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09/23/2024 02:13 AMOne of the hotter football teams in the Pequot Conference at the conclusion of the season last year resided in Haddam-Killingworth. Now, the Cougars are ready and eager to apply the confidence they gained from that stretch and utilize it to take the program to the next level.
Last year, the Cougars got out to a rough 1-6 start. And while lesser teams may have packed it in at that juncture, the Cougars kept grinding and finished the year on an upswing in the form of a three-game winning streak. Through two games, H-K has played to a 1-1 record, coming off the heels of a 21-7 win over Stafford-East Windsor-Somers on Sept. 20.
Head Coach Tyler Wilcox explained that the boys bring back plenty of familiar faces and look to continue that late season momentum of 2023 to satiate an appetite for a group hungry for postseason pigskin.
“This season, we bring back a lot of experience. We return nine starters on offense and defense, and these players experienced the heartbreak of not being in the driver's seat towards the end of the year in 2022 with Alex Phipps, Tate Callender, and Orion Inkel,” said Wilcox. “They have learned from their mistakes on or off the field and have really come together this offseason to reach their goals. We are senior-heavy, with 16 seniors and 14 juniors who all had a lot of playing time last season at the varsity level when we were a ‘young’ team with only five seniors. We are expecting big things out of this team, and they are talented enough to do so. Our juniors are very hungry and push our seniors every practice to finish the mission.”
The Cougars boast three senior captains with a pair up front and another in the secondary. Hunter Leslie comes back after a Pequot All-Conference nod in 2023 as a two-way lineman, plus Trevor Dixon looks to vie for a three-peat of All-Conference Team appearances and will also serve as an offensive lineman and linebacker. Meanwhile, Joseph Slane (another All-Pequot player in 2023) looks to negate big play opportunities as a defensive back while bolstering the offense at receiver.
“Hunter wreaks havoc on the field on both sides of the ball. His strength and ability to move his feet make him a force in the Pequot Conference. Hunter is on the quieter side but always leads by example whether on or off the field,” said Wilcox. “Trevor has made a name for himself on both sides of the ball. Trevor picked up football for the first time in high school and is a player who took coaching from day one. His natural instincts and play recognition make him our signal caller on defense and through film study; he is an extra coach on the field. Trevor is a member of a few clubs at the high school and has attended leadership conventions on behalf of our program and school. Joe is a true shutdown corner in the Pequot and a threat on offense. His athletic ability and the size he put on this offseason makes him a big physical corner with the ability to shut down one half of the field. He will be looked upon as a big target for our offense this season, as well.”
Senior Bryce LaCoss is back behind center and will look to stretch the snaps for H-K. Ryan Rafferty, another senior, will be part of the receiving corps while sitting at cornerback on defense.
“Bryce will be looked upon to lead the offense and use his athleticism to extend plays when needed. We bring back a very experienced offense and will need to make in-game adjustments while on the field to get us into the right play,” said Wilcox. “Ryan, along with Joe, are both three-year starters at the corner and receiver positions. Ryan battled injuries last season and missed most of the season, but he will be looked upon to play opposite of Joe in the secondary. Ryan is a physical and strong corner who isn't afraid to compete with the opposing team's best wide out.”
Gearing up the ground game behind LaCoss is junior running back Josh Frith. Junior Tyler Napierkowski will be platooning with Frith at tailback to complete a complementary pair in the backfield.
“Josh is our returning starting running back. H-K has three solid running backs who could start on any Pequot team and are all willing to share the spotlight and take a team-first approach. Josh will be looked upon to take the majority of the carries. Josh lives and breathes football and lifting all season long. Josh is like having another coach on the field offensively, who is always on the same wavelength as I am,” Wilcox said. “Tyler split time with Josh last year and will be looked upon to be even more involved in the offense this year, as it expands with the experience we bring back. Both Tyler and Josh are dual threats in the backfield; they can catch the ball just as well as they can run with it.”
The remaining terrific running back trio Wilcox mentioned above includes senior Gunnar Howes, who will also play on defense at outside linebacker after a year away from the field. John Moyher, a junior, also looks to stand out as a sort of defensive utility player.
