Hubbard looks to rebound from disappointing 1998 season

By Matt Deutsch
Herald Writer

After a season in which it lost numerous ballgames by less than 10 points, the Hubbard High football squad is looking to rebound from not only a string of heartbreaking defeats, but also from the loss of key personnel.

The Eagles fell to 4-6 overall and 3-3 in the Trumbull Athletic Conference (TAC-8) a year ago, watching Brookfield and Champion share the league crown. Interestingly enough, the Warriors posted the same overall ledger as the Eagles (4-6), an indication of the type of year it was in the conference.

"It was a strange season for our whole league," said Hubbard head coach Jeff Bayuk. "Looking at it in retrospect and watching the films over and over again in the offseason, it seems to me that we could have won more games. With a couple of calls one way or another, or with a penalty or turnover not committed late in games, we could have won seven."

Bayuk does not yet know how well his current crop of players will fill the shoes of recently departed stalwarts like Carmen Tanferno, Glenn Silvidi, Matt Kanetsky, and John Schiraldi. What he does know, however, is that his players seem intent on compensating for lack of experience with energy and emotion.

"The kids that we have this year seem to be really enthusiastic," said Bayuk. "They really seem to get after it. I just hope that they'll be able to learn as much as they need to learn before we get into the meat of our schedule. The kids are working hard, but there's also no teacher like experience."

The Eagles have just four returning starters on offense and three on defense. Leading Hubbard's offense are senior tight end Bobby Thompson (6-0, 230), junior guard Steve Pompili (6-3, 235), senior center Sam Protopapa (5-9, 210) and senior back Ryan Caesar (5-10, 185).

In addition, Matt Kanetsky's younger brother, junior Marty (5-10, 190), will be vying with senior Scott Ridel (6-3, 185) for time at the quarterback position. Others in the backfield include sophomore tailback Anthony Smith (6-1, 160), senior fullback Josh Carano (5-10, 210), junior fullback Ron DeJulio (5-11, 210) and sophomore fullback Jerad Jordan (5-11, 185). Kanetsky and Ridel will be throwing the ball to seniors Gary DeSantis (5-8, 150), Rick Sypert (5-9, 150), Brock Oros (5-10, 150) and David Watkins (5-10, 150) and junior Jerry Yoder (6-3, 180).

Besides Thompson, Pompili and Protopapa on the line, seniors Jerry Fye (6-6, 210), Matt Resatar (6-1, 205) and Brian Schiraldi (6-0, 170) are competing for a starting spot at tight end. At tackle, the battle is between juniors Mike Rexroad (6-2, 215), Ryan Meyer (6-5, 245) and Keith Wagner (6-3, 315) and sophomore Mike Flaugher (6-1, 230). Competing at the other guard slot is senior Daryl Swartz (5-10, 185) and juniors Tim Brown (5-11, 215) and Mike Homer (5-10, 210). Junior Bill Tucciarone (5-10, 175) will see time at center.

According to Bayuk, the offensive unit is still attempting to find an identity, especially in regard to the passing game. Traditionally, the Eagles have been very adept at running the football, but may fill the autumn air with more pigskins than usual this year.

"We're going to throw it a little bit more than we have in the past, but I'm not sure how well we're going to throw it," said Bayuk

Defensively, Thompson will anchor one linebacker slot, while DeJulio,

Homer or Carano will fill the other. Battling for time at the outside linebacker positions are Schiraldi, Caesar, Jordan, senior T. Bart Bata (5-8, 165) and Kanetsky. Ridel will spearhead a secondary which also features Oros, Smith, Sypert, Watkins and DeSantis.

Bayuk is entering his ninth year at the helm of the Eagles, and has compiled an overall record of 49-31. His coaching staff includes Mickey Sikora (defensive coordinator/tackles), Steve Hunt and Dennis Mathews (wide receivers/defensive secondary), Ron DeJulio (running backs/linebackers), Rich Perline (ends), Rod Greenameyer (offensive tackles) and Jack Arvin (offensive guards/centers/defensive ends).