Call It the Brooklyn Bowl that goes through the Bronx.
The undefeated Grand Street Campus Wolves will have their fangs out when they take on the Dutchmen of Erasmus Hall at noon this Sunday at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx for the City’s High School Football Championship.
Grand Street Campus has been sensational all season long. After their big win over Staten Island’s Curtis last weekend and improving to an 11-0 record, it’s obvious why the Wolves have made it to the title game. They had a rough 27-0 loss to Lincoln to end last season, but Grand Street has been able to regroup and maintain a real sense of focus with their eyes on the prize.
Additionally, the East Williamsburg/Bushwick Grand Street was able to instill a sense of pride within their program last year, with an abundance of players receiving football scholarships to play at the next level. This year defensive tackle Kamaal Seymour decided to stay local and committed to Rutgers while Abdul Ajelero and Jacob Jones signed letters of intent to attend Delaware State. A host of other players from last season have moved on to play college football and this has certainly paved the way for this 2015-16 Grand Street football team.
It’s amazing to see how far this program has risen over the course of the last several seasons. It was as recent as 2012 where Grand Street went 1 and 7, but they have improved each season and and they have played with a genuine edge after their bitter playoff loss to Lincoln last year. This season the squad hit the gridiron running, passing and hitting, and they have never looked back. With a chance at perfection and a PSAL title on the line, they are certain to give it everything that they have when they show up to Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Flatbush’s Erasmus, on the other hand, has hit some bumps on their road to the championship, but right now, this team is playing hard nosed, physical football. In their last two games they have given up only 8 points, including a 48-8 shellacking of Fort Hamilton in Bay Ridge in last week’s semifinals, and they are rolling into the Bronx riding the hot hand of a three game winning streak.
Not only is this a title opportunity for the Dutchmen, but it is also a chance at redemption. Earlier this season on October 24, Erasmus played Grand Street on their home field and they got pounced 40-12. That was in October though and the Dutchmen know that in order to compete they will have to continue to play the way that they have over the course of the last month.
Come Sunday, it’s win or go home and there is nothing more appealing than having a chance to win the crown and then celebrate in the most famous sporting venue in the world, Yankee Stadium.
Those requesting tickets please email Latoya Chavis at LChavis@schools.nyc.gov for your request. Tickets are limited to 6 tickets per individual or 25 tickets for non PSAL programs. Tickets have to be picked up at: Public Schools Athletic League, 4th Floor, 44-36 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, Queens.
