Staff Picks: Week 1

There are over 150 games of High School Football across the state this weekend, in this article we breakdown one game from each Section and give our predictions for each game.   Section 1: North Rockland Vs Curtis   Friday September 5th, Section One Football kicks off with a top in state matchup in Thiells, NY. The North Rockland Red Raiders 0-0, Take on the Curtis Warriors 1-0. Curtis picked up the win in a season opening game against St. Peter's by a score of 17-0. North Rockland Players to Watch include [player_tooltip player_id='1650979' first='Amari' last='Occena'], Chaim Fountain, [player_tooltip player_id='1566785' first='Gabriel' last='Vega'], [player_tooltip player_id='1720765' first='Chase' last='Perini'], [player_tooltip player_id='939853' first='Dominick' last='Tirri'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1513257' first='Jacob' last='Rodriguez']. Players to Watch for Curtis include [player_tooltip player_id='402247' first='Will' last='Andrade'], [player_tooltip player_id='806236' first='Anthony' last='Gambardella'], [player_tooltip player_id='806235' first='Danny' last='Lewis'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1649122' first='Akai' last='Lewis']. North Rockland stood on top of Section One last Season with Curtis finishing 13-1 and Winning the PSAL 4A Championship.   Cory Lemer: Curtis 35-24   Matt Di Domenico: North Rockland 17-14   Section 2: Niskayuna Vs Yorktown   In an out of Section Matchup, Section 2 Niskayuna will travel south to Face Section 1 Yorktown. Both teams enter the game 0-0, and look to build on solid 2024 campaigns. Players to Watch for Niskayuna include [player_tooltip player_id='1685587' first='Omari' last='Forrest'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1212767' first='Cam' last='Grasso'] who recently committed to Albany. Players to Watch for Yorktown include [player_tooltip player_id='1344785' first='Tyler' last='Galante'], and Eamon Coney. Yorktown is a projected top six team in Section One and Niskayuna is a projected top five team in Section Two, making this an exciting out of Section matchup.   Cory Lemer: Niskayuna 21-17   Matt Di Domenico: Yorktown 28-14   Section 3: Whitesboro Vs CBA-Syracuse   Whitesboro came into the season ranked top 25 in the state, and fell short in their first game to Cicero-North Syracuse. The Warriors will look to avenge their week one loss as they host CBA-Syracuse who is fresh off the heels of a state title. Whitesboro also had an impressive season last year as they made the class A championship where they fell short to Somers. Players to watch in this game include [player_tooltip player_id='1513305' first='Connor' last='McDonald'], Javon Endenfield, [player_tooltip player_id='735899' first='Khalil' last='Cox'], [player_tooltip player_id='1344707' first='Cody' last='Cloutier'], [player_tooltip player_id='1279472' first='Amir' last='Parks'], and Grady Dixon. Both teams look to build on amazing 2024 campaigns making this game a top Section 3 Matchup.   Cory Lemer: CBA-Syracuse 45-24   Matt Di Domenico: CBA-Syracuse 37-17   Section 4: Owego Free Academy Vs Chenango Forks   Owego Free Academy finished 2024 with an 8-2 record and a playoff loss to Maine Endwell. The River Hawks will look to build on last year as they start off against Chenango Forks. The Blue Devils made the Class C Semi-Finals in 2024 falling short Salamanca. Players to watch during this game include [player_tooltip player_id='1639382' first='Brysen' last='Fry'], Evan Trusdale, Dylan Brace, and Dylan Davis. Both teams come into 2025 looking to build off an impressive 2024 campaign and start the season off with a win.   