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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 (9-1)
Last Week: #1

Recap: Many looked at the final game of the regular season for the Pirates at home against South Shore as nothing more than a cakewalk into the postseason for Tottenville. They had already clinched the #1 seed in the upcoming PSAL City Division playoffs but instead of cruising in with a convincing win their opponents from South Shore forfeited meaning it will be a couple weeks rest for what looks to be the best the PSAL has to offer. Next: Saturday vs. #10 Susan Wagner (PSAL City Division Quarterfinals)

2) Erasmus Hall (8-2)
Last Week: #2

Recap: From start to finish this was all Erasmus as the Dutchmen wanted to prove a point after losing to Tottenville earlier in the season in their game on Thursday evening against Curtis. Andre Hines and Yassen Murden ran all over the Warriors defense as the RB's each had a pair of TD runs while QB Jordan Armstead was elusive and tough to contain in or out of the pocket as Erasmus Hall ran wild for a 40-0 victory. Next: Saturday vs. #9 Lehman (PSAL City Division Quarterfinals)

3) Cardinal Hayes (6-4)
Last Week: #5

Recap: Having lost to Iona Prep at home just two weeks back to close out the regular season at home 58-41 it was a rematch in the CHSFL AAA semifinals on Saturday, with the game this time taking place at the home of the Gaels. It proved to be a much different result though as Henry Belin threw for 3 TD's while RB's Tafari Blackstock and Jalen Smith each ran for TD's in what was a 45-34 victory for the Cardinals as they advance to the AAA title game for the fourth time in five years. Next: Saturday vs. Archbishop Stepinac (CHSFL AAA Championship Game @ Mitchel Athletic Complex)

4) Christ the King (7-3)
Last Week: #3

Recap: Even though the Royals trailed 14-0 at halftime of their CHSFL AAA semifinal at Archbishop Stepinac it was still a game at the break, and when Tirek Murphy ran in for a TD to start the third quarter it was just a 14-6 game. The defense for Christ the King though struggled to get stops as the Crusaders scored the last 29 points of the game to take down the Royals 43-6. Christ the King's season came to an end but it was a step in the right direction for a young team with a lot of promise moving forward. Next: Season Over

5) Curtis (8-2)
Last Week: #4

Recap: Sometimes it's just not your day and on Thursday it Brooklyn it wasn't Curtis' day as the Warriors were stymied and stifled by a strong Erasmus Hall defense as Curtis went scoreless on the day in a 40-0 defeat to the Dutchmen. Sam Martin was held to his lowest rushing total on the season with just 41 yards on the ground in what is now two losses in a row heading into the postseason for the Warriors. Next: Saturday vs. #7 JFK (PSAL City Division Quarterfinals)

6) Abraham Lincoln (6-4)
Last Week: #6

Recap: In a matchup between the Railsplitters and Midwood on Friday night in Coney Island it was Pittsburgh bound RB Israel Abanikanda who again carried the load for Lincoln as he had 3 rushing TD's, 1 receiving TD, and then another TD on a kickoff return as he helped lead the Railsplitters to a 36-24 victory over the Hornets which helped them lock up the #4 seed for the upcoming playoffs which begin on Saturday which for Lincoln begins with a rematch of this very matchup. Next: Saturday vs. #8 Midwood (PSAL City Division Quarterfinals)

7) JFK (8-2)
Last Week: #9

Recap: It was a three TD game on the ground for Emmanuel Enkwocha as the junior RB ran for 153 yards to help JFK to a big road 28-6 victory over Lehman in the Battle of the Bronx to close out the regular season. The win will give the Knights a good amount of momentum as they head out on the road again this coming Saturday, but this time in their opening round PSAL City Division quarterfinal game. Next: Saturday @ #5 Curtis (PSAL City Division Quarterfinals)

8) Midwood (6-4)
Last Week: #7

Recap: While the offense put together a better performance than it did a week ago in a loss to Erasmus Hall, it was the Hornets still falling short on Friday night coming up on the losing end of a 36-24 contest to Lincoln. David Stephens had a pair of TD's out of the backfield to keep Midwood close but the defense just couldn't contain the Railsplitters rushing attack in the loss. It's these same two teams though meeting up again in a big PSAL City Division quarterfinal coming up on Saturday. Next: Saturday @ #6 Abraham Lincoln (PSAL City Division Quarterfinals)

