Hartford Indian Football 2011

2011 Varsity Preview: With Small Numbers, Indians Look to Experience

By Web Staff
August 26, 2011

   2010 was a year of great successes for the Indians on the football field.
   The Varsity Indians went 8-1 in the regular season, finished second place in the always formidable Southwestern Athletic Conference South division, made playoffs and hosted a home playoff game. Unfortunately, the late Wes Leonard had something to say in week one of the post season, sending the Indians home packing. That was it. It was over in the blink of an eye.
   Despite the loss of 15 seniors, several of whom played critical pieces of the Indians run last season, 2011 brings great optimism that the Indians will repeat, or even better, the marks from last season. It's going to take a lot of hard work to live up to the preseason hype.
   The leadership for the 2011 Indians will have to come from 11 returning seniors and one senior, who was a member of the Junior Varsity last season.
   The Indians have one senior who has been a four-year starter for the green and white in placekicker Juan Perez. Perez missed just two field goals and one extra point last season for the Indians. He will also play on the soccer field, as well, as one of the top soccer players for Coach Nick Blackmer's squad.
   Four seniors are returning to the Varsity team for their third seasons. Those players include linemen Adan Barajas, Andrew Garcia, and Noey Lopez, as well as offensive lineman and linebacker Jared Meachum. In practice thus far, these four have been especially showing quality leadership skills, which after losing the 15 seniors from last year, is especially needed.
   Four more seniors are returning for their second season of competition, which includes tight end and defensive back Zach Clauser, offensive lineman and linebacker John Scherer, offensive and defensive lineman Eric Perez and wide receiver and defensive back Ethan Koshar.
   Two other seniors are first-time Varsity players and are both offensive and defensive lineman in Patrick Hammel and Jose Rodriguez, who is out for the first time.
   Not to be outdone, but the junior class is just as big, as ten juniors are on the 2011 Varsity roster.
   Gareth MacMillan is the only junior who is returning for a third season on the team. MacMillan is a running back, who ran for nearly 1,000 yards last season and also plays in the defensive backfield.
   Two juniors return for their second season on the Varsity this year. They are running back and linebacker Tony Kucharski and wide receiver and linebacker Jimmy Mullins. Both played key parts for the tribe last year, Kucharski on defense; Mullins on offense.
   Seven juniors are first-time players on Varsity, six were Junior Varsity players last season. Those players are wide receiver and defensive back Sergio Perez, running back and safety David Mireles, offensive and defensive linemen Josh Najacht and Jose Barajas, tight end and defensive lineman Raul Gutierrez and wide receiver and defensive back Tony Saldana. Out for the first time this season is wide receiver and defensive back Corey Cook.
   Making up the rest of the roster for the 2011 season are five sophomores, four of which played Junior Varsity football last season.
   Those players are wide receiver and defensive back Casper Aviles, quarterback and defensive back Luke Traver, offensive and defensive lineman Jacinto Arreola and tight end and linebacker Tim Spires. One sophomore is playing Indian football for the first time this season in offensive and defensive lineman Gilbert Lopez.
   Dave Janicki returns for his sixth season as the head coach of the Varsity Indians, where he has scored 37 wins in just 50 games with the tribe. Returning as assistant coaches are Terry Manning, Brad Manning and Andrew Hubbard.
   The Indians will kick off the 2011 season this Friday, August 26th, as they host the Martin Clippers at Indian Stadium. Good luck to the 2011 Hartford Indian Varsity Football team!