High School Beat: Erasmus hosts B&G in battle of unbeatens

October 3, 2012 By John Torenli Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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A little less than 11 months ago, the Kangaroos of Boys and Girls High School had their chances for a Public School Athletic League Championship Division title dashed by eventual city runner-up Erasmus Hall at Brooklyn’s Sid Luckman Field.

Entering Week Five of the 2012 campaign, the third-ranked Kangaroos (4-0, 330 power points) will have an opportunity for revenge against the No. 2 Dutchmen (4-0, 345 points) as the last remaining undefeated programs from our fair borough collide on McDonald Avenue.

Last week, Erasmus coach Danny Landberg insisted his local powerhouse was still “a work in progress”. The Dutchmen continued on their quest for a return to Yankee Stadium, where they lost the city championship to Lincoln last December, by blanking visiting Brooklyn rival Midwood, 20-0, last weekend as junior running back Curtis Samuel gashed the Hornets for 120 yards and two touchdowns on only six carries.

Erasmus quarterback Matt Domina hit fellow senior Loumell Petion for a 70-yard TD pass, and the Dutchmen’s stout defense did the rest, limiting Midwood to 86 total yards from scrimmage while recording a pair of sacks and seven tackles for loss.

With a championship game rematch against Lincoln looming on its schedule in two weeks, Erasmus must first deal with a Kangaroos team looking to make a statement atop the rankings. Wtih a victory over the Dutchmen, B&G will establish itself as the top team in Brooklyn going forward. Judging from their season thus far, the ‘Roos appear ready to tangle with the Dutchmen.

B&G has outscored its first four opponents by a cumulative 112-20, including a pair of shutouts and last weekend’s 50-12 stomping of Wagner. Senior linebacker Tristan Laurore spearheaded a ‘Roos defense which previously blanked Flushing and Sheepshead Bay by recording a game-high 11 tackles, including two for loss, against Wagner.

Last November’s 26-10 playoff loss to Erasmus featured a brilliant effort by tailback Shaquell Jackson, who gained 217 yards and scored three touchdowns for the Dutchmen. With Jackson gone, Erasmus will likely use Samuel and junior Kahlil Lewin to test the ‘Roos’ fearsome defensive frontline.

Regardless of how Sunday’s game turns out, both Brooklyn programs will be heard from again come playoff time in November.

As for the defending champs, Lincoln (3-1) rolled to its second straight win since a gutwrenching 29-28 loss to top-ranked Totenville in Week Two. Junior running back Antoine Holloman Jr. rumbled for 189 yards and two touchdowns as the Railsplitters outscored New Utrecht, 28-0 in the second half en route to a 40-18 win.

Thomas Jefferson (3-1) held off a late rally by Sheepshead Bay for a 21-14 victory on Flatland Avenue last Saturday. Junior Stephan Garrick led the Orange Wave attack, rushing for 104 yards and two TDs on 10 carries.

The Engineers (2-2) of Brooklyn Tech took advantage of a rebuilding Fort Hamilton (0-4) team with a 42-0 beatdown in Bay Ridge as senior James Gales ripped through the Tiger defense for 128 yards and three touchdowns.

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On the local Catholic School scene, Bishop Ford (3-0) remained unbeaten with an impressive 16-14 victory over St. Peter’s last Saturday night at Brooklyn’s Aviator Sports Complex.

Junior Dante Aiken scored a pair of first-half touchdowns and accumulated 130 yards on the ground as Park Slope’s Falcons needed a late defensive stop to thwart the Eagles’ comeback bid.

“We’re very similar teams and they matchup up very well with us so we knew it was going to be a tough game,” Bishop Ford coach Jim Esposito told MSG Varsity after his team’s latest win.

“It’s a senior team. We have experienced guys out there,” Esposito added. “We know how to play through adversity. These guys have bought in. Two years ago we were a JV team basically playing high school football. We just had sophomores out there. Now they’re seniors, and we got a good junior class now playing.”

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Brooklyn Friends senior captain Misha Holzman has registered 19 goals in only six games thus far this season for the Blue Pride Panthers. Photo by Jonah Markowitz

Off the gridiron and onto the pitch, Brooklyn Friends senior captain Misha Holzman is on a serious scoring tear for the Blue Pride Panthers.

The fourth-year star, coached by former Blue Pride All-City performer Edson Elcock (Class of ’03), has tallied 19 goals in only six games thus far this season, leading BFS to a 4-2 mark. After striking for a season-high and personal-best six goals in Friday’s 8-3 drubbing of Elisabeth Erwin, Holzman was held to only one tally Monday as the Pride went down to visiting Friends Seminary, 8-2, at Red Hook Field.

Holzman has scored at least four goals in three different games this season.