Hampshire hoping farewell to BNC is a winning one
Change comes to the Big Northern Conference next year.
Hampshire, a charter member since the Big Northern Conference formed in 1991, leaves after the 2010-11 school year to join the Fox Valley Conference. Upon the Whips' departure, Genoa-Kingston will take Hampshire's spot in the East Division while newcomer Rock Falls replaces G-K in the West.
"We've really had some great rivalries, some I'll definitely remember," said 22nd-year Hampshire football coach Dan Cavanaugh. "I've just really enjoyed playing the quality teams and the quality coaches in the conference."
As for this year, the team atop the final leaderboard in the East Division could remain the same as last year. According to league coaches, Richmond-Burton is still the team to beat despite graduating 17 starters.
The Rockets said goodbye to three seniors who each rushed for over 1,000 yards last season, when Richmond-Burton (11-2, 5-0) won the outright BN-East title and advanced to a Class 4A semifinal. But R-B does return a bona fide college prospect in third-year quarterback Adam Pittser.
The senior got the attention of college scouts over the summer by finishing as MVP runner-up at the ESPN RISE Elite 11 quarterback camp in Aliso Viejo, Calif. behind only Florida recruit Jeff Driskel. According to Rivals.com, Pittser has received offers from Ball State, Central Michigan, Kent State, Western Michigan and Illinois State.
As a junior, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound quarterback completed 30-of-70 attempts for 12 touchdowns and was intercepted just twice.
"We are a team that should greatly improve as the season goes on," R-B coach Patrick Elder said in a preseason release. "We did lose several starters on each side of the ball, but we have strong numbers at the varsity level and have had a strong off-season in preparation. As we gain experience, we should improve."
Other league coaches agree with that assessment.
"I know everyone's going to say Richmond lost a lot of guys, but their sophomores last year were either 9-0 or 8-1 and their freshmen were undefeated," Burlington Central coach Aaron Wichman said. "They've got a good group of kids running through that school right now."
So does Burlington Central (3-6, 2-3), which finished fourth in the East last season. Those Rockets hope to make a return to the playoffs after a two-year absence, led by a pair of talented senior running backs able to fire through holes paved by an experienced offensive line.
All-BN-E running back Tre Llanes gained 716 yards on 141 carries and scored 5 touchdowns as a junior. He'll be flanked by four-year varsity performer Tim Maroder, who switches back to his natural position after two seasons at quarterback. Maroder carried the ball 100 times for 524 yards and 6 touchdowns. Sophomore Ryan Ritchie takes over at quarterback.
Two other all-BN-E picks return for Central: senior center Dominick LoPiccolo and senior safety Michael Kellenberger.
Hampshire (4-5, 3-2) hopes to improve on its third-place finish in 2009 and make playoff headway in its final tour through the division. The Whip-Purs will try to do so with "a very young team," according to Cavanaugh, who agrees the defending champs are still the team to beat.
"Richmond had such a nice team last year," Cavanaugh said. "I know they lost a lot, but they've got quite a bit coming back.
"I know Marengo and North Boone get better every year we play them. I don't know much about Central, but they're our big rival and they're always competitive."
The rivalry between Hampshire and nearby Burlington Central will live on despite the Whips' exit from the BN-E. Beginning next season, the teams will play each other in a nonconference season opener.
Harvard (7-3, 4-1) graduated its top two ground gainers, but the Hornets return five starters on offense and six on defense from a team that finished second to Richmond last season and reached the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons. Harvard expects to "compete for the conference and do well in the playoffs," said coach Tim Haak, who also pointed to Richmond as the team to beat.
North Boone (4-5, 1-4) has some quality players with experience returning from a squad that finished fifth last year. Among the returnees are four third-year varsity starters: quarterback Alex Albrecht, receiver Jon Albrecht, center Ray Garcia and safety Mitch Mischung. Wide receiver Kyle Johnson and defensive tackle Steve Danhoff also return.
Alex Albrecht has put up big numbers directing the spread offense. In the last two seasons combined he has thrown for 3,405 yards and 36 touchdowns compared to 15 interceptions, and he has rushed for 1,598 yards and 15 scores.
"We expect to be competitive each week and believe we have the potential to be a playoff team," Vikings coach Aaron Sullivan said. "Richmond-Burton is still the team to beat."
Marengo (2-7, 0-5) returns 13 starters, including several linemen on either side of the ball. Coach Matt Lynch's improving program won two games last season for the first time since the 2004 playoff squad finished 6-4.
Senior running back Bobby Gaines rushed for 545 yards and 4 touchdowns last year for an offense that was held to an average of less than 190 total yards per game.