Indians want to keep momentum from eight-win year
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — Entering his second season as head coach of the Hillsboro Indians, Brian Spicer wants to continue with the momentum gained off of last season's eight-win year, but to do that, the team must replace some core players that led HHS to its first winning season since 2005.
The Indians have 17 seniors in 2010, most of them returning starters, and were described by Spicer as the bread-and-butter of the team.
Offensively, HHS is scheduled to return six players, including: Aric Carroll (QB), Matt Gallimore (RB), Dow Kiefer (WR), Mason Hunick (RB), Caleb Wilson (T) and Chris Butler (T).
One season ago, the HHS offense scored 279 points and tallied 3,465 yards.
"We have to replace some guys up front, but it is great to have both tackles back from last year," Spicer said. "They did a great job last year, and the guys between them are going to lean on them for help. But, our system is built for that with our double teams, and we want our guys to rely on their teammates.
"We have several guys fighting for the open spots, including several seniors, but not everyone is going to be on the field."
As for the running back positions, the Indians lost Patrick Garman and Airic Steagall but still have quality players in Hunick and Gallimore. Last season, Steagall led HHS with 1,038 yards on 138 carries with 19 touchdowns. Carroll will be the returning leading rusher, with 582 yards on 120 attempts with seven TDs. Gallimore ended last season with 75 attempts for 486 yards.
"We want to have a three back rotation, and we are still looking for the No. 3 back to complement Mason and Matt," Spicer said.
Carroll will run the offense under center for the third straight season. In '09, he passed for 1,156 yards, finishing 92-for-169 with eight TD passes.
The third-year varsity starter will be passing to a trio of receivers in Kiefer, Christian Wildey and Chase Gilliland.
Last year, Kiefer caught 19 passes for 161 yards, His reception total was third best on the team.
"We are still working on guys to rotate in with those three, but as a coach, I have to be happy with having the signal caller (Carroll) back. He is a good athlete and a smart kid. He ran the offense well last year, but this offense is a building process. It was all new, but now we are advanced and can upgrade, which will eventually allow us to have a full-blown offense.
"We held off more last year, but now we can do different things, so it will be neat to see how we grow."
On the defensive side of the field, Hillsboro has members retuning from a unit who held their opponents to 194 points and 2,387 yards.
In the defensive backfield the Tribe will return Kiefer, Hunick and Gilliland but needs to fill the free safety spot, vacated by a graduated Dawson Barreras, who had 58 tackles.
"Filling our free safety spot is a tough job to accomplish," Spicer said. "We are really comfortable in that we won't give up the big home run play or big play with Chase and Mason at corner and Dow at safety."
Returning to the defensive line rotation will be Jordan Stratton, Jerrad Luschek, Allen Holbrook, and Wilson.
"Our returning guys saw a lot of time last year and improved as the season went on," Spier said.
The linebacker position for HHS seems to have taken a hit as they are missing 167 tackles with Steagall and Garman graduated.
"We are hurting at linebacker some, but we have (Matt) Gallimore back. Christian was a SAM linebacker last year, but will be moving to the inside," Spicer said. "The linebackers are the key to our defense. We need to have good line play in front of them so we can protect the linebackers."
One factor that could affect this year and possibly years to come is the numbers of the Hillsboro program. Spicer said it was a little upsetting that more players didn't come out to play football.
"We have kids who wanted to play, and we had a lot of kids sign up, but when push comes to shove, they aren't here. In classes other than our senior class, we have 10 or fewer in each class. But, right now we can't worry about players who aren't here, but that is something I would like to have help with, especially from the community.
"My worries are about the guys who are here."
In talking about the SCOL, Spicer said Clinton-Massie is the team to beat but also said there is a lot of talent in the league this season.
"Miami Trace will have a bounce-back year, and Washington C.H. and McClain are good teams, too," he said. "Every team has a good mix of kids, and I think the SCOL as a league will be better.
"We were probably an unknown last year, but that is gone. Every year we have to be more ready and this year, nobody will take us for granted."
But the discussion went back to the reigning SCOL champions.
"Massie is still the No. 1 team," Spicer said. "The rest of us just have to do a lot of work to get to them. Our kids have the understanding about what kind of team we can be. After our game with them (CM) last year, we woke up."
Last season HHS lost to the Falcons, 44-7 at Richards Memorial Field.
This season, Spicer wants his team to get earlier leads.
"I want us to jump ahead in games and we have to fight like heck to get to the top," he said. "We had a good offense last year, but we are going to work hard and get better."
