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THE BIG HURT: Hemet linebacker Derek Peel, a 2012 Mountain Pass League all-league selection, hauls down Banning quarterback James Madison for a big loss during the Bulldogs 42-14 victory last Friday. All photos by Bob Otto/ the Valley Chronicle | ||
September 04, 2013
During the offseason the Hemet Bulldogs worked and lifted and sweated in the weight room, with the goal of getting bigger and stronger. All that effort seems to have paid off.In a show of brute strength, the Bulldogs dominated both sides of the ball in beating the Banning Broncos 42-14 last Friday in the season opener for both teams.
"Our off season lifting helped a lot developing our strength," said senior linebacker Cameron Hoback. "We had a great off season working hard. This win means a lot for us."
Hemet made no secret of its offensive strategy: a smash mouth ground game. In its eight possessions, the Bulldogs ran the ball 54 times, totaling 349 yards, led by running back Sean Ruh with 103 yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Justice Judge rushed for 93 yards, Art Cruz had 61, and John Romanski bulled his way for 53 yards and three touchdowns.
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BULLDOG DEFENSE: The Hemet defense of Derek Peel, left, Adolfo Gonzalez, Alan Aquirre and Hector Valdez brings down Banning running back Anthony Ellison during Hemet's 42-14 victory in the opening game of the season for both teams last Friday night. | ||
And Banning – holding a pre-season No. 7 ranking in the East Valley Division - got more of the same in the second half.
Hemet scored on its first possession when Rue ran in from nine yards out to give the Bulldogs a three-touchdown margin. While Rue did the bulk of the carrying the football, he said he likes the fact that a stable of runners helps diversify the running game; an offensive strategy set in place during the off-season.
"After last season, coach (head coach Jeff Reitz) made a firm statement that we were going to run the ball a lot this year," said Rue, a senior. "So we all lifted hard and ran hard knowing we were going to run the ball this year."
Hemet's final two scores came on Cruz's 16-yard run set up by Judge's 41-yard scamper around the left side. Then with 3:58 left in the game, Jeff Martin blocked Banning's punt in the Broncos end zone. Hoback smothered the ball for the TD, giving Hemet an insurmountable advantage in winning its first season opener since 2006.
That long drought was punctuated by a 46-0 loss to these same Broncos in last season's opener that started a slide in which the Bulldogs finished 1-9.
"I love my kids," said coach Reitz. "They've worked their butts off and they've got great character. They've done everything we've asked of them. I've been here two years and a month now and I want these kids to have some success. I hope they keep working hard and understand that this a great win for our program."
While the offense put points on the board, the Hemet defense came to play too. Banning featured a running and rollout style quarterback in 6"2', 205 pound James Madison. He showed a strong arm, connecting with wide receiver Gregory Lucas for a 30-yard touchdown that gave Banning a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
And in the third quarter Madison carried the ball four consecutive times in driving the Broncos to the Bulldogs' four-yard line. Two plays later, Anthony Ellison scored to pull Banning within 28-14.
But other than those two drives, the Bulldogs defense chased and hounded Madison from sideline to sideline. The defensive line and linebackers forced Madison (10 of 18 for 139, interception) to scramble or throw off balance throughout the game. And on Banning's first drive of the game, Hemet's Hector Valdez picked off a Madison pass to stop the Broncos at mid-field. On the ground, Banning only picked up 70 hard earned yards.
"Our defensive line was able to push back their O-line and we tried to give them the hammer and make (Madison) scramble and give our defensive backs time to get the picks," Hoback said.
Hoback and Boyd Breach also came up with a big play that set up Hemet's third touchdown when they sacked Banning punter Fidel Romo at the Banning 12-yard line late in the second quarter. Six plays later, Romanski scored his third TD of the half. And late in the fourth quarter, Alan Aquirre recovered a fumble to stop Banning's last drive of the game.
Hemet has started its season in grand fashion, but on Friday comes another challenge when the Bulldogs travel to Murrieta Mesa (1-0), which defeated Fontana Jurupa Hills 45-35.
"I'm so proud of their work ethic; it's paid off," Reitz said. "But on Monday we have to strap it back on and get going because Mesa is good."
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Hemet football to use strength, experience to win games |
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August 29, 2013
Discipline is going to be the heart of the Hemet High School football team this season.Head coach Jeff Reitz said Bulldog fans should expect a "physically strong, disciplined, and experienced team."
Reitz said this year's team is building on last year, taking the abundance of experience and using it to create a strong foundation.
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"Last season we had too many turnovers and we played with a lack of confidence," he said. "The experience of this team will help, but it is really the effort in the weight room during the offseason that will make the difference."
This year, the Bulldogs will look to several players to hold key roles.
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"All three of them are two-year starters. Two have been all-league performers and one is being highly recruited," Reitz said.
The Bulldog's starting quarterback this season will be Justice Kyle Judge. Last year, Judge started as safety and got some repetition at the quarterback position. He deadlifts 485 pounds.
Both running backs are returning varsity starters in Sean Ruh and Art Cruz. Each of them can squat 500 pounds, bench 300 pounds, clean 275 pounds, and run under a 4.7 second forty-yard dash.
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"They are extremely athletic and physical," Reitz said.
Other standout returners will include John Romanski, Andrew Vega, Garrett Willerford, and Romeo Salvidor.
The program also has several sophomores competing for starting positions including Ray Castaneda, Daymon Stone, and Tanner Manning.
"All three are expected to make a difference in our season's outcome," Reitz said.
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"But our first goal is game number one," he said.
The overall experience and physical strength of the Bulldogs will be what makes this year's team stand out from teams in the past.
"I expect to watch my players enjoy the experience, have fun, and become great men who are successful in this crazy world," Reitz said,
Hemet's coaching staff includes Bob Lopez, Shawn Hoback, Ray Castaneda, Erik Lopez, Brad Vierick, Darrell VonDriska, and Jim Wiesen.
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Hemet begins their season on Friday at home at 7 p.m. versus Banning High School.
http://www.thevalleychronicle.com/Articles-Top-Story-Headline-c-2013-09-04-84985.113122-Hemet-opens-football-season-by-running-over-Banning.html
Source: http://www.thevalleychronicle.com