NYPost.com PSAL football beat writers Zach Braziller and Marc Raimondi break down the opening round of the PSAL City Championship division football playoffs Saturday.
SCHEDULE
No. 16 John Adams @ No. 1 Lincoln
No. 15 Brooklyn Tech @ No. 2 Tottenville
No. 14 Thomas Jefferson @ No. 3 Canarsie
No. 13 Sheepshead Bay @ No. 4 Fort Hamilton
No. 12 John F. Kennedy vs. No. 5 Erasmus Hall @ Sid Luckman Field
No. 11 Flushing vs. No. 6 Boys & Girls @ Old Boys High Field
No. 10 Port Richmond @ No. 7 DeWitt Clinton
No. 9 Curtis @ No. 8 Campus Magnet
No. 1 Lincoln Railsplitters
Head coach: Shawn O’Connor
Record: 9-0
Player to watch: Kareem Folkes
No. 16 John Adams Spartans
Head coach: Gerry Weitzen
Record: 4-5
Player to watch: Shane Hubbard
Outlook: Lincoln was clearly the best team in the PSAL this fall, its closest win a 22-0 shutout of Fort Hamilton, last year’s city champion. Running back/cornerback Kareem Folkes emerged as a Player of the Year candidate, Jessel Jones has stepped in nicely at quarterback and the defense, despite so many key losses to graduation, remains one of the city’s best for a program that has now won 20 straight regular season contests but is looking for its first title since 1993.
Adams, by contrast, enjoyed a solid first year in the City Championship division, fueled by a versatile attack that has become one-dimensional due to academic ineligibility of running backs Antoine Arnold and Devven Baker. No matter the result in Coney Island, the Spartans can be proud of their season. Making the playoffs is a significant accomplishment in itself.
No. 2 Tottenville Pirates
Head coach: Jim Munson
Record: 8-1
Player to watch: Alvin Cornelius
No. 15 Brooklyn Tech Engineers
Head coach: Kyle McKenna
Record: 4-5
Player to watch: James Gales
Outlook: Tottenville’s demise was greatly exaggerated. Yes, losing quarterback Brandon Barnes to a torn ACL in Week 7 was a big-time blow. But the Pirates still have Syracuse-bound Alvin Cornelius and Brandon DiGirolamo did a nice job under center in a 44-19 thumping of Campus Magnet last week. The defense has been the strength all year anyway – there’s no better secondary in the city, led by Cornelius, James Munson, Eric James and Niheem Chavis.
Brooklyn Tech will have its hands full. The Engineers have had trouble stopping teams all year. But traditionally that and line play has been a strength at Tech. If coach Kyle McKenna can get that Saturday, combined with the playmaking of do-it-all junior James Gales and defensive end Thomas Plonski, this team can be dangerous.
No. 3 Canarsie Chiefs
Head coach: Mike Camardese
Record: 7-2
Player to watch: Joel Philius
No. 14 Thomas Jefferson Orange Wave
Head coach: Gus Cyrus
Record: 3-6
Player to watch: Kendall (Speedy) Thomas
Outlook: Forget the seeds and the regular-season records, in the first meeting Jefferson held a lead in the fourth quarter before Canarsie defensive end Joel Philius took over with a pair of defensive touchdowns.
While Jefferson only won three times during the regular season, it did knock off title contenders Campus Magnet and Erasmus Hall, and with its wide array of explosive game breakers, is always in scoring position. Canarsie doesn’t have that same firepower, but what it does have is one of the best defenses in the city. In the Chiefs’ seven wins, they held the opposition to 34 points. Donchervell Smith, Philius and friends may be undersized, but they are fast, aggressive and smart, and they have already proven to be able to contain the Orange Wave.
No. 4 Fort Hamilton Tigers
Head coach: Danny Perez
Record: 7-2
Player to watch: Robert Thomas
No. 13 Sheepshead Bay Sharks
Head coach: Fred Snyder
Record: 5-4
Player to watch: Ricardo Appleton
Outlook: Neither team is entering this matchup with much momentum. Fort Hamilton is down to its third quarterback, linebacker/fullback Robert Thomas, because of injuries to Marvin Centeno (broken collarbone) and Travon Reid Segure (knee), while Sheepshead Bay has lost three in a row.
The Tigers still have a stout defense, led by City Championship division sack leader Oluwatoba Akinleye and Thomas. They will have their hands full with Sheepshead’s Wing-T attack, which relies heavily on bruising senior running back Ricardo Appleton (1,032 rushing yards, 10 TDs), who has continued to excel down the stretch even as his teammates have struggled.
