2011 Season Preview Hills West Football

They were up, then down, and the Colts are hoping to flip the pattern as football season gets set to kick off in a couple of weeks.

2009 Class III Long Island champions, the Colts fell to 3-5 last season and missed the playoffs. It was a tough pill to swallow, as the Colts are accustomed to annual contention.

"That's what the community thinks, that's what Long Island expects, that Hills West football is going to be in the mix every single year," said coach Kyle Madden. "The guys have to understand that and embrace it."

Madden says inexperience was one of the reasons for last season's downturn, with a starting lineup full of sophomores and juniors. Now those same players are a year older, and ready to challenge once more in Division II.

"This year we have a more senior team, hopefully that strength and experience will kick in," Madden said.

Last Year's Record: 3-5, failed to qualify for postseason

Coach: Kyle Madden, 12th season

Venue: Robert A. Collotta Memorial Field

Preseason Ranking: 5th in Division II

Breakdown:

The Colts are traditionally a high scoring offense, operating out of the no-huddle spread. Scoring was down last year, but the Colts are confident it was a one year slump. Syracuse-bound moves from RB to QB, taking over for Chris Busuttil. McFarlane is confident that he can man the controls through the air and on the ground.

"I wouldn't call it a challenge, because I pretty much knew our offense sophomore year, and I've been picking it up pretty good," McFarlane said.

Madden hopes to throw it around eight times a game, for scores and first downs primarily. McFarlane has a deep group of receivers: Jessean Banks, Deven Williams, Jagger Rebozo and Jared Redwood will be McFarlane's targets.

Out of the backfield, when he's not carrying it himself, McFarlane will hand off to Jaquese Jones, along with Redwood and Jared Higgins. It's all about versatility on offense, with several 'hybrid' players that can fill a number of roles.

Up front, star TE Randy Davis will be moved to center to anchor a line that includes veteran Omar Clark, along with Aaron Gordon and left tackle James D'Accunti.

"The center is asked to reach and get to people, one techniques, three techniques so our guards can get to the second level linebackers ... athletically Randy's one of the best athletes we have," Madden said.

Davis will also be counted on to lead the defense, sort of a 'TCU' 4-3/4-4 hybrid. Davis will be at middle linebacker, and expects to make it tough for opponents to keep up with the Colts on the scoreboard.

"Just reading our keys and trusting everyone to do their job," Davis said regarding what coaches have been stressing this summer. "If we do our jobs, we'll come off the field, three and outs, and everything will be ok."

Madden has enough faith in his linemen to forego the blitz, but says adjustments can be made on 'D' weekly depending on matchups. Clark and Rebozo will be at end, with D'Accunti, Gordon and Hassan Benitez on the inside, trying to make up for the loss of Mike Quinn. 

Deven Williams will be at the 'whip' position of LB/SS, with Banks and Obid Farooque holding down the fort in the secondary.

Kevin Stanis won the Riverhead game with a field goal, and should be handling both kicker and punter duties. Long snapper Mike Crispi got a scholarship to Elon for doing just that.

Key Games: There's the opener September 9th under the lights at Smithtown West, and of course a showdown with top ranked East Islip on Sept.28.

Expectations: The mission is simple. Put 2010 aside, bounce back, and return to championship contention in 2011. Madden says the Colts have the depth and experience to do just that, and if they can avoid injuries and stay focused, it will be mission accomplished.

"Experience and maturity is such an important thing in high school football, [players] grow and get stronger, they've been in the weight room since November, so we got an early start," Madden said.

The hope this year is to put off that offseason training until December, and make November postseason time once more at Hills West.