After going 3-8 their freshman and sophomore seasons and 5-6 in their junior campaign, Northeast Lauderdale High School head coach Curt Blackburn will look to his six seniors to push the Trojans to even more wins in their final prep season.

AJ Thomas, Luke Harper, Landarryl Hersey, Franklin Radcliff, Lane Gordon and Tighe Ramey bring a wealth of experience to the gridiron, and they expect to cash it all in for a trip to the postseason.

“We’re looking to go undefeated this year,” said Radcliff, who will split time between linebacker, tight end and receiver. “We’re looking to win every game — we don’t see a game that we can lose. We’re really just like a real big family. When I say that, I mean it. Either we’re (at the school) working, or we’re at home working with each other. There are no days off with us.”

With two years of starting experience, quarterback Lane Gordon, who threw for 958 yards and six touchdowns last year, said he feels fully comfortable running Blackburn’s offense.

“Before, maybe I was timid and just didn’t want to mess up,” Gordon said. “This year, I can focus more on being a leader and helping the team win. We don’t have a lot of seniors, but we’ve all played together. Everybody who is a senior, this isn’t their first year starting, and we’re an experienced senior class. We have a lot of leaders.”

One of Gordon’s targets this season will be wide receiver Landarryl Hersey. After starting at the position for the first time last season, Hersey said he is ready to draw upon last year’s experience, and he’s spent his time away from his school training on his own in preparation.

“I learned a lot about how the defensive backs and wide receivers move, and how to know what you’re up against,” he said.

Hersey also started two games at free safety last season and said he’s now concentrating on seeing the entire playing field, as opposed to keying on a lone defender.

“I know I have to be focused on the whole field, instead of one person,” Hersey said. “I expect to see improvement from last year.

At left tackle, Tighe Ramey said he takes pride in keeping his quarterback’s jersey clean and clearing lanes for his running back. He said the responsibilities that accompany anchoring the offensive line also comes with a lot of unnoticed labor in the offseason.

“It takes a lot of work,” Ramey said. “All game you have to protect them, or else it’s going to backfire on you. It takes a lot of practice, working out and keeping strong just so you can protect them and win the ballgame. That’s the main responsibility I have: to make sure they don’t get hurt.”

In addition to playing together for the past three seasons, three of Northeast Lauderdale’s “Senior Six” are members of the school’s baseball team. Tight end and linebacker Luke Harper is among those players.

“I feel like we get more confidence by having played with each other, and we know each other’s tendencies and strong points,” Harper explained. “I think that helps us work as a team to get a win.

Harper also said the benefits of having such experience spill into other aspects of the game

“It means a lot; the more experience you have on the field, the better you can help younger players who come up. You have more confidence playing other teams because you know you’ve played these teams before, so you know what they’re going to do.”

AJ Thomas filled the team’s utility role last season, having played running back and wide receiver, along with cornerback. The two-year starter said his teammates don’t lack chemistry.

“We’re really close,” he said. “We’ve been together since ninth grade. The bond is very strong. We’re going to push each other to get better, and push the upcoming guys to help the upcoming senior class get better.”

Blackburn, who is in his fifth season as head coach, said his seniors’ work ethic and dedication to their craft is unmatched.

“These six seniors are really special,” Blackburn said. “They have been a group that has almost had perfect attendance every summer, and that’s unique. They have kind of set the tone for our program in summer attendance from their ninth grade year all the way to now… These six are the ones who have stuck it out and made the grind, and I expect big things from all six of them.”