A young Haskell football team used last year’s experience to make changes. The Haymakers went 2-8 last year. This year, the team consists mostly of juniors and freshmen who hope the previous lack of depth will lead them to success.
Depth is a luxury the Haymakers don’t have. Many underclassmen received playing time last season. This season, underclassmen are a large percentage of the team, but there is one difference.
They have experience. “At our team camp, our boys played,” coach Phil McWilliams said. “I think you just saw the difference between the way we played last fall and the way we played in the spring was just a lot more physical, aggressive and confident football.
” For the players, this season is about more than just winning. “It [winning] means everything to me,” junior Ryker Porter said. “I want it so bad, especially just for our guys and for the community.
Really, I want football to be back up there and something to be proud of.” The defense will remain similar because ten starters are returning. Cody Gilmore, the new defensive coordinator, and McWilliams have decided to put more decisions in the linemen’s hands, such as to switch blocks.
“What we’re trying to do is just get good at what we want to do and implement a few small things here and there in that defensive half,” McWilliams said. Porter said the changes Gilmore made created more trust within the linemen. “We love him,” Porter said.
“He’s been very active in our defens.