 56-0 blowout win. Jahzair Hubbard was able to throw for 151 yards and a pair of TD's as well for Lincoln who are one of the more balanced offensive attacks right now in New York City. Next: Friday vs. #7 Midwood.

7) Midwood (6-3)
Previous: #6

Recap: Nothing went right as no one on the Hornets was able to get anything going on Friday in Midwood's road game at Erasmus Hall. For as good as the duo of David Stephens and Zade Edwards have been all season long, the Dutchmen were able to hold the Hornets to under 150 yards of total offense in what was a loss that means a big game is coming up this Friday to get Midwood hopefully back on the right track before playoff time begins. Next: Friday @ #6 Abraham Lincoln.

8) Lehman (6-2)
Previous: #8

Recap: Held scoreless a week ago against one of New York City's best in Erasmus Hall, the Lions got a bit easier matchup this past Saturday night when they took on their rivals from Harry Truman. Dante Nelson had 2 TD passes with one more coming on the ground for Lehman as they were able to go up 28-0 at the half and cruise on home after that for a 35-6 victory that again cemented the Lions as a team to watch heading into the last week of the regular season. Next: Friday vs. #9 JFK.

9) JFK (7-2)
Previous: #9

Recap: Hosting Campus Magnet on Friday evening was a great opportunity for the Knights to get back to playing JFK football. That's exactly what happened as well as Karamogo Sylla who has been so strong on the ground all season long was able to go for 138 yards and 3 TD's in what would be a 30-0 victory for the Knights over the Bulldogs. Chaze Milton had a TD in the air as well as John F. Kennedy will look to climb up the poll next week with a big All-Bronx matchup set for this Friday. Next: Friday @ #8 Lehman.

10) Susan Wagner (4-4)
Previous: NR

Recap: For the first time this season we welcome the Falcons into the Top 10 as they were able to shutout New Dorp on Friday night 26-0 to get to .500 on the season and move their way into the #10 spot. QB Joe Thorpe used his legs to score 3 rushing TD's for Wagner as he had 147 yards on 11 carries to lead the way for the Falcons in the victory. It was the Susan Wagner's second shutout of the season as well as they look to be close to locking up a playoff berth with a win next week. Next: Saturday vs. Boys & Girls.

Class A

1) New Utrecht (9-0)
Previous: #1

Recap: Jordan Moran had himself quite the day for the Utes as the signal caller was able to run one in on the ground and throw another TD in the air as he and RB Michael Alexis did most of their damage early getting out to a 26-0 lead at halftime over Bayside and cruising home the rest of the way for a 33-0 victory to earn New Utrecht a perfect regular season mark and give them the #1 seed for the upcoming PSAL Bowl Division playoffs. Next: BYE.

2) Moore Catholic (7-1)
Previous: #2

Recap: Because they finished in one of the top two spots in the CHSFL AA-2 Division the Mavericks earned themselves a week off this past weekend with a bye to give them a bit of a break heading into the playoff run here. Justin Lacks has proven himself all season long to be among NYC's top running backs, while first year QB Nick Heineman has been a pleasant surprise under center giving Moore Catholic everything they could've asked for in what's been a very special season to date. Next: Saturday vs. St. John the Baptist (CHSFL AA-2 Semifinals).

3) James Madison (8-1)
Previous: #3

Recap: Not anywhere near the prettiest game that the Golden Knights have played as of late but sometimes you have to win games where you aren't playing your best. That was certainly the situation on Sunday as Madison went on

  
RoadToSyracuse.com
RoadToSyracuse.com football site

the road to take on Eagle Academy III as the only score of the game came on a 3 yard TD run from Mark Shepherd as the Golden Knights locked up a first round playoff bye with an 8-0 victory over Eagle in Queens. Next: BYE.

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

Recap: On a windy Friday night in Brooklyn it was the Blue Devils needing an extra session of football to get themselves past a strong and tough Eagle Academy II team 34-32. Kevon Patrick ran for 190 yards and 2 TD's in the win, rushing for one of his scores in the OT session while QB Isaiah Larrier ran in for the two point conversation. Tilden gave up a TD to Eagle II in OT but stopped the road team on the two point try to take the win and earn a first round playoff bye. Next: BYE.

5) St. Joseph by the Sea (7-1)
Previous: #5

Recap: The other CHSFL AA-2 team to earn themselves a top two spot in the division and get an opening round bye straight into the semifinals, the Vikings have one of the more dynamic QB's in the league in Jackson Tucker, a St. John's commit for baseball who has great vision and understanding of when to bounce out of the pocket and run. He has a great arm as well and that duel ability should help him well this coming Saturday's when Sea hosts their semifinal contest. Next: Saturday vs. Holy Trinity (CHSFL AA-2 Semifinals).

6) McKee/Staten Island Tech (7-2)
Previous: #7

Recap: In a game dominated on the defensive side of the ball it was one of the weirder plays you will see that won a 10-0 game for the Seagulls on Sunday afternoon over their rivals from Port Richmond. It looked as if Charles Metayer had run it in from 58 yards out but he fumbled just prior to the goal line. The Raiders ran it out to the 1 yard line but were tackled back in the end zone for a safety midway thought the 4th. Metayer would run it in from 1 yard out on the next possession to help MSIT to the win. Next: BYE.

