HERMITAGE, Pa. (WKBN) – Last year’s Hickory team lost three of their five regular season games by a total of eleven points.
“We were 1-4 in one score games entering the fourth quarter last year,” indicates coach Bill Dungee. “That needs to change, we must have higher levels of execution in close games.”
The offense saw their averages dip from a team that was able to generate 30-points and 343-yards per game to a unit that registered averages of 23-points and 288-yards last season.
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In 2023, with the graduation of Logan Woods (1634 passing yards, 14 TDs), coach Dungee will hand the keys over to junior Zander Telesz. As a sophomore, he threw for 389 yards while completing 54% of his tosses (27-50).
“He split time at quarterback over the last half of the season and showed great promise,” points out Dungee. “He’s a playmaker and we expect him to lead our offense.”
He’ll have the top three pass catchers – Keenan Scullin (44 catches, 627 yards), Luke Nevil (27 catches, 501 yards) and Will Acrie (23 catches, 283 yards) – back in the fold as well as their top rusher from a year ago in Sean Kennedy (321 rushing yards, 5 TDs).
Junior lineman Ben Walls will look to lead the front five for the Hornets this fall. “Ben has shown tremendous leadership during the winter workouts and sets the tone for that group,” states Dungee.
The defensive unit lost many to graduation but do return their middle linebacker Kennedy (103 tackles, 13 TFL) and free safety Tim Krivosh (86 tackles, 2 INTs). “Sean’s a three-year starter at middle linebacker,” Dungee indicates. “He’s the engine of our defense. Timmy also is a returning three-year starter and anchors our secondary at free safety. We need to continue to develop along the defensive line in order to get back to being a dominate defense.”
Hickory begins the 2023 season by hosting Harbor Creek on Friday, August 26.
Hickory Hornets
Fast Facts
Head Coach: Bill Dungee, 5th season (27-15)
2022 Record: 5-6 (2-5), T-6th place Region 3
Last 5 Years: 29-22 (56.9%)
Home Field: Hornets Stadium
League: District 10, Region 3
Base Offense: Spread
Base Defense: 4-2-5
2022 Team Stats
Scoring Offense: 23.1
Scoring Defense: 21.0
Total Offense: 288.0
Rushing Offense: 99.8
Passing Offense: 188.2
2022 Individual Leaders
Passing: Logan Woods – 1634 yards, 59.2% (109-184), 14 TDs
Rushing: Sean Kennedy – 321 yards, 4.2 avg, 5 TDs
Receiving: Keenan Scullin – 627 yards, 14.3 avg, 3 TDs
Tackles: Ty Holland – 108
QB Sacks: Daymar Trawick – 4 1/2
Interceptions: Nash Porada – 3
2022 Results
Slippery Rock 28 Hornets 0*
Hornets 33 General McLane 28*
Sharpsville 28 Hornets 21
Hornets 45 Greenville 12
Hornets 24 Grove City 14
Slippery Rock 23 Hornets 20
Farrell 35 Hornets 0
Wilmington 22 Hornets 21
Sharon 28 Hornets 14
Hornets 62 Franklin 3
Hornets 14 Harbor Creek 10
*-playoff
2022 District 10, Region 3 Standings
Farrell – 7-0 (10-2)
Sharpsville – 5-2 (9-3)
Grove City – 5-2 (9-4)
Sharon – 4-3 (6-5)
Slippery Rock – 3-4 (7-5)
Hickory – 2-5 (5-6)
Wilmington – 2-5 (3-7)
Greenville – 0-7 (2-8)
2023 Schedule
Aug. 26 – Harbor Creek
Sept. 1 – at Franklin
Sept. 8 – Sharon
Sept. 15 – at Wilmington
Sept. 22 – Farrell
Sept. 29 – at Slippery Rock
Oct. 6 – Grove City
Oct. 13 – at Greenville
Oct. 21 – at Sharpsville
