Every week in the fall, NYPost.com’s Zach Braziller and Marc Raimondi will attempt to prognosticate the coming PSAL football weekend in the City Championship division.
RECORDS AFTER WEEK 7
Braziller: 64-20 (10-2 in Week 7)
Raimondi: 55-29 (7-5 in Week 7)
Here’s Week 8:
New Utrecht @ Grand Street Campus (Oct. 24, 11 a.m.)
Raimondi: It’s time to put the name Davon Collins on blast. The New Utrecht back is second only to Curtis’ Shaquan Coles in rushing yards in the City Championship division. Between him and improving junior quarterback Jordan Paul, the Utes are a sleeper the rest of the way. I’ll take them in this all-Brooklyn battle. Pick: New Utrecht
Braziller: I like the explosive nature of the Utes’ spread attack, too. But, Marc, you’re forgetting one very key element: there isn’t anyone to block for them. New Utrecht’s inexperienced offensive line has struggled all year. Grant Street Campus will keep it close by getting pressure on Paul and stuffing Collins. I still expect Alan Balkan’s kids to prevail. Pick: New Utrecht
Flushing @ Campus Magnet (Oct. 24, 11 a.m.)
Braziller: Either way, somebody’s going to pick up a quality win. Neither side has beaten anybody of merit, although Flushing did knock off New Utrecht. Campus Magnet, meanwhile, has failed in its big tests — at home against Erasmus Hall and Canarsie. Those teams, however, are a cut above the Red Devils, at least as far as talent goes. These two physical defenses are even, but the Bulldogs’ offense is far superior, especially now that quarterback Scott Gadsden has started to pick it up of late. Pick: Campus Magnet
Raimondi: Queens will be decided this weekend and for the first time in awhile Bayside isn’t even in the equation. Eric Barnett of Campus Magnet and Flushing’s Jim DeSantis deserve a ton of credit for raising their proram’s profiles. Who knew two teams from the borough would have such good-looking records this time of year? Both squads’ defenses are impressive, but I like the Campus Magnet offense more. Pick: Campus Magnet
DeWitt Clinton vs. Lehman (Oct. 24, 12 p.m. @ Clinton)
Raimondi: Lehman has come on of late as last week’s win against Canarsie cemented the Lions as a playoff team. That won’t be enough against Clinton, though. The Governors aren’t just a playoff team – they’re a city title contender. Pick: DeWitt Clinton
Braziller: This isn’t as open and shut as you believe. Clinton certainly is a city title contender, but if the Governors are as sloppy as they were last week against Kennedy, they won’t walk away victorious. Lions quarterback Edwin Guity has cut down on his mistakes and is starting to hit on a few big plays while halfback George Fields is a threat to break a big run every time he touches the ball. Second-year coach Debbie Vance has her kids thinking anything is possible. After this week, they will truly believe. Pick: Lehman
John F. Kennedy @ Columbus (Oct. 24, 12 p.m.)
Braziller: The good news is someone’s ‘O’ has got to go. The bad news? One of these teams will remain winless. I’ve seen both of them, and each should have at least a few wins. Unfortunately, they find ways to lose. Columbus, with its 26-game losing streak, is the more desperate team. With nothing to play for, that wins out. Pick: Columbus
Raimondi: As down as Kennedy might be this year, the Knights have too much pride. After last week’s loss to rival Clinton, coach Alex Vega will have his kids up for this game. They don’t want to be the answer to the trivia question, “Who did Columbus beat to snap its long losing streak?” Pick: Kennedy
James Madison @ Boys & Girls (Oct. 24, 12 p.m.)
Raimondi: I feel bad for Wilbert Lee. The kid is one of the best players in the city and he won’t even make the playoffs this year. I saw Boys early in the season. There’s talent there. I don’t know what happened. The Kangaroos will salvage a victory in a disappointing season here. Pick: Boys & Girls
Braziller: Marc, it’s simple what happened to The High: it graduated 32 seniors. That’s not easy to replace. Look out for Barry O’Connor’s Kangaroos next year. For now, they can salvage their season by beating up on one-win Madison. Pick: Boys & Girls
Fort Hamilton @ Canarsie (Oct. 24, 12 p.m.)
Braziller: I know Marc thinks I’m delusional, but Fort Hamilton’s 21-game regular-season win streak ends Saturday in Canarsie. The Chiefs have lost two in a row while the Tigers’ only defeat the last two-plus seasons came in last year’s championship game. Nevertheless, Steven Rene, the dynamic Syracuse-bound back, will do damage on the ground and Jarrel Turner will make plenty of plays through the air. Canarsie is playing for its playoff lives while Fort Hamilton is merely jockeying for a high postseason seed. Pick: Canarsie
Raimondi: Losses like these don’t happen to teams like Fort Hamilton, Zach. Coach Vinny Laino wouldn’t stand for it. There’s a reason the Tigers are the PSAL’s standard bearer. There’s no such thing as a trap game in Bay Ridge. Fort Hamilton wins out – bank on it. Pick: Fort Hamilton
Erasmus Hall @ Grady (Oct. 24, 12 p.m.)
