H.S. GRID PREVIEW
FACING a 20-7 deficit in the fourth quarter last week against Fordham Prep, sixth-seeded Mount St. Michael’s season was on the verge of ending. Instead, the Mountaineers stormed back to win 21-20 and will meet a beaten-up Msgr. Farrell team, the No. 2 seed in the CHSFL AAA playoffs, tomorrow at St. John’s University at 7:30 p.m. in a semifinal matchup.
“We’re going to plan on everyone playing [for Farrell],” said Mount head coach Mario Valentini. “But we have to take advantage of every break we get.”
Among those breaks are injuries to three huge parts of Farrell’s success: RB Jason Sullivan, RB/LB Giuseppe Aguanno and QB Mike Scotti. While Sullivan will likely play, Scotti is out and Aguanno is very questionable. Without them last week, the Lions beat Christ the King only 2-0. If Sullivan can play up to his usual standard, Farrell will advance to next week’s championship game. Prediction: Farrell 20, Mount 7.
No. 1 St. Anthony’s vs. No. 4 Kellenberg, at SJU, tomorrow, 4 p.m.: Kellenberg validated its season last week with a win over Holy Cross, but these two teams are of a different caliber in this semifinal. Prediction: St. Anthony’s 28, Kellenberg 14.
PSAL PLAYOFFS
No. 16 Fort Hamilton at No. 1 Wagner, tomorrow, 12 p.m.: Wagner RB Ramael Myers rushed for 427 yards against Curtis last week. How many will he gain against overachieving Fort Hamilton? Prediction: Wagner 36, Fort Hamilton 12.
No. 15 Campus Magnet at No. 2 Canarsie, tomorrow, noon: Campus Magnet hasn’t seen anything close to a defense like Canarsie’s. Prediction: Canarsie 30, Campus Magnet 0.
No. 14 Evander Childs at No. 3 Kennedy, today, 6:30 p.m.: Kennedy has been knocked out in the first round two straight years. It won’t be three. Prediction: Kennedy 26, Childs 12.
No. 13 Clinton at No. 4 Tottenville, tomorrow, noon: If Clinton plays as well as it has in some of its games, it could pull off the upset, but Tottenville QB Jayson Davis owns the Govs. Prediction: Tottenville 28, Clinton 20.
No. 12 Port Richmond at No. 5 Curtis, tomorrow, noon: Two-time defending champ Curtis was embarrassed by Wagner last week. It will bounce back. Prediction: Curtis 26, Port Richmond 14.
No. 6 New Utrecht vs. No. 11 Beach Channel, at Erasmus, tomorrow, noon: How did Beach Channel get the 11 seed? Whatever the reason, New Utrecht should be thankful. Prediction: New Utrecht 30, Beach Channel 14.
No. 10 Brooklyn Tech at No. 7 Sheepshead Bay, tomorrow, noon: Brooklyn Tech could win this one, but the Engineers struggled too much at the end of the season. Prediction: Sheepshead Bay 20, Brooklyn Tech 14.
No. 8 Lincoln vs. No. 9 August Martin, at Dewey, tomorrow, noon: The winner gains the right to get smoked by Wagner in the quarterfinals. Prediction: Lincoln 14, Martin 12.
CHSFL AA PLAYOFFS
No. 2 Holy Trinity vs. No. 3 St. Francis Prep, at SJU, tomorrow, 10 a.m.: If anyone can figure out a way to stop Holy Trinity, it’s Prep coach Vinny O’Connor. But he won’t. Prediction: Holy Trinity 14, St. Francis Prep 6.
No. 1 Iona Prep vs. No. 5 Xaverian, at SJU, tomorrow, 1 p.m.: Xaverian used up all of its magic in last week’s win over Stepinac. Prediction: Iona Prep 26, Xaverian 22.
Other games: CHSFL A semifinals: Tomorrow, 11 a.m.: Cardinal Spellman at St. Joseph’s by the Sea. Sunday, noon: Nazareth vs. St. Peter’s, at St. Joseph’s by the Sea.