Harrison Central High School
Huskies Looking To Build On Last Year’s Playoff Run
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CADIZ -- The numbers in uniform are about average this summer in Cadiz.
Not high, not low, but "just like usual" as head coach Anthony Hayes described the roughly 35-40 Huskies showing up for the first day of summer practice.
The team's coming off a 6-5 season which saw Hayes' club qualify for the Ohio postseason, only to fall 71-7 in the opening round.
Numbers alone won't guarantee a fourth-straight trip to the postseason for Harrison. But inside those numbers is a key fact: Many of those players possess experience -- multiple years of starting experience.
"We actually return a big number of skills guys, and four of the five guys up front," Hayes admitted. "It's a nice mix of experience coming back."
Coach Anthony Hayes on the upcoming season
Returners don't guarantee wins, nor postseason success, but if the Huskies are looking to make it to, and more importantly past Week 11, then that experience certainly gives the team a far better chance.
And where's the best place to have returning experience? That would be under center, or behind it in this case. Senior Hayden Cassidy (6-foot-1, 160 pounds).
Cassidy threw for 1,734 yards and 17 TDs his junior season against nine picks, increasing his average more than 70 yards per game from his sophomore season.
He's primed for a big season in his year as a starter.
"Absolutely, it's especially key with our type of offense that somebody understands what we're doing and feels comfortable in their role," Hayes said. "It's a difficult role we've put him in, the QB of our system, and he's thrived in that role. We expect his best season so far."
Experience at QB is great. Surrounding said quarterback with not only veteran skill position players, but also a talented offensive line is a lot of icing on the proverbial cake.
Senior Mykel Quito returns at running back after logging 841 yards and 12 TDs as a junior. He'll be joined by Blake Atkins and Nico Wurschum, with Quito receiving the bulk of the work.
Out wide, Cassidy will enjoy a bevy of skill and speed, headlined by Parker Hutton. The senior snagged 42 passes for 585 yards and five scores last season. Sizable senior Alex Fluharty (6-4) had two TD catches in 2022, while Clayton Vermillion and Cameron McAfee will see their roles increase. Also look for Chaz Culbertson, Jacob Quito, and Zander Stabile to provide Cassidy additional threats.
"Those three sophomores will provide us some real depth at the receiver position. I think we can go between 8-10 deep out wide," Hayes said.
One loss will be tight end Nick Fluharty (6-7), who suffered an injury and will miss his senior season.
Up front, Harrison boasts four returners, including two All-Ohio wrestlers in the Thomases -- senior Lucas anchoring the line at center along with junior Landon. Senior Hunter Boals is a three-year starter and will be joined by junior Reed Arbaugh, who started 6-7 games as a sophomore. Sophomores Dylan Walters and Nate Delkoski figure to battle for that final starting spot. Austin Lucas, one of the few members of a smallish junior class, will provide depth.
The experience also provides an added bonus. The Huskies have roughly 13-14 freshman on the roster who, because of the teams bevy of returnees, won't be thrown to the wolves before ready.
"Throwing in kids, some of whom are as young as 13, in against 18-19-year olds can be counterproductive to their growth and it's nice to be able to ease them through the process and spend a year teaching," Hayes said.
"We expect them to produce at the same standard and this provides them with an opportunity to learn."
The Huskies utilize a lot of two-way players, so experience for the offense in turn means plenty of starters are back on the defensive side of the ball.
Lucas Thomas, Mykel Quito, plus Vermillion and Albaugh will rotate at end with the younger Thomas handling DT duties, along with Lucas, Delkoski and Walters.
Hutton will utilize his speed on the second level at linebacker, with Wurschum, Atkins, Jaden Harris and Beau Rinkes in the rotation.
Corners include Fluharty, Cassidy, Stabile and sophomore Kayne Dunkle while McAfee, Culbertson and the younger Quito will feature at safety.
Like most teams, health will go a long way in determining the success of Harrison's season.
"I think our number one key is health," Hayes said. "We've been bitten by the injury bug the last couple of years and that's hindered us with our schedule strength.
"It will also come down to defensively, if we can do a better job stopping the run and force teams to get impatient and throw the ball. High school still comes down to who can run the ball and stop the run; not every instance, but probably 95% or more, that's who will be the most successful."
The Huskies open the season at home against Claymont before hitting the road to face Buckeye Trail and Malvern. Waterford is also a new addition to the schedule. This after scrimmages against powerful Fort Frye and a Shenandoah team poised for a breakout.
"Claymont is our natural rival and then we go to Trail and Malvern," Hayes said. "We're anxious to see where we are at."