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FOOTBALL
2001
OAKVILLE
Acorns
tout speed, linemen
MARCUS
BURNS, THE OLYMPIAN
OAKVILLE -- Speed is important in nearly all sports, but in
eight-man football it is essential.
Acorns coach
Bob Johnson is counting on the combination of an influx
of team speed and three returning linemen to help get his
squad headed in the right direction after a pair of 0-8
seasons.
"We've lacked
speed in the past, and that's just killed us the last few
years," Johnson said. "But we've got two or three kids probably
faster than what we've had for a while. We're working with
them and trying to see what they can do."
The new burners
in the backfield include senior Eli Snell, who will likely
be the Acorns' starting quarterback, and brothers Ben and
Sam Heller who will line up behind Snell as running backs.
Helping to provide stability for will be senior fullback
Bud Perry, Oakville's sole returnee in the backfield.
"Snell's a fast
kid, real fast," Johnson said. "And the Hellers are pretty
quick so we're hoping they'll help us out."
And to open
up the holes for his retooled running attack, Johnson is
looking to a veteran offensive line, something he views
as a strength of his club. Included in this group are J.J.
Shortman, a junior guard/tackle who has been a starter since
he was a freshman and Nick McFarland who looks to be the
Acorns' starting center.
"We've got three
inside guys on the line -- that's probably the strong part
of our team. They're the only ones who've played together,"
Johnson said.
Defense is an
area that a young Oakville team will look to improve upon,
especially in the secondary where the Acorns have historically
struggled.
"I got all new
kids," Johnson said. "And young kids, a lot of young kids.
I think .500 would be a success -- I'd be happy with that
with all the new kids. I hate to say too much yet, but everyone's
playing real good together, everyone's getting along --
that's a bright spot. We're going to stick with what we've
been doing, the same offense and we'll try to see if we
can improve it."
The
Olympian Copyright 2001
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