Transfer, Raiders travel to Mercersburg for MAPL opener
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Dave Dudeck considers himself lucky to have a player like Brian Leffler in the Hun School football program.
For his part, Leffler is just as happy to be a Raiders.
”What a great kid to have in this program and on our team,” said Dudeck, the Raiders head coach. “He’s a great kid. He’s a pleasure to work with every day. He’s so positive and he works so hard. We’re lucky to have him in the school and on this team.
”He’ll continue to get better. He has a real nose for the ball. He and I talk a lot and he’s so happy. And there is no doubt that I’m happy to have him. He’s a great kid in terms of leadership and his patience with younger kids. It’s so helpful to us.”
Leffler, a junior, had been a starting linebacker at Notre Dame before transferring to Hun this year. Last Saturday, he not only excelled on the defensive side of the ball, but also contributed as a fullback in helping the Raiders open the season with a 33-13 win over Wyoming Seminary.
”This is my first year playing offense,” said Leffler, a Montgomery resident who rushed for 37 yards on six carries in the opening win. “I’m getting to play a little fullback and tight end, but my main position is linebacker and that’s where I hope to play in college.
”It’s been good here so far. Hun has great academics. I want to learn a lot and prepare myself for the best college I can get into and play football.”
The ease with which the Raiders won their opener was a surprise to Dudeck, who opened the year with new starters all over the field. But even though there are a number of newcomers, the Raiders looked like a veteran team in their first game.
”Our leadership this year is spread throughout the whole team. We could have had six or eight captains. We played a lot of young kids in terms of age and experience. On the offensive line we had John Law, who is a sophomore, John Hill, Michael Salazar who hasn’t played all that much, and Anthony LaLota, who has played football for just two weeks. (Andrew) Felker stepped up at tight end. Chikezie (Ohayia) had very little experience. On defense, this was Brendan’s (Dudeck) first taste. Griffin Zucosky stepped up and Josiah Williams is just a sophomore. They are kids that are getting experience.”
Leffler comes to Hun as an experienced player in the Colonial Valley Conference. After being a starter at Notre Dame, he decided to make the move to Hun and has eased right into the program.
”We worked real hard all throughout camp,” Leffler said. “We started to put the pieces together throughout camp and it all came together today. We made some mistakes, but it’s the first game.
”We bring in some new guys and start working out over the summer. Then during camp we do three-a-days and we live in the dorms and really start to bond together. We came together quick and we’re all pretty good friends now.”
After playing in the CVC, Leffler is going to have to get used to a whole different set of teams on the schedule. Other than Lawrenceville and Peddie, there are no Mercer County teams that will face the Raiders. And on Sunday, they make the four-hour trek to Mercersburg (Pa.) for their Mid-Atlantic Prep League opener.
”We play teams from all over the northeast,” Leffler said. “We’re going to Mercersburg this week, which is a long ride. It’s fun because you get to see a lot of different players, especially with the post grads, it’s a high level of competition.”
After opening with a solid win, Dudeck is hoping his team is up for the challenge of the MAPL.
”It’s our first league game and it is a long trip,” Dudeck said. “I was happy with the way we played in the first game. Now we need to build on that and continue to improve each week. Going out to Mercersburg is going to be a big test for us.”