Raimondi: The Dutchmen might be ripe for an upset – I’ve been saying it for weeks now. But it won’t happen against winless Grady. This one will be over by halftime. Pick: Erasmus Hall
Braziller: Erasmus Hall will get tested in Week 9, on the road against Tottenville. For now, the Dutchmen breeze to another victory. If this one is close in the fourth quarter, Danny Landberg has some problems he must deal with before the playoffs begin. Pick: Erasmus Hall
Brooklyn Tech @ Sheepshead Bay (Oct. 24, 12 p.m.)
Braziller: Brooklyn Tech is 5-2, Sheepshead Bay is 4-3, records nobody expected to see next to each side at this late juncture of the season. The Engineers aren’t blessed with game-breakers, but they play extremely hard for first-year coach Kyle McKenna. The Sharks, on the other hand, don’t always come prepared, which coach Fred Snyder said was the cause for last weekend’s surprising loss to Port Richmond. When Devontai Carlie and company have their heads screwed on right, they can beat anyone. I’m not sure Brooklyn Tech is at that point yet. Pick: Sheepshead Bay
Raimondi: You’re right about that, Zach. Sheepshead is very talented. And after that loss to Port Richmond, the Sharks will be very motivated, too. Let’s not forget: no team has played Fort Hamilton tougher than Sheepshead in Week 1. Not Curtis, not Lincoln and not Brooklyn Tech. Pick: Sheepshead Bay
Lincoln @ Midwood (Oct. 24, 12 p.m.)
Raimondi: This is one of the more intriguing matchups of the weekend. If either of these teams has proven anything thus far it’s that they’re both tough as nails. Midwood came back to beat New Dorp in impressive fashion two weeks ago and almost stole one from Erasmus last week. Lincoln is coming off a disheartening loss to Fort Hamilton. I like Lincoln’s team speed to be the difference. Pick: Lincoln
Braziller: Midwood can be as tough as it wants, it can’t match Lincoln’s talent on either side of the ball. Quarterback Andrew Vital had an off-week against Fort Hamilton, but will bounce back here. Ditto for the defense, led by defensive linemen Ishaq and Wayne Williams (no relation). The pair will live in the backfield against the Hornets. Pick: Lincoln
Bayside @ Curtis (Oct. 24, 12 p.m.)
Braziller: Poor, poor Bayside. The Commodores start out the year with heartbreaking losses to Grand Street Campus and Brooklyn Tech. They finally get in the win column against Grady in Week 5, and their reward is unbeaten Fort Hamilton. Now, Bayside draws an ornery Curtis team coming off a loss. This won’t be pretty. Pick: Curtis
Raimondi: If Bayside wins those two close games, it might be a playoff team. That doesn’t matter this week. Curtis is angry and physical and while Bayside’s strength is its line play, the Warriors’ is too. Might be a long day on Staten Island. Pick: Curtis
New Dorp @ Port Richmond (Oct. 24, 12 p.m.)
Raimondi: At the start of this season, the result of this game would have been clear. New Dorp was much better. Not anymore. The Central Cougars have lost four straight after starting 3-0. Port Richmond, on the other hand, has won two in a row, and can make the playoffs after a shaky start. The Red Raiders, led by a strong rushing attack and a stout defense, continue to roll in this one. Pick: Port Richmond
Braziller: If the Central Cougars couldn’t physical opponents like Curtis and DeWitt Clinton, I don’t like their chances against the Red Raiders. Port Richmond has a bevy of talented backs it can call on and its young offensive line has begun to finds its way. Lou Vesce’s kids are going to be a factor in the playoffs, crazy as that may sound. Pick: Port Richmond
Tottenville @ Susan Wagner (Oct. 24, 1 p.m.)
Braziller: I am intrigued by Wagner. The Falcons can be very good, but they can also be very shaky. I don’t know what to expect from them. Everyone knows quarterback Jordan Rodriguez is an animal and tailback Trevor Ellam makes plays. But what about the rest of this group? I say we find out Saturday against Tottenville, which bounced back from its loss to Curtis by doubling up on New Dorp. Pick: Susan Wagner
Raimondi: I think Wagner got back on track in a big way against Curtis. The Falcons’ confidence should be at an all-time high. Witj that being said, they don’t have the kind of talent on both sides of the ball that Tottenville does. The aptly named Marvin Staten is one of the best playmakers in the city. Combine him with quarterback Jon Derbyshire and receiver Alvin Cornelius and that’s a top-notch offense. Pick: Tottenville