Early Must See Matchups In Each New York City Borough

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New York City football is right around the corner, the slate to start the season is loaded. Here are some must see matchups in each borough with players to watch!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Staten Island - 8/30- Curtis vs St Peter's</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>For the first time ever on the gridiron, we get this inner-borough matchup: Curtis, the defending PSAL 4A champions, take on St. Peter's, one of the fastest-rising Catholic programs, at SI FerryHawks Stadium!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Curtis:</strong><br>This Warriors offense brings back several talented prospects. Quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id='344519' first='Anthony' last='Caratelli'] and Vin Canzoneri both return. Quadere Gomez is big and dynamic in the open field, while playmakers [player_tooltip player_id='1649122' first='Akai' last='Lewis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='284079' first='Jayden' last='Melendez'] will form a dangerous receiving duo. On defense, [player_tooltip player_id='402266' first='Jarrett' last='Serate'], Jalil Parnell, and [player_tooltip player_id='806236' first='Anthony' last='Gambardella'] will lead a strong front seven.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Peter's:</strong><br>Despite losing a lot, St. Peter's 2027 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1352971' first='Anthony' last='D'Acunto'] is a phenomenal player to lead the offense. Sophomore standout receivers Ben Terry and [player_tooltip player_id='1354559' first='Josiah' last='Jones'] will be exciting to watch in this one. The Eagles also return talent up front—Mike Riccardi and [player_tooltip player_id='1354556' first='Chris' last='Badon'] are two of the top linemen in the city this season. Also on defense, [player_tooltip player_id='1618353' first='Nick' last='Gnerre'] will be a key player to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Brooklyn – Xaverian Hosts Two PSAL Powers (8/30 and 9/5)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Clippers open up their season with two tough matchups. First, they face a strong 4A squad in Fort Hamilton, followed by a quality 3A opponent in Frank J. Macchiarola the next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Xaverian:</strong><br>The Clippers are fresh off a Catholic League AA-2 Championship. They bring back a dynamic offensive duo—[player_tooltip player_id='1619069' first='Terrence' last='Watson'] proved to be a solid dual-threat quarterback last season, and he's joined by running back [player_tooltip player_id='1811662' first='Richie' last='Aiken'], who had a breakout year. Defensively, they return a group that didn't allow double-digit points throughout the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Hamilton:</strong><br>The Tigers are coming off a phenomenal season, reaching the 3A title game. While they'll miss a strong senior class and standout Harold Marshall, Fort Ham returns some exciting talent. [player_tooltip player_id='1651289' first='Aiden' last='Porter'], an excellent athlete, takes over at quarterback. Zaire Thomas, Kevin Lin, and Emmanuel King are also dangerous playmakers in an offense that can make serious noise this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Frank J. Macchiarola (Sheepshead Bay):</strong><br>The Sharks are back up in the 3A division and boast a very talented roster. Jaycob Reid is one of the most dynamic players in NYC. He's joined by wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1346386' first='Dalontai' last='Davis'], a transfer from Texas who will be a must-watch. On defense, [player_tooltip player_id='1742442' first='Amare' last='Britt'] leads a strong front after an excellent season and will anchor FJM's defensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Manhattan/Bronx – 8/30: A Phillip. Randolph vs. John F. Kennedy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Under the lights in the Bronx, this matchup should be a fun one. Both teams feature some of the top talent in the Bronx/Harlem area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>APR:</strong><br>After a run to the 3A semifinals last season, the Cougars are hungry to break through this year. They may have lost [player_tooltip player_id='807911' first='Travis' last='Gamble'], but they return some stars. [player_tooltip player_id='1143004' first='Zahaire' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1143058' first='Isaac' last='Suazo'] are among the top 2027 prospects in the PSAL. Quarterback Emmanuel Opoku returns fully healthy to lead the offense. A key transfer, [player_tooltip player_id='505864' first='Jaire' last='Edwards'], is a physical force and will be a major X-factor on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>JFK:</strong><br>The Knights made the 4A playoffs last year and return a strong core. [player_tooltip player_id='807905' first='Derik' last='Betances'] is one of the city's top running backs and pairs up with sophomore QB [player_tooltip player_id='1422692' first='Jeremiah' last='Senat'] to form a dangerous backfield. JFK also brings back explosive weapons in [player_tooltip player_id='1742803' first='Emmanuel' last='Hernandez Frias'] and Jasihya Beauford. Known for their strength in the trenches, the Knights are led up front by [player_tooltip player_id='1814220' first='Jeremy' last='Concepcion'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1649158' first='Edwin' last='Arreola'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Queens – 9/6: St. Francis Prep vs. Holy Cross</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>“The Battle of the Boulevard”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This rivalry game always delivers, and the 2025 edition is no different. With high-level prospects on both sides, this one will be a must-watch in Queens.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Francis Prep:</strong><br>The Terriers come in with high expectations, thanks to a strong senior class and an influx of talent from their JV squad, which won the AA title. Offensively, they feature an electric trio: QB [player_tooltip player_id='1624593' first='Jack' last='Leary'], ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1572323' first='Sean' last='Ibert'], and WR [player_tooltip player_id='1506358' first='Rocco' last='Petronella']—all three are coming off impactful seasons. On defense, returning All-League selection [player_tooltip player_id='1639409' first='Anthony' last='Brown'] will be a key leader and also anchors the offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Holy Cross:</strong><br>The Knights are out for revenge after falling to SFP and losing in the AA-2 title game. They return with a loaded roster led by All-State QB [player_tooltip player_id='939552' first='Madden' last='Martinez']. Key playmakers [player_tooltip player_id='1641230' first='Kenneth' last='Brassfield-Dailey'], Antoine Williams Jr, and [player_tooltip player_id='1639427' first='Brandon' last='Glaudin'] are all back. In the trenches, big man [player_tooltip player_id='735867' first='Xavier' last='Godard'] and this lineman group will look to make noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->