A strong week can change a season — and it can change a ranking. Six programs have earned their way onto an ATS list this week, whether in the Downstate Top 25 or one of our league rankings.
Every week, the ATS rankings start with the previous ballot. Teams don’t move simply because their record looks good. Results, strength of schedule, head-to-head matchups, division strength and what a team has shown on the field all matter. This week, six teams did enough to force their way into the conversation.
St. Joseph’s by the Sea makes its statement
Few teams made a louder entrance than St. Joseph’s by the Sea. The Vikings went on the road and defeated Archbishop Stepinac 34–23, giving them the kind of quality win that carries weight in the ATS Downstate rankings. That wasn’t a win built on reputation or an undefeated record. Sea beat an established, ranked opponent and earned its way onto the ATS Downstate Top 25.
Carey earns its way in
Carey also arrives in the Top 25 with a result that was impossible to ignore. The Seahawks knocked off Oceanside 2–0 in a defensive battle. Oceanside entered the week as an ATS-ranked team, and Carey took the spot the old-fashioned way; by beating them on the field. For ATS, that type of head-to-head result matters.
Fordham Prep keeps building
Fordham Prep has quietly started putting together a resume. After an uneven start, the Rams responded with victories over St. Peter’s and St. John the Baptist. The SJB win was particularly important because it came against a team that had already worked its way into the ATS Top 25 conversation. That response earns Fordham Prep a place in the Downstate Top 25 this week.
Fort Hamilton enters the PSAL Top 10
The PSAL continues to create one of the most competitive ranking debates in Downstate New York, and Fort Hamilton has entered the picture. The Tigers followed a competitive performance against Xaverian with a convincing 26–0 shutout of South Shore. Playing in PSAL 4A matters, and Fort Hamilton has now shown enough against quality competition to earn a spot in the ATS PSAL Top 10.
Eagle Academy III is trending upward
Eagle Academy III has responded well since its early loss to St. John the Baptist. The Eagles got a forfeit win against Newtown and followed it with a 19–12 victory over Sheepshead Bay. The resume is beginning to take shape, and Eagle III has played its way into the PSAL Top 10 conversation. There is still plenty of football ahead, but they are moving in the right direction.
Stuyvesant earns recognition
Stuyvesant is another PSAL program beginning to make noise. The Peglegs own wins over Brooklyn Tech and Bayside, and while the loss to JFK keeps them from climbing higher right now, their early body of work was enough to earn a place in this week’s ATS PSAL Top 10. The next step is proving they can stay there. Getting in is only the beginning
Making an ATS ranking is one thing. Staying there is another
St. Joseph’s by the Sea, Carey, Fordham Prep, Fort Hamilton, Eagle Academy III and Stuyvesant have all done enough to earn recognition this week. Now the challenge changes. The target gets bigger. The games get more important. And every result has the ability to move the board again. Welcome to the rankings.
ATS Rankings — Scores. Stories. Movement.
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