Richmond looks like team to beat in Big Northern East
The Hampshire football team's primary goal this season is to repeat as champions of the Big Northern Conference East Division, but winning back-to-back titles will be a stiff challenge.
The preseason favorite among league coaches is Richmond-Burton, which rallied from a 1-4 start to win seven straight. The Rockets' turnaround season culminated in an appearance in the Class 4A state semifinals. Aurora Christian finally derailed the R-B freight train with a 29-20 victory.
Hampshire (6-4, 5-0) did not lose a league game in 2008, led by a talented senior class that came back from an 0-3 start to win the division title and reach the playoffs. Richmord-Burton (8-5, 4-1) finished a game behind in second place.
Unfortunately for the rest of the BNC East, Richmond-Burton returns the bulk of the players responsible for its memorable 2008 season. Coach Patrick Elder will enjoy the luxury of eight returning starters on offense, six on defense.
Offensively, R-B returns junior quarterback Adam Pittser (6-1, 195) and running backs Kenny Riordan and Jordan Russell. The rushing duo combined for nearly 1,800 yards as juniors. The defense is led by third-year starting defensive end Kyle Wismer. He recorded double-digit sack totals in 4 playoff games.
"I think Richmond, especially with the postseason run they had last year, on paper is probably the preseason conference favorite," Burlington Central coach Aaron Wichman said. "I know Hampshire always has some quality athletes in their program. As usual our conference is going to be tough, but it looks like Richmond would be on the top."
Hampshire returns three-year varsity players Cooper Smith (DT/OT) and Ron Laramie (RB/DB), along with athletic corner/wide reciever Ryan Burke and speedy running back/defensive lineman Caleb Kendricks.
However, replacements must be found at the majority of the line positions on either side of the ball. Senior Ryan DeChant is Hampshire's lone returning offensive lineman. Nevertheless, the Whips concede nothing until R-B proves it on the field. Hampshire beat Richmond 21-11 last season.
"We come in every year with the expectation of making the playoffs and competing for the conference championship," 21st-year Hampshire coach Dan Cavanaugh said. "That's our goal every year and I don't see why we can't do that this year either. We started out slow last year and came on with an experienced group, and I think we can again."
Burlington Central looks to rebound from a rare down season. The Rockets finished 2-7 overall, their lowest win total since the 1993 team went winless. They finished fourth in the Big Northern-East with a 2-3 record.
Junior quarterback Tim Maroder, in his third season of varsity football, will lead an offense that should improve upon its 15.1 points-per-game average last year despite the loss of starting quarterback Tim Botsford to a broken tibia suffered in a 7-on-7 competition at Beloit College in late July. Four of five offensive linemen return, led by third-year starting tackle Tim Seyller (6-2, 220).
Harvard (5-4, 3-2) could again challenge for the title after dropping from first to third in the division last season. The Hornets return most of their offensive line and quarterback Zach Fiegel from an attack that averaged 24 points per game.
North Boone (3-6, 1-4) returns talented junior quarterback Alex Albrecht (6-1, 190) and his top receiver, twin brother Jon Albrecht.
Marengo (1-8, 0-5) ended a 29-game program losing streak in Week 2 of last season with a 28-26 victory over Knoxville, but the Indians were unable to win a game in division play.