2021 PFN Team Preview: The Honesdale Hornets @HHSHornets_FB @Coach_Russick64 @josh74clark @ConnorSchmitt

Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 2, News

Billy Splain | July 12, 2021

Honesdale Hornets PFN Page

PIAA District 2 – Class AAAA
League: Lackawanna Football Conference – Division 2
Stadium: Hornets Stadium

Head Coach Paul Russick

@HHSHornets_FB

Assistant Coaches 
Joe Kosciuk,
Jim Ludwig,
Josh LoBasso,
Jon Gillow,
Dan Patrisso,
Jeff Kent,
Gordy West,
Josh Burkavage,
Jeremy Ebert

2020 Season Record 2-5

2021 Schedule

DATE	OPPONENT	LOCATION	TIME/SCORE
08-21	@ Pittston Area (SCR)	Charley Trippi Stadium	10:00 am
08-27	@ Wallenpaupack (0-0)	Wallenpaupack Stadium	7:00 pm
09-04	@ Abington Heights (0-0) *	Comets Stadium	1:00 pm
09-10	vs. North Pocono (0-0) *	Hornets Stadium	7:00 pm
09-17	@ Riverside (0-0)	Taylor Veterans Memorial Stadium	7:00 pm
09-24	vs. Scranton (0-0)	Hornets Stadium	7:00 pm
10-01	@ Western Wayne (0-0) *	Sharkey-Rossetti Complex	7:00 pm
10-09	@ Scranton Prep (0-0) *		1:30 pm
10-15	vs. Valley View (0-0) *	Hornets Stadium	7:00 pm
10-22	@ Greater Nanticoke (0-0)	Frank Chicknoski Stadium	7:00 pm
10-29	vs. West Scranton (0-0) *	Hornets Stadium	7:00 pm

* – denotes league game
(SCR) – denotes scrimmage

What are your expectations for your team this year? 
Our expectations are to COMPETE. We expect to continue to get better each week. We have a very small group of seniors that need to become leaders.

When your team is on offense, what are the keys to success? 
We are a run first team. Connor Schmitt led the team a year ago with 110 yds/game. We will have success based around him along with a few others in the backfield. We have four other running backs (including CJ Hinton and Max Mickel) who have seen varsity action in the backfield. We will be breaking in 3 new offensive lineman and a quarterback. It will come down to how quickly we can get our new starters to mature and pick up the offense.

When your team is on defense, what are the keys to success? 
We need to continue to tackle. We were young in the secondary last year, but now this will be our veteran group this year. Kyle Hanson and Jack Kelleher return up front. CJ Hinton will be asked to lead the defense at MLB after starting the last 2 games a year ago. Replacing two defensive ends and finding a home for all of our returning skill players will be the key up front.

Key Starters Lost 
Offense – 6 Starters, Defense – 4 Starters

Offensive Starters Returning 
Sr. OL Josh Clark, 6’4 275,
Sr. OL Brad Bennett, 6’2, 285,
Sr. RB Connor Schmitt, 5’11, 180,
Jr. WR Kage Southerton, 5’9, 155,
Jr. WR Isaac Carmody, 5’11, 175,

Defensive Starters Returning 
Sr. DL Kyle Hanson, 6’2, 230,
Sr. DL Jack Kelleher, 6’0 195,
Sr. LB/S Connor Schmitt, 5’11 180,
Jr. LB CJ Hinton, 5’11 180,
Jr. LB/S Max Mickel, 5’10 160,
Jr. DB Johnny Kauffman, 5’11 170,
Jr. DB Kage Southerton, 5’9, 155,
Jr. DB Jake Mundy, 5’10 160

Special Team Starters Returning
P Tyler Winters, 5’11 180,
KR Kage Southerton, 5’9, 155

Key Newcomers
Sr. OL/DL Jake Turner, 6’3 230,
So. OL/DL Nick Denoie, 6’5, 210,
So. OL/LB Caleb Bryant, 5’11 200,
Jr. TE/LB Rocco Fluck, 6’3 220,
Jr. WR/DB Kole Fries, 6’2 175,
So. WR/DB Cameron Hedgelon 5’9, 155,
Jr. WR/DB Lance Peak 5’9 155

Players we should keep an eye on? 
Connor Schmitt – RB/DB
Joshua Clark – OL
CJ Hinton – RB/LB
Johnny Kauffman – QB/DB

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