The remaining PSAL playoff teams got some bad news Saturday: Wayne Morgan can still play quarterback.
The Erasmus Hall sophomore, one of the most highly touted players in New York City, was thought to have broken his wrist last week against Tottenville, but X-rays turned up negative. Morgan was back under center for host No. 2 Erasmus in a 28-12 win against No. 15 Midwood in the PSAL City Championship division football first round Sunday and he certainly made an impact.
Morgan had 143 rushing yards on eight carries and a 60-yard touchdown run to lead the Dutchmen (9-1). He’s not 100 percent with a badly bruised right wrist, but he’s still able to throw at times.
“He’s a warrior,” Erasmus Hall coach Danny Landberg said. … “He played like a man today.”
Even if the Dutchmen had to go into the game without Morgan, Landberg wasn’t worried. Guys like Shaquell Jackson, who rushed for 130 yards on 13 carries with a pair of touchdowns, and Jauvan John, who added a touchdown run, are more than capable of picking up the slack. Co-quarterback Omari Matthews, who throws a great deep ball, is no slouch, either.
“Wayne is good, don’t get me wrong,” Landberg said. “He’s a great player. But we have other guys on this team. … We were preparing to do whatever without him. We had no problem.”
Morgan isn’t the only player coming off an injury. Sophomore linebacker Richard O’Garro returned two weeks ago from a broken elbow and he had eight tackles against Midwood (4-6).
“He’s starting to get into a rhythm,” Landberg said.
Felix Small had two sacks and Jonathan Yearwood added another for the Dutchmen. They will be put to the test against No. 7 Sheepshead Bay and its excellent rushing attack next week.
“It was a nice win, but we have to do it against another level,” Landberg said. “Sheepshead is a very tough, athletic team.”
Lincoln 28, Brooklyn Tech 6: Doug Butler had 177 yards on 22 carries with a pair of touchdowns and quarterback Andrew Vital had 164 yards rushing with two touchdowns, one on the ground and one through the air to lead No. 9 Lincoln (7-3) over No. 8 Brooklyn Tech (6-4). Ishaq Williams had three sacks.
“We controlled them up front, both sides of the ball,” Railsplitters coach Shawn O’Connor said.
It’s the first postseason victory for Lincoln since 2003. The Railsplitters will meet No. 1 Fort Hamilton, the city title favorite, in the quarterfinals Saturday.
“You gotta face them eventually,” O’Connor said. “We’ll get them out of the way early.”
Fort Hamilton 42, Grand Street Campus 0: AJ Richardson and Wesley Sumpter each ran for more than 100 yards and scored two touchdowns, Frank Laino completed 6-of-6 passes and a touchdown to Todd Lauchner and Brandon Reddish returned a kickoff 70 yards to the house for No. 1 Fort Hamilton (10-0). The Tigers will meet No. 9 Lincoln, who they beat, 29-8, Oct. 17, a win that was closer than the final score would indicate.
“It was the toughest game we had this year,” coach Vinny Laino said. “It will be a really great game, a really challenging game. I think we’re gonna have our hands full containing them.”
No. 16 Grand Street Campus is 4-6.
Curtis 24, Lehman 8: There was no first-round upset in St. George this year. Shaquan Coles ran for 108 yards on 16 carries and had touchdown runs of 18 and 39 yards for No. 5 Curtis (8-2), who was upset by Beach Channel last year. Jevon Gardner also ran for a score for the Warriors, who will meet fourth-seeded DeWitt Clinton in The Bronx next Saturday at noon in the quarterfinals.
“It’s nice to get out of the first round,” coach Pete Gambardella said. “Any win in the playoffs is a quality win. Everybody knew what happened last year, but we came out early and played well early.”
Raynaude Byass returned an interception 24 yards for No. 12 Lehman’s only score. The 12th-seeded Lions are 5-5.
Tottenville 33, Port Richmond 30: Marvin Staten had a pair of touchdown runs and quarterback Jon Derbyshire hit Will DeFede and Alvin Cornelius for scores and took one in himself late to lead No. 3 Tottenville (8-2), which will meet No. 6 Campus Magnet in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Jonathan Hernandez had two rushing touchdowns and Joe Orea and Rob Schroeder both scored on the ground for defending champion Port Richmond (4-6). John Hines returned a fumble for a touchdown.