Hammond: On the same page

Updated: May 9, 2012 9:42AM

Senior linemen Josue Morales and Kenniss Dillon are about as anxious to get this football season going as anybody on the Hammond team.

And that should benefit playmaker Michael Peavy.

All three will be counted on to lead the Wildcats to a winning record after recording a 3-8 mark last season.

The linemen are up to the challenge, but is Peavy?

All signs point to yes.

“We’re going to lead the way and he’s going to follow,” Dillon said of the senior tailback/wide out. “He’s an explosive player.”

Dillon knows, too. He watched Peavy make a one-handed catch against one of his opponents last year that went for a 90-yard touchdown reception. Peavy finished with 44 catches for 891 yards and eight touchdowns last season and led the team in all three offensive categories.

“It’s funny about him,” Dillon continued. “Because he could make a catch like that where he catches it with one hand and the (defensive back) hits him on the leg and he still holds onto it. But the next offensive drive, we ran something called the ‘Rocky Screen,’ which is him taking a step back from the line and catching the ball and running free but he dropped almost every single one.

“Most of it was that he’s just so into the game and ready to take off before he gets it. But now, I can’t remember a practice where he’s dropped more than one ball.”

Schreiber can’t remember coaching a receiver with so much ability but he’s glad he’s on board.

Peavy almost transferred to Morton following the team’s lackluster season but was reassured that the Wildcats would be better in 2011.

“He’s got a great knack for going to get the football,” Schreiber said. “He’s definitely a threat. We are going to use him in the backfield too because we’d like to get the ball in his hands as often as possible.”

That’s where Morales and Dillon come in. They will be counted on heavily to get the linemen on board to run the new offensive scheme.

Peavy knows he can’t make an impact without them.

“They are the captains of the line,” he said. “Josue is mentally tough and never gives up and is very coachable. He’s a cool, humble guy.

“Kenniss has a positive attitude and is always encouraging the other guys to be better. Plus, he’s big so he uses that to push everybody around.”

Morales could barely bench 130 pounds when he started playing football freshman year. A year later, he was benching 295 and has continued to work on his technique, discipline and speed.

“I’m just trying to stay focused,” he said. “Last year, we had a lot of expectations and we came in with a coach that made promises he couldn’t keep and it kind of discouraged us. But I’ve got a lot of hope for this team.”

Coach

Eric Schreiber

record

At school: 0-0 (first season)

Overall: 42-49 (10th season)

Last season

Lost 41-20 to West Side in the sectional semifinal

Key returnees

OL/DL Josue Morales

OL/DL Kenniss Dillon

QB Paris Hutchinson

RB/WR Michael Peavy

Key losses

TE/LB Rayvon Sanders

G/DE Broderick Bennett

QB Antwion McGee, Jr.

RB/LB Lamarcus Moore

College prospects

Kenniss Dillon

Season Outlook

Another coach came and left town last season. Griffith graduate (1992) Eric Schreiber is planning to settle in, though, as he becomes the fifth coach in seven years at the former powerhouse. He’s made the commitment to the school. But will the players respond? So far, it’s a resounding yes. Hammond has averaged over 30 players in the summer session and two-a-days and there are 20 seniors raring to go. One player that is psyched is senior wideout/tailback Michael Peavy (44 catches, 891 yards, 8 TDs). The team’s biggest offensive threat last year almost transferred to Morton after last year’s debacle, season but was really impressed with his new coach’s business-like approach. “Last year was mental and we didn’t take the coach seriously,” said Peavy, who’s been playing football since fifth grade. “Coach is all about business. He knows what he wants to do with this team and he’s organized. … He’s putting a lot of effort into this and he’s got high expectations for us.”

Postseason

Class 4A Sectional Sectional 9 (E.C. Central, Roosevelt, West Side, Griffith, Morton, Highland, Clark)

Schedule

Aug. 19 E.C. Central

Aug. 26 at Highland

Sept. 2 at Bowman

Sept. 9 Roosevelt

Sept. 16 West Side

Sept. 23 at Morton

Sept. 30 Lowell

Oct. 7 Gavit

Oct. 14 at Clark

HISTORY LESSON

Season Record

2001 5-5, 1-4

2002 4-7, 0-5

2003 1-9, 1-6

2004 2-8, 0-7

2005 1-10, 0-7

2006 2-10, 0-7

2007 9-2, 3-0

2008 7-4, 2-1

2009 6-5, 1-2

2010 3-8, 0-3

Sectional titles: 1978, 1983, 1988, 2000

Regional titles: 1988

Semistate titles: None

State titles: 1960, 1962

Roster

No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos.

8 LaMarcus Moore 5-11 190 12 FB/LB

9 Anthony McClendon 6-4 165 11 SE/DE

11 Michael Peavy 5-10 165 12 SE/DB

12 Derrion Rogers 5-10 160 10 QB/LB

13 Shane Richard 5-7 150 12 HB/DB

14 Jesse Woods-Curtis 5-10 180 11 HB/DB

15 Eric Schreiber 5-11 170 10 QB/LB

16 Anthony Short 5-7 155 12 HB/LB

17 Paris Hutchinson 6-0 160 12 QB/DB

18 Tyeshek Norwood 5-7 145 11 HB/DB

20 Eliceo Diaz 5-7 145 11 HB/DB

22 Darian Evans 5-9 150 12 HB/DB

24 Andre Croswell 5-9 150 11 HB/DB

25 TreSean Washington 5-10 205 12 FB/LB

29 Joe Jackson 6-0 165 11 TE/DB

30 Kierahn Richard 5-11 155 11 FB/DB

33 Tyrell Campbell 5-8 160 11 HB/LB

60 Josue Morales 5-8 195 12 OL/DL

61 Jarrett Sanders 5-8 210 12 OL/DL

62 Chris Boyd 5-8 220 11 OL/DL

63 Kenniss Dillon 6-1 260 12 OL/DL

64 Nathan Hall 5-10 260 9 OL/DL

65 Anthony McCoy 5-11 255 12 OL/DL

66 James Gibson 5-7 165 10 OL/DL

68 Dontelle Forrest 5-11 300 12 OL/DL

69 Aldin Gilmore 6-1 195 10 OL/DL

70 Romeral Harris 6-4 205 12 OL/DE

71 Joshua Coleman 6-1 290 11 OL/DL

73 J’Bril Hamilton 5-9 350 11 OL/DL

74 Reggie Miles 6-3 275 10 OL/DL
78 Ken Bacon 6-2 285 12 OL/DL

84 Jabriel Clemens 6-0 215 11 SE/DB

85 Thomas Gary 6-0 215 11 TE/LB

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