Hernando Today
Banged Up HCA Limps Into Classic
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Published: May 16, 2008
Just how hard has the injury bug bitten Hernando Christian Academy this spring? Consider that junior Josh Romeo, an offensive lineman listed at 250 pounds last season, is lining up at fullback.
Add in tall and burly tailback Clay Kessler, a former tight end, who blossomed into a stud tailback last season, and the Lions currently feature a huge backfield.
They'll have that on display tonight in a spring classic game versus Bradenton-St. Stephen's Episcopal at 7 p.m. at Ernie Wever Youth Park.
The game will have no kickoffs or kick returns and no rushing on point-after or field goal attempts. Every drive will start at the opposing 35-yard line. The second half will be played under a running clock.
The Lions, coming off a respectable 6-2 season in 2007, are without both their first- and second-string fullbacks, Thomas Bronson and Brett Eastin. Both are also starters on defense, Bronson at weakside linebacker and Eastin at defensive end.
Bronson injured his ankle in a basketball game, while Eastin suffered a concussion. Also, tight end Garrett Mikkola won't play having injured his ankle during baseball season and leading wide receiver Sean Byrne will sit because of academic issues.
"If we lose 4-5 two-way starters, it thins us out," HCA Head Coach David Raley said. "In some ways we have to start over in a couple of positions.
"...At the beginning of spring we picked right up, it felt like the fall. Just a few incidents that have befallen us."
Raley, the former assistant coach under Steve Johnson, took over the program last year and led the rebuilding Lions to surprising success.
The combination of quarterback David Rotteveel and Kessler provided HCA with a versatile and potent offensive attack, while a scrappy young defense held firm.
HCA has almost all of its key pieces returning, even if some won't make it to the field tonight.
"This allows other kids to come in and be forced to play and pick up the slack," Raley said. "It makes us better in the long run even if we don't look good (tonight)."
The Lions face a St. Stephen's team that went 5-5 in 2007. Raley said he had not had time to watch any film, but still knows a few things about the Falcons.
"They completely changed their offensive system," Raley said. "They have a bonafide D-I prospect at tight end/defensive end. And they supposedly have 6-foot-5 wide receivers that just jump in the air and a smallish quarterback that runs real fast.
"They're working on a spread offense in the spring. They ran a power-I last year. They're attempting to learn the spread and we're attempting to put the pieces together. They could blow us out or we could sit there and negate each other."
Last year, HCA traveled to Winter Haven-All Saints' Academy for their spring game and pulled out a 14-0 victory that proved a sign of things to come.
At this point, Raley just hopes to keep the injury report from growing any further.
"First off, we want to come out with no injuries," Raley said. "We don't want anyone to get hurt.
"Number two, get the snap count right and get off the ball. Run a handful of plays fairly well. And defensively show we can attack the ball."
Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com
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