It’s been a real struggle for the Kutztown Area High School football team. The Cougars haven’t won a Berks League game since Nov. 6, 2009, when they defeated Fleetwood . Overall they’ve gone 2-46 over the kast five years. The goal for the 2014 team is to start the turnaround by getting some victories under their belt.
The first step was a new head coach. Matt Hoffert takes over the program with one goal in mind — to make this a winning program. He coached at Hamburg High for eight years and 11 ½ years at Albright College.
“The coaching staff I’ve assembled has come from winning programs and that’s what we want to have here,’ said Hoffert. “The kids want to win just as much as we do. They are very excited for this season and are really pushing themselves. They are just tired of losing.’
It won’t be an easy task. This will be a very young team this season and they will have to learn a new system from a new coaching staff. It will be a learning season for the Cougars who won’t measure their success in wins.
“It all starts in practice,’ said Hoffert. “The coaches are on the players contantly while still being encouraging. We’re getting better every day and just trying to get the kids into the right mind to win games.’
With the graduation of Nate Onorofsky, the Cougars lost last year’s starting quarterback, leading rusher and leading scorer, Zach Mickey will be the starting QB this year, though he did see significant action last year. He was 30-for-66 for 456 passing yards and four touchdowns.
Oscar Kelchner will be the number one running back this year after rushing for 51 yards on 13 carries last year.
“He’s a very shifty runner,’ said Hoffert. “He’s not big, but very athletic.’
Other key returning players include receiver John Sullivan (six receptions for 54 yards in 2013), offensive lineman Phil Donner, and lineman Hunter Mease.
“I want us to come out excited when we come out to play our first game of the season,’ said Hoffert. “I want us to keep iour heads up no matter what happens and I want us to finish the game. If things go bad, I want them to keep fighting hard and not give up. They’ve got to push hard throughout the whole game.
“I like what I see in these kids so far They are working hard to change things in this program and they are excited to start the season. These are the guys who can get us to where we want to be.
Kutztown will be at Pequea Valley on Sept. 5, then come back for its home opener against Chichester on Friday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. The Berks League season gets started on Sept,. 19, went the Cougars host Schuylkill Valley at 7 p.m.