7) Lafayette (7-2)
Previous: #9

Recap: 2 of Dirk Thomas' 4 completions went for TD's as the Kolensky Jean-Baptiste and Winston Agard each caught one TD haul from Thomas while Reuben Smith barreled in for a pair of TD runs as the Patriots were able to go up 21-0 at halftime and roll from their in a 28-0 shutout victory on Sunday over Frank Macchirola. The win should give Lafayette a lot of confidence on both sides of the ball as they now enter playoff football. Next: Saturday @ #10 Eagle Academy III (PSAL Bowl Division Opening Round).

8) KIPP NYC College Prep (7-2)
Previous: NR

Recap: After an early season loss to Lafayette and a close loss a couple weeks ago in OT against Tilden, KIPP looks to be back on track as they were able to win one of the crazier games of the season on Saturday night by downing Frederick Douglass Academy on the road in 2 OT's, 58-52. Ale Wilson couldn't be stopped in the backfield as the senior RB had 262 yards and 5 TD's for KIPP as they got a momentum boosting win to close out the regular season. Next: Saturday @ Eagle Academy II (PSAL Bowl Division Opening Round).

9) Port Richmond (5-4)
Previous: #6

Recap: Call it a fluke or call it just bad luck but it looked as if Port Richmond had recovered a fumble and would have the ball midway through the 4th against MSIT still scoreless. It was ruled though that the Raiders were outside of the goal line after the recovery and were tackled back in the end zone putting 2 points on the board for McKee. The Seagulls shut out Port Richmond after that as its two straight losses in heartbreaking style as the Raiders would fall 10-0 in their regular season finale. Next: Saturday vs. Frederick Douglass Academy (PSAL Bowl Division Opening Round).

10) Eagle Academy III (4-5)
Previous: NR

Recap: Yes it's easy to look and see that Eagle Academy III has 5 losses on the year, including a loss this week to James Madison. But unlike most teams who have been losing to Madison 40-0 or worse in most cases, Eagle held it close throughout and had their chances in what was an 8-0 defeat. It opened eyes about Eagle III's potential as all 5 losses have come to teams ranked ahead of them in our Top 10, but all have been close contests meaning they could be a true sleeper as we head into playoff time. Next: Saturday vs. #7 Lafayette (PSAL Bowl Division Opening Round).

Class B

1) Petrides (8-1)
Previous: #1

Recap: Securing themselves the #1 seed in the PSAL Cup Division on Friday were the Panthers as they rebounded from a loss the week before on the road at Jamaica by easily downing Long Island City at home 25-6. Michael DiForte ran in a QB sneak to open the scoring early from 4 yards out, and then he would find an open Brandon Fallon from 40 yards out for a TD to help Petrides take control early en route to the easy victory to close out the regular season. Next: BYE.

2) Beach Channel (7-2)
Previous: #5

Recap: Wanting and needing a big win to close out the regular season and secure themselves an opening round playoff bye, the Dolphins came out with their best performance of the season to date as Eric Pryor rushed for 122 yards and 2 TD's, with a late fourth quarter score putting Beach Channel over the top on Sunday as they were able to take a 20-12 victory over William Grady to give themselves momentum and a big win heading into the playoffs. Next: BYE.

3) A. Philip Randolph (8-1)
Previous: #4

Recap: With Enrique Guerrero getting things going on the ground early he proved to be a near unstoppable force in Randolph's 34-8 victory on Sunday over Alfred E. Smith. Guerrero had 208 yards on 17 carries and 3 TD's for Randolph as he was able to roll over the Warriors defense as they went up 21-0 after a quarter of play and roll with ease from there as Randolph looks like one of the more dynamic teams running the ball right now entering the postseason. Next: Saturday @ Stuyvesant (PSAL Cup Division Opening Round).

4) William Grady (7-2)
Previous: #2

Recap: Most teams struggle to contain one of the best young RB's in NYC in William Stoney but on Sunday for the most part the sophomore sensation was held in relative check as he still had 104 yards on the ground but with just 1 TD it wasn't enough as the Falcons went on the road and fell for just the second time this season, falling to Beach Channel in their final regular season game 20-12. Grady will earn a first round playoff bye meaning they are definitely still among the PSAL Cup Division's elite. Next: BYE.

5) Adlai Stevenson (8-1)
Previous: NR

Recap: Entering the rankings for the first time this season are the Ambassadors and a case could certainly be made that they should've made their initial appearance sooner than this. After an 8-6 win over Mott Haven on Friday it was the 8th time this season that Stevenson has held their opponents with 8 points or less, with a 12 point performance by John Adams being the most the Ambassadors, clearly one of the best defensive teams in the PSAL, have given up during this very impressive season. Next: Saturday @ John Adams (PSAL Cup Division Opening Round).


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