Cory Lemer: Chenango Forks 24-10   Matt Di Domenico: Owego Free Academy 24-14   Section 5: McQuaid Jesuit Vs Newburgh Free Academy   McQuaid Jesuit, will host Section Nine's Newburgh Free Academy in an out of Section Matchup. McQuaid Jesuit finished the season 7-3 and will look to revenge a 2024 campaign that started out promising with a 5-0 record. Newburgh Free Academy finished 6-4, and will look to improve on a disappointing 2024 campaign. Players to watch include [player_tooltip player_id='1367177' first='John' last='Zicari'], [player_tooltip player_id='1393791' first='Brysen' last='Terry'], [player_tooltip player_id='939707' first='Jaiseon' last='Barnwell'], Zaiden Bediako, and [player_tooltip player_id='1280466' first='Jeron' last='Underwood']. This matchup will set the course for both teams this season.   Cory Lemer: McQuaid Jesuit 38-34   Matt Di Domenico: McQuaid Jesuit 37-7   Section 6: Lancaster Vs McKinley   Lancaster looks to start the season on the right foot, after a trip in the Class AA playoffs falling short in the first round to Aquinas Institute. Mckinley finished 2024 7-4 and picked up big wins against teams like West Seneca West and Clarence. Key players in this game include Cardell Staples, Cotrell Rhodes, [player_tooltip player_id='1719810' first='Cole' last='Silvestri'], and Aiden Banks. Both teams look to take the next step in 2025 with revamped rosters, and this game is the key start for both teams.   Cory Lemer: Lancaster 20-19   Matt Di Domenico: McKinley 30-10   Section 9: Burnt Hills Ballston Lake Vs Cornwall Central   Cornwall Central opens its 2025 campaign with a competitive out of section matchup, against Section Two Burnt Hills Ballston Lake. BHBL fell short in the playoffs to Averill Park in 2024, they also finished the season with an 8-3 record. Cornwall Central finished the season with an 11-2 record and a Semi-Final Playoff appearance where they fell short against eventual champions Somers. Players to watch include [player_tooltip player_id='1513247' first='Logan' last='Tomlinson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1513218' first='Jordan' last='Bishop']. Both teams played in 2024 with Cornwall Central coming out on top. Will BHBL get revenge? Or will Cornwall Central go 2-0 against the Section 2 team?   Cory Lemer: Cornwall Central 31-20   Matt Di Domenico: Cornwall Central 17-10   Section 12 PSAL: Xaverian Vs Frank J Macchiarola   Xaverian started out 2025 with an impressive 30 point win against Fort Hamilton. The Clippers won the 2024 AA-2 NYCHSFL State Tournament and finished with a 6-6 record. FJM started 1-0 with a 34-0 victory against Poly Prep. The Eagles went 11-2 in 2024 and fell short in the PSAL Championship against Eagle Academy. Numerous star players will be on display in this PSAL matchup. Both teams made the Championship in their respective playoffs, making this a top game to watch this weekend.   Cory Lemer: Xaverian 21-20   Matt Di Domenico: Xaverian 33-7   Catholic League: St. John the Baptist Vs Holy Trinity   In one of the top ranked matchups of week 1, St. John the Baptist, will take on Holy Trinity. Holy Trinity finished 1-10 in 2024 and managed to make the playoffs, losing in the first round to St. Joseph By The Sea. The Titans will look to avenge their disappointing campaign and start off 2025 with a win against a quality opponent. St. John the Baptist started off the season with a 41-27 loss to St. Francis Prep. The Cougars finished 2-8 in 2024 and also look to bounce back following a disappointing season. Star players will lineup across the field in this stacked Catholic League matchup.   Cory Lemer: Holy Trinity 14-13   Matt Di Domenico: St. John the Baptist 28-24   Monsignor Martin League: St. Joseph Collegiate Vs Cardinal Hayes   On Saturday, September 6th, SJCI and Cardinal Hayes will face off as part of the Heroes Bowl For Tunnel To Towers in Albany. In a Catholic League Vs Monsignor Martin league Matchup, we see two top teams from their respective areas face off. Both teams are in the top three of their respective Leagues and will likely make deep playoff runs. Star players across the state will be on the field in this Albany, and we are proud to announce we will attend this game.   Cory Lemer: Cardinal Hayes 17-13   Matt Di Domenico: Cardinal Hayes 21-14

There are over 150 games of High School Football across the state this weekend, in this article we breakdown one game from each Section and give our predictions for each game.