3 replies to this topic

[AdamKurkjian]

Who do you like coming out of NY next season?

[Jmb33]

As a preface...I am from, and still live Downstate (Westchester). With regard to public large schools (AA) if I am not mistaken there has been a different state champ for the last 10 years, so it is very hard to pin down. I always like New Rochelle from around here but AA has been a class owned by upstate teams recently. Class A has seen Aquinas Institute in Rochester area as a talented team, although they lost last season. CHSAA always starts (and usually ends) with St. Anthony's on LI being the best team (and best team in the state of NY as a whole). Iona Prep, Xaverian, and Stepinac have challenged recently. Out on Long Island, William Floyd and Freeport are perennial contenders, and in NYC, one of 2 Brooklyn schools (Erasmus Hall / F Hamilton) should win.

As far as overall best team in the state, you have to go with St. Anthony's until someone knocks them off. I know Aquinas institute in Rochester is taking HS football very seriously and looking to build. Floyd can stake claim to best in the state most years. Poly Prep had a terrible year last year, but they lost an All-American QB (Bauta transfer to Dwyer) and all of their games were very close. They will be back in short order. Closer the start of the season i will try and catch previews of some upstate and Buffalo area teams to see what some of those squads are working with. I lack some knowledge of that area as a whole. I get plenty of coverage already on Hudson Valley and NYC news.

Hope this helps

Edited by Jmb33, 25 February 2012 - 01:06 PM.

[AdamKurkjian]

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah, I follow NY football but I find it really difficult to pin down how the best teams stack up against each other because a lot of them never play each other.

For instance, teams like Aquinas, New Rochelle, St. Anthony's and Floyd don't ever seem to play each other and won't compete for the same title.

I agree about predicting AA. New Rochelle is always solid but they seemed a little down this year. I have to think teams like Rush-Henrietta, West Genesee and Newburgh Free Academy will all be contenders. RH has a ton coming back and WG and NFA have real good young backs.

Aquinas should be good but not sure how they replace a couple of guys, especially Jones. Was shocked they didn't win it last year. Maine-Endwell brings back everyone so I guess they're the favorite in Class A.

Agree on St. Anthony's but a lot of those teams in that league bring back quite a bit. I could see Iona Prep beating them this year.

I am curious about the Long Island and NYC schools. They will be tough to predict this year I think.

Seems like everyone in that Monsignor Martin league loses a ton. St. Francis was real solid last year. Only lost to St. Ignatius (OH) by a point and might have beaten Aquinas if their RB Lynch didn't get injured.

[Jmb33]

Good insight....It always is frustrating that the top teams don't face off.
Iona got over the St. Ants hump a few years ago, but it has been back to status quo the last couple seasons. Way back in the day the Bronx schools (Cardinal Hayes and Mt. St. Michael) ruled the league.
AA always seems like a toss up. The decline of Roosevelt (and all of the Yonkers schools really) as well as North Rockland has hurt this areas overall depth.
Floyd on LI can usually field a team that can go toe to toe with anyone.
However, as I am sure you know already, this is and always will be a basketball power state, and HS football here simply does not have the fan following like TX, GA, FLA, OH, PA, etc.

Edited by Jmb33, 29 February 2012 - 06:32 PM.