After winning 35-games between 2010 and 2013, Springfield Hillcrest has won just three times over the past two seasons. They were 1-9 last year. And playing in a tough Ozark Conference that includes mostly larger-classification Class 5 schools and a Class 4 district that includes Webb City, West Plains, Camdenton, and Carl Junction, Hornets head coach John Beckham says it’s too early to figure out if the program is ready to come out of its difficult times.
“I think we’re starting to move out of it or possibly still in the middle of it,” Beckham said. “We still have a young team. We had games last year where we started nine sophomores on defense. It’s very difficult to win in our conference with nine sophomores on defense. Now we got 8 juniors starting on defense so I think the future is looking better but the future is a ways away.”
As the only Springfield public school in Class 4, Hillcrest has a history of strong backs, receivers, and quarterbacks, but as Beckham points out, “we’ve always up-front. We’ve just never had the kids we needed to compete in our league. We had some superior kids on the edge and the perimeter, and we’ve been able to make-up for it. We’ve got a few (linemen) but not enough. But we’re getting there. We’ve got a pipeline of freshmen and sophomores that are going to be good in a few years.”
Of Hillcrest’s nine regular season games, only three (Camdenton, Rolla, and West Plains) are in their same class. Four are against larger Class 5 schools, and two are against Class 6 opponents.
“I think if we played a schedule of all Class 4 teams our record would be a little different than what it looks,” Beckham explained. “Those bigger schools just have more bodies than us. When a school has 800-900 more kids than you, it’s not really a level playing field.”
But Beckham is too much of a competitor to soften up his schedule.
“Definitely not, “ he answers. “When you look at our conference the two smallest schools, us and West Plains, have won conference championships over the last few years. So we’re capable of competing but you just can’t quite do it every year. “
One position Beckham is still wrestling with is quarterback, where the Hornets top receiver (with over 1,000-yards two years ago) Erik Savage is competing with Haden Parton. In a perfect world, Savage would be the starter and throw the ball to himself.
“We haven’t really settled on that (quarterback). Erik has take reps as receiver and Haden is getting more reps at QB but if we played tomorrow night, they’d both play quarterback. Erik had a great year as a sophomore at receiver. He’s probably one of our best athletes and we had to move him to quarterback last year where he got hurt. It’s kind of in-between but if we could put Erik back at receiver it would be great.”
Hillcrest does have a dangerous receiver though in 5-7, 160-pound junior Josh Powell.
“He had a good year as a sophomore,” Beckham said. “He was inconsistent at times. He had some big games but at other times he’d get lost. He’s a guy who can make some plays and he’s an important player for us. We’ve got to find some ways to get him the ball.”
And while the offensive and defensive lineman situation is still a work in progress, the Hornets do have a a strong anchor in three-year starter Blake Schmidt (6-2, 230-lbs.).
“He’s done a really great job during the off-season and he’s our leader,” Beckham explained. “He probably got more votes than anyone else for the captain of our team. A good kid, a good leader, and I’m hoping he has a good senior year.”
That will depend on a lot of things, but Beckham says the single-most important factor to Hillcrest having success this season is protecting the ball on offense.
“We’re going to be a big play offense, that’s just who we are,” he said. “Most high school teams are. It’s really difficult for a high school team to drive the field for four-or-five drives. It’s big plays. So we’ve got to be able to protect the ball, protect our defense, and make some big plays.”
