Hillman hopes to extend playoff streak to 17 seasons
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HILLMAN -- Making the playoffs has become an annual tradition for the Hillman football team; one the Tigers aren't afraid to embrace.
For the last 16 years, Hillman has made a postseason appearance and every year on the first day of practice, one of the first goals that's mentioned for the year is extending that streak.
"Every year during the first day of practice, we run our camp where we stay at the school," Hillman coach Cody Allen said. "We hold our team meeting and everybody talks about the team goals and that's one of the first goals every year is to try and extend that streak."
With a talented mix of size, speed and physicality, the Tigers hope to extend that streak to 17 seasons in 2022.
Hillman went 7-4 last season.
"We want to play the same hard-nosed style football we've been playing for the last 16 years," Allen said. "We're always looking to extend our playoff streak."
Offensively, Hillman will have some holes to fill after graduating some key starters, but they also return some talented playmakers, particularly at quarterback and receiver.
AJ Jones steps back under center this season and could be even better than last year when he threw for more than 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Hillman's top receiver from a year ago, Trenton Taratuta, is back too. As one of Jones' favorite targets last season, Taratuta had nearly 300 reception yards and five touchdowns. He emerged as a big play downfield threat, especially in the later part of the season as Hillman won six of its last seven games including its playoff opener.
Freshmen Evan Crane and Eathen Deville and senior Daniel Etzel will make up the rest of Hillman's receiving corps.
The Tigers will have a backfield by committee this season with seniors London Achatz and Brody Appelgren in the mix along with freshman Easton Hunt and Ed Hardies.
Up front, Hillman returns Jordan Benac at center as well as Vaughn Hunt, who was an all-league pick a season ago.
Freshman Nick Cordes and sophomores John Ruthko and Cyle Ekrut could see time on either side of the line too.
With a schedule packed full of league games in the North Star 8-Man League, Hillman hopes to have a fast start out of the gate this season. The Tigers lost three of their first four games last season, but recovered and played some of their best football late in the year.
With rivals on the schedule, including Posen and Atlanta, Allen knows his team has to bring its A-game every week as it aims to keep its playoff tradition going.
"Every week is important when you're battling for a league championship," Allen said. "Some of these teams have really good traditions, like Posen, in 8-Man, then you've got Rogers City and Alcona who were really really good teams last year that return a lot of people."
2022 HILLMAN SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 at Whittemore-Prescott
Sept. 2 vs. Posen
Sept. 9 vs. Mio
Sept. 16 at Alcona
Sept. 23 at Au Gres
Sept. 30 vs. Hale
Oct. 6 at Atlanta
Oct. 14 vs. Charlton Heston
Oct. 21 vs. Rogers City