Hampshire using some variety to win

For the Hampshire football team a common theme this year has been the more, the merrier.

Veteran coach Dan Cavanaugh has seen contributions come from -- to borrow a word from former Hampshire public address announcer Jim Aalfs -- a bevy of different sources through the first 5 weeks of the season.

That balance up and down the roster has helped the Whip-Purs march out to a 4-1 overall mark heading into tonight's Big Northern Conference East Division showdown at Dan Horne Field in Harvard against a Hittin' Hornets team that is also 4-1 and has allowed an East Division-low 49 points.

Hampshire, Harvard and Burlington Central all sit atop the East Division standings at 1-0. This is the fifth meeting between the teams since 1997 (Harvard holds a 3-1 edge).

Hampshire, which last won a BNC title in 2005, is off to its third straight 4-1 start.

"We've been able to use a lot of people this year, especially up front on both sides of the ball," said Cavanaugh, who is shooting for his 100th career victory at Hampshire tonight. "That's kind of been the theme -- a lot of people contributing. And that's a real good thing. Some years you don't have that luxury and you are playing nine guys on both sides of the ball. We've got a lot of guys out there doing good things."

Good things have happened on both sides of the ball for the Whip-Purs thus far.

Hampshire has put up an East Division-high 171 points through 5 games. That total ranks second overall in the BNC to only Genoa (188 points, 4-1 overall mark) -- the only team that has beaten Hampshire this season.

And the Whip-Purs have gotten things done offensively thanks to a balance in the running and passing games.

Hampshire is averaging 242 yards on the ground per game (6.1 yards per carry) and 135 yards through the air.

Of course, that rushing output has come from myriad sources. Junior 195-pound fullback Joe Moore leads the team with 375 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns, while averaging 4.7 yards per carry.

"Joe Moore is a beast," said Hampshire senior quarterback Trace Teboda. "It's real hard for people to take him down. He's a bulldozer."

"Joe Moore is the most physical player on the team," said Cavanaugh, in his 19th season at the helm at Hampshire. "He can run over people and he has good, quick feet and can make quick cuts. He's tough to reckon with. I would compare him to Brad Speer from a couple of years ago. He's a hard-nosed kid. He plays middle linebacker for us. He's hard to bring down."

Teboda has shown his versatility by running for 373 yards and 3 scores (9.8 yards per carry).

Juniors James Goebbert (3 total touchdowns, team-leading 3 interceptions), Evan Brenner (7.0 yards per carry) and Rob Tiojanco (4.8 yards per carry) are 3 more of the 9 total Hampshire players who have logged carries this season.

"We like to spread the ball out evenly," said Hampshire senior tight end-linebacker T.J. Burzak. "If we all do our jobs, we can run the ball."

And the guy who wears uniform No. 89 has also done his job as a pass receiver this season. Burzak has caught 16 passes for 369 yards (23.1 yards per catch) and has reeled in all 7 of Teboda's TD throws.

"T.J. is so fast and he has really good hands," said Teboda. "He's kind of my number one receiver that I look to first. He can really catch it. We've been playing together for 5 years. We can read each other so well. At 7 on 7 this summer, I could read his eyes and then he'd make a cut and be wide open."

Teboda has provided an equally critical presence for Hampshire. An all-conference wide receiver last year, Teboda has stepped right in and done a stellar job directing the Hampshire offense.

"I'm really happy for Trace," said Cavanaugh, whose 2004, 2005 and 2006 teams all reached the second round of the state playoffs. "He was an all-conference receiver last year. He waited his turn and has stepped in and done a real nice job. He gives us a real threat to run and throw the ball."

But Teboda is quick to point out without a capable line, none of this largess would have occurred.

That line features Burzak at tight end, junior Jerry Eckler at right tackle, sophomore Cooper Smith at right guard and senior Austin Smith (Cooper's brother) at center along with senior Danny Palmisano. Junior Ron Bronke is at the left tackle position, while juniors Mitch Vandedrink and Zach Crinigan man the left guard slot. Junior center Lucas Meyer is out with a fractured knee.

"The line is really important," said Teboda. "We've had some guys really step up. Austin Smith really takes control of that line and gets guys pumped up. The line is the biggest part of the team. When they do well, we all do well."

Defensively, Hampshire has really buckled down over the last 2 games, allowing a combined 21 points in triumphs over Rockford Lutheran and North Boone. Hampshire has held opponents to 158 rushing yards and is plus-5 in the takeaway category (15 takeaways including 9 interceptions and 6 fumble recoveries).

Hampshire has switched its defensive scheme somewhat this year, deviating from a 5-2 set to more of a 4-4 (4 lineman and 4 linebackers) look, allowing for a more aggressive approach.

"We've been really working on being physical and playing all seconds of the play," said Burzak, who is second on the team in tackles with 39 and has 1 interception. "We don't give up. If we get knocked down, we get back up and keep going at it. We're trying to be more physical against the run."

Burzak is part of a linebacking crew that features himself and Moore (leading tackler with 49; 2 interceptions) at the middle spots and senior Quinn Walker and Brenner at the outside positions.

Bronke and Cooper Smith have been constants on the defensive line. Austin Smith, juniors Diego Bolanos, Ed Tinajero (1 fumble recovery), Brandon Oranger and Palmisano have also contributed up front.

"We're going out there and making tackles and flying around and getting to the football," said Walker, a double state track medalist this past spring, who has 2 fumble recoveries and an interception.

Even more impressive is the fact Hampshire starts a predominantly underclass lineup on both sides of the football. There are a total of only 9 seniors on a roster of 30.

"We've had a lot of good talent that has come up and we have a lot of good athletes," said Walker.

"We came into this season with a lot of unknowns," said Cavanaugh, who led the 1995 Hampshire team to the Class 2A state title with a perfect 14-0 mark. "Right now we're probably starting 7 sophomores and juniors on offense and 8 sophomores or juniors on defense. We keep getting better each week."

Burzak said the team's lone loss to Genoa, a 37-8 defeat in Week 3, was quite an eye-opener.

"They showed us where we were at and what we needed to work on," said Burzak.

"We were unfocused. We thought it would be an easy game," said Teboda, whose sisters Blakely and Kylee played sports at Larkin before the family moved to Hampshire.

"Genoa came out ready to play and killed us. We can't take anything for granted anymore. We have to practice hard every day and treat every game the same way."

Walker said the remainder of the season boils down to not worrying about who is still ahead on the schedule, but concentrating on things that the team has direct control of.

"If we all do our jobs right and we all do what we need to do out there, we will be fine," said Walker. "Just do our jobs. That's teamwork."