Canarsie Football Set To Face Tough Competition In 2016

By Jerry Del Priore

Last week, the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) released its 2016 varsity football schedule, and it looks as if Canarsie High School will be facing a difficult road ahead.

However, head coach Kyle Allen isn’t overly concerned with the competition.

“There are three powerhouses in the PSAL, with Curtis,Lincoln and EHall (Erasmus),” Allen said. “After that, it’s up for grabs, because there’s a lot more parity in the PSAL than in recent years.”

The Chiefs kick off the season on Staten Island against Port Richmond—who made the postseason last year—in early September.

Canarsie plays five other teams who made the playoffs in 2015, including Grand Street Campus (last season’s champs), Midwood, Erasmus, Brooklyn Tech and FDR, who the PSAL moved up to the City Conference after three successful seasons in the Bowl Division.

The three remaining squads on the Chiefs’ nine-game schedule (down from 10 contests last season) include Clinton, Brooklyn Tech and Boys & Girls. Missing from Canarsie’s slate of tilts is the usual neighborhood bragging rights trophy game against the South Shore Vikings.

While the Chiefs’ schedule is stacked with tough teams, Allen believes they will reload with capable returning talent and key call ups from junior varsity along with their cohesive nature that will help them shock a lot of their 2016 foes.

“I wouldn’t be surprised when this team wins,” he said. “This team works together. They’re going to overachieve or (at least) meet expectations. We’re going to quietly sneak off some wins. We’re a lot better as a program than people realize.”