Erasmus Hall may finally get to take care of some unfinished business.
The sixth-seeded Dutchman pushed around No. 5 host Fort Hamilton from beginning to end during a 48–8 romp in the Public School Athletic League City Conference football semifinals on Nov. 28, ensuring the program’s fourth trip in five years to the final at Yankee Stadium. Erasmus has won just once in that five-year span and shed plenty of tears in the Bronx after it lost to Abraham Lincoln last season.
“Our motto from day one was to finish,” said quarterback Aaron Grant who scored four touchdowns. “To get back to Yankee Stadium and finish.”
Getting there this time was a little bit sweeter because of the adversity Erasmus overcame. Injuries — including one to Grant — contributed to three losses in the regular season, including the final two at home. Coach Danny Landberg took control of the offensive play-calling in the postseason, his team got healthy, and it began playing its best.
“We had a lot of adversity this season, but we always knew from the start that we could get it done,” Grant said. “We just had to believe in ourselves and execute.”
The Dutchmen’s offense, which scored just once against South Shore in the quarterfinals, had its way with Fort Hamilton. Erasmus (10–3) scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion on six straight possessions over the first three quarters. It led 24–0 early in the second quarter, 40–8 at the half, and 48-8 with 6:21 left in the third.
Grant posted 218 total yards and went 7-of-10 passing for 123 total yards and two scores. He also ran for 88 yards and two more touchdowns. The senior, who missed two regular season games with an ankle injury, is back to 100 percent. He tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Daevon Alvarez in the second quarter and capped the scoring with a 12-yard strike to Jahquel Webb.
“We really dominated,” said lineman Matt Jones.
Grant credited Jones and the offensive line’s improvement over last week for creating scoring opportunities. The line opened up running lanes all afternoon for backs Nelson Tyler, Zhadane Peters, and Dejouree Addison — the latter scored on one- and two-yard runs.
“They open up amazing holes for our running backs,” Grant said. “There is not much work for us to do — just to run.”
The Dutchmen shut down 10–3 Fort Hamilton’s vaunted running game, and the Tigers struggled to move the ball through the air. Troy Booker carried the ball 17 times for 128 yards. The Tigers’ lone score came when Seba Nekhet made a one-yard touchdown run out of the Wildcat formation after Booker carried much of the load on a 10-play, 73-yard drive.
Jaqul Reid intercepted Tigers quarterback Connor Fitzsimons twice — the second came in the end zone on Fort Hamilton’s final offensive play and capped a big day for the secondary.
“They say we are the worst [defensive backs], but we are just trying to prove everybody wrong,” Reid said.
The defeat wasn’t the end Fort Hamilton envisioned to its best season since reaching the semifinals in 2011, but coach Danny Perez said it doesn’t take away from the team’s progress.
“Four years ago, we were 1–7, and every year from there we worked to improve, and this year we made it to the semifinal,” Perez said.
Now Erasmus is looking to avenge a Grant-less 40–12 regular season loss to No. 2 Grand Street, which it faces in the final at noon on Dec. 6. And E-Hall expects cheers — not tears — in the Bronx this time around.
“It means a lot for everybody to go back to Yankee Stadium,” Jones said. “Last year we fell short. This year we ready to work hard and take it back.”
