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HCA Continues To Hone Magic

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

In the clash of unbeaten teams, HCA’s second-year Head Coach David Raley leads the Lions into tonight’s week three clash against the Mount Dora Bible Bulldogs.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: September 19, 2008

To hear Hernando Christian Academy Head Coach David Raley tell it, his Lions are always taking on some sort of juggernaut.

Yet HCA sits at 2-0 heading into tonight's 7 p.m. Sunshine State Athletic Conference contest at Mount Dora Bible School (2-0 overall, 0-0 SSAC).

"We don't match-up with them anywhere," Raley said. "But I don't think we match-up with anyone. We just seem to be able to play our game and it seems to have worked so far."

RETOOLING THE OFFENSE

The Lions destroyed Class 1B Orlando-Central Florida Christian last Friday, 45-14. Jeremy Knight rushed for 218 yards, and both he and Ian Townsend accounted for a pair of touchdowns on the ground.

Amazingly, Raley admitted after the game that he completely scrapped his previous offensive system in the week leading up to that game.

"We have a strong offensive and defensive line led by Josh Romeo," Raley said. "He's a force and he causes everybody to play at a higher level.

"We're still working on it, tweaking all the pieces. I had to change everything mainly based on personnel. But I was pleased we were able to run the ball as well as we did."

This week, Raley said he and staff have focused much of their attention on improving the passing game and properly utilizing the skills of senior quarterback David Rotteveel.

In his second year as headman, Raley originally designed the HCA offensive system as an assistant under Steve Johnson. However, a season-opening 21-14 win over Bishop McLaughlin left him less than satisfied.

"After the first game we had to start over and completely change the way we've been doing things from past years," Raley said. "We've got a game under out belts and realized 'hey, that works.' So we'll work off that."

The Lions will put their revamped offense up against a Bulldog team Raley feels is the best in the SSAC Northern Division.

HCA is in the Southern Division, making this a potential conference championship game preview.

"They're exceptional in a number of ways," Raley said. "The program is A1 class. They've got everything. They have a big, strong offensive line and defensive line, contrary to the team we played last week. They had a small defensive line and blitzed every play.

"Last year (Mount Dora Bible) boasted the largest offensive line in Lake County and they've got everybody back."

Raley also spoke highly of Bulldog junior wide receiver Cornelius Whitehead, who he considers a Division I prospect.

"He is exceptional," Raley said. "They build everything they do around him. Our job is to catch him. If we do that, we'll be all right. If we don't, they'll run all over us."

Of course, Raley spoke just as highly of Central Florida Christian before his Lions dismantled the Eagles. Plus last season, HCA downed Mount Dora Bible, 37-12.

As for the conference implications, since the two teams are in separate divisions, Raley isn't putting any extra meaning on this one. The Lions are 1-0 in SSAC play having beaten Bishop McLaughlin.

"We're not focusing on it that way," Raley said. "For us we're just going to have fun and play ball, let the chips fall where they may.

"Number one (key) is we've got to be smart in the kicking game. We cannot kick to the speedsters there because they're overwhelming. We have to be smart about where we place the ball. And we have to run the ball and stop the run. Do that and good things happen to you."

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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