Hancock putting stock in linebackers

Hancock High’s football team is expecting to be more competitive in district play this season as the team returns 19 seniors, six starters from the offensive side of the ball and six from the defensive side.

The Hawks finished 4-8 (1-6 Region 4-6A) a year ago. They are looking to capitalize on the maturity and leadership of those returning starters and the toughness and quickness of their corps of linebackers.

The Hawks are looking to set the tone with the front four at the line of scrimmage and with a corp of linebackers, especially sophomore Trenton Ladner, who started at outside linebacker as a freshman a year ago. He is joined by senior outside linebackers Ray Ladner and Riley Martinez.

“They’re probably the best group of linebackers I’ve ever coached,” coach Rocky Gaudin said. “They’re tough and they’re quick. A lot of our success will depend on their ability to stop the run. They’re a really good group of linebackers.

“Trenton was the only freshman to start for us last year. He’s tough and he’s quick and he gets to the ball.”

Offensive outlook

On the offensive side of the ball, the Hawks will be relying on senior quarterback Steven Good to run the Hawks’ spread offense, which is looking to run the ball half of the plays and passing the other half.

Good transferred to Hancock after staring last season at Bay High. Gaudin said Good has grasped the Hawks’ scheme well and has shown consistent improvement.

Six-foot-1, 190-pound junior Marquis Cherry will be the featured running back for the Hawks.

“I think he’s going to surprise some people,” Gaudin said. “He has good size, good speed and toughness. He constantly runs the ball downhill.”

When the Hawks look to pass, Heath Dedeaux will be one of Good’s top targets. Dedeaux was one of the coast’s top receivers in the first half of last season, prior to getting injured. Chase McDonald, Anthony Jones and Brooks Rayburn are all expected to see action at receiver.

Tough schedule

The Hawks will get a preseason test Friday night at Brett Favre Field in a jamboree against Moss Point. Their 12-game regular season schedule starts Aug. 19 with the first of five non-district contests. On Sept. 23, their Region 4-6A schedule begins at home against Ocean Springs.

“Our district is like the SEC West,” Gaudin said. “It’s a very tough district with Ocean Springs, Gulfport, George County, St. Martin, Biloxi, D’Iberville and Harrison Central. That’s a tough schedule.

“I’ll never do it again,” Gaudin said of scheduling twelve games in the regular season. “I was trying to get the guys some exposure when I added the twelfth game. But that doesn’t give us any time but to get ready for the next game.

“If we can stay healthy, and if Good continues to get comfortable with what we’re doing, we can be a pretty good football team.”

This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Hancock putting stock in linebackers."