Last season, the Indians scored 279 points.
Hillsboro will start the season on the road as they will face Western Brown on Aug. 27.[[In-content Ad]]
The Indians have 17 seniors in 2010, most of them returning starters, and were described by Spicer as the bread-and-butter of the team.
Offensively, HHS is scheduled to return six players, including: Aric Carroll (QB), Matt Gallimore (RB), Dow Kiefer (WR), Mason Hunick (RB), Caleb Wilson (T) and Chris Butler (T).
One season ago, the HHS offense scored 279 points and tallied 3,465 yards.
"We have to replace some guys up front, but it is great to have both tackles back from last year," Spicer said. "They did a great job last year, and the guys between them are going to lean on them for help. But, our system is built for that with our double teams, and we want our guys to rely on their teammates.
"We have several guys fighting for the open spots, including several seniors, but not everyone is going to be on the field."
As for the running back positions, the Indians lost Patrick Garman and Airic Steagall but still have quality players in Hunick and Gallimore. Last season, Steagall led HHS with 1,038 yards on 138 carries with 19 touchdowns. Carroll will be the returning leading rusher, with 582 yards on 120 attempts with seven TDs. Gallimore ended last season with 75 attempts for 486 yards.
"We want to have a three back rotation, and we are still looking for the No. 3 back to complement Mason and Matt," Spicer said.
Carroll will run the offense under center for the third straight season. In '09, he passed for 1,156 yards, finishing 92-for-169 with eight TD passes.
The third-year varsity starter will be passing to a trio of receivers in Kiefer, Christian Wildey and Chase Gilliland.
Last year, Kiefer caught 19 passes for 161 yards, His reception total was third best on the team.
"We are still working on guys to rotate in with those three, but as a coach, I have to be happy with having the signal caller (Carroll) back. He is a good athlete and a smart kid. He ran the offense well last year, but this offense is a building process. It was all new, but now we are advanced and can upgrade, which will eventually allow us to have a full-blown offense.
"We held off more last year, but now we can do different things, so it will be neat to see how we grow."
On the defensive side of the field, Hillsboro has members retuning from a unit who held their opponents to 194 points and 2,387 yards.
In the defensive backfield the Tribe will return Kiefer, Hunick and Gilliland but needs to fill the free safety spot, vacated by a graduated Dawson Barreras, who had 58 tackles.
"Filling our free safety spot is a tough job to accomplish," Spicer said. "We are really comfortable in that we won't give up the big home run play or big play with Chase and Mason at corner and Dow at safety."
Returning to the defensive line rotation will be Jordan Stratton, Jerrad Luschek, Allen Holbrook, and Wilson.
"Our returning guys saw a lot of time last year and improved as the season went on," Spier said.
The linebacker position for HHS seems to have taken a hit as they are missing 167 tackles with Steagall and Garman graduated.
"We are hurting at linebacker some, but we have (Matt) Gallimore back. Christian was a SAM linebacker last year, but will be moving to the inside," Spicer said. "The linebackers are the key to our defense. We need to have good line play in front of them so we can protect the linebackers."
One factor that could affect this year and possibly years to come is the numbers of the Hillsboro program. Spicer said it was a little upsetting that more players didn't come out to play football.
"We have kids who wanted to play, and we had a lot of kids sign up, but when push comes to shove, they aren't here. In classes other than our senior class, we have 10 or fewer in each class. But, right now we can't worry about players who aren't here, but that is something I would like to have help with, especially from the community.
"My worries are about the guys who are here."
In talking about the SCOL, Spicer said Clinton-Massie is the team to beat but also said there is a lot of talent in the league this season.
"Miami Trace will have a bounce-back year, and Washington C.H. and McClain are good teams, too," he said. "Every team has a good mix of kids, and I think the SCOL as a league will be better.
"We were probably an unknown last year, but that is gone. Every year we have to be more ready and this year, nobody will take us for granted."
But the discussion went back to the reigning SCOL champions.
"Massie is still the No. 1 team," Spicer said. "The rest of us just have to do a lot of work to get to them. Our kids have the understanding about what kind of team we can be. After our game with them (CM) last year, we woke up."
Last season HHS lost to the Falcons, 44-7 at Richards Memorial Field.
This season, Spicer wants his team to get earlier leads.
"I want us to jump ahead in games and we have to fight like heck to get to the top," he said. "We had a good offense last year, but we are going to work hard and get better."
Last season, the Indians scored 279 points.
Hillsboro will start the season on the road as they will face Western Brown on Aug. 27.[[In-content Ad]]