Each week in the fall, New York Post beat writers Zach Braziller and Marc Raimondi will attempt to prognosticate the coming PSAL football weekend.
RECORDS AFTER WEEK 1
Braziller: 10-2 (Last week: 10-2)
Raimondi: 7-5 (Last week: 7-5)
Here’s Week 2:
John F. Kennedy @ No. 7 Lincoln (Friday, 7 p.m.)
Braziller: What a shock. I already lead Marc by three games after one week of predictions. Look for that gap to extend more and more as the season continues. It’s not that picking games is easy for me – it’s that my competition is just not very good at it.
Lincoln’s first game, though, was a surprise – not that the Railsplitters won, but how they did, by blasting New Utrecht, 54-6. It won’t be nearly as easy Friday night in Coney Island as John F. Kennedy makes the trek from The Bronx. The Knights will be an angry bunch after blowing their opener against Port Richmond. I guarantee Kennedy doesn’t allow a kick return for a touchdown – that’s what cost them against Port Richmond – and finds a way to prevail. When two teams are even, always go with the more desperate one. Pick: John F. Kennedy
Raimondi: I really can’t say anything. Week 1 was absolutely atrocious for me. But the first week is always the toughest. It’s hard to gauge teams before they have even played a game. Expect a big comeback, starting now.
I like your credo there about two teams being even, go with the desperate one. I really do. But there’s a serious flaw in your judgment with this game. Lincoln and Kennedy are not even. The Railsplitters were in the city title game last year; Kennedy was just struggling for respectability. Until the Knights prove they can win a meaningful game, I can’t choose them. Lincoln is much better this year than people thought it would be. Pick: Lincoln
Midwood @ Grand Street Campus (Saturday, 11 a.m.)
Raimondi: I slept on Grand Street Campus – my sleeper pick a year ago – last week and the Wolves ended up putting 44 points on New Dorp. I’m impressed. But let’s not forget Grand Street beat Erasmus Hall last year and still ended up going just 3-6. If Midwood had lost to anyone else but Truman, playing in its first City Championship division game, I’d go with the Hornets. But I guess, reluctantly, I’ll choose the Wolves this week. Pick: Grand Street Campus
Braziller: Sure, Midwood lost to Truman, but the Hornets defense didn’t allow any points, they scored two touchdowns themselves on offense and moved the ball up and down the field. The issue was giving up a pair of special teams touchdowns. I’m sure coach Steve Basile has spent plenty of time with his kickoff coverage unit after Truman’s Shandu Rollieson took a pair to the house. I expected New Dorp to get off to a tough start – coach Chris App has plenty of injuries to deal with – so the Grand Street win wasn’t overly shocking. Another win for the Wolves isn’t in the cards this week. Look for Midwood’s size up front, led by Division I prospect Mohamed Bilal, to be the difference. Pick: Midwood
No. 2 Fort Hamilton @ No. 3 Campus Magnet (Saturday, 11 a.m.)
Braziller: This was one of the first games that popped off the page when I began looking at the 2011 schedule. Fort Hamilton showed it has reloaded with a 46-14 thrashing of Lehman while Campus Magnet had one of the more impressive performances in Week 1, rallying past Erasmus Hall, 24-20, behind impressive junior quarterback Khalik Greenwood. Closer inspection into Fort’s win over Lehman, though, shows it merely took advantage of mistakes. The Lions had issues in the punt game – one was blocked, there was another bad snap – and the Tigers also had a long kickoff return. Campus Magnet won’t make the same mistakes. It has a decided size advantage up front, the more experienced defense and arguably the better quarterback in Greenwood over Marvin Centeno. All those factors add up to a huge win for coach Eric Barnett and Co., as they snap Fort Hamilton’s 33-game regular-season winning streak. Pick: Campus Magnet
Raimondi: You talk about Fort Hamilton taking advantage of mistakes, well how about Campus Magnet benefiting from a blocked punt and a fumble in Erasmus Hall’s end? The Bulldogs scored two touchdowns off those plays after not looking very good for most of the first half. When was the last time you saw Fort Hamilton make errors like that? It just doesn’t happen and it won’t Saturday. Greenwood could be better than Centeno – it’s arguable. But there is no argument that the best player on the field will be Travon Reid-Segure. He goes off and the Tigers win a close one. Pick: Fort Hamilton
No. 1 Tottenville @ No. 5 DeWitt Clinton (Saturday, 12 p.m.)
