2008 Woodie Awards
Revamp, reload
Football Preview
Garrett Purchio
Issue date: 8/22/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Coming off the program's best performance in nearly four decades, the Humboldt State football team heads into the 2007 season with high ambitions and a fierce desire to win.
An unrelenting offense and an unforgiving defense propelled the team to a 9-1 record, something which hadn't been done since 1968. While you could call it a breakout season, the players feel that what the team accomplished last year is only the beginning of what is yet to come.
"We have high expectations," said sophomore wide receiver Edwin Henry. "We're trying to go 10-0."
One of the key factors to the team's success was a large group of veteran experience. Players like Blake Moorman, Kyle Killingsworth, Joey Stein and Todd Eagle, just to name a few, anchored the team by playing consistently throughout the season. The team lost over 20 seniors to graduation, but that does not appear to have hurt the squad.
"We're still a veteran team," said senior offensive lineman Duane Manyweather. "You can feel the difference with those seniors gone, but we've got a lot of new guys that are ready to step up and play hard."
Playing hard is something the 'Jacks will have to do throughout the season, especially in the opening weeks. The team has four consecutive road games to begin the year including tomorrow's season opener at nationally-ranked North Dakota, which has appeared in two of the last six Division II national championship games.
In all the 'Jacks will be on the road for six games while hosting only four, which begins on September 29, when the team welcomes Dixie College to the Redwood Bowl. While the prospect of playing on the road may seem daunting, it has had little effect on the players' mindset heading into the season.
"The first four games are going to be tough, but we just have to stay focused," Manyweather said.
Brian Harris, the team's offensive coordinator, said before last season that he expected the 'Jacks to have a winning record. While the team may look different, the mentality has not changed.
On offense, the 'Jacks used a variety of weapons in 2006 to average 32.4 points and 370.1 total yards per game. While the total number of passing yards outweighed the rushing yards by a 2-1 margin, either could be counted on to get a big play when the 'Jacks needed it. The 2007 offense should be as consistent, even with many of last year's starters lost to graduation.
"This year we have several strong running backs," said Henry, who added that the team was more pass-oriented during his first season in 2005. "But we don't want to be just a rushing team or a passing team. We want to be balanced."
The defense is expected to continue to create problems for opposing offenses. In 2006, Humboldt State held opponents to averages of 19.4 points and 273.4 yards per game.
Even more impressive was the defense's ability to prevent teams from converting in critical situations. Opposing offenses failed 14 out of 16 times in 2006 to get through the Humboldt State defense on fourth down, which was often deep in the 'Jacks' territory. This year the defense expects to continue that level of dominance.
"I think we have a better defense overall this year," freshman linebacker Jake Anagnosastopolis said, adding that the team's speed has improved as well.
Following the team's scrimmage on Thursday, several players said they were pleased with how the game went. While there is still room for improvement, the overall feeling is that this team is ready for another successful year.
"We have a strong desire to win a championship," said Anagnosastopolis. "You need that attitude. We have a great coaching staff and when you do what you need to, you have what it takes to be a championship team."
Garrett Purchio can be reached at gmoneykid@comcast.net
LINKS
HSU Athletics
An unrelenting offense and an unforgiving defense propelled the team to a 9-1 record, something which hadn't been done since 1968. While you could call it a breakout season, the players feel that what the team accomplished last year is only the beginning of what is yet to come.
"We have high expectations," said sophomore wide receiver Edwin Henry. "We're trying to go 10-0."
One of the key factors to the team's success was a large group of veteran experience. Players like Blake Moorman, Kyle Killingsworth, Joey Stein and Todd Eagle, just to name a few, anchored the team by playing consistently throughout the season. The team lost over 20 seniors to graduation, but that does not appear to have hurt the squad.
"We're still a veteran team," said senior offensive lineman Duane Manyweather. "You can feel the difference with those seniors gone, but we've got a lot of new guys that are ready to step up and play hard."
Playing hard is something the 'Jacks will have to do throughout the season, especially in the opening weeks. The team has four consecutive road games to begin the year including tomorrow's season opener at nationally-ranked North Dakota, which has appeared in two of the last six Division II national championship games.
In all the 'Jacks will be on the road for six games while hosting only four, which begins on September 29, when the team welcomes Dixie College to the Redwood Bowl. While the prospect of playing on the road may seem daunting, it has had little effect on the players' mindset heading into the season.
"The first four games are going to be tough, but we just have to stay focused," Manyweather said.
Brian Harris, the team's offensive coordinator, said before last season that he expected the 'Jacks to have a winning record. While the team may look different, the mentality has not changed.
On offense, the 'Jacks used a variety of weapons in 2006 to average 32.4 points and 370.1 total yards per game. While the total number of passing yards outweighed the rushing yards by a 2-1 margin, either could be counted on to get a big play when the 'Jacks needed it. The 2007 offense should be as consistent, even with many of last year's starters lost to graduation.
"This year we have several strong running backs," said Henry, who added that the team was more pass-oriented during his first season in 2005. "But we don't want to be just a rushing team or a passing team. We want to be balanced."
The defense is expected to continue to create problems for opposing offenses. In 2006, Humboldt State held opponents to averages of 19.4 points and 273.4 yards per game.
Even more impressive was the defense's ability to prevent teams from converting in critical situations. Opposing offenses failed 14 out of 16 times in 2006 to get through the Humboldt State defense on fourth down, which was often deep in the 'Jacks' territory. This year the defense expects to continue that level of dominance.
"I think we have a better defense overall this year," freshman linebacker Jake Anagnosastopolis said, adding that the team's speed has improved as well.
Following the team's scrimmage on Thursday, several players said they were pleased with how the game went. While there is still room for improvement, the overall feeling is that this team is ready for another successful year.
"We have a strong desire to win a championship," said Anagnosastopolis. "You need that attitude. We have a great coaching staff and when you do what you need to, you have what it takes to be a championship team."
Garrett Purchio can be reached at gmoneykid@comcast.net
LINKS
HSU Athletics
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