Raiders go unbeaten in MAPL
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
After a promising opening win over Wyoming Seminary, the Hun School football team got a possible dose of reality with a 34-7 loss to Poly Prep in its second game of the season.
But that loss would be the last the Raiders would suffer as they closed the year with six straight wins and a championship in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League.
”No question we hit our stride pretty good,” said first-year head coach Todd Smith, whose team finished 7-1. “Poly Prep was not really a wakeup call, but it definitely got our attention. Once we got through Germantown Academy we hit the ground running in the MAPL and things started to click on both sides of the ball.
”Our offense put up a lot of points and the defense did a tremendous job. We had three defensive touchdowns in our last two games. When your defense can score it makes you that much better.”
The season was the first for Smith at the prep school level and the former West Windsor-Plainsboro South coach delivered a MAPL title. In four games against MAPL foes (one league win was a forfeit over Peddie), the Raiders outscored the opposition 221-52.
In the final win, Chris Sharp ran for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Donovan Harris carried the ball three times for 76 and a touchdown. Quarterback Simon Vadas was a very efficient six of seven for 221 and 4 TDs, with Cameren Kitchen catching two passes for 114 yards, both TDs.
”In the back of my head I always thought football would be football and it was,” Smith said. “No matter what level or conference you still had to X and O and had to practice and get ready. I guess not having a playoff system was something to get used to and seeing some of the more traditional rivalries was something to get used to.
”I enjoyed going to the different schools like Hill and Wyoming Seminary or having the Lawrenceville day. I have nothing to base it on as far as the overall league with this being my first year. This was probably the most talented team I have coached and I have coached some good teams.”
The Raiders came together quickly under the new coaching staff and certainly reached their potential. With a number of young players on the roster, Smith is hoping this year was just the start of something special.
”We only played with two PGs this year,” Smith said. “I would like to get to the four that are allowed. If you are allowed to have four I’d like to have the right four to help our program. I thought overall, it went well. I really enjoyed coaching these kids and helping elevate their game to play at the next level.
”I thought the biggest leaps and bounds gained were in the classroom talking about the game and communicating at a higher level to take that out on the field. It was a new system and terminology so it took them a little while to get it. We have a core coming back, but don’t know who will be added. So every year you want to keep it simple enough to do what we want.”