DUBOIS LOOKS TO GET BACK INTO THE PLAYOFF HUNT

DuBOIS - Second-year head coach Lon Hazlet wants to get his team back into the playoffs.

While Hazlet and his new program at DuBois Area High School were getting acquainted last year, the Beavers finished 4-6 and missed the District 6-9 Class AAAA playoffs.

The Beavers did share a piece of the District 9 League title with Bradford and Clearfield as each team finished 4-1 in league play. Those three teams will battle for the crown again this year.

The Beavers return nine starters, four on offense and five on defense. Among the returning starters are District 9 League All-Stars Derek Marshall and Chad Hilliard.

Both seniors, Marshall rushed for 924 yards and 11 touchdowns while Hilliard earned all-league status on defense as a safety.

Hilliard also will start at quarterback, directing an offense that could be a little more diverse than a year ago. Hazlet's style of wide-open play-calling was limited because of the first-year bugs.

A healthy Josh Campbell, a senior, could help the Beavers on both sides of the ball. Injuries have limited his usage the past two years.

The other returning starters on offense are senior flanker Brian Gearhart and on the line, senior right guard Rob Fay (6-foot-2, 270 pounds) and senior right tackle Ryan Shaffer (6-1, 225).

Fay and Shaffer are the leaders on both lines. They'll help anchor an offensive line that also includes senior left guard Kevin Strouse. Senior Josh Gulley or senior Steve Heverly will start at center and senior Ryan Drayer or senior Kip Null will start at tight end. Mark Jones should be the starting split end.

Defensively, Shaffer, a returning starter, and senior Ed Fox are the tackles while Fay will start at nose guard.

Null is the only returning starter among the four starting linebackers, but he was moved from outside to an inside spot this year. Hazlet is concerned with the inexperienced foursome.

The defense's strength lies in the secondary where Hilliard and Campbell start at safety and cornerback respectively. A third returning starter, senior Brandon Reiter will play at the other safety spot and junior Travis Snyder is the other cornerback.
Jones or sophomore Jim Hoover are vying for the punting chores. Hazlet said the kicking job was still up for grabs among several players.

Hazlet is assisted this year by Jeff Vizza, Jim McGonnell, Chuck Pasternak, Bill Clark, Shawn Deemer, Mal Morris and Jay Weitzel.