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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
Erasmus Hall isn’t planning on taking any bows for its championship run as the football team begins its title defense.
Last season’s undefeated Public School Athletic League city champions understand their triumph at Yankee Stadium over Tottenville is behind them, but they want to feel that adulation again. And they know that getting back there will only be harder now with teams wanting to beat them even more than before.
“We are trying to get back to that feeling,” senior safety Darin Peart said. “We still have that feeling. Since we have that target on our back we just stay more humble. We want everybody coming to us. We are going to show them what we want.”
What opponents will see is a Dutchman team very similar to the one that went all the way last year. Ohio State-bound running back Curtis Samuel and backfield mate Kahlil Lewin return for their third year together after combining for 1,845 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground last season. Samuel is a speeder with a pro-ready 40-yard-dash time, and Lewin is a bruiser in the trenches.
“I block for him. He runs the ball,” Lewin said. “He runs the ball. I block for him. It works both ways. You never know what happens.”
They will likely play with two separate quarterbacks in seniors Daiquan Gwyn and Elijah Davis, just as they did a year ago with passer Matthew Domina and speedster Loumell Petion. Kefa Cort and Kahlil Beattie lead a strong receiving core. Erasmus head coach Danny Landberg knows how important the running game is to his players, but feels they can become a diverse offense with time.
“They are going to carry us a bit,” he said of Samuel and Lewin. “I think we have a lot of good pieces that can get the job done. We just have to learn how to jell.”
He also feels very confident in a defense that returns plenty of experience from last season. Linebacker Justin Pender is back along with Peart, as well as twin corners Xavier and Shavar Brathwaite. And Kwanii Figueroa, Jose Duncan, Tysene Foster, and Maynor Oregon all return to the defensive line.
“I think we have the best defense in the PSAL,” Lewin said.
Their quest to prove it again starts with a title game rematch with Tottenville at Sid Luckman Field on Sept. 7. Landberg said winning the title raises the expectations around his club. And opponents shouldn’t expect them to be satisfied with just last year’s crown.
“Everyone always wanted E-Hall,” Peart said. “Since we won the championship they just want more E-Hall. They want the best. We are going to give the best.”