Wild finish! Tottenville football holds on to beat Erasmus Hall in PSAL battle

It was in the midst of another classic Tottenville–Erasmus Hall ending. Quarterback Kendu Brown and running back Jaire Lewis were marching down the field for Erasmus and reached Tottenville’s 8-yard line. But in a hurry-up situation facing fourth-and-3, confusion struck. The ball was spiked, and the game was over.

Tottenville held on to defeat Erasmus, 38-35, in thrilling fashion in a PSAL 4A battle Friday night.

“We got a little confused because the down marker said it was third down, but it’s our job to know that it’s not and we need to be better. But I’m proud of my kids, they never quit,” Erasmus coach Danny Landberg said.

Brown rushed for 100 yards and scored twice. He led his team downfield with numerous big runs on an incredible drive. Until . . . 

“I was hearing ‘spike the ball,’ but I need to be better as a quarterback and make a play, and you’ll be seeing us again,” Brown said.

It was a back-and-forth contest that had a packed crowd on its feet throughout the night. Tottenville’s Tyshawn Bent totaled 145 yards of offense and scored three touchdowns to guide the Pirates.

Bent had lost five times to Erasmus (2-1) in his career, but that changed Friday night.

“It felt amazing," Bent said. "Before we came out here, I told my team we needed this win and just give it our all and we did, and the offensive line truly came to play.” 

Bent opened the scoring with a 5-yard rushing touchdown to help give the Pirates a 7-0 lead. Brown responded with a 25-yard rushing touchdown to trim the lead to 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second, Justin McGuire threw touchdown passes to Bent and Gavin Ledwith to put Tottenville (3-0) ahead 21-14 at the half.

The back-and-forth continued in the third. Erasmus tied the score at 21 with a Justus Murray 38-yard reception and 3-yard scoring run. Tottenville answered with Bent’s 18-yard rushing score.

Both teams traded big plays. Lewis scored for Erasmus, but Christian Demonte’s 32-yard field goal kept Tottenville ahead 31-27 entering the fourth.

McGuire connected with Ledwith again for a 25-yard touchdown, stretching the lead to 38-27 with 8:24 left.

“I know my talent," Ledwith said. "When I get the opportunity to show it, I will. I’ve known Justin for a long time. We played youth together and we are brothers for life."

Murray wasn’t phased and responded on the ensuing kickoff, pausing to find a seam before breaking free for a 92-yard touchdown. Brown added the two-point conversion, trimming the deficit to 38-35 with 8:04 left.

Kendell Brown, Kendu's twin brother, came up with a huge sack, and the Dutchmen forced a punt to get the ball back with 4:52 remaining. They drove downfield deep in Tottenville territory but came up short, as Tottenville’s crowd erupted in the program’s first win over Erasmus since 2019.

“I’m proud of them," Tottenville coach Brian Neville said. "It’s a regular-season game and it’s still September, so let’s put that in perspective. But I challenged my kids to flip the script and they did. Erasmus is bigger than us and they are a challenge, but we found a way and that hasn’t been the case in the past.

"Tyshawn sent me a text this morning that he’s leaving it all out on the field tonight. And guys being together for four years, building bonds through hard times and tough losses, and coming back to do this — that’s what it’s about.”