Thursday, October 30, 2008
By John Kovach
Corey and Carter helped the Rebels stay at home for first round
COLUMBIANA — The Hill family of Columbiana has a big investment in the Crestview High football team, and it is reaping dividends for the Rebels.
With brothers Corey Hill and Carter Hill in the backfield and father Dan Hill as an assistant coach — all surrounded by a talented cast of players — Crestview is in the playoffs for the sixth time in 10 years under coach Paul Cusick.
The Rebels (9-1) will play host to Apple Creek Waynedale (8-2) on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Rebel Stadium in a Division V Region 17 quarterfinal game.
“We have never played them,” Cusick said. “We have to be really physical on defense and be good tacklers and get a lot of people to the ball because they have a good running back [Thad Nofsinger] and we have to limit his runs.”
Crestview previously made the playoffs under Cusick in 2000-01 and 2004-06. The Rebels won the Tri-County League championship four times — 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005.
The Rebels also gained a share of the Inter Tri-County League Tier One championship with South Range this year by defeating United last Saturday, 44-35.
Corey Hill, a senior running back, and Carter Hill, a sophomore quarterback, have combined for 3,199 yards on the ground and in the air and 45 touchdowns to make Crestview an offensive power and threat.
Corey, a three-year starter and All-Ohio second-team pick last year, has rushed for 1,813 yards in 217 carries and 23 TDs in 10 games.
He has scored 24 TDs overall for 144 points.
Carter, in his first year as a starter, has completed 51-of-96 passes for 855 yards and 11 TDs with five interceptions, and has rushed for 531 yards in 92 carries and 10 TDs in eight games with 62 points overall. He missed two games during the seventh and eighth weeks due to injury.
Cusick said that coaching two brothers in the backfield is a first for him, and that their football intelligence and ability, nurtured by their father, has been a valuable asset to the team.
“Both of them are smart ballplayers. They know the game. They play well together,” said Cusick, who added, “I’ve never seen any sibling rivalry.”
Dan Hill coaches outside linebackers and split ends.
“[The brothers] come from a football-coaching family and they know what they are doing. Dan is in his fourth year as an assistant,” said Cusick, noting that Corey’s leadership role on the team has helped Carter to become accepted as a young leader.
“What really helps is that Corey has been there as a starter for three years since he was a sophomore, and maybe that helped in the transition for Carter as the quarterback,” said Cusick, noting that Corey is team captain along with Ian Lanney, a senior right offensive guard, and Jakob Leon, a senior split end-defensive back.
“Corey helped to pave the way for Carter on the team and reinforces him, and they both reinforce and complement each other. The players took Carter under their wings and helped him along.”
Leon has been Carter Hill’s favorite passing target with 28 catches for 495 yards and nine TDs, while Cameron Reynolds, a senior flanker, has eight receptions for 135 yards and three TDs.
Leon also is a defensive standout with eight interceptions.
Cusick said Corey Hill can run away from tacklers or through them.
“Corey has a good combination of speed and power,” said Cusick, who runs a shotgun formation with Carter positioned in front of Corey and taking the snap from junior center Logan Cope.
“From our shotgun offense, Corey knows how to read defenses and the blockers and he can cut back to take it to the outside.”
Cusick said that the brothers usually are the only players in the backfield. Except, “Sometimes Adam Britton plays the H-back, which stands for hybrid, and is back there. He has to play all positions depending on formations.”
Cusick said Carter is an intelligent quarterback.
“Carter knows the offense. He can make the audibles and we can send in a play and he can look at the defense and make an adjustment and put us in a better situation,” Cusick said.
“We were pleasantly surprised by Carter’s running skills. He is better than we thought he would be.”
Cusick said Lanney, Richards and junior left tackle Aaron Bussard anchor the offensive line, complemented by Cope and junior Peyton Elwonger and senior J.D. Harris who both rotate at offensive left guard.
In addition to Leon, other defensive leaders are senior Nick Robinson, who was switched from linebacker to defensive end this year and leads the team in tackles with about 90, including 24 for losses and 12 sacks. Junior free safety Adam Britton is second in tackles with about 75.
Last year, Robinson as a junior tied for the team lead in tackles with senior Shane Dilling, each with 102. Robinson had eight tackles for losses and five sacks.
kovach@vindy.com