Raimondi: We saw what Tottenville could do against a fast, explosive team like Jefferson last week. Now the Pirates will get tested against a physical, smash mouth team that still has speed to burn with guys like Jeremiah Obeng-Agyapong. I’ll say one thing about Tottenville: There are no cupcakes on the schedule this year. I think a weak schedule ended up hurting the boys from Huguenot last year. They’ll be battle-tested come playoff time in 2011. Pick: Tottenville
Braziller: I have no doubt Tottenville picks up a win Saturday afternoon. I’m more interested in how it handles Clinton’s physical rushing attack. Jefferson’s Michael Abanikanda racked up 115 yards on the ground and I don’t think the Orange Wave used him enough. Rest assured, Clinton won’t make the same mistake with bruising fullback Ashton McKenzie. I could see the Pirates getting off to a slow start, but they have just too many explosive offensive weapons for a Clinton defense still finding its way. Pick: Tottenville
New Dorp @ Truman (Saturday, 12 p.m.)
Braziller: Truman coach John Shepherd doesn’t get enough credit citywide for the work he’s done. He beat a more talented Beach Channel team in last year’s Bowl division title game, dealt with the unimaginable tragedy of the loss of former star Isayah Muller and has his team 1-0 after one week in the City Championship division. New Dorp’s Chris App is a fine coach in his own right, but he’s dealing with inexperience on offense and injuries on defense, which he felt would be his team’s strength. Truman is healthy, hungry and out to prove itself on the highest level. Look for more fireworks out of senior star Shandu Rollieson. Pick: Truman
Raimondi: I think I was the only person in the city not named Shepherd who picked Truman to beat Midwood last week. And I agree with you, the Mustangs head man does a fine job. I’ll admit, I’m a little squeamish with this pick. I don’t like picking new City Championship division teams against established programs – especially two weeks in a row. But it’s hard to ignore the explosiveness of Rollieson and the excellent line play of Truman, led by St. Clair Richards and Ibraheem Rodriguez. Those latter two are guys are very underrated. The Mustangs are going to the playoffs this year. Pick: Truman
No. 6 Erasmus Hall @ No. 4 Boys & Girls (Saturday, 12 p.m.)
Raimondi: Could there be two teams coming off results this different? Boys & Girls looked flat-out dominant against Curtis, handing the city title contender a 40-12 loss. Erasmus Hall looked incredible – for a quarter and a half in a 24-20 loss to Campus Magnet. The Kangaroos beat up the Warriors in the trenches and that’s not exactly a strength for the Dutchmen. As explosive as E-Hall is, it’s going to be hard for coach Danny Landberg’s team to come out of this brutal four-game stretch to start the season with more than a win or two. Pick: Boys & Girls
Braziller: Wow, you jump off the bandwagon quick, don’t you? Let’s not forget E-Hall had a very good Campus Magnet team beat and coach Danny Landberg will get the ball more to freshman sensation Curtis Samuels, who scored two touchdowns against the Bulldogs. Also, Boys & Girls had virtually everything go right against Curtis; what happens when it faces some adversity? Erasmus will stop the Kangaroos’ ground game and force junior quarterback Keon Marsh to throw the ball at least 10 times. Look for All-American Wayne Morgan to make a few game-changing plays on both sides of the ball late. Pick: Erasmus Hall
No. 9 Brooklyn Tech @ Canarsie (Saturday, 12 p.m.)
Braziller: Those familiar with this space know I’m high on Canarsie. Mike Camardese is one of the best coaches in the city, he has an absolute budding star in junior running back/linebacker Donchervell Smith and loads of talent. That was clear in last Saturday’s 30-0 thrashing of Susan Wagner. Brooklyn Tech is obviously a huge step up in class as the 1-0 Engineers have a star of their own in James Gales and are typically stout up front. Still, I like the Chiefs to limit Gales and Smith to have a breakout performance out of the backfield. My sleeper pick won’t be slept on any longer after this win. Pick: Canarsie
Raimondi: I’m with you on Canarsie. I do expect big things from the Chiefs – me picking Wagner last week notwithstanding. But they are not quite ready to beat a team of Brooklyn Tech’s caliber. The Engineers have improved last year and have the athletes to make a deep run in the playoffs. It isn’t just Gales and massive defensive end/tight end Thomas Plonski. Kyvaune Brammer and Adonijah Smith both looked tremendous in Week 1. Kyle McKenna has a team to be reckoned with. Pick: Brooklyn Tech
No. 8 Thomas Jefferson @ Sheepshead Bay (Saturday, 12 p.m.)
