Confidence Helps Offset Hall's Graduation Losses

The preference for most of the state’s larger schools is to play two-platoon football.

The most obvious reason for specialization is that it keeps players fresh. Another major advantage is that more kids get to play, and the educational experience derived from team sports is the fundamental reason why the games are played.

But at this season, head coach Frank Robinson III and his staff have elected to use more athletes on both offense and defense.

“It’s not the numbers,” said Robinson, who has used the two-platoon strategy since 2003. “We definitely have enough kids. We want the ability to rotate kids if we need to. If we run into a situation at the end of the season, we want to have answers.”

The change in philosophy can be traced back to last year, one of Hall’s most successful, when a rash of injuries in the regular season finale against Conard forced Robinson to play kids in unfamiliar positions during the Class LL quarterfinal loss at Norwich Free Academy.

“The kids did a great job at the end but this puts us in a little better situation,” he said. “I like the two-platoon system because you get more kids involved but we want to have answers. We’re trying it and it seems to be working.”

The Warriors lost the brunt of the starters who carried them to their first state playoff encounter since 1986, most notably quarterback Riley Carroll. Carroll threw for 2,359 yards and 23 touchdowns out of Robinson’s pass-oriented spread formation.

Top rusher Jacob Rosario (123 carries, 821 yards) and top receiver Joey Denault (50 catches, 741 yards) have also graduated, along with linebackers Justin Sundstrom, Mike Steinberg and Kevin Farrah, defensive backs Ben Aronow and Eddie Blaschinski, and virtually the entire starting offensive and defensive lines.

But Robinson’s preseason observations have him anticipating another competitive team in a very difficult division, the newly created CCC Division I West.

“I’m very delighted. The team came in in extremely good shape, which totally changes how you coach kids the first couple weeks,” Robinson said. “We can focus on what we do on the field instead of getting in shape.”

He also noted how the self-belief borne out of last year’s effort has carried over.

“A lot happens after a good year,” he said. “They have so much confidence and they want to keep moving on.”

Starting quarterback George Lund serves as a perfect example. Carroll’s understudy completed 16 of 25 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns last year.

“Lund has to fill some big shoes and he’s doing it,” Robinson said. “He was able to blossom as a quarterback watching Riley, understanding what his reads are. He’s plugging right into that. He’s trying to continue the tradition.

“It’s happening at every position. All the guys are trying to do the best they can and that’s all we can ask from them.”

Hall did retain experience at wide receiver where Ian Dugger (44 receptions, 620 yards) and Devon Ortiz (32-385) return. Senior Ernie Green, who last played as a freshman, and L.T. Nembhard will also line up in Robinson’s standard four-receiver set.

“Ortiz and Dugger are fantastic, better than they were last year,” Robinson said. “They’re both fast. They can stretch the field.

“We run a system. If the system calls for one to go deep, the other can be a possession receiver. On the next play, we can switch it. Both are very good athletes and can handle what we ask them to do.”

Christian Bohn, ticketed as the feature running back last year when he broke his foot, will split time with Jesse Maltz. Center Zach Duzan will anchor the offensive line, with Todd Lichtenstein and Josh Wheeler also in the starting mix.

Wheeler, Duzan and Keye Frank are in the defensive line rotation. At linebacker, returning starter Maltz will be joined by Bohn, Sal Ghamo and Denver Sproul. The secondary will include Dugger and Ortiz at safety with Adam Glynn, Green and Nembhard rotating at the corners.

Zach Dobbins will handle the punting. Several players are vying for placekicking duties.

HALL

Coach: Frank Robinson III (13^th year, 55-68-1)

2010 Record: 8-3 (6-1 CCC Div I); lost to NFA 30-14 in ‘LL’ quarterfinal

New Division (Teams): CCC Div. I West (Southington, Simsbury, Conard, New Britain)

Key Losses: Riley Carroll, Miguel Godoy, Kyle Bryan, Will Oldach, Joey Denault, Kevin Farrah, Justin Sundstrom, Eddie Blaschinski, Jacob Rosario, Justin Cleaver, Mike Steinberg, Jacob Lerner, Radhames Colon, Ben Aronow, Nick Gold, Brendan McGrath, Nick DeNino, Nick Black, Dimitri Panagakos, Nate Margolis, John Yip, Dan Guadalupe, Mitch Morin

2011 Lineup: George Lund (sr. capt., QB), Christian Bohn (sr. capt., RB/LB), Ian Dugger (sr. capt., WR/DB), Jesse Maltz (sr. capt., RB/LB), Adam Glynn (sr. capt., WR/DB), Devon Ortiz (sr., WR/DB), Ernie Green (sr., WR/DB), Max Ghamo (sr., WR/DB), Josh Wheeler (sr., OL/DL), Tobi Lichtenstein (jr., OL/DL), Patrick Kearney (sr., OL), Cole Souza (so., OL/DL), Zach Duzan (jr., OL/DL), Keye Frank (sr., OL/DL), Sal Ghamo (sr., LB), Denver Sproul (sr., LB), L.T. Nembhard (jr., WR/DB), Zach Dobbins (jr., P/QB)

Of Note: Carroll, Godoy and Bryan are all playing at CCSU … The team has five members of the Ghamo family on the roster. Seniors Max and Sal are cousins …