The Post high-school staff takes a look at the top performers in football and girls volleyball from the week of Nov. 21.
FOOTBALL
Kenny Acquah, Mount St. Michael
He returned to the backfield after a month absence because of an ankle injury and thrived back there, running for 150 yards on 10 carries and three touchdowns in Mount St. Michael’s 34-0 victory over rival Cardinal Hayes in the traditional Turkey Bowl in The Bronx.
Barry Dagbolen, James Madison
In his final high-school game, the senior quarterback threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Adeyinka Anifoweshe and ran one in from a yard out, guiding Madison to a 22-20 win over August Martin in the Bowl division championship game on Sunday, the Knights’ first football title of any kind since 1983.
Thomas Ferranola, McKee/Staten Island Tech
He completed 8-of-16 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns, both of them coming in the fourth quarter, to lead McKee/Staten Island Tech to its second straight PSAL Cup division championship, 20-14, over South Shore. On 4th-and-9, he threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Ojo Phillip and on the final play in regulation, Ferranola hit Charles D’Onigbinde on a 26-yard scoring strike.
Elias Gelpi, Fordham Prep
The Rams senior put quite a finish to his career in a 15-7 Turkey Bowl win over rival Xavier. He scooped up a fumble and ran it back 25 yards to tie the score at 7 to start the second half and also collected the game-clinching interception to earn game MVP honors.
Jessel Jones, Lincoln
The senior quarterback had a pair of rushing touchdowns, ran for 107 yards and tossed a 9-yard scoring strike to Tarik Pusey, leading Lincoln back to the PSAL City Championship division final with a 30-14 rout of DeWitt Clinton.
Kahlil Lewin, Erasmus Hall
The explosive sophomore running back had 109 yards on 10 carries, all after halftime. But the only ones that truly mattered were the 15 he got in overtime to score the game-winning touchdown, sending Erasmus Hall past Tottenville, 20-17, to its first city title appearance.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Adriana Braciak, Cardozo
The perfect complement to star Ashley Grubler, Braciak had one of her best performances of the season when Cardozo needed it most. The junior outside hitter had six kills to help the Judges beat Francis Lewis, 25-17, 25-13, in the PSAL Class A city title game last Monday.
Kristen Herchenroder, Goldstein
Coach Adrian Buchhalter said repeatedly during the playoffs that Herchenroder, his senior star, could teach any player in any sport in New York City how to be a captain and leader. Then she went out and had 12 kills and the match-winning ace in the Dolphins’ three-set victory over Fort Hamilton to take home the PSAL Class B championship.