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High School Beat: Erasmus tops Tottenville again

Reigning champs roll over Vikings in PSAL title-game rematch

September 11, 2013 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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Everybody wants to be a champion. Beating one, of course, is the next best thing.

That was the mindset the Tottenville Pirates doubtlessly carried onto Brooklyn’s Sid Luckman Field Saturday for their much-anticipated Public School Athletic League Championship Game rematch with Erasmus Hall.

But coach Danny Landberg’s Dutchmen (1-0) were just as determined to carry over the momentum that led them to a perfect season in 2012, punctuated with a 15-14 triumph over their Staten Island rivals at Yankee Stadium last December.

Buoyed by the city’s top backfield in seniors Curtis Samuel and Kahlil Lewin, and a tough-as-nails defense that held the Vikings under 200 yards of total offense, the Dutchmen pulled away late for an impressive 21-7 season-opening win, beginning their quest for a second straight city crown in style.

“We got the win, I’ll take the win any day of the week,” noted Landberg, who watched Lewin rumble through the Totenville defense for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

“Conditioning, I thought, was good. But it could be better. We have to work out the situation at quarterback right now, and get a little bit more sound on defense, stay away from the penalties, and learn today’s lesson.”

Samuel added 75 yards on the ground and fourth-year quarterback Elijah Davis rushed for 52 yards and a score as Erasmus only threw the ball nine times, completing three of those attempts for a grand total of 43 yards.

Davis takes exception to those who think of the Dutchmen as a two-man team, with Samuel and Lewin as their only truly formidable weapons.

“We’re pretty sick of the ‘All we got is Kahlil and Curt talk.'” Davis said. “Don’t get me wrong, those guys are the best running backs in the state and are challenging for the country, but my team, we take that personally when you say all you have is Curt and Kahlil and we want to let people know that it’s not just two guys.”

Next up for the champs is their first road test of the young season. The Dutchmen will visit the Kangaroos (1-0) of Boys and Girls High School on Sunday at high noon, hoping to improve to 2-0.

Last October, the Dutchmen topped the ‘Roos, 24-14, at Sid Luckman Field behind 175 rushing yards from Lewin and two touchdown runs by Samuel.

In other local PSAL action. Abraham Lincoln, which lifted the championship trophy in 2011, got off to a strong start to 2013 with a 42-7 thrashing of Curtis last weekend.

Senior quarterback Javon Moore fired three touchdown passes and fourth-year running back Antoine Holloman Jr. gained 166 yards on only nine carries, including three TDs.

Lincoln (1-0) will host Brooklyn rival Sheepshead Bay (0-1) on Saturday.

On the private school side, junior Brendan Femiano ran for two touchdowns and returned an interception for a score last weekend as local powerhouse Poly Prep (1-0) stomped Bay Ridge Catholic School rival Xaverian (0-1), 42-0.

The Blue Devils, coached by Dino Mangiero, will travel to New Jersey’s Peddie School for their next game on Friday afternoon.

Other scores of local interest from the first full weekend of high school football include:

Fort Hamilton 36, Brooklyn Tech 21.

Canarsie 22, Wagner 0.

New Utrecht 24, JFK 12.

Midwood 14, Beach Channel 0.

For round-the-clock high school football coverage and great photos from the weekend’s biggest games, visit Rob Abruzzese’s Eagle sports blog http://brooklyneaglesports.com/sports/2013/09/erasmus-hall-wants-to-show…

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