2008 Hamady Football Preview

Cupboard not bare for new coach

By Mark Spezia The Flint Journal

Published on Wednesday August 27, 2008,

FLINT, Michigan — If the theory holds true that football games are won in the trenches, Flint Hamady will be just fine under new coach Clint Galvas.

The Hawks lost the bulk of their exceptional skill players and the majority of their defensive backfield from last year's squad which made the playoffs for the second straight year, finishing 8-2 under former coach Nathaniel Williams, now at Carman-Ainsworth. Hamady also captured the Genesee Area Conference Blue Division, its first league championship in 25 years.
The good news for Galvas, a former Montrose standout and Hamady assistant the past two seasons, is that he has an experienced, talented core of linemen to work with. That's especially helpful when attempting to instill a new offense.

"Obviously, our strength is going be at the line which should will really help all the new guys in the backfield although they are learning some new blocking schemes," Galvas said. "The players are adjusting to the new system (veer option) and learning well through a lot of repetition. We've made good progress and I see us getting better and better at it."

In Williams' second season (2006), the Hawks went from 10 straight losing seasons to the playoffs. They have not had three straight winning seasons since 1982-84.

"We want to continue the success Nate had here and keep the new winning tradition alive," Galvas said. "He instilled great work ethic and desire in the kids. The ultimate goals for us are winning a playoff game for the first time and repeating as league champions."
Hamady has made tremendous progress despite less having less than 25 varsity players the past two seasons. There are 22 this year.

"Yes, but they are not 22 guys who just showed up the first day of official practice," Galvas said. "All of them have been working hard all summer. They have all been in the weight room and done well in 7-on-7 leagues."

The players most responsible for the Hawks' school-record 368 points last season are gone, including All-State running back Antoine Smith-Guise (2,077 yards, 27 touchdowns) and first-team all-leaguers Brian Echols (quarterback, 1,055 yards, 15 touchdowns, 255 yards rushing, 6 touchdowns), Darius Brady (receiver, 23 catches, 476 yards, 7 touchdowns).
Returning to the line are first-team all-leaguers Banay Jones (senior, three-year starter), second-teamers Kenny Bowen (four-year starter) and Juliano Jenkins (senior) and honorable mention pick Rodgrezz Clark (junior). Also on the line are senior Marquavis Anderson and junior Tyree Randle.

Also back is second-team receiver Mario Harris, a junior who had 11 catches for 277 yards and six touchdowns last season. Other wideouts are senior Anthony Coleman and junior Ples Hunter.
The quarterback is junior Alterio Chism and sharing the backfield will be seniors Stan Page, Darnell Hunter and Gevelle Hunter-Sims, a transfer from Davison. The tight end is senior Donald Perry.

Gone from the defense are honorable mention All-Stater Brian Greene (54 tackles, 4.5 sacks), first-team GAC Blue picks Dominique Norris (98 tackles) and Brady (45 tackles), second-teamers Jack Boyd, Antonio Campbell and Derahn Shields (29 tackles).Back are first-team pick Randle (line, 17 tackles) and honorable mention choice Page (46 tackles). Others on the line will be juniors Brandon Draheim, Donte Gatewood and Terrance Chism, Clark, Anderson, Jones, Jenkins and Bowen.

Among the linebackers are senior Jon Green (26 tackles), junior Brandon Draheim, Darnell Hunter. Defensive backs are Harris (24 tackles) and seniors Andrew Robinson, Reynolds Swilley and Chuckie Taylor along with Ples Hunter and Coleman.