By: Gabe Kamins, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the sounds of clanking pads, screaming whistles, and buckling of chin straps are so delightful. That’s right, football is returning to Howard County. Instead of the 90-plus degree weather that athletes normally face when they first arrive to practice in the summer, the Hawks will have to bundle up and run their sprints in the heart of the winter. Although it is a shortened, six-game season, there are no complaints coming from the players. They are ready to hit the field after a 15-month break from the sport they love. With a mixture of veteran players with accolades under their belt and young players ready to prove their value, optimism is high in Clarksville this season.
The 2019 season was a roller coaster for the Hawks. Sure, there were plenty more ups than downs, but the downs included a devastating overtime loss to Marriotts Ridge and an early bounce from the playoffs at the hands of Wilde Lake. The Hawks will get their shot at revenge against the Wildecats, as they travel to Wilde Lake for Week 2 in what should be a highly competitive game. Before that, the team has a battle against Atholton. River Hill was victorious against the Raiders to open last season, 33-8. Following their matchups with Atholton and Wilde Lake, the Hawks will host Hammond in their home opener. River Hill last played Hammond in 2018, where the Hawks took it to the Golden Bears in a weather-shortened game. Hammond, however, is much improved and features arguably the county’s best aerial attack. The three opponents after that are currently unknown, as Howard County will be seeding teams based on their three-week performance and crafting the schedules in a round-robin tournament.
So what will this year’s Hawks look like? Nobody knows for sure just yet. The coaching staff will have to figure out how to replace the likes of Beau Brade, Anthony Behrmann, Ethan Brown, Keegan Remick, Jackson Knisely, Derek Sandoval, Michael Ogbolu Jr, Tony Lazzari, and many more players from an impressive 2020 graduating class. However, the team will return five All-County players from last season, as well as many others that saw consistent playing time. While it will be difficult to replace the production of the aforementioned stalwarts, the Hawks will certainly have options.
Dylan Burnett is expected to be under center for River Hill. The gunslinging quarterback has waited three years for his turn to lead the team, and he will finally get his chance. While he may have very limited experience on varsity, his work ethic and leadership are two of his finest traits. Dylan has also developed great chemistry with his teammates over the pandemic, and there is no question that he’ll be ready when the season officially kicks off. Myles McDuffie will give the Hawks another great quarterback option, and could also see a lot of playing time early on. The dual-threat speedster caught the attention of many while on JV last season. He could possibly see some playing time on both sides of the ball thanks to his elite athleticism.
Everybody knows that the Hawks love to run the ball, and this year will be no different. Zach Igwebe returns at super back for his senior season, and will be joined by many other talented players in the backfield. Igwebe, the leader of the Hawks’ offense, ran for a whopping 967 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Since then, he has only gotten stronger and faster. Michael Crisitello will likely get the nod at halfback, and the physical yet speedy senior has made countless plays throughout his Hawks career. Don’t be surprised if he leads the team in receiving. Nick Laumann, another senior, will get the start at wingback after spending last season at tight end. Nick is one of the most physical players on the team, so it’s no surprise that he will be replacing Beau Brade in the backfield. His versatility will likely make him a nightmare for opposing defenses. Other intriguing backfield options include Dylan O’Brien, Jayden Simo, and Arjun Singh, though other players will almost certainly emerge as well.
The wide receiving group took a big hit as star sophomore Matthew Behrmann suffered a pre-season injury. The position is Matthew’s whenever he returns, but for now, the Hawks will likely look at Christian Myers, Devron Johnson, Devin Campbell, Devary Bennett, Zafer Esreb, Levi Wallace, and Gabe Kamins as replacement options. Christian is the most experienced out of the group, as he saw significant time at receiver last season. His versatility means that he can play either at receiver or in the backfield. The Hawks will definitely find a way to get him on the field, while Devron Johnson, the #1 receiver on JV last season, should see some playing time as well.
Kyle Martin will almost certainly be the tight end. A three-year varsity starter, Kyle has blossomed into a threat in both the run-blocking and pass-catching games. Other options include talented sophomore Tyler Windsor, who is expected to be called up from JV to start the season. Daniel Fahmy could potentially see some time at tight end, too.
The offensive line is headlined by Second-Team All-County center Gurdeep Barring. The rest of the line, however, is a bit of a question mark after the Hawks saw four starters from last season graduate. The team will certainly have plenty of talented options to work with, though. George Mansaray, Kyle Henry, Daniel Fahmy, Karl Birzak, Eli Wallace, Christian DeLauney, and Hank Barton – whenever he returns from injury – are all very skilled players, as well as great athletes.
While it will be without elite players like Beau Brade and Derek Sandoval, the secondary should still be a major strength for River Hill. Christian Myers returns for his senior season more determined than ever following a four-interception 2019 campaign. Christian excels in both man and zone coverage, and also showed a knack for tackling last season. Devron Johnson, Devin Campbell, Arjun Singh, and Myles McDuffie are all big-time playmakers that could see action at either safety or cornerback.
Perhaps the biggest strength for the Hawks will be their linebacking core. Zach Igwebe will play the King position, while Nick Laumann will handle either the Ace or Queen role. Michael Crisitello and Gabe Kamins return at Jack, while Dylan O’Brien, Daniel Fahmy, Jayden Simo, Tyler Windsor, Poojan Patel, and Dylan McCullough are all very good options as well. If the team wants to be successful this year, the linebackers will need to step up big time.
The defensive line features many intriguing options. Two Kyles – Martin and Henry – will see plenty of playing time, while returners like Gurdeep Barring, George Mansaray, and Karl Birzak all possess the combination of power and speed that a River Hill defensive lineman must have. Levi Wallace and Christian DeLauney could push for playing time on the line as well.
The seniors on the team are ready to end their careers on a high note, while the newcomers are eager to get some experience under their belt. At one point, it seemed like a 2020-2021 season was an afterthought. Now, it’s a reality. Let’s play some football!