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Hornets believe 2006 was not a one-year wonder

Wednesday, September, 05 By Nick Curcuru
Correspondent

After the way the last three years have gone for the Manchester Essex football team, head coach Mike Athanas knows he can't let his team get too high or too low. Thus, Athanas' formula for success in 2007 is simple, execute from week to week and take it one game at a time. The Hornets enter this fall as the defending Commonwealth Small League Champions. Manchester Essex made the Division 3A playoffs last season, where it lost in the first round to Ipswich 34-0.

Although that final score seemed like a blowout, it was a result that the Hornets gladly took. Just two years ago, Manchester Essex was mired in a dreadful 17-game losing streak and had a combined record of 2-20 after the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Although it seemed like there was no hope in sight, the Hornets finished 2005 strong and picked up that momentum last year.

Now, Manchester Essex will set out to prove that 2006 wasn't just a one-year wonder. That quest begins this Saturday, when the Hornets open up the regular season on against Pope John (at Chelsea High School 7 p.m.).

"We will prove that we are for real and that last season was not a fluke," Hornets junior captain and quarterback Pat Orlando said. "We have a lot of skill this season. Last year was just the beginning."

Fourth-year head coach Mike Athanas also has confidence in his team this season.

"We look good so far," Athanas said. "If we stay healthy we can expect to compete for the Commonwealth Small League championship again."

However, another championship will be a tall task. Athanas believes that the Commonwealth Small League is going to be very competitive this season. North Shore Tech, Georgetown and Northeast Regional are expected to be the Hornets biggest challenges. But Athanas points out that the league is loaded with parody and any team in the league is capable of winning.

"In order to make it back to the playoffs we are going to have to execute our game plan each week," Athanas said. "The league is going to be tough this year."

One thing that should help the Hornets is the fact that the team, as a whole, has a short memory. Confidence is high, and that 17-game losing streak is a thing of the past. "The losing streak is forgotten about," said Orlando, who passed for 894 yards last year. "We got into a rhythm last season and now we come into every game thinking that we can win."

Athanas also is believes that his team has completely moved on and has really matured.

"We had a couple of tough seasons but that isn't even brought up anymore," Athanas said. "We jelled as a team last season and learned how to win. We are capable of playing some good football."

The Hornets once again will be led by a high-powered offense. Orlando returns as quarterback after coming off of the bench in the middle of the 2006 season to lead Manchester Essex to an average of nearly 30 points per game. Orlando's main target will be senior captain Sam Cohen, who returns as the team's starting split end and caught 20 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns last year.

"Our passing game is going to be the key to our success," Cohen said. "We have a lot of experience and we hope the run game will set it up."

Athanas pointed out that the one concern with his team is depth, which could play a factor if the team suffers some injuries.

"Injuries could hurt because of our depth," Athanas said. "But if we come to play every week we will be fine even if we have injuries."

All in all, the team expects to raise the bar and improve upon last season's trip to the Division 3A semifinals. "Last season was just a stepping stone," senior captain and center Phil Gillette said. "This year we have a lot of experience and we are very motivated. We are expecting another good season."

Last year's record: 8-4

Head coach: Mike Athanas (4th year)

Captains: Scott Forsythe, Phil Gillette, Sam Cohen, Pat Orlando

Style of offense: Pro set

Style of defense: Varies from week to week, depending on opponent's offensive scheme

Last winning season: 2006

Last league title: 2006

Did you know?: One of the more underrated aspects of Manchester Essex is its special teams unit. Last year, the Hornets took back three kickoffs for touchdowns.