UMHS Fall Sports: Football Preview

The Upper Moreland football team culture has changed within a school year. This year, a new coach is in charge, and a young team is expected to land the program some wins.

A combination of both will be challenging for the Bears, but they seem to have the right leader at the helm to make it possible.

Head coach Dave Heying is ready to put his troops into battle during the long season, but knows how big of a challenge that will be. He will have to do a lot of work coaching the game of football, and having his players execute what they learn daily at practice.

“A lot of the kids that are coming out are first-year football players,” said Heying. “We are really glad to have them, but they are not very football savvy. The more experience we can get them, the better they can be.”

After losing 23 seniors from a winning team last year, the Bears have one of the youngest football teams in the area. With an inexperienced team and a new coach, some may think that this season won’t turn out into many wins on the schedule. Don’t tell that to the head coach.

“I want the kids to improve every week,” said Heying. “We are putting them in the best spot to win, but they just have to execute. I want to win every game. I don’t have my seniors next year; I have them now. It isn’t fair to them to be good in the future; I want to be good now.”

Injuries have taken a toll on the first-year coach’s plan. With a small group of kids on the team, the depth chart seems thin at times.

“We are not a very big squad,” said Heying. “It is what it is. We are about 50 kids. Most of them are underclassmen. I think I have about 18 freshmen and 15 sophomores. I like my team in the future, but I want to win now.”

“I lost a lot of kids to injuries,” added Heying. “My starting tight end is out. My back up tight end is out. My starting wingback is out as well. We can’t run what we have been practicing all summer because we don’t have our personnel. Being young, you don’t really have backups.”

Even with being in charge of a young team, the Bears have the coaching to execute. It is just a matter of time.

“I think good things are going to happen sooner or later," said Heying. “I just hope it is sooner than later. I know I am putting the kids in the best spots to win. We have some playmakers, I just need someone to step up and make a big play.”

Upper Merion Bears Facts

Coach: Dave Heying (first season)

Last year: 8-4

Key Players: Junior quarterback Robert Knox

Games to watch: Wissahickon, Upper Merion, Plymouth Whitemarsh

Upper Moreland Schedule:

• Sept. 16 at Exter 7 p.m.

• Sept 23 Interboro 7 p.m.

• Sept. 30 at Plymouth Whitemarsh 7 p.m.

• Oct. 6 at Norristown 7 p.m.

• Oct. 14 Wissahickon 7 p.m.

• Oct. 21 Upper Dublin 7 p.m.

• Oct. 28 at Cheltenham 7 p.m.

• Nov. 4 Upper Merion 7 p.m.

• Nov. 11 at Owen J. Roberts 7 p.m.

• Nov. 24 at Hatboro-Horsham 10 a.m.