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By Joe Pantorno
Brooklyn Daily
Erasmus Hall High School crashed down on host Thomas Jefferson’s Orange Wave 34–14 on Saturday afternoon — a victory that sent the Dutchmen flying to the top of Brooklyn’s gridiron heap.
Dutchmen quarterback Matthew Domina threw four completions for 84 yards and two scores and Erasmus Hall gridiron gladiator Curtis Samuel rushed for 118 yards and a score during the easy victory, which saw the Flatbush school ahead 34–0 in the third quarter.
The team currently stands at 8–0, and players couldn’t be happier.
“We are the best in Brooklyn right now,” said wide receiver Loumell Petion. “There’s no one in Brooklyn better than us.”
Petion got things going early for Erasmus by catching two touchdown passes in the first half, giving the Dutchmen an early cushion, and making three receptions for 69 yards on the day.
The senior said the Dutchmen’s running game as good as ever — a devastating weapon when combined with Domina’s mighty arm.
But the Orange Wave didn’t simply hand Saturday’s victory to the Dutchmen. Jefferson (6–2) had four completions for 84 yards and two scores, but had difficulty trying to get its offense going as the Dutchmen’s swarming defense held Kendall “Speedy” Thomas in check.
The usual dynamic receiver was held for 26 yards rushing while also throwing two interceptions — something the star player said is going to have to change moving forward.
“Everybody has their bad games once in a while,” Thomas said. “Today was my bad game. But I’m going to take this and drive into the next game.”
The Erasmus defense stopped the Orange Wave all afternoon, recording five sacks and four turnovers. Erasmus’s coaching staff knew early on that the key to victory was keeping Thomas at Bay.
“We were worried about [Thomas],” said head coach Danny Landberg. “We bottled him up and we just went out there and did what we had to do.”
The Dutchmen are flying high after Saturday’s win, but nothing is assured. The team still has to beat Tottenville, considered the city’s best football team, next week to ensure a top seed in the upcoming playoffs.
But for now, Erasmus players say they want to enjoy some well-deserved bragging rights.
“We’re the best team in Brooklyn,” said Dutchmen star Kahili Lewin. “We got here with hard work and dedication.”