Team Preview:
Written by: Chris Langrill
It can be difficult to find the positives when your high school football team goes through a season without a victory.
But Marsing head coach Brad Hill believes that this year's squad can learn and benefit from the travails of last season, when the Huskies finished 0-8.
“We were so young and inexperienced last year,” Hill said. “I'm excited to see the growth and maturity from last year.”
And Hill definitely has some building blocks that can Marsing this season.
Rodrigo Acuna was named first-team, all-conference last season at both running back and defensive back as a junior. “He's very athletic and quick,” Hill said. “He has great football instincts.”
Nick Lankow was an all-conference honorable mention at defensive line. “He's a very physical player who plays with great intensity,” Hill said of Lankow, who will line up on both the offense and defensive lines.
And Hill mentioned three sophomores who could make an impact on a team that needs its young players to produce: Mason Hall, who started on the offensive and defensive lines as a freshman; Joseph Ineck, who will play running back and linebacker; and Jaden Kenney, who should help the offensive line and the linebacking corps.
Marsing's offense will feature four returning offensive lineman who either started or had significant playing time last season. Add in Acuna at running back and it's easy to see why Hill hopes to lean on his ground game.
“I believe our running game should be a strength for us,” said Hill, who was an assistant at Marsing for five years and will be entering his second season as the team's head coach. “We want to be a physical running team that incorporates play-action passing.”
Hill believes the Huskies' passing game can be more efficient than last season.
“Brett Grossman is a senior this year, and he made great strides this summer in the passing game,” Hill said.
Hill expects his linemen to set the tone on the defensive side of the ball. Like the offensive line, the defensive trenches will have four experienced players.
“Our defensive line is by far our strength on defense,” Hill said.
And while Hill said he can count on Acuna to shut down the opposing team's best receiver, he believes the secondary needs to improve.
“We need to cut down on giving up the big plays,” Hill said.
Hill also hopes a player emerges to tackle the duties at inside linebacker.
“We don't return anybody with any varsity experience (at the position),” Hill said.
So, yes, holes need to be filled and Hill's young team needs to learn quickly. But he'll keep preaching togetherness along the way.
The team's motto: “Coming together is the beginning. Staying together is progress. Working together is success.”
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