By RICHIE HALL
Hamilton Heights has a new head coach this season, although he is a familiar face in the Huskies program.
Actually, several of the faces are familiar for Heights, especially on the field. While the Huskies are still a relatively young team with a majority of juniors high on the depth chart, these are the same players that saw varsity action as sophomores. That makes Heights something that all coaches, new or old, love to hear: Young but experienced.
“We’re still young,” said Huskies coach Jon Kirschner. “Most of our skilled kids are juniors.”
After Heights scrimmaged Anderson last Friday, Kirschner was high on the potential that his team had. At the same time, he wanted to make sure that the Huskies are taking things one day at a time.
“Do I think we’re capable of doing anything we want? I do,” said Kirschner. “But, I’m a person who goes day-by-day. We got to win each day. And so, do we have the potential to do some really big things this year. We do. We are as in shape as I’ve seen. We work hard. We hit. We’re fast. We’re stronger than we’ve been.”
While this year’s junior class will be making an impact, Heights is likely to have a senior quarterback. Carter Campassi saw action in several games last year and did well, completing 39 of 83 passes for 644 yards, including three touchdowns.
Now to those juniors. That group includes Blake Webel, who was by far the leading rusher last year as a sophomore. Webel carried the ball 191 times and gained 772 yards, scoring seven touchdowns. Also returning is junior DeShawn King, who ran for 270 yards and two touchdowns.
Junior Camron Knott is the top returning receiver, with 22 catches for 411 yards and three touchdowns. Tad Defoe, a senior, made nine receptions and got two touchdowns.
On the defensive side, senior Kray Leininger brings back the most tackles with 89 total (including 61 solo. Seniors Brady Hill and Luke Herr are also back, along with junior Cole Portwood; Hill and Portwood both had four tackles for a loss. Hill also had four sacks.
With the exception of Hill, most of the above-mentioned players will be two-way guys. One of the things that impressed Kirschner the most was how fit the Huskies were during the scrimmage.
“That offensive line, they’re as in shape as I’ve seen,” said the coach.
Heights will begin its season by hosting Mount Vernon on Friday. There is a human interest angle to this game: Kirschner’s father Mike Kirschner is the first-year coach for the Marauders, this after supervising the last 11 seasons at Ben Davis, including last year’s dominant Class 6A state championship team.
But aside from that storyline, Jon Kirschner is aware that it will be a tough game. The two teams have played each other the past three years to open the season, with the Huskies winning the first two games before the Marauders won last year.
“It’s been a close game every year,” said Jon Kirschner. “I look for it to be a great match-up. We’re going to have to go four quarters with them.”
Hamilton Heights’ Blake Webel (11) was the leading rusher for the Huskies last season, with 772 yards in 191 carries. Webel is one of a number of experienced junior players on this year’s Heights team. (Richie Hall/File photo)