McBride’s first season at Spring Hill one to watch
SPRING HILL, Ark.—Could it be Spring Hill is playoff bound again in 2016?
Rookie head coach Matt McBride claims expectations are high, and they’re high because the Bears’ players and fans are excited about the upcoming season.
“I came in at the end of May and immediately began to transition the offense from a run first (split back veer) style offense to a spread offense that utilizes spacing to find ways to take advantage of what defenses are giving up,” said McBride, who was Hope’s offensive coordinator last season.
“The kids have worked extremely hard this summer in 7 on 7 and team camps to learn the new offense. I have confidence that we will be able to run the football. Our offensive line will likely be made up of five seniors (center Brady Gentry, guard Kyle Reardon, tackle Dylan Watson, guard Dustyn Watson and tackle Tate Comer).”
The offensive line will
be the strength of the team according to McBride.
“The seniors have played a lot and we’ve also got a couple of sophomores who will compete for playing time,” he said. “We’re big, strong and physical. Learning a new scheme, zone blocking and the nature of that are somewhat new to these kids.”
The key word for the Bears is “physical play.”
“We’re going to be a physical football team,” McBride said. “I believe it’s a popular misconception that when you get in the spread offense that you have to be faster than anyone else. I just don’t believe that to be the truth.”
McBride is confident he has the weapons to run the spread.
“We’re going to be a no-huddle team, and we’re going to put our kids in the best position to be successful.” he said. “We understand that speed does kill in football, but defensively we’re going to fly to the ball and play great technique. We know Lafayette County, Foreman and Mineral Springs are fast. We’ve got to get to them before they get started.”
Directing the Bears’ new offense will be junior quarterback Payton Massanelli (6-0, 160).
He should be well protected by the likes of Gentry (6-1, 270), Reardon (5-11, 300), Dylan Watson (6-4, 240), Dustyn Watson (6-0, 230) and Comer (6-2, 235).
“Massanelli runs and throws the ball well,” McBride said. “We’re looking for him to have a breakout year. He played receiver last year as a sophomore and he never got the ball in his hands playing the split-back veer. We’re going to get the ball in his hands, whether it’s running or throwing it.”
The fact Spring Hill will have to play so many players both ways means McBride will likely use several running backs. He expects Josh Winfield (5-10, 230), Blake Waller (6-0, 164), Daden Reed (5-8, 175) and Keymonte Rhodes (5-10, 173) to contribute in the backfield.
When the Massanelli throws the ball, junior Cameron Middleton (5-10, 140), Blake Waller, Reed, Drake Kidd (5-8, 147), Hayes Martin (5-10, 135) and Tanner Baumeister (6-1, 175) should be his main targets.
Depth and health will be major concerns on defense.
“A lot of guys on offense will come over and play on the defensive side, that’s just small-school football,” McBride said. “We’ll be inexperienced in the secondary, but overall I think our defense will be fine.”
Returning starters on the defensive side include Will Walton (6-4, 230), Reardon, Dylan Watson, Winfield, Middleton and Massanelli.
Newcomers on that side include Kidd, Martin, Rhodes, Garret Pauley (6-1, 280) and Baumeister.
Injuries have already become a factor for the Bears. A sophomore lineman rolled a knee up, and another lineman broke a thumb.
“It’s always tough trying to get through the first two weeks of practice,” McBride said. “We’ve got 30 kids out for football, which is really good for Spring Hill. We’re trying to build some depth with our backups as much as possible.
“This is year one for this coaching staff and we understand that it is a process. I really believe we can be in every game that we play, and we can make a legitimate run at getting into the playoffs.”
McBride’s staff includes holdovers Rusty Winfield, Roy Whatley, Cameron Brown and newcomer Bobby Gentry, who came out of retirement from Center, Texas. He’ll be coaching the offensive line and linebackers.
The first-year head coach is also excited about the support from the Spring Hill community.
“There is a lot of really, really good people in the Spring Hill community who have been a part of the success in the past,” he said. “They’ve gone above and beyond what I would expect from a small community to try and bring success back.”
Coaches in the conference have picked Spring Hill to finish seventh and out of the postseason.
“We’ve only won ten games in the last four years,” McBride said. “I think the renewed excitement and the work ethic that the kids have will give us a chance in any game we play.”