POTTSTOWN >> The biggest and most abundant change for Hill School football this season isn’t within the program’s personnel.
The Hill has moved all practices, scrimmages and games to the newly-renovated Madden Stadium, complete with turf, bleachers and a dazzling scoreboard with play clocks on either end. Pat Madden, Frank Puccio, Scott Granowski and Mark Richardson – all Hill football alumni – donated money to build the upgrades.
It’s a far cry from the little grass cove tucked away on campus that served the program for years.
But what’s a new house without making the proper memories? That’s the question ahead of the Rams’ season opener this Friday against Germantown Academy when The Hill debuts its new facility.
“It’s amazing, the playing surface is awesome. We’ve got the new scoreboard and stands, and it’s super generous, but nothing matters unless we win,” junior quarterback Charlie Hewitt said. “We have to take the next step and work on being successful.”
Hewitt enters his second year starting under center. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound signal caller will be backed by an offensive line consisting of Billy Antippas (East Norriton) at left tackle, left guard Dante Donaldson, Hilton Johnson at center, right guard Aaron Meadows, and Brody Brunner at right tackle with tight end Gavin Heck in the fray.
Tristan Reynolds (Gilbertsville) and Philip Kim are the top wide receivers with Chase McCusker in the slot. In the wake of graduating first team All-Mercury running back Kayden White, Deven Vennera (Pottstown) and Zak Zindle will rotate the backfield.
Mike Boyer takes over for Orlando Patterson as Hill’s head football coach. Boyer joined the Blues last year as an offensive coordinator after 14 years as an assistant coach at Albright College. There haven’t been any major changes to the new-look spread offense Boyer introduced last year, and now Hill is ironing it out with a year of the system under its belt.
“It’s the same as what we ran last year, it’s not much different,” Boyer said of the Blues’ offensive scheme. “We’re just a little better at understanding what we’re supposed to do and we’ve had more time to implement it.”
During his tenure at Albright, Boyer was a part of a Middle Atlantic Conference title in 2015 and reached the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament, won a MAC Bowl the following year and in 2017, earned a second straight MAC-Centennial bid.
Boyer has recruited from Montgomery, Berks, Schuylkill, Lancaster and Bucks Counties. He also served as the offensive coordinator for both Boyertown and Exeter. Hewitt, a Cohasset, Mass. native, has grown into Boyer’s offense as he took up the starting quarterback role last year when it was brought to the table.
“I’ve been super lucky. I feel I fit right into the style of play, the spread offense for the most part,” Hewitt said. “We have two power runners, but I have a big arm so I like to throw the ball. (Boyer) has been great, working with my footwork and helping me take that step to the next level.”
Meadows and Antippas will go two-way on the line as defensive ends with Jason Micklei at nose guard. Vennera, Zindle, Heck and Reynolds make up the linebacker corps. Rohan Tyagi and Kim will play cornerback and the safeties consist of Chase McCusker and James Farley.
“I think we’re so busy right now, we don’t really realize anything has changed,” Boyer said of the new work environment at Madden Stadium. “I think we’ve done a much better job at organizing and structuring practices and things of that nature. We have a much more concise plan of what we’re looking to do. I think that keeps things going in a very smooth and orderly fashion.”
Kicker Max Elmore and punter Anthony McMullan – both first team All-MAPL selections – graduated in the offseason, creating new needs for Hill at those positions on special teams. Antippas and Reynolds are returning first team All-MAPL selections while Zindle and Meadows made second team.
Hill is coming off a 1-2 mark in the Mid Atlantic Prep League last season as well as a 3-6 record overall. The Blues took wins over Academy of the New Church (30-13), Peddie (42-21) and Kiski School (14-13) in 2022.
The coaching staff consists of defensive coordinator Ron Zeiber, lineman coach Gavin Harter, coach Kevin Tkachuk and Jacob Vore coaching defensive ends and tight ends, Jay Williams on the receivers, Ernest Higginbotham with outside linebackers and running backs, and Craig Boyer on inside linebackers with a hand in receivers.
Having scrimmaged against Episcopal (Va.) last week, the Blues open their season against Germantown Academy at home Friday with opening kick slated for 7 p.m. under the new lights. Hill hosts Episcopal Academy (Sept. 15), travels to Springside Chestnut Hill (Sept. 23) and returns home for Academy of the New Church (Sept. 29) before opening league play at Peddie School on Oct. 7.
“Looking forward to winning and being with the guys, hanging out with them everyday,” Hewitt said. “It’s a grind, but I just love it. I love it when I’m with the family.”
SCHEDULE
Friday, September 8
Germantown Academy at Hill School, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 15
Episcopal Academy at Hill School, 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 23
Hill School at Springside Chestnut Hill, 2 p.m.
Friday, September 29
Academy of the New Church at Hill School, 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 7
Hill School at Peddie School, 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 14
Hun School at Hill School, 2 p.m.
Saturday, October 21
Hill School at Blair Academy, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 28
Hill School at Kiski School, 2 p.m.
Saturday, November 4
Lawrenceville School at Hill School, 3 p.m.