“Gunnar returns after missing his junior year. Gunnar will share carries with the two underclassmen after showing flashes as a sophomore behind Callender and Inkel. Gunnar is a tough hard-nosed runner who is not afraid of contact and running between the tackles,” said Wilcox. “John is a one-of-a-kind utility player. John has played many positions for us and is known as the swiss army knife; he can do it all. He has played center, linebacker, outside linebacker, defensive end, all special teams, long snapper, and he can kick. He will be used in many different places depending on our week-to-week matchups.”
In the Sept. 20 triumph, Slane caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from LaCoss, plus Napierkowski and Frith scored rushing touchdowns of one and two yards, respectively, to lead H-K (1-1).
The Cougars jumped out to a 14-0 lead with touchdowns by Slane and Napierkowski, but the Stafford co-op tightened the game with a touchdown catch late in the first half.
The Cougars’ defense stiffened, and the offense took control of the game with a punishing and time-consuming running game in the second half, highlighted by Frith's two-yard plunge. Sophomore Daniel Cavrell was a perfect three-for-three on extra points.
"Stafford is a well-coached team, so our preparation and game-planning needed to be very sound," said Wilcox. "I was proud of the kids for playing hard all game and executing the game plan effectively."
The Cougars do not weigh one clash on their regular season slate more than any of the others. Yet of course, as is the case with any high school football team, the Thanksgiving week opponent always shines brightest. The team plans to take it week by week and game by game and hopefully secure a playoff spot early.
“Every game is an opportunity to work together as a team for a common outcome, a win. The Valley Regional-Old Lyme Thanksgiving game one is always one we have marked on our calendar and playing for the Principal Cup. We have some big tests throughout the season with Stafford, Cromwell, and North Branford, who we fell to in a high scoring shootout last year,” said Wilcox. “The goal for the season is always to compete week in and week out and put our best effort out there. We have instilled that since day one four years ago with the team. We are always competing at practice and pushing one another to be the best version of ourselves. We expect to go 1-0 every week and let the rest take care of itself. We don't want to be in the situation we were two years ago with an experienced group waiting around the last week of the season to see if we won the tiebreaker to get into the state playoffs that we ended up missing by a point. The goal is making the state playoffs and getting ourselves and our program back on the map.”
Wilcox is back for his fourth campaign as head coach. Barth Keck returns for his 20th season and will be coaching the offensive and defensive lines, along with the special teams units. George Callender is back for his 10th season with the Cougars. He will be coaching the offensive and defensive lines.
Torren Callender returns for his sixth season at H-K–acting as the JV defensive coordinator and varsity linebackers/running backs coach. Jon Grasso is in his third year and will guide the linebackers and quarterbacks while being JV offensive coordinator. Greg Annino is back into the H-K family. He was a long time baseball and football coach for the Cougars prior to starting a family of his own.
The 2024 Cougars’ roster consists of seniors Riley Schipritt, Leo Wolf, Jacob Lamarre, LaCoss, Slane, Jesse LaViola, Ryan Rafferty, Howes, Dixon, Stephen Signore, James Inkel, Thomas Lundgren, Leslie, Colin Castagno, Michael Brooks; juniors Jamien Evans, Napierkowski, Chase Lombardi-Bole, Jackson Bottaro, Marcel Inkel, Frith, Caleb McLean, Nathan Mulhall, Moyher, Kellen Cassidy, Ian McLean, Christopher Frasco; sophomores Cavrell, and Caleb Cimma.
2024 H-K Football Regular Season Schedule and Results
Sept. 13: Capital Prep 19, H-K 13
Sept. 20: H-K 21, Stafford-East Windsor-Somers 7
Friday, Sept. 27: vs. Weaver at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Oc.t 4: at North Branford at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 10: vs. Morgan-Old Saybrook-Westbrook at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 25: at Coginchaug/Hale-Ray/East Hampton at Coginchaug at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1: vs. Cromwell-Portland at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 9: at Windsor Locks-Suffield-East Granby at Windsor Locks at 1 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 15: at Coventry-Windham Tech-Bolton-Lyman Memorial at Coventry at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26: vs. Valley Regional-Old Lyme at 6:30 p.m.