Changing times for Hoffman

First shutout since 1997 last week.

First 2-0 start since 1996 with a victory Friday night.

And the first playoff appearance since 1994 for Hoffman Estates football?

"There are going to be a lot of firsts this year," said Hoffman senior middle linebacker and third-year varsity starter Greg Carroll.

One of the first things that was abundantly clear in a 19-6 victory over visiting Elk Grove was this appears to be a different year for the Hawks.

It wasn't perfect. It wasn't always pretty as Hoffman finally put the first points on the board midway through the third quarter.

But so far, adversities that would have been major obstacles in the past have been small hurdles that have been cleared.

"We've come together and don't get down on ourselves," said Hoffman senior linebacker Don Rathje of a program that won 2 games each of the last two seasons.

"These two games," said third-year Hoffman coach Bill Helzer, "there's no doubt in my mind they believe in each other."

They had to in a tense 7-0 opening win over Woodstock. They had to Friday night against an improved Elk Grove program also looking to come in and start 2-0.

They had to with standout senior cornerback-receiver Jerome Henderson in street clothes with a knee injury.

They had to with starting linebacker Rocco Silvestri out with a concussion.

"We have guys on the sideline ready to go in a heartbeat," Rathje said.

Rathje was one of those guys as he moved into the starting lineup when Tom Wadas was injured in the preseason. Rathje let a few receivers know going over the middle could come with a price.

"He was lighting guys up," Helzer said of one of his game captains. "We're going to need that."

The Hawks also needed junior linebacker Steve Green and sophomore callup David Gutierrez to step up in their first varsity starts on defense.

Junior Shamar McFarlane came through when Hoffman was clinging to a 9-6 lead midway through the fourth quarter by racing 69 yards for a touchdown.

"They're responding," Helzer said. "They're not giving in. They're not caving in."

The way Foyin Alade did from a fumble by running for 125 yards and setting up a late field goal by sophomore Niko Crambes, who missed a pair earlier.

The way third-year senior and varsity starter Tom Dombrowski picked off a pass in the final two minutes after dropping a chance a couple of minutes earlier.

These are players who weren't accustomed to losing in youth football or as underclassmen. They plan on getting used to winning again.

"There's a different feeling through the school and a different feeling on the practice field from the past two years," Carroll said. "It feels different. It's changing. Things have already changed."

And the Hawks have taken the first two steps toward a goal they haven't achieved in 14 years.

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com