PSAL football preview: Top teams, players to watch and more

Get ready for some high school football coverage — New York City style.

This year, Newsday is excited to expand its award-winning coverage of high school football to the five boroughs. Every week, coaches will share highlights and scoring summaries from the 30-plus games in the PSAL and CHSFL games on newsday.com/psal.

In addition, the high school sports staff will cover the game of the week and select the Gridiron Greats, recognizing the top players' performances. The vision to include the New York City area comes on the heels of the excitement provided by the National Football Foundation’s All-Star football classic pitting the top senior players from Long Island against their New York City counterparts in the early summer showcase.

“I grew up with high school football in the paper,” A. Phillip Randolph coach Eric Perlowitz said. “Then it took a back seat and for years the kids had no coverage and no recognition. And to hear that Newsday is now covering our sport I’m just super excited for the kids.”

Now Newsday will give its readers the best of New York City high school football on a weekly basis.

“It’ll go in that whole keepsake thing,” Perlowitz said. “It’s something they can take with them and cherish for years to come. And it’s something that’ll be worshipped as the story of their football lives.”

TOP 10 TEAMS

League play for PSAL Football starts this weekend. Let’s take a look at the top 10 football teams in the PSAL as we shift to conference play.

1. Curtis (Staten Island)

Curtis (2-0) comes in as the top-ranked team in the PSAL. Last year, it took home the 4A crown after defeating five-time defending champion Erasmus Hall in the final. Curtis brings back defensive line duo Jarrett Serate and Jalil Parnell, who lead the way up front, along with linebacker Anthony Gambardella. In the secondary, Danny Lewis and Monsignor Farrell transfer Will Andrade provide speed. On offense, Curtis is led by running back Quadare Gomez, quarterbacks Vin Canzoneri and Anthony Caratelli, and wide receiver Jayden Melendez. Curtis opened with non-league wins over St. Peter’s and North Rockland.

2. Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn)
After falling in the championship game last year, the Dutchmen return a senior class that will lead the way in 2025. Temple commit Ameir Morrow leads the ground attack, running behind a line anchored by Charles Tinglin and Marcus Jean-Baptiste. Victor Ebube-Onkakagu heads the receiving corps and holds offers from Temple, Columbia and others. Quarterbacks Kendu Brown and Tommy Zeh round out the offense. On defense, transfers Dahveed Jacob and Brandon Garcia are expected to make an immediate impact. Erasmus Hall is 0-1 after dropping its non-league opener to Easton (Pa.), 44-32.

3. Tottenville (Staten Island)

The 2-0 Pirates began their season with two road wins in New Jersey. The Staten Island squad is powered by running backs Tyshawn Bent and Kory Brown, who combined for nearly 2,000 rushing yards last season. Quarterback Justin McGuire and wide receiver Nicolas Constantino form a strong passing duo. On defense, Tottenville leans on veterans Jaden Innocent and Kyle Charles, along with a trio of Moore Catholic transfers — Glenn Sheppard, Eli Jones and Omar Mendez — who have made an immediate impact.

4. Eagle Academy II (Brooklyn)
It’s almost a completely new look for the Eagles (1-1), who earned a convincing non-league win over Fordham Prep, 26-3, last week. Quarterbacks Aaron Smith and Martin Koppelman lead the revamped offense. The receiving corps is loaded with Zy’eare Schulters, Juvens Lindor, CJ McCracken, Tyler Grayson and Josiah Brown. On defense, veteran Travis Harris leads the secondary, while Chase Hyacinth and Sincere Hester provide size and athleticism on the line which will be crucial in the 4A.

5. Lincoln (Brooklyn)

After an 0-2 start in non-league play, perennial power Lincoln looks to rebound in PSAL 4A competition. The Railsplitters return experience on defense, with Jaiden Brooks and LaBron Hicks in the secondary and hard-hitting linebacker Ron Jones up front. There will be new faces on offense this year. Christian Borhi, a dual-threat quarterback, will lead the attack with Javien Alvarez as one of his top targets.

6. South Shore (Brooklyn)

The Vikings had a storybook season last year, jumping from 2A to 4A and reaching the semifinals behind a strong senior class. With many players graduating, they’ll rely on a mix of youth and experience in 2025. Hampton commit Adrian Antoine, one of the PSAL’s top receivers, pairs with Silas Selay to form a dangerous duo. New quarterback George Adams will take over under center. On defense, sophomore Trevor Smith is expected to contribute in the secondary, while senior Kiaheim Wilson leads the defensive line. South Shore lost its non-league matchup to Monsignor Farrell, 45-0.

7. Brooklyn Tech

The Engineers put themselves on the map last season with a 3A title and have moved up to 4A. Brooklyn Tech (1-0) opened with a 35-6 win over Stuyvesant. Ezra Josse had 110 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while new quarterback Cole Scanlon threw for 250 yards and four scores. Caleb Fisher added 165 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. Running back Tristan Suarez and tight end James White, key pieces from last year’s championship team, also return.

8. Frank J. Macchiarola (Brooklyn)

It’s a reunion for assistant head coach Diondre McFadden and senior running back Nyheem Cooper, who both returned to Sheepshead Bay this season. Cooper led the Sharks (2-0) to non-league wins over Poly Prep and Xaverian. In those two games, he combined for 267 rushing yards, 40 receiving yards, 13 tackles, two interceptions and five touchdowns. Cooper is joined by Anthony Milan and Jaycob Reid on offense. Up front, Amare Britt and Octavius White provide size and toughness. FJM is one of the favorites in the 3A.

