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Youth prevails at Hampshire

Hampshire returns the most prolific passing tandem in the Fox Valley Conference but few other familiar faces.

Besides quarterback Jake Vincent and wide receiver Jared Hornbeck - childhood pals who connected 52 times last season for 1,054 yards and 13 touchdowns as juniors - the lineup mostly will consist of first-time starters. Only right tackle Pawel Barnas and wide receiver Connor Burke started alongside Vincent and Hornbeck a year ago for a Class 6A playoff team that finished 6-4.

On defense, all 11 starters must be replaced.

"We have a lot of unproven kids on defense who need to prove themselves," third-year Hampshire coach Mike Brasile said. "But if you can throw the ball in high school football, it gives you an advantage because not a lot of teams can do that. Our league is a running league so we're a little different element than what they've seen in the past. We want to get on the board first and let teams catch up to us."

Hampshire's spread offense gained 3,882 yards last season. Only Huntley, Batavia and Cary-Grove averaged more than Hampshire's 388 yards per game. More than 70 percent of that offense came via the pass. Vincent led the 24 teams in the Fox Valley area in completions (200), attempts (332), yards (2,677) and touchdown passes (31). He was fourth in interceptions (13).

Brasile said the offense's goal is an even split between run and pass. That means more production from Burke (13 receptions, 131 yards, TD) and newcomer Trevor Laffin. It also means a big contribution from running back Danny Tuzak. He gained 150 yards in 39 attempts last season. Spelling Tuzak will be Nick See.

Defensively, the Whips are banking on a group of promising but untested linebackers. Senior Matt Matras steps in at middle. Brasile calls him "a leader" and "important to what we do."

Flanking Matras on either side will be See and Laffin, who are expected to play full-time as outside linebackers and play occasionally on offense.

A key defender on the line is Jake Detiveaux, who grew an inch and gained approximately 75 pounds since his sophomore season. The junior is expected to play on the line both ways.

Is it enough for Hampshire to compete against the other eight schools in the Fox Valley Conference?

"For us to be successful, we need our defense to step up because we have a lot of young guys," Brasile said. "Offensively, we need to take care of the ball. In the spread offense you put the ball in a lot of peoples' hands. If they take care of the ball, we'll be all right."

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