Grand Street, we will all be watching.
The eyes of Brooklyn high school sports fans and the New York City football community will be on Aviator Sports Complex on Friday night, but not to watch the Railsplitters.
Sure, Lincoln will be playing, but on Sept. 26 the stage will really belong to its opponent — Grand Street.
The Wolves went 1–7 in coach Bruce Eugene’s first season three years ago. Since then, Grand Street has improved through player development and transfers.
It wasn’t quite ready for the big moment last year. Grand Street went 6–3 and lost in the first round of the playoffs.
But is it ready for primetime now? We’ll find out on Friday under the bright lights.
Grand Street comes into the game with a perfect 3–0 record. It beat Midwood in its opener and earned impressive victories against Curtis and New Dorp.
Lincoln, however, is a whole different level.
The defending Public School Athletic League City Conference champions, the Railsplitters won 16 straight games, and 19 of the last 20 contests. Friday provides a chance for Grand Street to show it belongs with the elite squads in the league — that it’s a contender.
I’m not asking for a victory from the Wolves — though, boy, would that turn the city on its ear! Just compete. Show that you belong on the field with the clear early favorite to win the city title. Lincoln can be intimidating and physical, and has steam-rolled the competition early on. Grand Street has to push Lincoln. Put it on its heels. Make it work.
If you are the Railsplitters, Friday night is just another game. It’s another chance to dish out a reality check to a program that wants to get to your level.
For Grand Street, this game is a chance to truly earn respect. Its best win last season came against New Utrecht in the regular season finale.
Grand Street has plenty of talent. It has out-scored opponents 100–26 in its first three games. Quarterback Justin White tossed four touchdowns to three different receivers against Curtis, and running back Rhamel Ashby is a big play waiting to happen. Grand Street also has 6-foot-6, 260-pound defensive lineman Kaamal Seymour with whom to wreak havoc. The Rutgers commit had nine tackles, including a sack, against Curtis.
The opportunity is there for Grand Street, and it appears to have the talent to make some noise. The stage is set and the field is open. We’ll all be watching.
