CURTIS High School has been searching for respect ever since it won the PSAL championship last year. The Warriors lost three games during the season, which gave reason for other teams to knock them.
That elusive respect continued to avoid the team even after Curtis started the year 3-0 in the PSAL. The Warriors were widely considered underdogs against Wagner last week, but Curtis surprised everyone – other than themselves – by upsetting Wagner 16-6. Things won’t get any easier today when Curtis hosts a powerful Kennedy squad at 1 p.m.
The dynamic pair of QB George Hassell and RB Mike Goodman have helped guide Curtis to a 4-1 record and 4-0 in the league. In Kennedy, they face a team that has lost just once in the PSAL. The Knights fell to Wagner 20-6 earlier in the season.
“We take every game seriously,” Goodman said after last week’s win. “Some teams we’ve played have underestimated us, I think.”
Kennedy head coach Jerry Horowitz won’t let that happen, but Curtis has too much firepower for his team. Prediction: Curtis 22, Kennedy 14.
Jefferson at Canarsie, today, 12 p.m.: Canarsie, which has rolled to a 4-0 record in the PSAL, should face a tough test with Jefferson. Both teams have dominated most of their opponents. Jefferson has been led by Michael Echols, but Canarsie’s tandem of running backs, Russell Jessamy and Earl Charles, is too powerful. Prediction: Canarsie 20, Jefferson 12.
Chaminade at St. Anthony’s, tomorrow, 1:30 p.m.: This game matches two of the top teams in the CHSFL and features a duel at running back. Chaminade’s Kevin Kennedy and Frank Lazio of St. Anthony’s have each led their squads to undefeated records. St. Anthony’s has the home-field advantage, but Chaminade is the defending CHSFL champions. This game is almost too close to call, but we have to. Prediction: Chaminade 19, St. Anthony’s 13, OT.
Holy Cross at Mount St. Michael, today, 1 p.m.: Holy Cross has barely squeaked by its last two opponents, while the Mount has come on strong, winning two in a row. Prediction: Holy Cross 20, Mount 14.
Port Richmond at Wagner, tomorrow, 1 p.m.: Wagner must rebound from its first loss last week to Curtis. Now the Falcons face a good Port Richmond squad (3-2, 2-2). Wagner RB Ramael Myers will be hard to shut down two weeks straight. Prediction: Wagner 20, Port Richmond 8.
Lehman at Clinton, today, 11 a.m.: Lehman is clicking on all cylinders at 3-1 in the PSAL, while Clinton has been plagued by inconsistency. Prediction: Lehman 28, Clinton 12.
Other games: Today – 11 a.m.: South Shore vs. Brooklyn Tech, at Midwood; Far Rockaway vs. Bryant, at Flushing; New Utrecht at Erasmus; LIC at Springfield Gardens; 12 p.m.: Stevenson at Lafayette; John Jay at Tilden; New Dorp at Truman; 1 p.m.: Boys & Girls at Beach Channel; Sheepshead Bay at Madison; Flushing at Campus Magnet; Bishop Ford at St. Joseph’s by the Sea; 1:30 p.m.: Iona Prep at Msgr. Farrell; St. John the Baptist at Spellman; Martin at Hamilton; Lincoln at Tottenville; 2 p.m.: Midwood vs. Stuyvesant, at Kennedy; 7 p.m.: Fordham Prep vs. Hayes, at Riverbank; 7:30 p.m.: Stepinac vs. Christ the King, at St. John’s U.; Tomorrow – 1 p.m.: Columbus at McKee/S.I. Tech; St. Peter’s vs. St. Francis Prep, at SJU; 1:30 p.m.: Holy Trinity vs. Nazareth, at Poly Prep; 3 p.m.: Xavier vs. Xaverian, at Erasmus.