2023 Team Preview: The Hill School Blues

Written by: David Mika on Thursday, August 17th, 2023. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: Mike Boyer (OC)

Assistant Coaches:
Ron Zeiber (DC)
Gavin Harter (STC)
Ernest Higginbotham
Jay Williams
Kevin Tkachuk
Craig Boyer

Team Name: The Hill School Blues

2022 Record: 3 – 6

League: Mid-Atlantic Prep

Key Starters Lost:
Kayden White (RB/LB, All MAPL Conference RB-1st Team/All-Area Team [Pottstown Mercury])
Quinn Craig (WR/DB)
Anthony McMullan (LB/P, All MAPL Conference P-1st Team)
Max Elmore (K, All MAPL Conference K-1st Team)
Dante McQueen (OL, All MAPL Conference OL-2nd Team)
Ian Lacey (LB, All MAPL Conference LB-2nd Team)
Jake Voyner (WR/DB, All MAPL Conference DB-2nd Team )
Sam Soderman (WR/DB, All MALP Conference DB-2nd Team)
Andrew Nesler (OL/DL, All MAPL Conference DL-2nd Team)

Offensive Starters Returning:
Sr. OL Billy Antippas, 6-3, 280
Sr. OL Aaron Meadows, 6-0, 270
Jr. OL Dante Donaldson, 6-2, 230
Jr. QB Charlie Hewitt, 6-5, 225
Sr. WR Tristan Reynolds, 6-0, 190
Sr. WR Deven Vennera, 6-0, 185
Soph. WR Nick Cobb, 5-8, 145
Jr. RB Zak Zindle, 5-9, 190

Defensive Starters Returning:
Sr. DL Billy Antippas, 6-3, 280
Sr. DL Aaron Meadow, 6-0, 270
Jr. DL Jason Micklei, 6-3, 315
Jr. LB Zal Zindle, 5-9, 190
Sr. LB Deven Vennera, 6-0, 185
Sr. SS Tristan Reynolds, 6-0, 190
Soph. S Nick Cobb, 5-8, 145

Special Team Starters Returning:
Sr. KR/PR Tristan Reynolds, 6-0, 190

Key Newcomers:
Sr. LB Henry Ritts, 5-8, 165
Sr. LB/OL Gavin Heck, 6-0, 185
Sr. OL/DL Frankie Halvey, 6-3, 280
Jr. OL Hilton Johnson, 6-0, 260
Jr. DB Phillip Kim, 5-11, 160
Jr. LB/TE Ken Leary, 6-1, 185
Fr. OL/LB Otto Maentz, 6-0, 225
Fr. S/ATH Chase McCusker, 5-10, 155

2023 Offensive Outlook: The biggest key for us in 2023 is staying healthy and maximizing possessions with points. This will be the first time in a few seasons that Hill will be running the same offense in back-to-back seasons. The offense will focus on a running game that centers around the three returning starters up front in Antippas (Sr.), Meadows (Sr.), and Donaldson (Jr.), and will feature a two-back approach in Zindel (Jr.) and Vennera (Sr.). The passing game will be led by Hewitt (Jr.) at QB as he will look to get the ball to Reynolds (Sr.) and Cobb (Soph.). Additions up front with Johnson (Jr.), Halvey (Sr.), Heck (Sr.), and Maentz (Fr.) should provide depth on the line. Newcomers Leary (Jr.) and McCusker (Fr.) should provide toughness and a spark with the yards after the catch in the passing game.

2023 Defensive Outlook: The Hill defense will have a new look in 2023 under the new DC, Ron Zeiber. Zeiber was formerly the head coach at Hempfield (D3), Boyertown (D1), and Exeter (D3) over the past three decades. The defense will be based in an odd front behind the likes of Micklei (Jr.), Meadows (Sr.), and Antippas (Sr.). LBs Zindle (Jr.), Heck (Sr.), Leary (Jr.), Ritts (Sr.), and Vennera (Sr.) will work the second level, with Reynolds (Sr.), Kim (Jr.), McCusker (Fr.), and Cobb (Soph.) handling the back end.

2023 Special Teams Outlook: We will need to find a kicker and punter this season with the loss of two all-league kickers gone to graduation.

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