Hilldale Hornets

Coach: DAVID BLEVINS

Schedule:

9-3 – at Will Rogers

9-10 – at Checotah

9-17 – vs. Oologah

9-24 – vs. Poteau

10-1 – vs. Broken Bow

10-8 – at Stilwell

10-14 – vs. Muldrow

10-22 – at Sallisaw

10-29 – vs. McLain

11-5 – at Fort Gibson

Quick Hits:

Running back Eric Virgil ran for 285 yards and had an additional 48 yards of receptions with four combined touchdowns in the Hornets 44-34 win over Sallisaw. 

Hilldale eliminated Grove from the playoffs with a 43-42 second round win. It was only the second meeting between the teams. Grove defeated the Hornets 23-0 in the 2007 first round. 

Last 7 Years:

2020 – 11-2

2019 – 4-6

2018 – 9-3

2017 – 11-1 

2016 – 11-1

2015 – 12-1

2014 – 4-7

OFFENSE

With five returning linemen up front and the proven talent at running back, the Hornets enter 2021 eager to flex their muscles again after reaching the Class 4A quarterfinals last year. Size and strength will be a definite plus for Hilldale’s multi-formation scheme powered by the efforts of three-year veteran Kolby East (6-2, 275, Jr.) and Evan Keefe (6-3, 255, Jr.) who smashed 72 pancake blocks last season. Adding to the experience in the trenches will be Micah Gonzales (6-2, 250, Jr.), Grayson Gaddy (5-10, 240, Jr.) considered one of the strongest players wearing the Hilldale uniform and Blair Polson (5-9, 240, Jr.). Eric Virgil (5-9, 175, Jr.) who raced to the end zone 20 times while gaining 1402 yards will be the Hornets ground game workhorse along with Isom Smith (6-2, 170, Sr.). It appears that quarterback Caynen David (5-8, 165, Jr.) is the front-runner to orchestrate the up-tempo offense while Micael Oeser (5-8, 175, Sr.) and Jax Kerr (6-4, 195, Fr.) keep the signal calling race challenging. Head coach David Blevins smiles when describing the talents of the Hornets receiver corps including tight end Rylan Nail (6-4, 210, Sr.) and wideouts Brayson Lawson (6-1, 190, Sr.), Logan Harper (6-3, 200, Jr.), Ty O’Neal (6-4, 185, Sr.) and Jaxson Whitaker (6-0, 160, Sr.) who will provide another advantage in the kicking game. “We’ll go fast combining our power game and the ability to stretch the field,” replied Blevins, who enters his third season on the sidelines as head coach. 

DEFENSE

The Hornets 3-4 alignment enters 2021 with a mindset of physicality and getting 11 helmets to the football on every snap as six starters return. Cason Albin (6-2, 215, Sr.) led Class 4A in tackles for loss totaling 31 stops for loss including six sacks among his 86 tackles. He will be joined by Evan Keefe at defensive end while Caden Shoals (5-8, 275, Jr.) plugs the middle at nose guard. Hard hitting Brayden Smith (6-1, 190, Sr.) whose physical play numbered 83 tackles will join Michael Oeser, who charted 60 tackles last year along with Rylan Nail and Aden Jenkins (6-0, 190, Jr.) at linebacker. Speed plus aggressiveness allows the Hornets secondary to produce turnovers plus lockdown coverage anchored by the play of Jace Walker (6-0, 185, Jr.) who snared three interceptions while totaling 47 tackles at strong safety along with Alonzo Perez (5-8, 170, Jr.) and Isaac Gonzalez (5-8, 170, Jr.) who returns from an ACL injury. Isom Smith and Lamrion Burton (5-11, 165, Jr.) will play at cornerback.

“Age-wise we’re still a young team but experience and desire give us optimism for continued success this year,” said Blevins. “We want to be the most physical football team on both sides of the ball every game.”