No. 5 Erasmus Hall Dutchmen
Head coach: Danny Landberg
Record: 6-3
Player to watch: Khalil Lewin
No. 12 John F. Kennedy Knights
Head coach: Andy Lancberg
Record: 5-4
Player to watch: Anthony Cruz
Outlook: There’s no harder team to predict in New York City than Erasmus Hall – it’s been said all season. The Dutchmen can look like the PSAL title favorite one minute and a first-round upset waiting to happen the next. E-Hall has been more consistent lately. Wayne Morgan has been playing well under center and Shaquell Jackson is pounding the ball. Star sophomore Curtis Samuel is hurt, but Khalil Lewin is back from an injury of his own and he’s filled in nicely for Samuel.
Kennedy is a tough matchup for Erasmus. The Knights are big, strong and physical. They have one of the best lines in the league and an active, swarming defense filled with playmakers. Romario Dillion is one of the most underrated running backs in the PSAL and Anthony Cruz is emerging at quarterback. Erasmus Hall has shown vulnerability in the secondary outside of Morgan, an All-American defensive back. If Cruz can take advantage, Kennedy has a shot.
No. 6 Boys & Girls Kangaroos
Head coach: Clive Harding
Record: 6-3
Player to watch: Najee Champagne
No. 11 Flushing Red Devils
Head coach: Jim DeSantis
Record: 5-4
Player to watch: Andrew King
Outlook: Lost in a wild, up and down year was Boys & Girls, which was very consistent despite a brutal schedule. The Kangaroos are not flashy – perhaps that’s why they haven’t gotten a lot of attention – but they are extremely effective, especially when it comes to running the ball. Najee Champagne and Khadeem Campbell are a nightmare 1-2 punch for any team. Linebacker Tristan Laurore is an animal on defense and quarterback Keon Marsh can throw the ball when called upon.
Flushing is a similar team – hard-nosed, tough and intense. The Red Devils like to run the ball and they have one of the best backs in the PSAL to do it: underrecruited Andrew King. Passing has been a rare strength this year with senior Jason Gonzalez coming into his own. And with Jim DeSantis teams, the trademark is always defense. For a No. 6 vs. a No. 11, it won’t be much of an upset if Flushing pulls off the upset.
No. 7 DeWitt Clinton Governors
Head coach: Howard Langley
Record: 6-3
Player to watch: Ashton McKenzie
No. 10 Port Richmond Red Raiders
Head coach: Lou Vesce
Record: 6-3
Player to watch: Aaron Yates
Outlook: Clinton turned its season around three weeks ago when it knocked off bitter Bronx rival John F. Kennedy. That was followed by lopsided victory over borough foes Truman and Lehman. Quarterback Ryan Camilo and fullback Ashton McKenzie make the Governors Wing-T offense go, but the defense has come alive in recent weeks, pitching back-to-back shutouts.
It will need to be at its best against Port Richmond’s spread attack. The Red Raiders can run the ball with James Jones and Shaquan Gordon and quarterback Michael Goffredo isn’t afraid of taking off or absorbing contact. He also has a dangerous deep threat in Aaron Yates, who has personally won three of Port Richmond’s games with late touchdowns.
No. 8 Campus Magnet Bulldogs
Head coach: Eric Barnett
Record: 6-3
Player to watch: Khalik Greenwood
No. 9 Curtis Warriors
Head coach: Pete Gambardella
Record: 6-3
Player to watch: Kevin Austin
Outlook: Campus Magnet might only be the No. 8 seed, but most coaches will tell you the Bulldogs are still extremely dangerous. They are tough, physical and big – not a fun matchup for anyone. Then throw quarterback Khalik Greenwood and his pinpoint accuracy in and you have one of the PSAL’s elite teams. Campus Magnet hasn’t always looked that way this season – especially on defense – but it is not to be taken lightly.
Curtis’ biggest offensive strength is the running of Kevin Austin and Josh Artis and that’s also a weakness of Campus Magnet. The Warriors also have highly touted quarterback Prince Dukes, who has not matched his hype but is still one of the best players at his position in New York City. This program’s defense is always formidable and it won’t be easy for Campus Magnet to move the ball. Plus, there will be motivation after the Bulldogs knocked the Warriors out of the playoffs last year in the quarterfinals.
