Lehman Campus Football 2024-25 Season Preview: Building Towards the Playoffs

After finishing 4-4 and missing the 3A Public School Athletic League (PSAL) playoffs by 38 power points, Lehman Campus football head coach Joseph Houghton called the 2023-24 season “a step in the right direction.”

Building off of last year’s success, he is confident the Lions have the ability to now take it to another level, and improve upon their previous record, leaving no doubt they will be postseason bound in the end.

“The goal is to win seven, eight games,” Houghton said. “But we don’t want to leave anything to chance.”

Lehman will return the PSAL’s leading rusher, Sameer Thomas, who ran for 1518 yards on 169 carries (8.95 per attempt) with 19 touchdowns in just eight games in the 2023-24 campaign.

Houghton believes Thomas should improve upon last year’s numbers after getting stronger and having more experience under his shoulder pads. He said he went from being a decent player as a sophomore to an ultra-focused, superstar running back in his junior season.

“His development from his sophomore year to his junior year was incredible,” he said of his rising senior. “I never seen anything like that before. Sameer is a unicorn. He is just different.”

Furthermore, Houghton plans on using Thomas out of the backfield more to catch passes and utilize his tremendous speed in the open field.

As for the person throwing the pigskin, the Lions will bring back rising senior Tristan Robson, who completed 36 of 81 attempts for 506 yards and four touchdowns. Houghton said he is very high on him.

“He is good, and a leader. He can fling the ball,” Houghton said of his QB. “We’re going to throw the ball (more). Our quarterback is the one to watch for. He’s an extremely accurate passer. I’m expecting big things from him. He’s battled-tested; he’s ready to roll.”

Robson will be throwing to solid core of receivers, with a variety of playmakers.

There is rising senior Kenneth Creighton— a starting wide receiver/safety with a solid football skill set.

“He’s like a Hines Ward (former receiver for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers),” Houghton said of Crieghton. “He’s not going to blow you away with his speed, but he’s a good blocker and (hard) hitter on defense.”

Plus, rising junior Yadier Torres–a nice backfield/receiving piece and inside linebacker, who is “a fast, physical guy, playing the sniffer position (a hybrid tight end/fullback). He also has good hands,” he noted.

Additionally, rising senior Yassin Gamble, “a returning starter at inside linebacker. He’ll factor in our running game, too,” Houghton said.

The pieces are all there for Robson to throw and handoff to while working his way into a top PSAL winning quarterback.

“We have a deep threat, and guys that can get out and open,” the Long Island native said. “We have slot guys; we have a little bit of everything.”

But nothing good happens without a strong offensive line, which, Houghton said, Lehman will have, though they are a little green at the moment.

However, the O-line is working feverishly to get stronger so it can open holes for its running attack and protect Robson, he noted.

“We’re going to be young up front, but we’re going to be talented,” he explained. “They really lift like animals in the weightroom. They’re big, powerful, and faster than last year’s guys, with good foot work.”

With all their offensive weapons, Houghton said the Lions will now mix it up more in 2024-25.

“We’re planning a nice balanced attack,” Houghton said. “We’re going to run the ball; we’re going to throw the ball more than we did last season.”

Defensively, Houghton is optimistic regarding the other side of the football, even though there is going to be some new, younger players playing in different spots. He said Lehman will compensate with new a defensive system and more speed.

“I feel good about my defense,” he said. “We got some new players; we’re going to be different. We’re going to be good, with us running some new defensive schemes. We changed things to adopt to our personnel. We going to be faster than last year. We’re going to blitz more, and use our speed to our advantage”

While the Lions are not as big as last year, they have certain intangibles that should factor in their favor, Houghton feels.

“We’re small and scrappy,” the physical education teacher said. “We have a tough group of guys. They’re not going to back down from anything. But we do have some decent size in certain areas.”

Lehman hosts Stuyvesant High School in its first regular season contest of the year on Saturday, September 14th at noon at Christopher Columbus High School Field in the Bronx.

— Jerry Del Priore

Photo: Lehman Campus Football.