FOOTBALL: New blood out to help Hill
By Jeff Stover
jstover@21st-centurymedia.com
@MercuryXStover on Twitter
At 7 p.m. Friday, The Hill School’s football team will start seeing the results from control of its destiny.
The opening kickoff at Pottstown High’s Grigg Memorial Field, and nine games over a two-month period, will be the litmus test of the Rams’ desire to reverse their fortunes into a productive direction. The quest to improve on last year’s win total — one in five Mid-Atlantic Prep League games, one in nine total outings — will test the strength of their determination and mindset.
In the runup to the 2018 season, the team is showing some of the right stuff.
“Each year is different,” head coach Jeff Hollway said. “There’s a new class, new post-graduates. What we’re finding out about this class is they’re not late to practices, to lifting, to meals. They’re displaying professionalism and accountability.”
That, and the presence of several talented post-grads and upperclassmen, offers The Hill hope for a better outcome.
“Out of 36 players, 14 are seniors,” Hollway noted. “Some have played three years. Culture change is what’s being demanded.”
At the forefront of the Rams’ drive is a quintet of post-graduates and upperclassmen, a majority of whom figure to see action on both sides of the ball this fall. At quarterback is Javon Clements, a post-grad from Bethlehem Catholic. He and the Hawks advanced to the third round of the PIAA Class 4A playoffs in 2017, ending the season of District 1-4A champion Pottsgrove in the process.
“Javon has good decision making,” Hollway said. “He pushes the kids on offense to go higher.”
Joining Clements in the offensive backfield will be another PG, Maurice Mazzccua. The Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) product helped the Saints go two rounds into the PIAA Class 2A playoffs and finish with an 11-1 record.
“He’s explosive and has great vision,” Hollway said of Mazzccua, who also figures to play safety on defense.
A third post-graduate is Josh Flowers, from Glenbard North in Carol Stream, Ill. Described by Hollway as a “special player,” Flowers is listed as a wide receiver and cornerback.
Naz Higgins, a sixth former standing at 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds, is in his second year at the tackle slot. Hollway figures Higgins is “going to help us on both sides of the ball.”
And Gernard Finney, a fifth former who started almost every game for the Hill the last two years, is listed at running back and free safety.
“Maurice, Javon and Josh are new players,” Hollway said, “but they’re good football players. They are kids to watch.
“We attract great kids at the Hill,” he added. “They do things the Hill way.”
The Rams are again opening a season with a night game against WS. They went to Kingston for last year’s lid-lifter with the Blue Knights, who edged the Hill 22-20.
“The kids are excited about the atmosphere,” Hollway said.
The Hill will have three more non-league games in the coming weeks — at Kiski Sept. 15, at home against Episcopal Academy Sept 22 and at Springside-Chestnut Hill Sept. 29 — before opening its Mid-Atlantic Prep League schedule at Peddie School Oct. 5. The Rams’ schedule will again close out against longtime archrival Lawrenceville School at home Nov. 3.
“We play in a tough league,” Hollway noted. “We have Division 1 players come out of the league and our team.
“What we value most is experience. We want to make sure the kids enjoy high school sports. They’re resilient and love to play.”
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Team-building is at the core of Wyoming Seminary’s preparations for the 2018 season.
The process has been to the liking of Jim Anderson, the Blue Knights’ head coach.
“We have a lot of new faces this year,” Anderson said. “We want them to have the ability to grow together, to trust each other as a team. I’m proud of the group, how it’s come together as a team.”
In advance of Friday’s opener with The Hill School, Seminary participated in a three-team scrimage with Germantown and Springside-Chestnut Hill academies two weeks ago. Anderson saw the experience as helpful for getting his team ready for the season.
“By design, the prep school culture is you have new faces each year. We wanted to evaluate kids at certain positions — how they function in space — and put ourselves in position to install offense and defense.”
The team, which graduated 19 seniors this spring, is a blend of local talent with four foreign students: Two from Austria, one from Germany and one from Canada.
“So far, for the three weeks we’ve been out on the field,” Anderson said, “I’ve enjoyed coaching the kids.”
Leading the offense will be Cooper Heisey. A product of Scotch Plains School in Fanwood, N.Y., Heisey comes off a senior season during which he threw for 3,500 yards.
Also in the offensive backfield will be Rob Dwyer, a multi-versatile (wide receiver/free safety) player who was part of Wyoming Valley West’s state-semifinal team in 2017; and Prince Hall, a running back/strong safety from Jupiter Christian (Fla.) High School.
The foreign-born talent includes Austrians Max Planek (tight end/linebacker) and Mario Kljajic (offensive and defensive line); and Florian Roperz from Germany (center). Closer to home are roster entries Alex Kristeller (offensive and defensive lines) and Todd Phillips (wide receiver/defensive back) from Dallas.
They will figure prominently in the Blue Knights’ hopes to improve on their 3-5 finish in 2017.
“The culture of a football team is to look for obvious improvement,” Anderson said.
