Kendall Rodriguez
Leroy Hancle (5) breaks one off for Lincoln against Erasmus in a battle of Brooklyn on Friday night. Lincoln won the game, 38-23.
The lights were on and the stands were packed Friday night for a huge matchup between the PSAL City Conference’s only undefeated teams – Lincoln and Erasmus.
While Erasmus had not allowed a single point since the first quarter of Week One – that was more than five complete games going in – that did not seem to faze the host Railsplitters, who came out and proved that they are the top team in the city, defeating the Dutchmen, 38-23, in Coney Island in what was a battle of the PSAL’s last two champions.
The Dutchmen (6-1) struck first with the Ohio St.-bound running back Curtis Samuel breaking off a 53-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage. Samuel was one of the few bright spots for Erasmus with 135 rushing yards and the touchdown, even after playing with an injury he suffered on the third play of the game.
All was going well for the Dutchmen early, until quarterback Elijah Davis left the pocket to run and was injured after being tackled. Davis did not return.
“It took the rhythm out completely and changed the dynamic of the game,” Dutchmen head coach Danny Landberg said.
The Erasmus defense played up to expectations early, getting an interception off of Lincoln quarterback Javon Moore. However, Lincoln (7-0) responded with a pick of its own from Kareem Guess, who snatched the ball out of the air and brought it back 56 yards to the Erasmus 5-yard line.
“It changed the whole dynamic of the game, and that’s what really got us going,” Moore said.
Moore was a star, throwing for 181 yards and four touchdowns. Lincoln’s aerial attack was on full display, and the Dutchmen defense was unable to stop it. Malik Andrews caught two of Moore’s touchdown passes, including a 79-yarder in the third quarter that gave Lincoln a 20-7 lead.
“I knew what I had to do and I knew I had to lead my team,” Moore said. “We knew passing the ball was going to win this game.”
Luis Rodriguez helped pad the Lincoln lead when he caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Moore to give the Railsplitters a 28-7 lead at the end of the third quarter. Erasmus continued to struggle in the fourth when Samuel fumbled the ball and Lincoln recovered it. However, after forcing a three and out, the Dutchmen got the ball back and found the end zone.
Samuel had a costly fumble for the Dutchmen, taking away some of the momentum they were carrying in the fourth quarter. Lincoln capitalized on the turnover with a Leroy Hancle 35-yard run into the end zone.
The Railsplitters offensive line won the battle in the trenches and gave Moore plenty of time to make the right throws.
“Our offensive line did a great job protecting our quarterback so he can make great decisions,” said Lincoln head coach Shawn O’Connor.
These teams played each other in the 2011 PSAL city championship game, with Lincoln coming out on top in that one. The Dutchmen then responded by winning the city title last season.
It seems likely these teams will play again this season, but for now the Railsplitters get to enjoy what they did under the Friday night lights.
“It’s a great win,” said Andrews. “We know what we have and we’re not the underdogs anymore.”
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