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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 (11-1)
Last Week: #2

Recap: For the first time in six years it will be the Pirates playing for the PSAL City Division championship as they were able to get 3 rushing TD's and an interception return for a TD from star Roland Dempster to help Tottenville take down Abraham Lincoln 45-24 on Saturday in the semifinals. Dempster had 230 yards on the ground as he helped propel the Pirates back to the title game. Next: Wednesday 12/4 vs. #2 Erasmus Hall (PSAL City Division Championship Game @ Yankee Stadium)

2) Erasmus Hall (10-2)
Last Week: #3

Recap: Just when you thought Erasmus couldn't have more talent on the team it was Rodsheen Ayer breaking out for the first time this season as the sophomore RB had a pair of TD runs in the opening half as the Dutchmen shutout Curtis 25-0 in the PSAL City Division semifinals on Saturday, their 5th straight shutout which now has them playing for the championship in 10 days time yet again. Next: Wednesday 12/4 vs. #1 Tottenville (PSAL City Division Championship Game @ Yankee Stadium)

3) Cardinal Hayes (7-5)
Last Week: #1

Recap: It was the definition of heartbreak for the Cardinals on Saturday in Buffalo as they fell 25-24 in the CHSAA AAA Championship Game to Canisius. Hayes led 18-7 at the half and got 202 yards on the ground and a couple TD's from Jalen Smith but Canisius scored on a 6 yard TD catch as time expired to get within 24-23, and then a converted two point conversion sent the Cardinals home in defeat to finish their year. Next: Thursday @ Mount St. Michael

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

Recap: After falling a couple weeks back now in the CHSFL AAA semifinals to Archbishop Stepinac 43-6 it's been just time for the Royals to reflect as to what went wrong. They got great play from QB Noah Bodden who improved his accuracy while maintaining great arm strength, and the defense was significantly improved with even better things expected to come a year from now for Christ the King. Next: Season Over

5) Curtis (9-3)
Last Week: #5

Recap: There were chances to be had for the Warriors on Saturday afternoon against Erasmus Hall in the PSAL City Division semifinals. In the first half alone Curtis was able to drive it inside the Dutchmen 25 only to be denied from scoring each time. A couple of early second half turnovers would do them in for good though as the Warriors season ended in a shutout as they fell to Erasmus for the second time this season 25-0. Next: Season Over

6) Abraham Lincoln (7-5)
Last Week: #6

Recap: Going out to Staten Island to take on Tottenville on Saturday in the PSAL City Divison semifinals the Railsplitters got a big time effort from QB Jahzair Hubbard as the signal caller had 337 yards in the air and threw for 4 TD,'s, two of which went to Devon Bryant, but it wasn't enough as the defense for Lincoln couldn't get the stops when they needed them in what would be a 45-24 defeat. Next: Season Over

7) Midwood (6-5)
Last Week: #7

Recap: Expectations weren't incredibly high coming into this season for Midwood but with David Stephens being a jack of all trades talent who scored from just about every position on the football field it proved to be a much better season than anyone could've hoped. They fell a couple weeks back to Lincoln 24-22 in the PSAL City Division quarterfinals but it was still a strong season to remember for the Hornets. Next: Season Over

8) JFK (8-3)
Last Week: #8

Recap: Getting to the PSAL City Division quarterfinals this season after a few down years for the JFK program has to be considered a strong success and a great building block for the future as Karamogo Sylla and Emmanuel Nkwocha each had impressive seasons running the ball with both going for over 750 yards each setting things up for a bright future for the Bronx power. Next: Season Over

9) Lehman (6-4)
Last Week: #9

Recap: This was back to back years where the Lions really showed themselves to be a force in the PSAL City Division. They won the Bowl Division 3 years ago and since moving up have made the playoffs in the highest level both seasons as Dante Nelson really carried Lehman with his arm and legs as the QB was able to get the Lions into the end zone in a variety of ways this season helping Lehman reach the quarterfinals. Next: Season Over

10) Susan Wagner (5-6)
Last Week: #10

Recap: Even though the Falcons had six losses on the season, each of the six came to teams ranked ahead of them here in the PSAL City Division showing that it would take the very best to beat them. QB Joe Thorpe was fantastic all season long as he had a 60% completion percentage passing the ball and ran for nearly 500 yards on the ground helping Wagner make the postseason for a second straight season. Next: Season Over

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Class A

1) New Utrecht (11-0)
Last Week: #1

Recap: Teams just cannot stop the ground attack that the Utes have going as New Utrecht remained perfect on the season after easily downing Port Richmond in the semifinals on Saturday 33-0. Michael Alexis and Christopher Molien each had two rushing TD's a piece as they now advance to play for the championship in their first season playing in the PSAL Bowl Division. Next: Saturday vs. #3 James Madison (PSAL Bowl Division Championship Game @ Abraham Lincoln H.S.)

2) Moore Catholic (9-1)
Last Week: #2

Recap: Closing out the season a week ago in championship fashion, Moore was able to get a couple big scores in the CHSFL AA-2 championship game from RB Justin Lacks, who would break the All-Time NYC rushing record, with the senior going off for nearly 200 yards in the title game to help the Mavericks defeat St. Joseph by the Sea for the title in very impressive fashion, 28-6. Next: Season Over

  
RoadToSyracuse.com
RoadToSyracuse.com football site

3) James Madison (10-1)
Last Week: #3

Recap: Going on the road in the semifinals to take on Tilden it was a flawless effort from QB Rickoy Riley as he threw for a TD and ran for another with the Golden Knights putting the game away midway through the 3rd Quarter after a 36 yard TD run from Mark Shepherd as Madison was able to take a 22-6 victory which advances them to the Bowl Division title game as they look to go for back to back championships. Next: Saturday vs. #1 New Utrecht (PSAL Bowl Division Championship Game @ Abraham Lincoln H.S.)