9. A. Philip Randolph (Manhattan)

The Cougars (0-1) enter a new chapter this season after losing star running back Travis Gamble, who moved to Florida. The offense still has key returners, including quarterback Emmanuel Opoku, receivers Zahaire Jones and Isaac Suazo. Joined by Cardinal Hayes transfer Ahmed Toure, a versatile athlete who had a 65-yard touchdown run in their 34-7 non-league loss to Chaminade. The defensive line is a strength with Jaire Edwards, Farrousse Diaby and Rhoc Kwawununu returning in their quest for a 3A title.

10. Port Richmond (Staten Island)

After going winless last season, Port Richmond is already off to a stronger start. The Raiders (1-1) beat MSIT, 28-7, in non-league play behind four touchdowns from Fugazzi Award winner Kasiem Cromwell (the award is given annually to Staten Island’s top football player). Cromwell continues to play multiple positions and is joined this year by Iona Prep transfer AJ Zimmerman, a key addition who produced explosive plays for the Gaels last season. Sophomore Cameron Smith has also provided a spark with long runs and passes in their early games.

TOP 10 PLAYERS

The PSAL has long been home to some of New York City’s premier high school football talent, and that tradition continues this fall. Here are the Top 10 PSAL football players in 2025.

1. Jarrett Serate, Curtis, DL, 6-1, 260, Sr.
Last season, Serate was one of the most impactful players in New York City. He fought through double teams and collected numerous tackles for loss. He anchored a Curtis defense that slowed down high-powered offenses such as Erasmus Hall, South Shore, and Tottenville. Serate started his senior season with a big performance against St. Peter’s, registering six tackles, five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He holds several FCS offers.

2. Ameir Morrow, Erasmus Hall, RB, 6-0, 203, Sr.
Morrow, a Temple commit, led Erasmus Hall to a championship crown in 2023 and a title appearance in 2024. In the regular season last year, Morrow rushed for 515 yards on just 44 carries for six touchdowns. In many games, Erasmus Hall rotated in substitutes early because of large leads. In the 4A semifinals, Morrow rushed for 181 yards and three touchdowns to lift Erasmus Hall over Tottenville.

3. Tyshawn Bent, Tottenville, RB, 5-10, 175, Sr.

Bent enters his fourth year as the starting running back for Tottenville. Against PSAL competition, he has rushed for 3,684 yards and 43 touchdowns, averaging 8.2 yards per carry. Bent will also be a key piece in the Tottenville secondary this season. He recently committed to Stony Brook. In Tottenville’s 2025 opener, Bent had eight carries for over 200 yards and three touchdowns to lead a 36-35 win over Manalapan (N.J.).

4. Kasiem Cromwell, Port Richmond, All-purpose, 6-2, 190, Sr.
Despite Port Richmond going winless last season, Cromwell earned the Fugazzi Award (given to Staten Island’s top football player) by doing everything for the Raiders. He played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive back, punter and kick returner. Cromwell totaled more than 1,000 yards of offense and 36 tackles on defense during his junior season against the top teams in the 4A division.

5. Kory Brown, Tottenville, RB, 5-7, 175, Jr.
The other half of Tottenville’s backfield, Brown has been a varsity contributor since his freshman year. In two seasons, he has combined for 1,937 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, while averaging 10.6 yards per carry. Brown is known for his lightning speed; he clocked a 10.62 in the 100-meter dash on the track. He currently holds several FBS offers, including Boston College, Syracuse and Rutgers.

6. Adrian Antoine, South Shore, WR, 5-10, 155, Sr.
Antoine consistently showed his big-play ability for the Vikings last season. He hauled in 32 catches for 734 yards and eight touchdowns against PSAL competition. Over the last two years, he has averaged 21.6 yards per catch. Antoine recently committed to Hampton University. He will lead a South Shore team that graduated much of its offensive production.

7. Nyheem Cooper, Frank J. Macchiarola (Sheepshead Bay), All-purpose, 5-9, 195, Sr.
Cooper returned home to Sheepshead Bay after a brief stint at Canarsie last year. The versatile senior helped Sheepshead Bay win two non-league games to start the season. In the opener against Poly Prep, he had a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown along with six tackles, 77 rushing yards and a score. In a 34-22 win against Xaverian, he had 10 carries for 190 yards and two touchdowns, three catches for 40 yards and a score, plus seven tackles and a game-sealing interception. He is an early frontrunner for 3A Player of the Year.

8. Justus Murray, Erasmus Hall, All-purpose, 6-0, 170, Sr.
After primarily playing quarterback last year, Murray is being used all over the field for the Dutchmen. He can pass, run, catch and return, giving Erasmus Hall an all-around threat. In a non-league game against Easton (Pa.), he returned a kickoff for a touchdown late in the contest and hauled in a deep pass downfield. Murray currently holds several FCS offers.

9. Jalil Parnell, Curtis, DE, 5-10, 185, Sr.
Parnell and the Curtis front seven were crucial in dethroning five-time defending champion Erasmus Hall in last year’s 4A title game. He built off that junior campaign with a strong start to his senior season. In the opener against St. Peter’s, Parnell recorded 12 tackles in a shutout. He followed with five tackles, one tackle for loss and a sack in a non-league win over North Rockland.

10. Anthony “AJ” Gambardella, Curtis, LB, 5-10, 180, Sr.
Gambardella was one of the most productive linebackers in the PSAL last season. He registered 60 tackles and eight sacks, including three sacks during the postseason in Curtis’ playoff run. With senior linebackers graduating, Gambardella leads the group in 2025. He was also named a USA Lacrosse All-American in the spring and is committed to play college lacrosse at Wagner.