Shaquell Jackson isn’t quite himself just yet. The Erasmus Hall running back is still coming back from injury, playing at less than 100 percent. It didn’t stop the sophomore from willing his way to a 13-yard touchdown run up the right side, shedding pursuing tacklers on a key 3rd-and-goal in the fourth quarter.
“It was pure drive,” he said. “I saw the end zone and I had to get into it.”
Jackson is still recovering from surgery in June to repair a torn fascia, a sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue enveloping, separating, or binding together muscle in the left thigh. His touchdown allowed Erasmus, ahead just four points, to avoid the threat of turning the ball over to DeWitt Clinton or settling for a field goal.
“With that touchdown we just ended the game,” starting quarterback Wayne Morgan said. “We sealed the deal.”
Erasmus Hall held off a feisty and unrelenting Clinton team, 26-14, in PSAL City Championship division football at Sid Luckman Field in Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon. It is the final game this season the Dutchman will play there as renovations will be made.
Morgan completed 6-of-11 passes for 110 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran the ball nine times for 96 yards. Jackson rushed for 55 yards on 10 carries.
“We had a shot, but the defense was on the field too long,” Clinton coach Howard Langley said. “First half, we didn’t get any stops and our offense didn’t move the ball. %u2026 [The defense] just got worn out at the end.”
Erasmus (2-0) took a 12-0 lead when back-up quarterback Omari Matthews threw an 86-yard touchdown pass to Leroy Wells down the left sideline on the opening drive of the third quarter. The Governors easily could have been up had penalties, which hurt them all game, had not crippled a second quarter drive. Clinton (1-1) answered on its first play from scrimmage in the third with an 80-yard scoring run by Patrick Lindo to make it 12-6. Governors corner Jeremiah Obeng Agyapong intercepted a pass from Matthews, but Lindo fumbled it right back, turning the game back in Erasmus’ favor.
“It just changed the game around,” said Morgan, who recovered the ball on the Clinton 31,. “We just started turning it up.”
The sophomore connected with Luder Jean Louis for a 41-yard touchdown to make it 18-6 late in the third. It was the second score set up by a Governors turnover. Clinton, which got its running game going late, didn’t go away, answering with a 36-yard scoring run from senior Alonzo Merchant, on a gutsy draw play on 3rd-and-long. Merchant carried the ball four times for 55 yards and Lindo rushed for 89 yards on five carries. Jonathan Yearwood added three catches for 29 yards and a touchdown for the Dutchman.
“They fooled everyone on that play,” Morgan said of the draw.
Erasmus picked up chunks of yards at a time on its ensuing diving, ending with Jackson’s game-sealing score. It was the type of run fully expected of the young back, even as he continues to heal.
“He is still great at 80 percent,” Erasmus coach Danny Landberg said. “I will take his 80 percent over someone else 100 percent. He scored that touchdown because that was his heart.”
