The Hartsville Red Foxes certainly enjoyed offensive success last year as the 2007 team broke school records in nearly every offensive category.
This year, however, head coach Jeff Calabrese insists fans will see a different team. “There are not a bunch of marquis players or proven athletes out there,” he said. “This team is more of a lunch pail type team. They’re scrappy a little bit.”
The head coach insists the season will come down to coaching and execution. “We just have to understand that everybody’s got to play their part, and everybody’s got to play their part well.”
The goal of football camp for most teams is to put pressure on players to see how they will respond. The Foxes responded well. “I think our kids learned quite a bit about themselves,” Calabrese said.
In recent seasons, especially last year, the Foxes have put on displays of offense. Last year’s team averaged over 400 yards of total offense per game. This year’s team will be more of a ‘throwback’ team, Calabrese said.
This year’s Foxes will be more of an aggressive defensive team with an offense that intends to ‘grind it out’ with opposition. Calabrese expects the Foxes to power the ball down the field on offense and stifle opposition on defense.
Calabrese said in terms of the mental aspect, this team is far ahead of past teams. Junior quarterback Dylan Usher is having the same ups and downs any quarterback has. However, Calabrese is pleased with his progress. “He’s a crafty little athlete and he makes some things happen,” he said. The team has confidence in Usher and themselves, Calabrese said.
Shawn Smith has also been making huge strides in his switch from fullback to linebacker. According to Calabrese, Smith has become the leader the team needs. He was selected one of the team’s captains, and Calabrese believes he is the first junior captain during his tenure as coach.
The Foxes have had tough schedules in past years, but that is not an issue for Calabrese. “Sometimes I don’t even know who we are playing (next) Friday,” he said. “It is a week-by-week basis. We certainly have an eye on where we want to be, but we concentrate everyday on getting better.”
The team has also adapted well to the new defensive strategy and new defensive coach Rick Ostrander. Offensive play has been tough due to the defense at times during practice for the Foxes.
Damien Blakeney and Lee McDaniel are poised for big seasons, Calabrese said. He believes his two offensive tackles, Joe Hudson and Marcus Lunn will have stellar seasons as well. The battles between the tackles and the starting defensive ends have been fun to watch this pre-season.
This team will look markedly different from last year’s team, but coaches and players alike hope for the same success.
The Foxes face Dillon High School in a scrimmage today at 6 p.m. at Kelleytown Stadium and will travel to Camden for their first game on Aug. 22, at 7:30 p.m.
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