TRI-LAKES AREA — The Hot Springs Trojans enter the 2009 season riding a five-game losing streak after winning four of their first five games last year.
Although roughly half of last year's team returns for this season, it is the few players missing from last year's team that will be the hardest to replace, most prominently three-year starting quarterback Dezhe Willis.
"We have a little experience in key positions," head coach Bill Timmons said.
The task of replacing Willis falls to junior D'Andre Hood, who played all of Hot Springs' B games last season. In many ways, his playing style is much like that of Willis, Timmons said. Hood is a good runner with the ability to throw on the run.
Christian White, who was in a reserve role as a junior last season, will be looked upon to carry the load in the Trojans' ground attack this season. He will be joined in the backfield by junior Devante Johnson.
Hot Springs will likely try to run its offense through returning starters Chauncey Foxworth and Hakeem Hannah. Last season, Foxworth caught 30 passes for 550 yards and five touchdowns. Junior Chris Hughes also saw time a year ago, hauling in 20 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Tyree Samspon also figures to play a role in the passing game this year.
The Trojans' offensive line will be the most experienced area of the team on offense with three of the five starters returning. Center Andrew Love and guards Donnie Dawson and Rosario Dispensa (all seniors) will anchor the line again this season. They will be joined by Tyler Hamilton, Barry Wimberly and Roderick Percy, who will be competing for the final two tackle spots.
On defense, nearly all of the front seven return for another season. On the line, Calbe Lee will try to overcome an injured elbow to return to one of the defensive end spots. The other end will be occupied by Steven Marshall, who recorded 52 tackles a season ago. Eric Mitchell, Wimberly and Ramond Pitillo will round out the defensive line.
Foxworth will return to linebacker this season after recording 63 tackles, one sack and one interception a year ago. Hannah also returns from his 37-tackle, one-sack, one-interception performance last year. Rounding out the linebacking corps will be White, who will look to recapture his 80-tackle performance from last season.
Sampson and will hold down the cornerback positions, while Hannah and Hughes will be patrolling the secondary at safety.
Looking around the conference, Timmons knows it could be a tough season again this year.
"It's going to be tough every Friday night," Timmons said. "We're going to have to grow up quick."
Tri-Lakes, Pages 14 on 08/30/2009