Pigskin Preview
Muskogee Phoenix Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021
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Blevins’ mark set on Hornets By Mike Kays mkays@muskogeephoenix.com The third lead-up to a football season at Hilldale for head coach David Blevins has put its own unique layer on the foundation. In 2019, Blevins he had just been hired, returning to the school he once played for as a lineman. In 2020, the pandemic knocked out spring work and any summer off-campus events like 7-on-7 or team camps. As for 2021, it’s back to
what 2019 was, only with more familiarity with each other, and more likely, something far closer to the 11-2 mark they had in 2020 than the 4-6 finish in 2019. There’s one thing Virgil he’ll miss about 2020. “One thing getting back to normal does, it normalizes everyone’s schedule and you have the usual lineup of church camps, vacations and such,” Blevins said. “Last year
there wasn’t anything to do except be up at school and you know, we actually saw them a lot more.” The lineman in Blevins knows you can’t hit weights like you can an opponent. So those contact drills between vacations — even if it wasn’t a complete team all the time — were a good thing to have back, especially when you have a standout running back as a centerpiece of your offense and four of five starting linemen returning, none of which are seniors. (Continued on next page)
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Eric Virgil is out to top easily the 1,400 yards rushing he had as a junior in 2020.
HILLDALE HORNETS Record last year: 11-2, 4A quarterfinals Head coach: David Blevins, 3rd season Staff: Earnie Ragland, defensive coordinator, Erwin Starts, offensive coordinator; Jordan Alexander, wide receivers; Rick Lang, defensive backs; Bailey Puckett, defensive line; Alex Puckett, outside linebackers; Grant Dunn, defensive backs; Blake Burns, quarterbacks. Returning starters (7 offense, 6 defense, 9 special teams): Eric Virgil, RB, 5-7, 175, Sr.; Jaxson Whittiker, K, P, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Logan Harper, WR, 6-3, 190, Jr.; Rylan Nail, TE, 6-3, 220, Sr.; Brayson Lawson, WR/CB/RET, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Evan Keefe, OL/DL, 6-3, 255, Jr.; Koby East, OL, 6-2, 275, Jr.; Grayson Gaddy, OL, 5-10, 240, Jr.; Micah Gonzalez, OL, 6-2, 255, Jr.; Mike Oeser, LB, 5-9, 185, Sr.; Cason Albin, DE, 6-2, 210, Sr.; Isom Smith, CB, 6-1, 165, Sr.; Brayden Smith, OLB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Jace Walker, WR/S, 5-10, 170, Jr. Others to watch: Whittiker, WR; Smith, RB; Nail, OLB; East, DE; Smith, TE; Harper, OLB; Blair Paulson, OL, 5-9, 245, Jr.; Caynen David, 5-7, 155, Jr.; Kayden Shoals, G/NG, 5-9, 275, Jr.; Lamarion Burton, CB, 5-10, 160, Jr.; Isaac Gonzales, RB/SS, 5-9, 170, Jr.; Jax Kerr, QB, 6-4, 165, Fr.; Hayden Pickering, WR, 5-7, 140, Fr.; Mason Pickering, LB, 5-10, 170, Fr.
