Nikson, Hornets excited for new season

Foreman first-year head coach Jason Nikson is excited about trying to put his stamp on the program and Nikson's players share his enthusiasm.

"I think we've got a lot accomplished and look like a much better football team this year," junior quarterback Oscar Maldonado said. "We just have to play together and play hard."

Nikson is excited about taking over the Hornets' program.

"We're going to make some changes from what we've done in the past," said Nikson, who was the defensive coordinator last year under Chuck Saieva. "We're going to try and be a little more aggressive. We have a lot of speed and we have to use that on the field."

There will be some limitations early on for Foreman. But with a little bit of experience they hope to get pas them.

"We're a very young team and we basically only have four seniors who will be playing a lot of time for us," Nikson said.

The Hornets are hoping to turn things up a notch after a so-so 5-4 season that saw Foreman win three of its last four games - two by shutout.

Still, Foreman was left out of the Chicago Conference playoffs because of their 2-3 Big Shoulders conference record.

"For me, personally I want to have at least 15 passing touchdowns and make sure we have a winning record going into the playoffs," Maldonado said. "And then I want to win city."

Foreman lost three real key players from last year. Wide receiver/defensive back Morris Thomas, linebacker Juan Santiago and linebacker/running back Drake Norwood.

Greg Thomas and Andre Cargo will be tasked with replacing the linebackers

"I want us to get to the playoffs this year," said Thomas, a senior. "We need to play as a team."

"Being a senior and having played at Foreman for four years I want to help us go win a city championship," Cargo said. "I want people to look back at us and see how high we took the program. As long as we play together there isn't a team in the city that can beat us."

Two real key players for the Hornets will be returning all-conference players John Jackson (nose guard) and Pedro Ivery (wide receiver/defensive back).

"(Jackson's) a real strong kid," Nikson said. "He's benching almost 380 and he's squatting over 500. He's a real load."

"Pedro had eight interceptions last year and he's more confident with his tackling ability. He's definitely one of our kids that has college potential."

While the two players who shared Pioneer Press Chicago Group Football Player of the Year honors last year - Lake View's Ivan Vargas and Amundsen's Edem Ocloo) - both came from the Big Shoulders conference, the good news is that they were both seniors.

"Despite the loss of those players I think our conference has improved from last year," Nikson said. "We're just looking at taking it game-by-game. We want to get our first win under our belt and go from there.

"Taft is moving down from the Illini so they have to be the team to beat. And Amundsen always puts good athletes on the field."

Foreman starts off the season Saturday, Aug. 25 with an 11 a.m. game against Payton at Winnemac Stadium.