Post by CrimsonPhantom on Jul 27, 2012 10:36:54 GMT -7
Knights add more depth, experience
By Craig Massey
Las Cruces Bulletin
Some people say adversity develops character. Others say it reveals character.
Either way, the Oñate High School football team took the adversity test last season and passed it.
In Caleb Hull’s first season as a head coach, the Knights faced a difficult schedule with a new offense, new defense, new coaches, a depleted roster and way too many injuries. All four of their quarterbacks sustained injuries last year and the team finished the season with wide receiver Andrew Vargas at quarterback.
“We had a ton of adversity to overcome, but we grew together as a team,” Hull said.
The Knights, despite being overmatched in most of their games, never gave up and finished the season with their only win, a 33-16 triumph over Gadsden.
“Last year was a rebuilding year and the transition was difficult,” Hull said. “It was my first year as a head coach and we started everything from scratch, from the offense to the defense to the booster club.”
Hull said his program is using that seasonending win and the adversity the team went through last year as a foundation for this season. Depth once again is an issue, but the Knights have some very good players on their roster. On defense, the leader is linebacker Geoffrey Smelser, a 6-1, 205-pounder who is drawing recruiting interest from New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico.
“He’s our senior defensive leader,” Hull said. “He has good size, good speed and really understands the game. He’s definitely a Division I prospect.”
Another key defensive returnee is 6-5, 225pound defensive lineman Isaiah Polansky, also a senior.
“We have most of our defensive players back from last year,” Hull said. “We try not to have them play both ways (offense and defense). That hurts our depth a little bit.”
Senior Curtis Hynes, a 6-0, 180-pounder, is projected to be the starting quarterback this year in the Knights’ spread offense. He is backed up by talented junior Travis Johnson.
Oñate’s leading ball-carrier this season should be Isaiah Fielder, a 5-9, 190-pound junior, who came on strong last season as a sophomore.
“We only had seven seniors last year, so we have a whole lot of experience coming back,” Hull said.“The key for us will be to stay healthy. Our depth is not what it needs to be.”
Hull said OHS didn’t lose too many players to Centennial and thinks the new school may eventually help even things out in District 3-5A, which has been dominated for years by Mayfield and Las Cruces High.
“This is still the toughest district in the state,” he said.“Cruces, Mayfield and Alamogordo will all start the season ranked in the top 10, but I think we can definitely make some noise. We have a chance to be there with them. We just need to develop some depth in a hurry.”
Aside from the challenge of District 3-5A, the Knights have a difficult pre-district schedule that includes games against Volcano Vista and last year’s defending state champ, Cleveland. But after weathering the storm of 2011, Hull is confident this season will be better.
“It’s like night and day from last year,” he said. “Everything is so much better.”
Oñate kicks off the 2012 season with a game at Bel Air in El Paso at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31. The Knights’ first home game is Thursday, Sept. 6, against Socorro.
From- www.lascrucesbulletin.com/ee/lascrucesbulletin/default.php?pSetup=lascrucesbulletin
By Craig Massey
Las Cruces Bulletin
Some people say adversity develops character. Others say it reveals character.
Either way, the Oñate High School football team took the adversity test last season and passed it.
In Caleb Hull’s first season as a head coach, the Knights faced a difficult schedule with a new offense, new defense, new coaches, a depleted roster and way too many injuries. All four of their quarterbacks sustained injuries last year and the team finished the season with wide receiver Andrew Vargas at quarterback.
“We had a ton of adversity to overcome, but we grew together as a team,” Hull said.
The Knights, despite being overmatched in most of their games, never gave up and finished the season with their only win, a 33-16 triumph over Gadsden.
“Last year was a rebuilding year and the transition was difficult,” Hull said. “It was my first year as a head coach and we started everything from scratch, from the offense to the defense to the booster club.”
Hull said his program is using that seasonending win and the adversity the team went through last year as a foundation for this season. Depth once again is an issue, but the Knights have some very good players on their roster. On defense, the leader is linebacker Geoffrey Smelser, a 6-1, 205-pounder who is drawing recruiting interest from New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico.
“He’s our senior defensive leader,” Hull said. “He has good size, good speed and really understands the game. He’s definitely a Division I prospect.”
Another key defensive returnee is 6-5, 225pound defensive lineman Isaiah Polansky, also a senior.
“We have most of our defensive players back from last year,” Hull said. “We try not to have them play both ways (offense and defense). That hurts our depth a little bit.”
Senior Curtis Hynes, a 6-0, 180-pounder, is projected to be the starting quarterback this year in the Knights’ spread offense. He is backed up by talented junior Travis Johnson.
Oñate’s leading ball-carrier this season should be Isaiah Fielder, a 5-9, 190-pound junior, who came on strong last season as a sophomore.
“We only had seven seniors last year, so we have a whole lot of experience coming back,” Hull said.“The key for us will be to stay healthy. Our depth is not what it needs to be.”
Hull said OHS didn’t lose too many players to Centennial and thinks the new school may eventually help even things out in District 3-5A, which has been dominated for years by Mayfield and Las Cruces High.
“This is still the toughest district in the state,” he said.“Cruces, Mayfield and Alamogordo will all start the season ranked in the top 10, but I think we can definitely make some noise. We have a chance to be there with them. We just need to develop some depth in a hurry.”
Aside from the challenge of District 3-5A, the Knights have a difficult pre-district schedule that includes games against Volcano Vista and last year’s defending state champ, Cleveland. But after weathering the storm of 2011, Hull is confident this season will be better.
“It’s like night and day from last year,” he said. “Everything is so much better.”
Oñate kicks off the 2012 season with a game at Bel Air in El Paso at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31. The Knights’ first home game is Thursday, Sept. 6, against Socorro.
From- www.lascrucesbulletin.com/ee/lascrucesbulletin/default.php?pSetup=lascrucesbulletin