NYC football rankings
We know, we promised changes once the postseason began, but don’t have many.
Look, it’s not our fault our top three in the PSAL of Tottenville, Fort Hamilton and Lincoln refuse to lose and Campus Magnet and Curtis continued stellar years. We do have a newcomer as Brooklyn Tech breaks in for the first time, at No. 10, replacing Erasmus Hall, which was eliminated by DeWitt Clinton.
In the CHSFL, Fordham Prep’s hopes of an undefeated season went up in smoke with a 39-14 loss to St. Anthony’s in the Class AAA semifinals in South Huntington, L.I. Friday night. The CHSFL Class AA and Class AAA title games will be played Saturday at Mitchel Athletic Complex, but it will be devoid of a city team.
1. Tottenville (10-0) (Last week: 1)
The Pirates cruised into the quarterfinals, racing out to a 34-0 lead and never looking back in a 40-8 decimation of Grand Street Campus. It’s remarkable how easy Tottenville has made it look in going 10-0. There will, of course, be nothing easy about the Huguenot school’s next three games – if it is, indeed, going to finish a perfect 13-0 – starting with a rematch against a hot Boys & Girls team Saturday afternoon.
Next: No. 8 Boys & Girls, PSAL City Championship division quarterfinals (Nov. 20, 12 p.m.)
2. Fort Hamilton (10-0) (2)
Brandon Reddish has a much-deserved reputation for having a flair for the dramatic. The highly-recruited wide receiver/safety is at his best in the playoffs, and he was yet again phenomenal in leading Fort Hamilton to a postseason-opening 50-0 drubbing of Port Richmond last Saturday. The senior caught two touchdown passes, returned an interception to the house and made eight tackles.
Next: Brooklyn Tech, PSAL City Championship division quarterfinals (Nov. 20, 12 p.m.)
3. Lincoln (10-0) (3)
Andrew Vital is on a short list of Player of the Year candidates. The one game the speedy senior quarterback missed, Lincoln scored just eight points. It has topped 26 points seven times and has 38 in the two contests since Vital returned from injury. Saturday, in a 38-14 demolition of Sheepshead Bay, Vital was against productive, running for two touchdowns and throwing for 125 yards, his supposed one weakness. The further the Railsplitters go, the better Vital’s candidacy looks.
Next: DeWitt Clinton, PSAL City Championship division quarterfinals (Nov. 20, 12 p.m.)
4. Fordham Prep (9-1) (4)
The Rams finally faced one of the CHSFL’s elite and got bulldozed in South Huntington. Not that there’s any shame in that. Heck, every other team that’s played the Friars this year has lost, too. Still, Fordham Prep’s season isn’t complete just yet. There’s the little matter of avenging last year’s overtime loss to Xavier in the annual Turkey Bowl game. A win on Thanksgiving morning would send the seniors, including Max Kinder and Anthony Bronzo, out on a positive note.
Next: Xavier, Turkey Bowl @ Coffey Field (Nov. 25, 10 a.m.)
5. Poly Prep (6-1) (5)
The Blue Devils should once again be stout next year with stars Faton Bauta and Kevon Gabon returning for their senior seasons. And in case you thought Poly had no future stars in the program, think again. The Blue Devils junior varsity squad went 5-2-1, winning their final two games by a combined score of 50-6.
Next: Season complete
6. Campus Magnet (8-2) (6)
It speaks volumes about the Bulldogs’ depth that they can be without senior quarterback Scott Gadsden and still roll past a quality opponent like Lehman in the first round. It also says a great a deal about how good Campus Magnet is up front, that even though the Lions knew the Bulldogs were going to run the ball, they had no way of stopping it. Wavell Wint continued his impressive senior year by rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown.
Next: No. 7 Curtis, PSAL City Championship division quarterfinals (Nov. 20, 12 p.m.)
7. Curtis (7-3) (8)
Freshman quarterback Prince Dukes and his many skill-position teammates have garnered much of the attention as the defending city champion Warriros are back in the quarterfinals. The defense, a star-less group that has remained productive, should be commended for its stellar play. It will be that group that must continue to stand tall if Curtis wants to move on against Campus Magnet, which put up 34 points on the stout unit in the two teams’ previous meeting.
Next: @ No. 6 Campus Magnet, PSAL City Championship division quarterfinals
8. Boys & Girls (6-4) (10)
The first time the Kangaroos went to Huguenot they were buried early and UConn-bound star Wilbert Lee suffered a first-half knee injury. Lee will be healthy this time around as The High, winners of three straight, looks to pull the mammoth upset. Can Boys & Girls do the unthinkable? If Lee brings his Superman cape, which he has pulled out on occasion, to Staten Island, it’s possible.
Next: @ No. 1 Tottenville, PSAL City Championship division quarterfinals (Nov. 20, 12 p.m.)
9. Xaverian (5-5) (9)
Greg Rando graduates and he’ll be sorely missed, but Xaverian returns a host of talented players from a team that finished the season 5-5, including Laray Smith, Zach Kearney, Sean Binckes and Zyrel Hardy. The Clippers will be a year more mature and a year more dangerous when they step on the field next September.
Next: Season complete
10. Brooklyn Tech (6-4) (NR)
Brooklyn was home to a pair of undefeated teams this year in Fort Hamilton and Lincoln, but the job Kyle McKenna did in his second year with Tech should not go overlooked. After losing so many integral seniors, he not only guided the Engineers back to the playoffs, but won his first postseason game, a thrilling 30-28 double overtime victory over Thomas Jefferson. McKenna has talent and size, but not nearly as much as the rest of the teams in our top 10.
Next: @ No. 2 Fort Hamilton, PSAL City Championship division quarterfinals (Nov. 20, 12 p.m.)
New: Brooklyn Tech (6-4)
Dropped out: Erasmus Hall (7-3)
On the bubble: Beach Channel (9-1), DeWitt Clinton (5-5), Erasmus Hall (7-3), Mount St. Michael (5-5), Holy Cross (5-6), Thomas Jefferson (7-3),
