There's no easing into football season.
We're only two weeks in and we've already got a several games on the schedule with playoff implications. Rye is heading over the bridge to play Clarkstown South. Yonkers is coming up to Scarsdale and Mamaroneck is paying a visit to John Jay-East Fishkill. Westlake is taking a short ride to Byram Hills.
Buckle up. Pay attention.
We also need to keep an eye on some of the Class B, C and D matchups. The critically short rosters have become a big story. A number of progams need to get through each week with enough healthy players to keep the season going. Hastings is debuting against Edgemont/Blind Brook after cancelling a Week 0 game against Dobbs Ferry. Putnam Valley is opening at Ardsley after changing its
Week 0 game against Dover to a scrimmage in order to get a few late starters eligible and stay healthy for the league games that count.
As for last week's picks, I went 20-13. It can only get better from here.
Heat index
Iona Prep 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Rye 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Somers 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Westlake 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Bronxville 🔥🔥🔥
John Jay-East Fishkill 🔥🔥🔥
Tuckahoe 🔥🔥🔥
Rye Country Day 🔥🔥
Mamaroneck 🔥🔥
Pearl River 🔥
Marquee games
Thursday, Sept. 10
Yonkers (1-0) at Scarsdale (0-0), 4 p.m.
Are these programs good enough to be included in the Class AA conversation with the likes of North Rockland, Mamaroneck and John Jay-East Fishkill? Maybe. This is a good early-season challenge for both sides. We'll get to see a pair of quarterbacks with potential in Brendan Mulvihill (Guardians) and Patrick Simon (Raiders), so timely stops are going to be important.
Pick: Scarsdale 20, Yonkers 19
Rye (1-0) at Clarkstown South (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
We know for certain these are two of the top four Class A teams in the section this year. The Garnets are coming off a state title and have won 14 in a row, but the Vikings, who played in Class AA last season, are the more experienced team. Rye has to keep Super 11 defensive lineman Owen Elaiho occupied all game long or he'll crash into the backfield and blow up drives. Clarkstown South has to play the angles perfectly when Super 11 quarterback Charlie Brady gets loose or he's going to have another huge day.
The pick: Rye 27, Clarkstown South 20
Mamaroneck (0-1) at John Jay-East Fishkill (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
It's a rematch of last fall's Section 1 Class AA title game, which the Tigers won by a 9-0 margin. Both sides have graduated most of the headliners from that game. Even so, there's enough talent coming back and enough talent coming up to keep these teams in contention this season. Tigers quarterback James Fitzgerald nearly had a breakout game in the loss to Somers. The interceptions are hard to overlook, but he's going to have a weekly impact. Boston Smith and Jayce Davis were moving chains for the Patriots last week in a win over Pine Bush.
The pick: Mamaroneck 34, John Jay-East Fishkill 20
Westlake (1-0) at Byram Hills (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
There's a really good chance the Bobcats finish the regular season undefeated if they win this game. Check the schedule. Of course, taking down a traditional Section 1 power is a lot to ask of a group that is just beginning to gain momentum. A dominant win over Sleepy Hollow was encouraging. The Wildcats, though, present a different scenario. Bringing down Harry Hudd, Joe Scarano and James Meyer is a battle and they have the ability to control the clock.
The pick: Westlake 27, Byram Hills 14
Saturday, Sept. 12
Paramus Catholic (1-1) at Iona Prep (1-0), 1:30 p.m.
We're going to find out how quickly the Gaels moved on from last-week's long-awaited win over CBA-Syracuse. They need to be dialed in again this week for this Battle of the Bridge showdown because last year's meeting produced 106 points. Iona Prep won. The Gaels' defense is leaner and meaner that a year ago and will be keeping tabs on Chukwuma Odoh, who's picking up 9.4 yards per carry for the Paladins.
The pick: Iona Prep 31, Paramus Catholic (N.J.) 27
Best of the rest
(Winning pick in bold)
Wednesday, Sept. 9
Horace Mann at Rye Country Day, 4:30 p.m.
Suffern vs. Mount Vernon at Memorial Field, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 10
Albertus Magnus at Bronxville, 4 p.m.
Edgemont/Blind Brook at Hastings, 4 p.m.
North Rockland at White Plains, 4 p.m.
Clarkstown North at Eastchester, 4 p.m.
Putnam Valley at Ardsley, 4 p.m.
Ketcham at Arlington, 4 p.m.
Nanuet at Panas, 4 p.m.
Rye Neck vs. Dobbs Ferry at Gould Park, 4 p.m.
Pleasantville at Irvington, 7:30 p.m.
Lakeland at Yorktown, 7:30 p.m.
Peekskill at Greeley, 7:30 p.m.
Hen Hud at Sleepy Hollow, 7:30 p.m.
Carmel at Mahopac, 7:30 p.m.
East Ramapo at Woodlands, 7:30 p.m.
Nyack at Harrison, 7:30 p.m.
Fox Lane at Port Chester, 7:30 p.m.
Ossining at John Jay-Cross River, 7:30 p.m.
Tappan Zee vs. Pelham at Glover Field, 7:30 p.m.
Somers at Brewster, 7:30 p.m.
Valhalla at Croton-Harmon, cancelled
Briarcliff/Hamilton at Pearl River, cancelled
Haldane vs. Tuckahoe, cancelled
Friday, Sept. 11
Immaculata (New Jersey) at Stepinac, 7 p.m.
Mike Dougherty covers high school football for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: High school football | Dougherty's marquee game breakdowns, picks
