TROY ATHENS PREVIEW: Red Hawks plan to take the next step forward

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

Twitter: @LocalSportsFans

TROY — Troy Athens is more like a train turning around on the wye. It takes a little while to get the engines reversed to another direction, but once that project is completed, the engine can begin its trek down its new path.

The Red Hawks completed such a turnaround in 2011.

Athens snapped a seven-year streak of losing seasons last year and also made the postseason for the first time since 2004. The Red Hawks had only won a combined nine games from 2007-10 before finishing third in the OAA Red Division last season and four games above five-hundred.

Now that Athens appears to be headed in the right direction, fourth-year coach Josh Heppner wants his team to stick around above five-hundred mark for a while and consistently becomes one of the top teams in the OAA Red Division.

“Last year we got a taste of what it is like when you work hard to achieve your goals and actually achieve them,” said Heppner, whose team finished 7-3 last season following a 34-31 loss to Romeo in a Division 1 pre-district contest. The Red Hawks played that game minus several key starters out with injuries.

“We had our sights on finishing with a winning record and making the playoffs last season,” continued Heppner. “Our we satisfied with that? I think we have a chance to be a very good team again. But the guys need to continue to work hard.”

When Heppner took over before the 2009 season, he was the third head coach in as many of seasons. Athens only mustered two seasons above five-hundred from 1998-2008 but did have a pair of 5-5 campaigns where they reached the postseason with 5-4 regular season marks.

The continuity of the program was all over the map in recent years and Heppner and his staff have vowed to stick around for a while and build the Red Hawks back up.

“We have different expectations than when I took over here four years ago,” said Heppner.

While Athens did lose several quality athletes to graduation, there is still plenty of talent in the wheel that should keep the Red Hawks in the league’s upper echelon.

“The good news is that we have some guys that can play two ways. The bad news is we have some guys that have to play two ways. We don’t have as much depth as we did last year,” sad Heppner.

There are plenty of weapons on the offensive side of the ball. Seniors Joe Shields (5-11, 165), Sam Haskell (5-9, 165) and Lonnie Jaynes (5-11, 215) give the Red Hawks plenty of options with the running game. Jaynes is back after missing a third of last season with an injury, while Shields and Haskell are both college prospects.

BREAKING UP: Troy Athens senior Joe Shields (right) tries to bat down a pass intended for senior Max Blank during a recent practice. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

Senior Max Blank (6-1, 160) is an All-State lacrosse player and senior Ivan Kharcenko (6-1,185) are quality receivers who will see expanded roles. They’ll be looking to hook up with senior quarterback James Ortmann (6-1, 185), who was the back-up last season and has improved by large measures since last year.

There are still some large bodies on the offensive line with senior Jalen Thomas (6-5, 280) serving as the anchor. Senior Grant LaBeau (6-2, 225) is another wide body, while juniors Lucas Bezerra (6-4, 215) and Thomas Lance (6-2, 210) will serve as tight ends or linemen. Bezarra has two older brothers playing Division I college soccer and the youngest Bezerra is gaining interest from MAC schools for football.

Sophomore Ryan Ruckensufss (6-2, 230) is another lineman who could make an impact.

Over on defense, Jaynes is a fierce linebacker and will team up with senior Andrew Hazen (5-11, 210) and junior Jake Nelson (6-1, 170) to from a solid unit. Shields, Haskell, Blank, Kharcenko and junior Craig Bazen (6-0, 170) are all solid in the secondary and will make quarterbacks think twice before throwing in their territory.

Thomas, LaBeau, Lance, Bezerra and Ruckensufss are the top linemen.

Another quality player will be junior Brandon Elliott (5-11, 170), who will assume the kicking and punting duties.

“We’ve done a lot more running (in the preseason,” said Heppner. “We have a lot more guys playing both ways. I think if we can stay healthy, that will be a big key for us.”

Troy Athens

HEAD COACH: Josh Heppner, fourth season (12-16).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Mike DiVito, Neal Mozdzierz, Tom Cook, Steve Culp, Steve Mitzel, Bill Tokar, Nate Hughes

2011 RECORD: 7-3, 5-2 OAA Red Division (third); Postseason: Lost to Romeo (34-31) in Division 1 pre-districts.

NICKNAME: Red Hawks

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 6, 1989, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2011.

OFFENSE: Multiple

DEFENSE: 4-4

RETURNING STARTERS: Joe Shields, sr. RB-DB (5-11, 165); Sam Haskell, sr. RB-WR-DB (5-9, 165); Lonnie Jaynes, sr. LB-RB (5-11, 215); Jalen Thomas, sr. OT-DT (6-5, 280); Grant LaBeau, sr. DT-OT (6-2, 225); Max Blank, sr. WR-DB (6-0, 160); Andrew Hazen, sr. MLB (5-11, 210); Ivan Kharcenko, sr. WR-RB-LB (6-1, 185).

KEY PROSPECTS: James Ortmann, sr. QB (6-1, 195); Lucas Bezerra, jr. TE-DE (6-4, 215; MAC schools showing interest); Thomas Lance, jr. DT-TE (6-2, 210); Craig Bazen, jr. RB-DB (6-0, 170); Jake Nelson, jr. LB (6-1, 170); Brandon Elliott, jr. K (5-11, 170); Ryan Ruckensufss, soph. DL-OL (6-2, 230).

NOTABLES: The Red Hawks snapped a seven-year streak of finishing under five-hundred and not making the playoffs last season. Perhaps injuries halted Athens from making a run in 2011. Part of the Red Hawks’ resurgence is that Heppner and his staff has vowed to stick around for a while. The other half is that Athens is simply getting better football players than in recent years. Athens should continue to be a top-half team in the OAA-Red this season and don’t be surprised if the Red Hawks are one of the 32 teams in the D-1 state tournament in late October. This team has plenty of size and team speed to compete with the big boys.

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