9) Lehman (6-3)
Last Week: #8

Recap: All night long it was a struggle for the Lions offense as against their Bronx rivals from JFK it was Lehman struggling to gain anything from scrimmage as outside of Xavier Ricketts 3 yard TD run in the third quarter there wasn't much else positive for the Lions as they would fall in the Battle of the Bronx 28-6 with this being their final regular season game before next weekend's PSAL playoffs get underway. Next: Saturday @ #2 Erasmus Hall (PSAL City Division Quarterfinals)

10) Susan Wagner (5-4)
Last Week: #10

Recap: Needing a win on Saturday to lock up and secure the final playoff spot in the PSAL City Playoffs it was a near perfect effort from the Falcons as Christopher Campbell had a pair of third quarter TD runs while Joseph Thorpe threw for a TD in the fourth to seal the deal as Susan Wagner pitched a shutout against Boys & Girls and took a 28-0 victory over the Kangaroos to earn a spot in next weekend's quarterfinals. Next: Saturday @ #1 Tottenville (PSAL City Division Quarterfinals)

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Class A

1) New Utrecht (9-0)
Last Week: #1

Recap: Dropping down this season from the PSAL City Division to the Bowl Division has proven to be a great move for head coach Alan Balkin and his Utes. Led by RB's Michael Alexis and Christopher Molien the Utes finished with a perfect 9-0 regular season record and are now the #1 seed in the playoffs which gave them a first round playoff bye as New Utrecht will get back into action at home this coming Saturday. Next: Saturday vs. #10 Thomas Jefferson (PSAL Bowl Division Quarterfinals)

2) Moore Catholic (8-1)
Last Week: #2

Recap: On the back of a dynamic aerial attack it was all Moore Catholic on Saturday afternoon in their CHSFL AA-2 semifinals matchup with St. John the Baptist. Nick Heineman tossed 4 TD's in the first quarter alone, two of which went to Anthony Perlongo with the other two going to Cameron Holmes as it was a 42-0 lead for the Mavericks going into halftime before taking their foot off the gas in the second half and cruising home into next weekend's title game with a 50-14 win. Next: Saturday vs. #5 St. Joseph by the Sea (CHSFL AA-2 Championship Game @ Mitchel Athletic Complex)

3) James Madison (8-1)
Last Week: #3

Recap: There may not be a team playing better football in the PSAL Bowl Division right now than the Golden Knights as since their Week 2 loss to New Utrecht it's been

  
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complete domination from Mark Shepherd, Alex McBurnie, Rickoy Riley, and the James Madison team as they have been rolling over the opposition with ease and after earning the #3 playoff seed and an opening round bye, the Golden Knights will get back to action on Saturday as they look to defend their title. Next: Saturday vs. #9 Eagle Academy II (PSAL Bowl Division Quarterfinals)

4) Tilden (8-1)
Last Week: #4

Recap: Maybe it wasn't the easiest way to close out the regular season but Tilden found a way to get the job done just over a week ago in a 34-32 OT victory over Eagle Academy II, a win that allowed the Blue Devils to get the #2 seed heading into the PSAL Bowl Division playoffs, giving them an opening round bye. Kevon Patrick and DoMorri West are a pair of tough RB's for Tilden who should give anyone in their way a ton of trouble. Next: Saturday vs. #8 Eagle Academy III (PSAL Bowl Division Quarterfinals)

5) St. Joseph by the Sea (8-1)
Last Week: #5

Recap: Friday night saw the Vikings play host to Holy Trinity for the right to play in next weekend's CHSFL AA-2 title game. From the outset it was clear to see that St. Joseph by the Sea were in cruise control as behind QB Jackson Tucker who was 7-15 passing for 128 yards and a TD, while also rushing for 132 yards on 10 carries and 2 TD's it was the Vikings taking a 35-0 lead after three quarters before calling off the dogs and ultimately rolling 35-14 into Saturday's championship tilt. Next: Saturday vs. #2 Moore Catholic (CHSFL AA-2 Championship Game @ Mitchel Athletic Complex)

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

Recap: For the Seagulls it's all about what they can do on the ground each and every time they take to the field. They don't throw the ball more than 2 or 3 times a game but when you have RB's like Charles Metayer, Ryan Hourican, and Chase Tierney who needs to throw the ball anyway. After a strong regular season MSIT got the #4 seed in the PSAL Bowl Division giving them a first round byes with the postseason for them to get underway this Saturday at home. Next: Saturday vs. #7 Port Richmond (PSAL Bowl Division Quarterfinals)

