Before last year’s 2-7 record, Crystal City had lost 29 of its previous 30 games, posting two 0-10 seasons. In 2018, the Hornets hired Dan Fox to attempt a revival of the program. Fox and his assistant coaches were sweating it out with the 17 players on this year’s team at an early practice. That’s a drop of a few players from a year ago and prevents the coaches from doing 11-on-11 formations during practice.
Fox said he realizes hoping for 30 athletes might be too ambitious.
“If we can get 17 to 22 kids to come out, that’s right along in high schools our size (Class 1),” he said. “I try to be encouraging. I get tired myself. I run around and hoot and holler and give effort so those guys can feed off of it.”
The Hornets moved their practices from the afternoon to the morning because of the heat. The sun was already baking J.J. Commerford stadium as Crystal ran through offensive and defensive drills.
“Because we have a limited amount of kids, they get a ton of reps,” Fox said. “So they should be in good game shape.”
Fewer numbers means more individualized attention from the coaches, like teachers with smaller class sizes. Each player’s effort is scrutinized more closely.
“These kids are praised a lot and some don’t know what to do when they’re not,” Fox said. “They get defensive about it, so that’s what we told them at the end of practice: you’re being coached and that’s a good thing.”
Running the offense at quarterback for the second straight year is junior Cyle Schaumburg.
“We’re keeping the offense status quo from last year and he’s really calm and cool with the ball and does all the right things for us,” Fox said. “He can throw it. He doesn’t like to a lot but when he does, he’s effective. You can send blitzers at him and he doesn’t get frazzled.”
Fullback Caden Raftery, a junior, returns to the Hornet backfield as does senior Calloway Dashner, who has game-breaking abilities.
Sophomore running back Camden Mayes transferred from St. Pius X and is ineligible, but can practice with the team. He attended Crystal City schools before going to Pius his freshman year. In practice on Aug. 12, Mayes broke off several long runs and made tacklers miss with spin moves.
“He showed what kind of character he has by coming to practice, knowing he can’t play this year,” Fox said. “He’ll be ready to go next year. We’re happy to have him back. He’s a great kid and we’re happy to have him back at Crystal City.”
Senior Joe Schubert returns at center to anchor the offensive line. Junior Luke Holdinghausen and sophomore Seth Senter are the guards and juniors Hayden Reynolds and Gary Kentch will start at the tackles. Holdinghausen played tight end in 2020 but missed part of the season with a broken wrist.
Freshmen Evan Wolfe is at wide receiver and Nolan Eisenbeis will be a backup running back and QB. “He’s a good athlete and learning as we go,” Fox said of Eisenbeis.
On defense, Dashner can play linebacker or safety and also will kick and punt.
“He’s going to make lots of tackles,” Fox predicted.
Raftery and Holdinghausen are the inside linebackers and Fox said he “expects them to thump more.”
Schaumburg has played cornerback since he was a freshman. Junior Kanden Bolton returns at safety, with Eisenbeis and Wolfe rounding out the secondary.
“I preach to these guys that there won’t be any breaks so we have to be in the best shape we can be. I love our kids, but if we have an injury, the whole dynamic changes for us,” Fox said.
The Hornets host Chaffee tonight (Aug. 27) in their season opener. The Red Devils beat Crystal 46-8 for their only win last season. Crystal beat Portageville 34-32 in a last-second win a year ago and travels there for the final game of the regular season Oct. 22.