Raimondi: Sheepshead always seems to have a difficult schedule, even after going 3-6 last year and narrowly making the playoffs. The Sharks couldn’t beat Clinton in Week 1 and they’re going to have a real hard time matching Jefferson’s speed this week. The Orange Wave will be motivated after getting beaten up last week against Tottenville. They should roll here. Look for Michael Abanikanda to have a huge game. Pick: Thomas Jefferson
Braziller: Despite the 34-16 loss to Tottenville, there were positives for Jefferson. It never quit, rallying late to make the Pirates sweat, and Michael Abanikanda showed, if given the chance, he’s an all-city caliber back. Now, if only coach Gus Cyrus and his staff would give him the ball more. The kid had 115 yards against Tottenville, but just 11 carries. He should get 20 every week, I don’t care how many weapons Jefferson has at wide receiver. Speaking of the talent out wide, Cyrus needs to let Kendall (Speedy) Thomas loose. He didn’t run one single go route against the Tots. How is that possible? OK, my little lecture is over. Look for a lot of Thomas and Abanikanda on Saturday. Sheepshead Bay will have no answer. Pick: Thomas Jefferson
No. 10 Curtis @ Flushing (Saturday, 12 p.m.)
Braziller: I can only imagine the length and intensity of practices this week in St. George. Curtis coach Pete Gambardella was obviously unhappy with his players after a 40-12 drubbing against Boys & Girls and I’m sure they paid for it with wind sprints. It was a very un-Curtis-like performance, getting beaten up so badly up front. Flushing, on the other hand, is riding high after its 35-0 rout of FDR. But the Red Devils aren’t Boys & Girls and Curtis isn’t FDR. Sure, Flushing’s Jason Gonzalez threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns and Andrew King ran for 69 yards and three touchdowns, but that won’t happen against Curtis. Warriors quarterback Prince Dukes made some nice throws against Boys & Girls; he’ll make plenty more Saturday. Pick: Curtis
Raimondi: We overrated Curtis pretty badly in the preseason. And when I say we, I mean you. The Warriors just don’t have the size and physicality in the trenches they’re typically known for. The injury to Tyrell Washington doesn’t help, either. Part of me wants to say that Flushing will exploit that Saturday, but this is a serious step up in competition for the Red Devils after FDR and I’m not yet sure whether this will be one of coach Jim DeSantis’ better teams. I’ll take Curtis in a grinder of a game. Pick: Curtis
Susan Wagner @ John Adams (Saturday, 12 p.m.)
Raimondi: Wagner made me look stupid last week. I thought the Falcons could beat Canarsie on Staten Island and I couldn’t have been more wrong – they lost 30-0. That being said, John Adams is not Canarsie. Gerry Weitzen might be the funniest coach in New York City, but Al Paturzo is arguably the best. He’ll find a way to guide Wagner over the neophyte City Championship division program. So much for learning from my mistakes. Pick: Susan Wagner
Braziller: Neither team played particularly well last week, whether it was Wagner getting blanked by Canarise, 30-0, or Adams routed by Brooklyn Tech, 44-14. Adams was in the game early, and did score points, while the Falcons hardly sniffed the end zone. Give me the best player on the field – Spartans wide receiver/cornerback Shane Hubbard – and the home team. Pick: John Adams
New Utrecht @ Port Richmond (Saturday, 12 p.m.)
Braziller: If Port Richmond goes on to have a big year, wins six or more games, it can trace the start of it to Week 1 in The Bronx when Aaron Yates returned a kickoff 76 for a touchdown in the waning moments to beat John F. Kennedy. It was an emotional win, but also one that sets up the Red Raiders nicely to go 2-0 against rebuilding New Utrecht. Pick: Port Richmond
Raimondi: That was such a bizarre game Friday night. The lights go out, they wait a half hour only to have both teams go the same direction and then Port Richmond wins on a last-second kickoff return for a touchdown. Pretty wild and a certain Game of the Year candidate. I agree with you, too. It’ll be a tremendous jumping off point for the Red Raiders. This week, they’ll make it look easy. Pick: Port Richmond
FDR vs. Lehman (Saturday, 1:30 p.m. @ New Utrecht)
Raimondi: Lehman, my sleeper pick, got blown out of the building last week by Fort Hamilton, but a lot of that was the Lions’ doing. I don’t expect many of the same mistakes this week and even if there are some, Lehman should be significantly better than FDR and able to make up for them. David White will have a monster day and the underrated Lions defense comes up with a touchdown or two in a big jumping off point for an improved season. Pick: Lehman
Braziller: As we’ve both described, Lehman’s loss to Fort Hamilton wasn’t as bad as the 46-14 score would indicate. The Lions just need to shore up their special teams. White did have 205 yards and a touchdown on the ground, a great sign. FDR, meanwhile, was obliterated by Flushing, 35-0. Lehman will get healthy this week. Pick: Lehman