Short scrimmage shows Hudson has a winning attitude
By STEVE LEE
Published May 29, 2003
HUDSON - The red and gold scrimmage May 22 at Cobra Stadium could be renamed the gray and white game for the gloomy skies and lightning that led to an early night.
Hudson's spring football finale, played during a downpour, ended three plays into the second half.
"It was pretty sloppy on the field," coach Terry Voyles said. "We didn't have any injuries and I pretty much saw what I wanted to see."
First-year quarterback Kyle Hatcher looked sharp at times, confused at others. The linebacker corps, led by Kevin Tomecsek, played solid, and depth at running back showed with four players gaining yardage.
All good signs, Voyles said, for a team coming off a 1-8 season and in dire need of a winning attitude.
"I do not want to lose any more," Voyles said. "I'm getting tired of it."
Voyles, 10-29 in four seasons at Hudson, claimed that next season's team will be the most talented bunch of Cobras yet.
The red team won 21-11, highlighted by Tommy Snow's 63-yard touchdown run, Nathan Toole's 57-yard play that set up his 6-yard TD run and Hatcher's 32-yard TD pass to Bobby Carroll.
"We did pull a few explosive plays out of our hat," Voyles said. "We used to just pound, pound, pound, but (Thursday) we broke some long ones."
On a bright note, none of those big plays came from Travis Miller, who rushed for 896 yards in an injury-riddled season. Miller had an 11-yard run up the middle on a fourth-and-short play.
Fullback Landon Barabas bounced off several defenders on a couple of hard runs up the middle.
"It's become a competition in the backfield. They're constantly pushing each other," said former quarterback Robby Mahler, an assistant who will work with offensive coordinator Mark Nash.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Hatcher, who starred in the Pasco Police Athletic League and led teams to two title games, is a junior varsity callup who has been tabbed as the starter.
Hatcher, a sophomore, looked sharp on short and long throws, and he scrambled out of trouble several times for gains. A couple of times, he was kept in check by Tomecsek, who had two sacks and a fumble recovery, and Lance Paquette, who batted a pass down over the middle.
"He felt the pressure," Voyles said. "I think he had some trouble with it. He's got to learn to take the pressure."
Voyles also was impressed with senior offensive tackle Jimmy Schumacher, who will play on a line that may include two freshmen and a sophomore.
"I saw him hit a couple of people, and he just knocked their shoelaces loose," Voyles said.
UP NEXT: Hudson will play at Citrus in a Fall Classic at 7:30 p.m. Aug.29. Then the Cobras kick off the season with a Sept.5 home game against River Ridge.
Shortchanged a game last season when it was rescheduled, Hudson plays all eight county foes this season. Other games are Oct.10 at Lecanto and Oct.24 against Springstead at home.
