By Tom Waddill
Sports Editor
HUNTSVILLE —
Here’s a friendly reminder, Hornet fans: Huntsville started the 2009 season with two straight losses, but the Hornets hung tough and eventually got hot.
Huntsville won eight of its last 10 games, including a thrilling 45-14 victory over Buda Hays in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs. The Hornets also captured a share of the District 18-4A championship last fall, and they may make it three titles in a row in 2010 if they keep their heads up and continue working.
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” Hornets head coach Shane Martin often says. And he’s right.
The 2010 Hornets are far from a finished product. Another long and grueling season has barely begun, so now is not the time to panic.
Now is the time for patience, everybody. Better days are on the way.
Anything look familiar here?
“Offensively, the Hornets never got into a rhythm. ... Defensively, the Hornets had the same kind of problems as they did last year in a 27-24 loss to College Park.”
Those words were written in the Item after the Hornets’ meeting with College Park last year. The same could have been said about last week’s loss to the Cavaliers.
The final score of the 2009 game was 28-7. Thursday’s score ... 28-7.
What’s more, the Hornets were held to 240 yards of total offense in 2009; last week, Huntsville’s offense again sputtered, managing only 234 yards.
By contrast, College Park romped to 401 yards offense last year, 307 on the ground. The Hornets allowed 404 yards of offense this time around, 355 on the ground.
“We’ve got to go back to work,” Martin barked after last year’s loss. With a steely glare, Huntsville’s new head coach told the Hornets the exact same thing Thursday.
It’s time to work through the problems and figure out ways to correct the mistakes. Do that and the Hornets likely will make another strong finish in 2010.
Rebuilding takes time
Here’s another reminder: The Hornets have a ton of new faces this fall, young guys playing key positions like quarterback, running back and receiver. It’s going to take a while for Daniel Hazlewood, Henry Ford, Trevion Byrd and Cameron Simmons to adjust to their new starting roles.
Each of those players have shown flashes of potential already. They just need more polish in practice and a few more Friday nights under the bright varsity lights.
Defensively, Huntsville also has nine new starters in 2010. Utility man Mark Wheeler and middle linebacker Bridge Blount are the team’s only returning starters.
“... We’re not going to make any excuses,” Martin said last week when asked about numerous missed tackles that helped College Park turn short gains into big plays, the biggest of which were a 64-yard touchdown run with 28 seconds left in the first half and a 36-yard TD burst early in the second half that made it 21-0.
Like the new trio in the Hornets’ offensive backfield, it’s going to take a little time for guys like Melvin Lewis, Steve York, Quinton Merritt and Jordan Sandles to settle in and start making plays. Gabriel Franklin, Kervin Simmons, Marquel Kizzee and Kase Delaune became key contributors last season, and it’s a good bet that Merritt, Lewis, York and a few of their teammates will make the same kind of progress this fall.
Have some faith in the Hornets and their coaches
After the slow start last year, the Hornets made a few changes midstream and became much more efficient, especially on offense. Following a 30-14 bouncing by Brenham in the second district game of the season, and after being held to 143 yards of total offense, some fans surely felt the Hornets were a lost cause.
Those same fans probably changed their minds a week later.
The Hornets wisely turned the reins over to senior quarterback Justin Gilbert, who rushed for 117 yards and three touchdowns in a spirit-lifting 21-0 win over Waller.
Coaches also turned big Shaquille Ross into Huntsville’s full-time running threat. All Ross did was rush for 495 yards and score seven touchdowns in the Hornets’ final seven games last fall.
Defensively, the Hornets clamped down and led the way during a five-game winning streak that capped the regular season. Then in the playoffs, it was Franklin’s interception that sparked a 28-point explosion in the fourth quarter against Buda Hays. Ross and Gilbert both ran for scores, then Ross picked off a pass and rumbled 56 yards for another touchdown.
Ford finished the Rebels off with a nifty 46-yard scoring run late in the fourth quarter.
Martin and offensive coordinator Kane Harris made changes that worked last year, and they’ll likely do the same again in 2010, if they’re necessary.
Huntsville kicked off the new season against Brenham, one of the best 4A teams in the state, and last week, they lost to Class 5A College Park for the fifth consecutive time. Playing quality opponents will help the Hornets, not hurt them.
One more reminder: College Park looked like world beaters early last season. But after starting 3-1, the Cavaliers lost five of their last six games and missed the playoffs for the second straight season.
Huntsville did the reverse, starting 2-3 and finishing the regular season with five consecutive victories.
Fired up fans jumped on the bandwagon and had a big time rooting in the playoffs for the co-champs of District 18-4A.
Hang in there Hornets. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
