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Hubbard’s challenge is to top ‘18 season
Offensive line has experience
By BOB ETTINGER
HUBBARD
Brian Hoffman led the Hubbard High School football team to within seconds of a perfect regular season and two playoff victories in 2018.
In 2019, his job is to build on that success with a number of key pieces from that team having moved on.
“We’ll try to prepare for as many on-field experiences as we can,” Hoffman said. “We do return a decent nucleus on both sides of the ball. Some of the guys will assume new roles.”
The Eagles found ways to make plays in key moments in several games, leading to the big season. Duplicating those results in similar situations will be important.
“Maturity and understanding the offense is what it takes to win the tough games,” Hoffman said. “It’s important to be able to overcome adversity at certain points in games.
“You have to draw from your strengths and the strengths of your teammates,” Hoffman said. “Every year is a different circumstance.
“There are teachable moments in wins and losses. A lot of times, you learn more from yourself facing adverse situations. We were able to rebound [after falling to East in the final seconds of Week 10) and win two of the biggest playoff games [Indian Creek and Steubenville] in school history.
“That’s not to say we want to lose, but we can learn from ourselves and improve from it.”
Offense
The Eagles, who rushed for more than 2,800 yards a season ago, will return a vast amount of experience to the unit that paved the way.
Reese Best returns for his fourth season as a starter at right guard while right tackle Joe Bednarik and tight end Matt Scheidegger are back for their third seasons as starters.
Mark Galano started at left guard last season and center Alex Goodrick and left tackle Nick Matisi will enjoy their first season as starters.
Jermia Harris rushed for more than 700 yards a season ago as a change of pace will take over as the running back and will be pushed for carries by Tim Caffey.
Cam Resatar, who saw action under center in six games in 2018, will take over the offense. He will throw to Dean Thomas, who led the team in receptions last year, Nate Bencetic, Andrew Frank, Ethan Patrick and Chanze Kelley.
“I think we have to play to the strengths of our players,” Hoffman said. “Some years we’re more wide open with our formations. We have a system of ingredients we tailor to what we have in terms of personnel.”
Defense
The Eagles had a way of making life difficult for opposing offenses in 2018 and will look to continue that trend this year.
“It helps when you have some good guys in the lineup,” Hoffman said. “We’re going to try and build off that with the guys who played along with those guys we lost. We have a lot of guys who know the system. That’s what it takes. We preach having a good scheme and fundamentals.”
Best, Bednarik, Goodrick, Matisi, Galano, Scheidegger, Mike Zapka, George Papadopoulos and Joe Langley will spend some time on the defensive front.
Kobe Krisuk, Patrick and Harris will be the outside linebackers with Tommy Wess, Jake Pantone and Caffey operating as the inside linebackers.
Thomas, Bencetic, Gavin Borawiec and Kelley will play on the outside as cornerbacks and Resatar, Brant Borawiec and Josh Ruban will be employed as the safeties.
Special Teams
Nader Kassem and Chase Powell will do placekicking.
Outlook
The Eagles have joined the Northeast 8. However, the schedule will look very similar to the one they played a season ago.
Each week, the Eagles will be pushed.
“[The schedule is] rigorous, to say the least,” Hoffman said. “There are really no down weeks in the schedule.
“We have to prepare well each week and, hopefully, we’ll have good depth, the guys will stay healthy and well-conditioned and we’re able to go out and play our best football every week.”
South Range will take the place of East in league play, but Struthers, Jefferson, Lakeview, Girard, Niles and Poland all remain on the conference slate. The Eagles will open the season at Alliance and follow up with Howland in Week 2.
“For us, the schedule, other than South Range, isn’t all that different,” Hoffman said. “Every team poses a different challenge, different offensive and defensive philosophies.
“It’s a very competitive league and each team is well-coached. It will be a challenging year. A lot of teams in the league have the potential to have great seasons.”