7) Port Richmond (6-4)
Last Week: #9

Recap: Early and often on Saturday it was the Jacob Saile show for the Raiders as the two way star had opening quarter TD's on both offense and defense as Port Richmond took a quick 14-0 lead and never looked back en route to a 33-16 victory in the opening round of the PSAL Bowl Division playoffs. Dezmond Fredericks had a TD pass and a rushing score as well as the Raiders move on to take on a familiar Staten Island rival in the quarterfinals. Next: Saturday @ #6 McKee/Staten Island Tech (PSAL Bowl Division Quarterfinals)

8) Eagle Academy III (5-5)
Last Week: #10

Recap: After some early season struggles it's clear that Eagle Academy III are a team to reckon with as we push forward into the postseason as they nearly knocked off James Madison to close out the regular season in an 8-0 defeat, and then cruised in their opening round playoff game by knocking off Lafayette 22-0 on Saturday afternoon. Tajay Barnett, Shawn Vassell, and Phillip Douglas each had TD runs with the defense coming up big in the shutout win. Next: Saturday @ #4 Tilden (PSAL Bowl Division Quarterfinals)

9) Eagle Academy II (5-5)
Last Week: NR

Recap: With the Eagles playing much better as of late including a 2OT loss on the road a couple weeks ago to close out the regular season against Tilden it was clear a big performance was coming as Eagle II was able to close out a great opening round win over KIPP NYC College Prep on Saturday 23-16. Mekhi Hicks and Tywan Johnson each had TD runs for the Eagles as they were able to close out the game with a late score to advance into quarterfinals. Next: Saturday @ #3 James Madison (PSAL Bowl Division Quarterfinals)

10) Thomas Jefferson (7-3)
Last Week: NR

Recap: Going on the road during PSAL playoff time is never an easy thing but behind the play of RB Shamel Bennett it proved to be a winning task for the Orange Wave who enter the rankings for the first time this season. Bennett had a pair of rushing TD's including one in the fourth quarter to put Jefferson over the top in a 26-18 opening round victory over Bayside. Next: Saturday @ #1 New Utrecht (PSAL Bowl Division Quarterfinals)

Class B

1) Petrides (8-1)
Last Week: #1

Recap: As the top seed in the PSAL Cup Division the expectations are high for head coach Dan Olah and his Panthers. They earned an opening round bye meaning that Petrides was off this week giving time for the likes of QB Mike DiForte and RB Thomas Bruns to rest up before play gets back underway next weekend at home in the quarterfinals on Staten Island. Next: Saturday vs. Mott Haven (PSAL Cup Division Quarterfinals)

2) Beach Channel (7-2)
Last Week: #2

Recap: After opening the season 2-2 it was nothing but wins from that point on for the Dolphins as they would be victorious in their final 5 games of the regular season including a 24-21 win over Grady to send Beach Channel into the postseason with confidence, and the #2 seed in the PSAL Cup Division which gave RB Eric Pryor and the Dolphins a first round bye straight into this coming weekends quarterfinals. Next: Saturday vs. #5 Stuyvesant (PSAL Cup Division Quarterfinals)

3) William Grady (7-2)
Last Week: #4

Recap: It wasn't the close to to the regular season that the Falcons wanted as a couple weeks back they fell to Beach Channel 24-21 on the road in Queens but nonetheless Grady was awarded the #3 seed in the PSAL Cup Division playoffs meaning an opening round bye with RB William Stoney looking to get back on track and prove himself in the postseason as one of NYC's top rushing threats. Next: Saturday vs. John Adams (PSAL Cup Division Quarterfinals)

4) Benjamin Cardozo (7-2)
Last Week: NR

Recap: Finishing out the regular season with a surprise loss to John Adams wasn't the way that the Judges wanted to head into the playoffs but they enter back into our rankings here this week at the #4 spot and have one of the top RB's in the Cup Division of the PSAL in Tyler Ragler. Cardozo had an opening round bye this week but with an extra seven days to prepare expect the Judges to be as dangerous as ever when they host a quarterfinal contest this Saturday. Next: Saturday vs. Far Rockaway (PSAL Cup Division Quarterfinals)

5) Cardinal Spellman (4-4)
Last Week: NR

Recap: After losing twice during the regular season to Kennedy Catholic the two teams met up again on Sunday with the CHSFL A championship on the line. It was a road game for the Pilot who fell behind 30-20 with 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter but a late 49 yard TD pass from Aidan Hanley-Pirri to Dylan Williams-Molitor have Spellman a late lead before a FG from the Gaels sent the game to OT tied at 33. Spellman would ultimately fall in OT 39-33 but not before a valiant effort and great fight in falling just short of the title. Next: Season Over


  
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