ON THE sidelines during one of his team’s many losses last season, Canarsie head coach Mike Camardese lamented, “Whatever can go wrong, is going wrong for us, no matter what I do.”
What a difference a year makes. The Chiefs finished 1-7 in the PSAL last year, but with a bunch of young players on that squad, they gained the experience necessary to go 6-0 so far this year.
“It’s amazing how good a coach you become when you have good players,” said Camardese, whose squad hosts 3-3 Fort Hamilton today at noon. “You get a lot smarter.”
He’s had the help not only of stud RB/DB Jamal Schulters, but another junior RB, Elijah Fleming, as well as a sturdy defense led in part by DB Leston Charles.
Despite the success, the season hasn’t been an easy one for Camardese.
“The more you win, the more nerve-wracking it gets,” Camardese said. “No matter how well everyone is playing, you know they can play better and you have to figure out how to do that. And I know that until the playoffs start, we haven’t done anything.” Prediction: Canarsie 26, FH 14.
Xaverian vs. Mount St. Michael, at Fort Hamilton, today, 1:30 p.m.: Both teams still in the mix to make a run in the CHSFL playoffs, which begin in two weeks. Prediction: MSM 28, Xaverian 22, OT.
Iona Prep at Farrell, today, 1:30 p.m.: Iona Prep has come on, but the Gaels will have a hard time stopping Farrell’s Josh Amaro, the CHSFL’s leading rusher. Prediction: Farrell 34, IP 20.
Grand Street at Erasmus, today, noon: Just three years removed from folding its football program, Erasmus is undefeated and inching up the PSAL standings. Prediction: Erasmus 14, Grand Street 6.
Chaminade vs. Holy Trinity, at Hofstra, tomorrow, 5 p.m.: If HT’s Julian Glenn is healthy, the Titans should get back in the win column. Prediction: HT 30, Chaminade 24.
New Utrecht at Lincoln, today, 10 a.m.: Lincoln looks to stay unbeaten. Prediction: Lincoln 20, NU 12.
Curtis at Sheepshead Bay, today, noon: Defending champion Curtis hopes to salvage its season. Prediction: SB 22, Curtis 6.
Other games: Today – 11 a.m.: Childs at GW; Midwood at South Shore; Beach Channel at Adams; McKee at Bryant. Noon: Lafayette at Jefferson; August Martin at Far Rockaway; Campus Magnet at Bayside. 1 p.m.: Christ the King vs. Kellenberg, at SJU; New Dorp at Port Richmond; Stuyvesant at Truman; Tottenville at Wagner. 1:30 p.m.: Ford at Moore Catholic; Hayes vs. Spellman, at A.E. Smith; St. John the Baptist at St. Joseph by the Sea; Xavier vs. Nazareth, at Erasmus. 2:30 p.m.: Tilden vs. Boys & Girls, at South Shore.
Tomorrow – 1:30 p.m.: Holy Cross vs. St. Francis Prep, at Bayside; Fordham Prep vs. Stepinac, at Fieldston; St. Peter’s vs. St. Anthony’s, at Port Richmond.
