By ryan buck

rbuck@vindy.com

Hubbard

A year ago, Hubbard running back L.J. Scott was a player to keep an eye on at the season’s outset. He more than lived up to expectations. Scott rushed for more than 1,600 yards and 23 touchdowns and also passed for a score.

As a junior, expectations grow even higher. Scott will be the primary weapon of the Hubbard offense as a rare combination of size and speed who has college coaches drooling.

“I think he’s matured a little bit,” said Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman said of Scott’s offseason. “Physically, he’s stronger and, honestly, he’s a little faster than a year ago. Mentally, in terms of understanding the game, he’s grown.”

Scott has company, however, in Hubbard’s backfield.

Senior Darnell Tate will return from an injury-plagued junior season to form perhaps the area’s best one-two punch.

Tate broke his wrist in Week 2, but still managed to play through pain the rest of the season. He had more than 1,000 all-purpose yards and scored 15 touchdowns.

“Watching from the sidelines, that’s never fun,” Tate said. “I’m happy to be healthy.”

The combination of Tate and Scott will keep teams from keying on one player.

“He’s dynamic,” Hoffman said of Tate. “He can run the ball and make things happen in space. He runs well-designed routes, finds the openings in zones and he’s fast enough to run by people when they’re covering him man-for-man.

“He’s definitely a catalyst for our offense.”

Offense

Scott and Tate are two of six returning starters on offense and Hubbard’s game plans will revolve around them.

“If teams try to take one of them away, we’ll have to have an answer,” Hoffman said.

Scott’s older brother, Isiah, gives them even more speed from his wide receiver position.

“The nucleus of our team, the guys up front, are back,” Hoffman said. “Matt Jones, Jared O’Hara and Zach Hover, those are three starters from a year ago.”

Either Brennan Wassill or Cole Bencetic, both senior quarterbacks, will need to get the ball into their playmakers’ hands.

Defense

The Eagles return five starters in Alex Mosora, Tyler Taafe, Jones, Tate and Isiah Scott. Jones is one of the better two-way players in the area and will stabilize a young defensive line.

Tate and Isiah Scott are an effective tandem in the secondary, but Hoffman wants to see improvement.

“Our defense last year was average, at best,” Hoffman said. “In some key games we gave up too many yards on the ground, so that’s going to be a point of emphasis.”

Special teams

Vlassios Pizanias will give the Eagles an experienced senior kicker and punter.

Outlook

Hubbard has to fill holes at quarterback and needs to improve defensively, but L.J. Scott’s presence in an already talented offense will enable them to score points in bunches. They are certainly a threat in the All-American Conference American Division.