Preps: Hudson eager to rekindle tradition

HUDSON -- There are those that would scoff at the notion of Hudson tradition. What tradition? Losing seasons, out-manned teams, ugly uniforms, sparse rosters?

You call that tradition?

No, says senior quarterback Robby Mahler. That is recent tradition, he argues. That's the bad stuff.

But Mahler knows all about the good stuff. He grew up with it -- brother Rick Mahler was one the Cobras' best. When he played, they called him Mahlervelous, and the Cobras won games. In 1986, when Rick was a senior, his team went 6-4.

It was, Robby Mahler sadly notes, Hudson's last winning season. In the 14 years since that '86 senior class -- which included standouts Keith Brosnan, Craig Anderson, Doug Elpers and Mike Leggiere -- the Cobras have failed to even sniff that kind of success.

"We say around here that we're tired of being everybody's Homecoming game," said Robby Mahler. "It gets old. I'd love to be able to turn that around. But it's not something that's going to happen overnight, but year by year. We have the guys here that could make a good team. But we can't roll over and say we are Hudson and look at our past and decide that's how we're going to be."

Mahler will have a big hand in changing the notion of Hudson as a pushover, returning as the starting quarterback on a team that will have to pass better in 2000 if it is going to have a chance at success.

Last year, teams dared Hudson to pass by loading up eight men on the line of scrimmage, and it paid off. This season, without star tailback Brad Felten who took his 1,400 yards to Quincy (Ill.) College, expect teams to say double dare.

"We'll throw the ball around hoping that it will help free up the running game a little bit," coach Terry Voyles said. "I feel like last year it hurt us a lot because we only completed 30 percent of our passes. So nobody was scared of our passing. We had a good strong running attack, but you put eight people in the box and it's pretty tough."

Mahler expects to be much improved this season, especially with the advantage of better receivers to throw to. Danny Barton, who hasn't played for two years, and Jeremy Lees, a baseball player, have been very impressive in drills, and Dale Lemmons and David Leduc give the group good depth.

"If we can get the ball out to them, they can be very effective," Voyles said.

Off all the Cobras' shortcomings, the one of greatest concern pertains to simple numbers. Hudson's running backs are its linebackers, its offensive linemen its defensive lineman, its wide receivers its defensive backs.

For Voyles, that means his best players rarely leave the field, which means by the end of the third quarter, they are exhausted, which means in close games the Cobras are at a disadvantage.

And injuries?

Shhhhhh.

"We have to stay healthy," Voyles said. "If we get hurt and banged up we're in trouble. We get two or three people banged up and lose them for the season, we're done."

AT A GLANCE

COLORS: Gold and red.

CLASS: 3A, District 6.

PLAYOFF HISTORY: 1979.

LAST APPEARANCE: Lost to Oviedo 12-7.

DIRECTIONS COBRA STADIUM: 14410 Cobra Way, Hudson. From the west, take U.S. 19 to State Road 52, turn east. Travel 6 miles to Hicks Road and turn north. Travel 2.5 miles to Hudson Avenue and turn east. Cobra Way is ahead on the left. From the east, take U.S. 41 or I-75 to State Road 52, turn west and travel 8-13 miles to Hicks Road and follow above directions.

DID YOU KNOW?: Five former Cobras are currently playing college football: Brad Felten (Quincy), Roger Zuckerman and James Daly (West Liberty), Luke Walker (Elmurst), Terry Davies (McMurray)

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