Head Coach Damian Buggy Q&A
Q. What are the key things we should know about your offense?
A. Offensively, we are getting away from the Wing-T and moving toward a multiple Pro offense. We feel that it is the best way to use multiple athletes and get them the ball in space. It really plays to our strengths.
Some players that will impact our offense will be Aaron Nelson at wide receiver. Aaron possesses some big play potential with his speed. Robbie Henne is another threat at wide receiver. Henne has moved from running back to wide receiver and has sure hands. There will be times when he will get the ball in the backfield as well because he is a good playmaker.
The backfield starts with Nick Kuhn at quarterback. Nick has solid leadership skills, a good arm and loves to compete. He is definitely a player to build an offense around. Also joining Kuhn is the leading returning rusher in Ian Hamilton (532 yards) who has a tough, hard-nosed running style. To complement Hamilton’s power is Dariel Ruiz with his speed averaging over 18 yards per play in 2013.
Up front, the line returns TJ Romoho at guard and he has started since his freshman year. Alongside Romoho is senior Dustin Snyder. Snyder has seen some limited time last season but will be an important part on a youthful front five.
Q. What are the key things we should know about your defense?
A. Along with Hamilton, Snyder, Nelson, Ruiz, Henne and Kuhn, the Hawks defensively return Damian Bausher as a strong presence at linebacker.
Also returning are Tyler Herber at strong safety and Mike Madara at corner in the secondary.
Q. What are the key things we should know about your special teams? Who are your kick and punt returners? Who are your kicker and punter?
A. Nelson will be taking on the kicking duties and Jamin Levan will do the punting while Bausher will be doing the long snapping.
Head Coach: Damian Buggy (1st year)
2013 Record: 5-6 Lost in the first round of District III playoffs
Key Starters Lost: QB/DB Joey Cominsky, WR/LB Cody Miller, TE/DT Austin Bashore, TE/DE Pat Barter, OL/DL Blake Roberts, DL Logan Lackey
Offensive Starters Returning: (6)
OL. Sr. Dustin Snyder
OL. Sr. Damian Bausher
RB. Sr. Robbie Henne
RB. Sr. Ian Hamilton
QB. Jr. Nick Kuhn
WR. Jr. Aaron Nelson
Defensive Starters Returning: (8)
DT. Sr. Dustin Snyder
LB. Sr. Damian Bausher
DB. Sr. Robbie Henne
LB. Sr. Ian Hamilton
DB. Jr. Nick Kuhn
DB. Jr. Aaron Nelson
LB. Jr. Tyler Herber
DB. Mike Madara
Key Newcomers:
WR/DB. Sr. Kai Miller
RB/DB. Jr. Matt James
WR/DB. So. Gabe Vazquez
RB/DB. So. Jordan McAllister
RB/DB. So. Tommy Kissinger
OL/LB. So. Max Kline
RB/LB. So. Andrew Payne
OL/DL. So. Jacob Metcalfe
OL/DL. So. Quinn Nabozny
2014 Outlook:
Hamburg will have a large contingent of young players, and we will be leaning on our upper-classmen to bring the maturity and experience needed to be successful. Our off-season commitment has been great thus far.
Offensively, Hamburg looks to return our top rusher in Ian Hamilton (532 yards) along with another leading rusher Robbie Henne who averaged 5.92 yards per rush. Leading Hamburg at QB is junior Nick Kuhn who brings the experience of 13 starts.
Along with Hamilton, Henne and Kuhn, the Hawks defensively return Damian Bausher as a strong presence at linebacker. Dustin Snyder is at defensive tackle, Tyler Herber is at strong safety and Aaron Nelson at free safety.
Hamburg Area is looking forward to the challenges of the 2014 season.
