In another down year for public school football in Queens, Campus Magnet and Jamaica are the lone bright spots. The two southeastern Queens schools recently qualified for the PSAL's Bowl Division playoffs, the second wave of post-season play comprised of teams who finished 16-24 in the overall standings.
Jamaica (5-4) got there courtesy their 28-14 road win over Far Rockaway. Backup quarterback Kamario Darby, splitting time under center with Naeem Abdul Majied, threw touchdown passes to Elihu Barclay and Major Harris, and ran for a score. Marlon Tudor had three interceptions and Adrian Berry made a team-high five tackles.
For the Beavers, after winning just three games a year ago, reaching the playoffs, although it's not in the City Championship round, is important.
“Our first goal was to finish as the highest rated team in Queens,” (which they did), Jamaica Coach Kenny Dyckman said. “Our next goal was to make the playoffs. And now we want to win a playoff game.”
With that in mind, No. 6 Jamaica will take on third-seeded Brooklyn Tech in Fort Green Sunday at noon.
When Eric Barnett took over at Campus Magnet last year, he had to start anew the talent was so diluted. The team struggled, winning just twice. This year, with many of the players he coached with the Springfield Rifles Pop Warner Football organization, they came out flying, winning their first two games and three of their first four.
A forfeit to Jamaica and two straight losses to Madison and Grady put Campus Magnet on the verge of falling out of the race. But the Bulldogs won their last two, including Sunday's 35-0 win over winless John Adams when shifty sophomore Anthony Roberts had his best game to date, running for 84 yards and two touchdowns. “He ran how we expected him to run all season,” Barnett said.
The seventh-seeded Bulldogs (5-4) will visit Staten Island Sunday to face Tottenville. The usually elite Pirates struggled this year, but they will still be a significant challenge for Barnett and Co.
For the first time in quite a while, Queens has no representative in the City Championship playoffs. Last year, the PSAL incorporated the new waves of playoffs for lesser teams, like the Bowl and Cup Division. While there are a few teams in those tournaments, none qualified for the top format.
“Awful, it's awful,” Barnett. “It's not saying too much for Queens teams.”
Elsewhere in the borough, Bayside averted a winless season, topping August Martin, 17-0, at home. Luis Toro ran for a touchdown in the victory. The Falcons finished 2-7 under new coach Nedvonne Young.
Long Island City (9-0) remained undefeated in Cup Division play, outlasting Bryant, 26-13, as quarterback Haris Lekaj tossed four touchdown passes, including two to sensational sophomore flanker Troy Walker. The Owls (7-2) need a win at Wadleigh to qualify for the Cup Division postseason.
