The weather has begun to cool down and Labor Day has come and gone. It must be football season.
The PSAL has already kicked off in a big way with a jam-packed opening weekend. The CHSFL starts Friday with a full slate of games.
Tottenville moved into our top 10 by whipping Lehman, 44-12. The Pirates displaced Boys & Girls, a 32-14 victim to Susan Wagner, our No. 10 team. No. 3 Fort Hamilton and No. 5 Curtis, two teams that meet this weekend in Staten Island, each prevailed this weekend, although the Tigers needed overtime to get by pesky Sheepshead Bay.
The CHSFL teams faced live competition for the first time in scrimmages, but the action begins for real this weekend beginning with the annual Battle of the Boulevard between No. 4 Holy Cross and rival St. Francis Prep.
It’s all here in the first edition of the New York Post’s New York City football rankings:
1. Poly Prep (0-0) (Last week: 1)
Quarterback Devante Wheeler has gotten better each year as the Poly Prep starter. So much so that Maryland, Rutgers, Richmond, Hofstra and Stony Brook are recruiting him.
Next: Surrattsville (Md.) (Sept. 12, 1:30 p.m.)
2. St. Joseph by the Sea (0-0) (2)
The one-two punch of backs Andrew Armato and Lyle McCombs return and the senior-laden Vikings have high expectations this season. It’s CHSFL Class AAA title or bust for Greg Manos’ squad.
Next: @ No. 9 Mount St. Michael (Sept. 19, 1:30 p.m.)
3. Fort Hamilton (1-0) (3)
Even before the Tigers allowed 26 points to Sheepshead Bay in a thrilling overtime victory, coach Vinny Laino was concerned about his defense. Imagine how he feels now? Still, there was one bright spot: Fort Hamilton blanked the Sharks across the final quarter and a half.
Next: @ No. 5 Curtis (Sept. 12, 12 p.m.)
4. Holy Cross (0-0) (4)
The Knights have a defense chock full of playmakers and a new quarterback in James Madison-bound Dean Marlowe, who will also play in the secondary. There is no bigger game on the Cross schedule than the Battle of the Boulevard clash against St. Francis Prep.
Next: St. Francis Prep (Sept. 13, 1 p.m.)
5. Curtis (1-0) (5)
When it comes to the Curtis defense, Dominique Easley, the highly recruited defensive lineman, is the first worry for offensive coordinators. Next up is shutdown cornerback James Pon Pon and ferocious linebacker Avery Wright, both of them seniors. Defensive end James Timmins, another senior, shouldn’t be forgotten either. A standout forward on the reigning PSAL Class A boys basketball city champions, he had two sacks in Saturday’s 28-12 victory over Lincoln, taking advantage of the constant double teams Easley drew.
Next: No. 3 Fort Hamilton (Sept. 12, 12 p.m.)
6. Monsignor Farrell (0-0) (6)
After a rare down year, Farrell has high expectations for the upcoming season, especially with the junior varsity going undefeated last season. Improvement on the defensive side of the ball is the Lions’ key to success.
Next: St. Jude Timon (Buffalo) (Sept. 12, 1:30 p.m.)
7. Xaverian (0-0) (7)
The Clippers lost a lot from last year’s team that advanced to the CHSFL Class AAA semifinals, including quarterback Najee Tyler, now at Purdue, and receiver Gerald Mistretta, now at the College of the Holy Cross. But Xaverian does have two-way threat Mario Tull, who recently verbally committed to Syracuse.
Next: @ Xavier (Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.)
8. Tottenville (1-0) (NR)
Breaking in several new components, coach Jim Munson wasn’t sure what to expect from his offense in September. They gave him a pretty good idea right off the bat by thrashing Lehman, 44-12, while piling up 344 yards of total offense. His new quarterback, Jon Derbyshire, threw for 181 yards and four touchdowns, three to wide receiver Alvin Cornelius. New York City, you have been warned: Tottenville is going to be a handful.
Next: Sheepshead Bay (Sept. 11, 7 p.m.)
9. Mount St. Michael (0-0) (9)
Gary Acquah is going to be asked to do a little bit of everything for the Mountaineers this season – play fullback, linebacker and defensive tackle, maybe even drive the bus. But there’s a good reason why a host of Big East schools have the 6-foot-2, 230-pound bruiser on their radar.
Next: @ New Caanan (Conn.) (Sept. 11, 7 p.m.)
10. Susan Wagner (1-0) (8)
As a junior, Jordan Rodriguez nearly led the Falcons to the PSAL championship game. He plans to finish the mission this fall. He’s off to a rousing start, throwing for 158 yards and two touchdowns, rushing for another and laying down several bone-crushing hits in Wagner’s 32-14 victory over Boys & Girls.
Next: @ Grady (Sept. 12, 12 p.m.)
New: Tottenville (1-0)
Dropped out: Boys & Girls (0-1)
On the bubble: Boys & Girls (0-1), DeWitt Clinton (1-0), Erasmus Hall (1-0), Fordham Prep (0-0) and St. Francis Prep (0-0)