football claims northern ne title

Versatile and New

Football Claims Northern New England Title

Hebron’s first 8-Man Football team claimed a conference title when it defeated Kents Hill 22-6 in the 111th ‘Chair Game’ of the rivalry which dates to 1893. The win was the culmination of a season of learning and innovation as Hebron embraced the new format developing among New England independent schools seeking to sustain football in their programs. From one perspective, the team’s 5 and 2 season was yet another in a great tradition of football at Hebron; from another it was something entirely new, a glimpse of the future. Coach Tom Radulski and Captains Jack Kelley ’20 and Andrew Airosus ’20 took time to talk about the season and the new format.

Football has become increasingly difficult to sustain at many schools where changing demographics and concerns for safety have reduced the number of athletes choosing to play. Hebron had considered the move for two years. When the New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) sanctioned the format and created the New England 8-Man Football Conference this year, the change just made sense for Hebron. After a winless season last year, the new format offered the chance to compete successfully with the numbers of players typically choosing football. “It was the right fit for us,” said Coach Radulski, “but nonetheless, the prospects were unclear.” 8-Man Football is played on a smaller field. The games are more fastpaced than the traditional game, and the field and format tend to emphasize athleticism over brawn among the players. Jack Kelley, who has grown up in traditional football from youth leagues to high school, comments that the game was “more similar than I thought; I became a more versatile quarterback as I learned to use my legs.” Andrew Airosus, who also grew up playing the 11-man format both offensively and defensively, agreed. “It is a really fast-paced game; the action is continuous. I worked

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hard on conditioning and personal skills.” For both players who hope to continue to play football in college, the new format was less a change but an opportunity to continue their development of skills, tactics and conditioning as a foundation for the future.

And the opportunity to compete successfully seemed to ignite a passion in many new players as well. There was the lure of the game for five new Hebron players from Mexico who had watched when the NFL visited Mexico City and were excited for the opportunity to play ‘American Football’ for real. Mario Marquinas ’20 and Mauricio Garcia Macias ’21 embraced the game, learning quickly and becoming strong contributing players. Canadians Will Chateauvert ‘21and Esteban Gaizelle ‘20, players for whom football was not their primary sport, also made their marks. Captains Jack and Andrew both noted that “the way new kids learned the sport and athletes from other sports took to it made a huge difference. We were smaller so we had to figure out our line play. Our coaches had to be creative to find ways to win. They changed tactics, formations and passing routes to allow for the smaller field.”

The players adapted as well, using quickness, skills and togetherness to compensate for size. Their efforts were rewarded in their game against the Harvey School of New York. Trailing at the half, Andrew remembers how great it was for the team to come together, “becoming quicker and moving as one. It boosted our confidence. We intercepted a pass and went in to score, and then we scored late to seal the game.” The team won another memorable contest against Holderness on Parents’ Weekend, relying on skills, quickness and close team play to defeat a physically larger team 14 – 6. Coach Tom Radulski noted that learning skills was a key to the game. “It was a puzzle, and we had to put the pieces together. As coaches, we were teaching techniques always, training the players how to initiate contact in a sound, safe manner; going through progressions of blocking and tackling daily, repetitions with sled and shields; teaching routine skills to a high level through repetition and gradually speeding to game conditions.”

However satisfying the Holderness game, the return match with Kents Hill for both the Northern New England title and the ‘Headmaster’s Chair’ was more special. Coach Radulski remembers the conditions: “cold and windy on top of the hill, a sloppy field - challenging conditions. It was great to see how much the team had grown during the season. We had to be quicker, tougher, for Kents Hill was a very good team.” He continued, “Because physical size is not so much a factor, we showed good skills and athleticism. Playing so well together compensated somewhat for the conditions that day. The kids had come such a long way, and having fewer positions helped us as the players adapted so well - their quickness and toughness gaining them the upper hand.” The team’s 22 – 6 victory returned the Headmaster’s Chair to Hebron and was the 64th victory in the 111 games played against Kents Hill since the first contest in 1893. The team competed a week later for the inaugural Championship of the NEPSAC 8-Man Football Conference, but lost that game to the Pomfret School of Connecticut.

Still, the prospects for the growth of the 8-man format in New England are good. Coach Radulski expects the Conference to expand to a dozen or more schools in the coming year as more schools find the format a positive experience for student athletes. “Football remains an important and unique team sport experience, important for Hebron for the diversity of our athletic program; and for the athletes, it is a great team experience and unique challenge for learning skills and developing confidence. We have great resources for the team, and it can be such a positive opportunity for multi-sport athletes to have another and different competitive experience.” n