New season, new offense for Hill School football

POTTSTOWN >> Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s safe to say establishing a new identity can also be a lengthy process, too. But The Hill School is logging the hours into forging a new-look offense, and it’ll certainly take time.

Second-year coach Orlando Patterson will be joined by new offensive coordinator Mike Boyer in implementing change to The Hill’s offense, from the front seven to its skill positions.

“It’s definitely different, but it’s exciting. We finally have an offensive coordinator, which is nice,” senior wide receiver Quinton Craig said. “I’ve been through this, I’m used to getting new coaches year after year so it’s been a quick adjustment really.”

Craig is joined by several other key upperclassmen returners on the offensive side of the ball, such as fellow team captain running back Kayden White (Pottstown), receivers Jake Voynar (Royersford) and Tristan Reynolds (Gilbertsville), Anthony McMullan and Dante McQueen on the line.

Boyer joins The Hill after 14 years as an assistant coach at Albright College. During his tenure on the Division III collegiate level, Boyer was a part of a Middle Atlantic Conference title in 2015 and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, won a MAC Bowl the following year and in 2017, earned a second straight MAC-Centennial bid.

But aside from an offensive football mind, Boyer also brings a background of recruiting to the table.

“There’s a lot of changes coming back from a college to a high school setting. Obviously the recruiting situation is different,” Boyer said. “One of the things at The Hill School, we’re looking to do a better job recruiting players to come to a boarding school setting, so the recruiting aspect is something I’m very familiar with.”

During his time at Albright, Boyer has recruited from Montgomery, Berks, Schuylkill, Lancaster and Bucks Counties. He also coached at the high school level, serving as the offensive coordinator for both Boyertown and Exeter.

While he’s more than familiar with the public high school landscape in Southeastern Pennsylvania as it is now, the jump to preps is a whole new experience in Boyer’s 25-plus years of coaching, and one he’s looking forward to. That, and hitting the recruiting trail some more.

“With Xs and Os, coach Patterson does a great job with what we do here at Hill, which I try to compliment what he does by trying to get things in a direction where we can move things forward with our program to make our program one that students who are looking at boarding schools or private schools, look at Hill as a football destination as well,” Boyer said.

Charlie Hewitt enters the season as The Hill’s starting quarterback. The 6-foot-5 sophomore signal caller is backed by a line that’s been praised as “bigger, more physical, able to run the ball inside and out as well as protect.”

That offensive line is spearheaded by the 6-foot-3, 250-pound McQueen. The trenches will also be bolstered by junior transfers Andrew Nesler (6-foot-2, 285-pounds), William Antippas (6-foot-3, 260-pounds) and Aaron Meadows (6-foot, 250-pounds).

The Rams scrimmaged against Episcopal (Va.) and got an early look at not only their newcomers, but their early foundation heading into the 2022 season.

“They’re ready to play football. And I say that in the sense that they’re excited. Hungry, but they’re excited to play football,” Patterson said. “From what we saw on Saturday is they hit really well, they move together as a unit, they swarm and people are doing their jobs.

“On the football field, you have one job and when everyone does their jobs well at the same time, it’s a beautiful thing. We’re getting there. It’s always an adjustment, we’re working on it, but I think the boys are really, really hungry to play some more football and know that they’re good at playing football and see what we can do.”

Patterson will be calling plays on defense, which returns key linebacker Deven Vennera (Pottstown) as well as a wealth of experience and speed in its upperclassmen. UConn football alum Jay Williams, Kevin Tkachuk, Ernest Higginbotham and Gavin Harter compose Patterson’s coaching staff.

The Hill School opens its season Friday at Germantown before another road contest at Episcopal Academy. The Rams then host Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Week 3 before heading to the Academy of the New Church.

Three straight New Jersey schools fill Weeks 7-8 with Peddie, Hun and Blair Academy, Hun being a home game. Kiski comes to Pottstown in the penultimate week with a road trip to Lawrence (N.J.) to cap off The Hill School’s regular season.

“I’d say (it’s a) new era in a sense, but still sticking to our norms,” Patterson said. “Hill has a rich history in football, successful football and we’re trying to do our part to bring it back. Whatever it takes. It’s going to be a while for us to do that, but we’re committed to doing that work.”