4) St. Joseph by the Sea (8-2)
Last Week: #5

Recap: The disappointing news was that the Vikings fell in the CHSFL AA-2 championship game just over a week ago now 28-6 to their Staten Island rivals in Moore Catholic. If there is a positive it's that star QB Jackson Tucker was only a junior this season and will return after leading Sea to one of its best records in years with the future only looking even brighter for the football program. Next: Season Over

5) Tilden (9-2)
Last Week: #4

Recap: Against a stout and physical James Madison defense on Saturday getting anything going on the offensive side of the ball proved to be extremely difficult for the Blue Devils as while Ishmael Mullings had a 7 yard TD run in the second quarter to tie the game up at 6 it was 16 straight to close things out for the Golden Knights as Tilden's season came to an end 22-6 in the PSAL Bowl Division semifinals. Next: Season Over

6) Port Richmond (7-5)
Last Week: #6

Recap: Against an undefeated New Utrecht team in the PSAL Bowl Division semifinals on Saturday there just seemed to be very little that the Raiders could do. On their one chance in the red zone in the second quarter Port Richmond threw an interception which scurried any momentum they may have tried to gain as the Raiders season came to an end this past weekend in a 33-0 loss to the Utes. Next: Season Over

7) McKee/Staten Island Tech (7-3)
Last Week: #7

Recap: Losing just over a week ago now in the PSAL Bowl Division quarterfinals to their archrivals in Port Richmond in the closing seconds had to leave a sour taste in the mouths of all the players for the Seagulls. Charles Metayer and company had a great season rushing the ball as it was a four headed monster getting the job done until the great breaking 21-20 defeat that ultimately put an end to McKee's season. Next: Season Over

8) Eagle Academy III (5-6)
Last Week: #8

Recap: When you just look at the Eagles record you may not come away all that impressed, but when you delve into things a little more and see all the injuries they overcame and the fact they were able to make it to the PSAL Bowl Division quarterfinals you have to say for Shawn Vassell, Tajay Barnett, and the rest of Eagle III it was a fantastic overall season and one to certainly build upon moving forward. Next: Season Over

9) Eagle Academy II (5-6)
Last Week: #9

Recap: Early in the season it was Mekhi Hicks who was able to do damage for Eagle Academy II on the ground, and as the year progressed it was more about what Tywan Johnson could do as they became quite the dynamic duo for the Eagles who after a struggle at the beginning part of the year really came on strong at the close making it all the way to the PSAL Bowl Division quarterfinals in a solid 2019 campaign. Next: Season Over

10) Thomas Jefferson (7-4)
Last Week: #10

Recap: The Orange Wave were able to do positive things all season long this season in the air as Devonte Smith once he took over the QB responsibilities threw for an astounding 90% completion percentage, while the running game from Shamel Bennett was solid as he ran for nearly 700 yards on the season for a Jefferson team that advanced to the PSAL Bowl Division quarterfinals in what has to be looked at as a very successful season. Next: Season Over

Class B

1) Petrides (10-1)
Last Week: #1

Recap: In every aspect of the game it was the Panthers shining on Saturday afternoon as they knocked of Benjamin Cardozo at home 18-0 in the PSAL Cup Division semifinals to advance to Saturday's title game. Anthony Caserta had a rushing TD, Angelo Sereno recovered a fumble in the end zone for a defensive TD, while Ethan Cregin returned a punt for a TD as it's a well rounded Petrides team moving on to now play for the championship. Next: Saturday vs. #2 William Grady (PSAL Cup Division Championship Game @ Abraham Lincoln H.S.)

2) William Grady (9-2)
Last Week: #3

Recap: When you have a RB like the Falcons have in William Stoney you make sure you feed him the ball and feed it to him often. That's exactly what Grady did on Saturday in their PSAL Cup Division semifinal against Beach Channel as the sophomore had 182 yards and 3 TD's, including a go ahead scoring midway through the final quarter to allow Grady to move into Saturday's title game with a 28-24 victory. Next: Saturday vs. #1 Petrides (PSAL Cup Division Championship Game @ Abraham Lincoln H.S.)

3) Beach Channel (8-3)
Last Week: #2

Recap: After defeating Grady to close out the regular season at home many found it strange that the Dolphins were awarded the lower seed meaning they would be forced to go to Grady in the PSAL Cup Division semifinals on Saturday. Much like in their first encounter, won 24-21 by Beach Channel, Masiah Franklin and Eric Pryor each had TD runs, but the defense gave up a late go ahead score giving the Falcons the 28-24 win sending the Dolphins home a game short of playing for the championship. Next: Season Over

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

Recap: Losing a couple weeks back now in the CHSFL A championship game 39-33 in OT saw Cardinal Spellman lose a late lead that forced the game into the extra session only to see Kennedy Catholic come from behind to steal the title game win. It was a great season on the ground rushing the ball for Ethan Ortiz who had over 500 yards and 6 TD's in what was a tough end to another very good season for the Pilots. Next: Season Over

5) Benjamin Cardozo (8-3)
Last Week: #4

Recap: All season long it's been the Tyler Ragler show for the Judges as the senior RB has dominated game after game for Cardozo, but in Saturday's PSAL Cup Division semifinal game at Petrides it was the Panthers limiting him to just 55 yards on the ground, and with the Judges seeing a blocked punt returned for a TD and fumble lost in the end zone for a TD it was just too much for Cardozo to overcome in an 18-0 loss. Next: Season Over


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