The pain sunk in and sunk in deep for Erasmus Hall’s returning players.
They were the same ones who watched Abraham Lincoln celebrate beating them for a championship at Yankee Stadium last season. It’s exactly what coach Danny Landberg hoped would happen in preparation for this year when he held them on the field to see the trophy presentation.
“I wanted them to suffer,” Landberg said. “I wanted them to have a visualization of what it is to lose and to never want to come back to that again.
It worked, lighting a fire in his players.
“The whole team is hungry, playing like we have a chip on our shoulder,” said senior quarterback Aaron Grant.
Erasmus has plenty of reasons to believe it can bring home its first Public School Athletic League crown since 2012 thanks to a returning a roster with experienced playmakers and promising young talent.
Grant, who is in his second year as the starter, is a dual threat under center. He threw for 1,165 yards and 14 touchdowns with just three interceptions, and ran for 434 yards and four scores. Landberg expects him to take a big step forward.
“Last year he was a little kid,” Landberg said. “Now he is stronger, faster, and smarter. I hope for him to dominate.”
Grant will see the majority of the snaps, but junior Shockuone Bobbit will also get some time at quarterback because Landberg believes in a two-man system.
The pair have some talented receivers to throw to in the Temple-bound Jahsen Wint and classmate Daevon Alvardez. Junior Jahquel Webb could have a breakout year as the slot receiver.
They will work behind an experienced set of linemen in senior Selwin Wilkes and sophomore Lunell Noel, who Landberg believes is the best two-way lineman in the city.
The starting running back job is still up for grabs between juniors Siddiq Muhammad and Zhadane Peters. Both are speed backs, but Landberg has seen an extra gear at times in Muhammed. The competition is bringing out the best in both of them.
“Both the dudes back there are ballers,” Wint said. “I think they will do well.”
Wint has become more of a vocal leader as he replaced Deonte Roberts as the team’s premier defensive player and line backer. The Dutchmen had arguably the best defense in the city last season after allowing more then 20 points just twice during the regular season.
Erasmus believes it can continue to be a top-flight defensive unit even with new starters filling in around talented returnees. Sophomore Matt Jones is one of the top defensive recruits nationally, with offers from Nebraska, Rutgers, Syracuse and UConn among others.
Daevon Alvarez will play safety along with Webb at linebacker. Landberg sees Aron Zruicksha being a special player at corner back. Defensive end Benjamin Glover is the squad’s top pass rusher.
They are the ingredients to the championship roster Erasmus believes it has, however it is the emotion from last December at Yankees Stadium that will fuel it all season.
“He wanted us to feel the pain so we can have a chip on our shoulders coming in [this] year,” Wint said. “Knowing when we make it there this year we wouldn’t want to feel that same feeling.”
