Hill School football hoping for carry-over effect

They make a practice of not dwelling on the outcomes of past games.

At the same time, The Hill School players and coaches are not hesitant to drawing inspiration from previously-played contests. That’s the case this fall, with the Rams preparing themselves for the start of their 2019 season this weekend.

Moments from 2018 — specifically, the beginning and end — are fueling the program’s drive toward the new campaign, which gets under way Saturday at Wyoming Seminary. The Hill opened with a 20-13 loss to the Blue Knights, but it redeemed a 2-8 season with successive victories over Mercersburg Ac. (48-14) and archrival Lawrenceville School (33-23).

“My teammates, the returners want to build on it,” Gernard Finney, a sixth-former who plays running back and free safety, said of the team’s solid conclusion to 2018. “It’s the first time in nine years we beat Lawrenceville.”

Equally as driving is the Rams’ quest to end a two-game losing streak against Wyoming Seminary. They were a pair of close losses: 22-20 in 2017, 20-13 last year.

“There’s no talk about last year, but the feeling is there,” head coach Jeff Hollway said. “Our veteran leadership is setting the pace.”

The 2019 Hill squad is heavy at both ends of the age spectrum. The interface between freshmen and four-year players has impressed Hollway in the pre-season.

“This is the most fun group I’ve had in my four years at the Hill,” he said. “The older guys are doing a great job mentoring the young kids.

“Our numbers are up from last year,” he added. “We currently have 34, and maybe we’ll get three to four more when school starts.”

A trio of post-graduates will have a lot to do with the Hill’s success in 2019.

Zayid Aziz, listed as a quarterback/defensive back/kick returner, is a talented performer. “Everything goes through him. He makes the motor go,” Hollway noted.

Michael Jamerson III, a running back/linebacker, and Will Lyman, a Californian who plays wide receiver and defensive back, are other quality PGs.

“Our post-graduates are a special group of kids,” Hollway said. “Aziz is a post-grad with talent. He’s pushing me out of my comfort zone. Jamerson is special and Lyman is dynamic.”

In tandem with them, Finney and fellow sixth-former Payton Reed (wide receiver/defensive back) will be looked to for leadership as on-field performance. Finney sees his role on offense as being a force on the edges.

“Coach wants me outside,” he said. “I’m pretty speedy and agile, with the ability to make someone miss. “
“Gernard Finney and Payton Reed will step up in leadership. Reed had to sit and watch his junior year. Gernard is a dynamic player in space.”

A fifth-former, Andrew Chirieleison, will enhance the Hill’s overall skill-position posture as a running back and defensive back.

“Andrew Chirieleison lines up and plays fast,” Hollway noted. “That’s fun.”

Sean Foley, a post-grad who ranks as the Hill’s tallest (6-foot-5) and biggest (250 pounds) player, figures to be a presence on both the offensive and defensive lines.

“It will be a numbers game with the linemen,” Hollway said. “We’re two to three deep in the skill positions, and that will help us. We look to be more run heavy, with our talents.”

“We have a lot of returners like Andrew Chirielson,” Finney added. “Our strength is with our skill players. We don’t have a lot of size up front, but we’re athletic.”

Another post-grad on the Hill roster is Dylan Vincenti, a running back/defensive back. Other six formers are William Henriksen (fullback/linebacker), Jackson Kretzing (wide receiver/outside linebacker), Logan Punzone (wide receiver/defensive back), Nolan Smith (quarterback/defensive back), Michael Stevens (running back/defensive lineman) and Timothy Wamakima (wide receiver/defensive back).

The preseason optimism will give way to reality with the opener against Wyoming Seminary. That game saw the Hill come in ranked 33rd in the state and the Blue Knights 275th last season; it ended with the Blue Knights 2-0 and the Rams winless for their first two games.

“My first year, we beat them at home,” Hollway said. “We need to finish. No more ‘almosts’.”