Preview: Huron hopes to build on 2009

The 2009 season was a test of character for Huron.

The Tigers opened the season with just three veterans with any substantial playing time on the roster, and one of those lettermen was a kicker. The results were predictable.

Huron opened with back-to-back wins, lost four of the next five games and then finished the season on a three-game win streak. This year, the Tigers have 15 veterans back, including eight players who were either full-time or part-time starters.

"I told the kids last year that it's easy to embrace traditions when you are winning every week," said Huron coach Tony Legando. "I think our kids did represent our program very well. Winning and losing wasn't the driving factor as much as upholding the tradition of those guys who came before.

"We didn't win every week, but I think we carried the torch the way we should have."

Which, in turn, is the theme for the 2010 Huron Tigers.

"You want to win every week but we went into last year with our eyes wide open," Legando said. "We understood we had no returning starters, but our guys battled pretty well. I think our kids played hard and, looking back, we're pretty proud of what we accomplished."

 OFFENSE

Huron has strayed a bit from basic themes of its run-and-shoot past to more of a spread offense, but the roots remain the same.

"Run-and-shoot principles are used by every spread team," Legando said. "Over the years, teams get categorized and Huron is considered not very big but with good speed and athletes. We've been able to maintain a certain level of success because we've been able to make adjustments in the run-and-shoot."

The offense is predicated by quarterback play and Huron has had its fair share of All-Ohio honorees at the position.

Senior Brian Bollenbacher will hold the reins this season. Bollenbacher never actually started a game last year, playing the second and fourth quarters of every game after then-senior Joe Ramey finished running the offense in the first and third.

It was an unorthodox arrangement, but followed religiously all season long, and one Bollenbacher made the most of. He completed 42 of 97 passes for 551 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions.

"Brian Bollenbacher is ready to pull the trigger on the run-and-shoot offense," Legando said. "He has paid his dues, he understands what it takes and I consider him a returning starter."

Junior Kyle Pisano and sophomore Trae Graham, who guided the Huron freshman team to an undefeated season in 2009, are in reserve at quarterback, and both will likely be seeing action somewhere in the spread scheme.

Senior veteran Jake Hillman, who earned All-SBC honors in 2009 after hauling in 31 receptions for 407 yards, is the featured receiver for the Tigers, while senior veteran Sean Fantozz had 15 catches for 234 yards. Senior letterman Brandon Krueger is also back, while junior Ryan Biddlecombe, Graham and sophomore teammate Aaron Driftmyer are ready to contribute.

Senior Tyler Colley and juniors Chris Denslow, Mitch Hagstrom, Sam Hemker, Tyson Maddix, Treyvon Matthews, Eric Mentis, Dom Ruta and Nathan Schaefer are also fighting for playing time at receiver.

Senior Justin Hicks leads the way in the backfield after gaining 262 yards on 41 carries and grabbing 11 receptions for 77 yards in 2009. Junior veterans Troy DeLamatre and Billy Porter also saw limited varsity action at running back last year, and sophomore Derek Daigle is pushing for playing time.

Huron is also counting on contributions from seniors Greg Burlovich, Matt King and Dan Nagy and junior Nyle Olds in the backfield.

"We ran the ball the most times since the 1980s last year," Legando said. "We're very proud we were able to adjust to our talent, but we play the spread by necessity. We haven't been the biggest guys, but we've been able to feed the system with good speed and guys who are willing to work at playing football."

The offensive line may be the most veteran group on the team with senior Joey Bodgen back at center and classmate Kory Kaip back at one of the tackles. Seniors Jordan Romick and Ethan Felton served as spot starters at guard and junior veteran Ryan McNulty is a leading candidate at tackle.

But Legando is most proud of the versatility of all his players, particularly the linemen who can play any spot along the line, and can do it at any point in the game.

"It creates depth and gives kids the opportunity to get out on the field," the coach said. "I'd hate to have a great athlete standing by me on the sidelines because he can 'only play tackle.'"

Versatility leads to depth, which also makes for plenty of chances for lots of players to contribute. Along the offensive front that means playing time for seniors Jason Clevenger, Zach Hemker, Cody Henderson, Ian McCready and Tyler Sams, juniors Drew Enderle, Jack Heil, Austin Maddox and Nino Majoy.

 DEFENSE

Experience is a major difference for Huron on defense this year as King and Felton return as starters along the line, Romick is back at linebacker and DeLamatre and Hillman were starters in the secondary. In addition, Majoy (defensive line) and Hicks (cornerback) were spot starters and Porter (linebacker) and Fantozz (secondary) saw enough action to letter.

"Last year, we didn't have anyone returning but this year we are back to what we are more used to," Legando said. "Experience certainly is not our problem this year."

King will line up over the center at nose guard, and will be spelled by Majoy, Nagy and sophomore Mauricio Vasquez. Bogden, Clevenger, Kiap, Olds and Zach Hemker are top candidates for the two tackle slots, with seniors Henderson and Sams, and juniors Enderle, Heil and McNulty fighting for playing time.

Ruta, Mentis and Felton lead the way in the battle to start at defensive ends, along with Sam Hemker, Maddox and McCready.

Romick, Porter and Burlovich are fighting for the two starting inside linebacker slots, while Pisano will start at the outside linebacker or Rover position. Sophomores Josh Evers and Colton Rush have also impressed at the spot.

DeLamatre, Hillman Krueger and Fantozz lead the way in the secondary that also includes Bollenbacher, Hicks, Matthews, Driftmyer and Graham. Biddlecombe, Denslow, Colley, Hagstrom, Maddix and Schaefer are also in the mix for playing time.

"The 46 is about as aggressive a defense as you can find," Legando said. "Generally, it's a high-turnover defense, so we hope we can give our offense more chances.

"And we're trying to get more athletes on the field. We like to pressure and we think we have the athletes to do it."

 SPECIAL TEAMS

One thing the Tigers do well every year is special teams play. In fact, Huron scored 27 times on kickoff or punt returns during one four-year stretch in the middle of the decade.

"John Zadell has been coaching with us for a long time and he's learned to incorporate his work into our practice plans." Legando said. "Special teams is about speed, hitting and organization. John's has definitely taken care of the organization part and we've been blessed with kids who like to hit and have some speed."

Senior letterman Anthony Lane returns for his third year of kicking field goals, with junior John Dusza and sophomore Sam Danillo waiting in the wings.

Fantozz did most of the punting for Huron in 2009, with Bollenbacher doing situational punting.

Mentis, who is the grandson of Ohio High School Hall of Fame coach Paul Mentis, will do the long snapping, along with Vasquez.

"Our experience, intense strength training, continued emphasis on leadership and relentless conditioning programs have helped prepare us to play the game with complete confidence, spirit and enthusiasm," Legando said. "Our senior leadership understands this is our time and we are ready to carry the torch for those proud Huron football players who came before us."