In the past seven seasons, Hillsboro’s football team hasn’t won fewer than eight games and has compiled a record of 62-21 (.747).
The culmination of that run of success came last fall when the Hawks repeated as champions in the Mississippi Area Football Conference’s Red Division, won the Class 4 District 1 title and reached the state quarterfinals for the first time in the school’s history.
In the past two years, Hillsboro has been an offensive juggernaut, averaging 40 points per game in 2016 and 37 points last year. The Hawks’ much-celebrated offensive lines the past two years paved the way for a senior-laden unit of skilled players last fall.
Running backs Micheal Keller, Luke Skaggs, Joe Garner, Joe Gregory and quarterback Tyler Isaacson all graduated in the spring, leaving behind a sinkhole that would bury most programs for a year or two.
However, head coach Lee Freeman said despite the upheaval, not much will change for the Hawks.
“Every year the team has a different personality and attributes,” he said. “The opportunity is there to create their own personality. When people talk about graduating seniors, the players on the freshmen and JV teams have played enough games to be prepared for the next step in the program. It might be the first time fans see them play on Friday nights, but it’s not the first time they’ve played.”
One week before the Hawks kicked off the season at Sullivan, Freeman was still up in the air about Isaacson’s replacement, as senior Ethan Eckrich and junior Tyler Sizemore waged a spirited battle for the starting job over the summer.
Sizemore quarterbacked the junior varsity last year and Eckrich filled in for Isaacson against Affton. Eckrich and Sizemore split the plays at last week’s jamboree.
“Ethan’s a little more seasoned, but Tyler had a great JV season last year,” Freeman said.
The Hawks rushed for almost 4,500 yards last year, paced by Keller’s 1,522 yards and 26 TDs.
Freeman said this year’s backfield will be run by committee with six or seven runners to choose from.
After playing receiver last year – but without a catch – senior Brady Smith is one of the top halfbacks. Freeman said Smith has stood out in practice and was a valuable special teams player last season. If Sizemore isn’t the starting QB, he’ll be moved to the backfield that includes juniors Dominic Crady, Reece Hudson and Isaac Hamilton. Senior Hayden Voyles replaces Garner at fullback and Freeman said sophomore Gabe King has been productive since practice began Aug. 6.
“There will be a lot of rotating to keep guys fresh early in games,” Freeman said. “Each (running back) has a different upside. They’re all running hard right now.”
No one caught more than eight passes for the Hawks last season, but Freeman doesn’t completely avoid throwing the football. Senior J.T. Hansen and junior Austin Perez are the top two receivers.
“I always have high hopes we’ll throw more but we’ve had so much success doing what we do, it doesn’t make much sense to put the ball the in air,” Freeman said.
Seniors Bob Doerner (right tackle), Joe Becker (right guard) and Ryan Larkin (center) return as starters on the offensive line. Juniors Luke Garner (left guard) and Aaron Brody (left tackle) join the starting unit. Garner and Brody both had older brothers on the team. Luke is built more like a running back, but he wouldn’t crack the starting lineup there.
Becker is 6-3, 312 pounds and Freeman said he would prefer to play him just on offense, although he was a first-team all-league selection on defense last season. Freeman said Becker is starting to attract the attention of college scouts.
“If you had to go by someone the kids respond to verbally, it’s Ryan Larkin,” Freeman said. “Joe’s shear size is what gets your attention.
“We lack a little experience but they care and they’ll work at it and get better each week. It’s our job as coaches to adjust to their shortcomings. I don’t feel they have a lot of downside; their ceiling is much higher.”
Junior James Weber was a lineman last year and since he can block and catch, he has been moved to tight end. Joe Marschuetz (a 2018 graduate) snared only four passes from that position last year, but he averaged 29 yards per catch.
Much like the skilled players, the Hawks will replace most of their defensive starters. Keller, Marschuetz, Becker, Zach Bodway and Chase Green were all first-team all-conference performers last season.
On the defensive front are Larkin, Doerner and Jordan Cage. Weber and senior Seth Lowery are the defensive ends and their backups are Zach McNeese and Will Dotson. Voyles and junior John Moseley are inside linebackers, with Hudson, Crady and senior J.C. Griffin lining up outside.
Hansen and Perez are the cornerbacks and Sizemore, Eckrich and sophomore Dylan Dace will play safety.
Becker will handle the kickoffs and Smith is the punter. The Hawks haven’t tried a field goal in the past two seasons and it’s likely they’ll rely on two-point conversions again this fall.
Hillsboro remains in Class 4 District 1 and opens the season at Sullivan. Three of the Hawks’ first four games are on the road.
Freeman said North County, led by first-team all-conference QB Kolten Poorman, and Festus are positioned to challenge for the league title.
“I have to pick Festus as the favorite from a talent aspect,” Freeman said. “They are the most talented team in the county and right there with North County. Poorman might throw 30 touchdowns and for 2,000 yards. (Festus head coach Russ Schmidt) always has a guy or two who will sneak up on you.”