All he saw was wide-open receivers and clear rushing lanes.
Erasmus Hall quarterback Aron Cruickshank was an offensive force to be reckoned with on Nov. 6 — leading the Dutchmen to a 56–20 victory over Fort Hamilton and entrenching himself as one of the best players in the city. The junior racked up five touchdowns in the lopsided tilt, cementing the No. 2 seed for his squad in the Public Schools Athletic League championship division playoffs.
“It was all about the reps in practice and getting that separation to translate it to the field,” Cruickshank said. “I want to play our game and not let the last game define us. We know what we’re capable of.”
The victory is a major statement for a Dutchmen (8–1) squad that was left searching for answers after dropping its undefeated season to Curtis on Oct. 29. Erasmus Hall responded throughout the week in practice however, and came into the regular-season finale refocused and reenergized.
“I think they were a little humbled, a little upset,” said Erasmus Hall coach Danny Landberg. “They want to do more for themselves right now, and it’s a process when you’re a high-school kid. We’ve just got to make sure we keep them strong and stay focused.”
The Dutchmen were ready for a gridiron battle against Fort Hamilton, but Cruickshank — who has drawn interest from top-tier college programs this fall, including a recent offer from Michigan — quickly made it a one-sided battle. He threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter and racked up 116 all-purpose yards before halftime.
“He’s just like all the other greats at Erasmus as far as football players,” Landberg said. “He’s actually a better person, so it’s really great to have him on this team.”
Cruickshank wasn’t the only one picking up yards for the Dutchmen. Andrew Howell and Dejouree Addison also notched touchdown runs, following some big-time blocks by the Erasmus Hall offensive line.
“They’re working hard in practice and that’s the first step,” Cruickshank said. “When everybody is calm like that, that’s when we do great.”
Fort Hamilton (5–4) did its best to go blow for blow with the Dutchmen’s offense — senior quarterback Neba Sekhet finished with more than 100 rushing yards — but every time the Tigers found a bit of footing, Erasmus Hall answered.
Cruickshank had the biggest response of the afternoon, sprinting 50 yards for his final touchdown of the day — just two plays after Lifneyah Prescott’s 80-yard touchdown run gave Fort Hamilton a bit of life late in the third quarter.
“Once you punch us, we’re going to give you a few more blows right back,” Cruickshank said. “That’s what we’re all about.”
The Dutchmen earned a first-round postseason bye with the win, and the squad is anxious for the week off to settle into playoff-mode. This team knows what it’s like to come up short — falling in back-to-back championship games the last two seasons — and the Dutchmen squad isn’t interested in another could-have-been finish.
There’s still plenty of work to do, but as far as Erasmus Hall is concerned, the best is yet to come.
“Right now we need a fresh breath to relax and regroup physically,” Landberg said. “We need to just go back to the lab and do it at a pace that lets us not be rushed.”
