Bucklin Coach Stephen Hokanson is typically a man of few words, from one season to the next. Small wonder he had even less than usual to say when asked earlier this week to comment on Friday’s trip to 4-1 Haviland. An 0-5 start will tend to get a coach’s tongue as surely as any cat, wild or domesticated.
To make matters worse, it’s not as if any of the Red Aces’ games have been remotely close, Bucklin getting outscored an average of 56-7 through last Friday, scoring only 37 points to their opponents’ collective 281. Though Bucklin did manage to score four times through the air against Greensburg September 25 to tally 26 points the Aces also gave up their highest total to date, allowing the Rangers 74 points in two quarters.
Asked his explanation as to why Bucklin is struggling so pointedly, Greensburg Coach Clint Young told Game Night, “They basically have a young team without much speed or size. They do have a couple of athletes, but not many guys to put with them.”
Young went on to spell out the offensive limitations of such a state of affairs, saying, “They’re too small to really run the ball and they don’t pass protect very well.”
GHS’s mentor did, however, offer a word of hope for the future, noting, “As long as the young kids continue to develop, they’ll be fine in time. They just seem to be going through a phase where young, small kids are what they have to rely on.”
Hokanson did say younger players have been pressed into service because of injuries to several key vets early in the season.
“Really our younger players have developed well despite not playing any jv games this year,” he said. “The injuries started in the first game with one player. The second came in game two and the third and fourth last Friday (in a 46-0 drubbing by Ashland).”
The loss of starters, while painful, doesn’t mean the Red Aces will be decidedly green when they get off the bus at Haviland Friday afternoon.
“Due to our rotation of players in previous games all the starters for this week except one have had extensive experience at their position,” Hokanson said.
As for how he views the Dragons, Hokanson was brief, commenting, “They have three very fast backs that see the field and run well. If we want to have a chance at all in this game, we need to remember that like any game, it’s going to come down to proper execution. If we get our people to correct spot we do well.”
And if not? The record speaks for itself.
Bucklin’s record to date:
L Deerfield 48-0
L Minneola 57-8
L Pawnee Hts 56-3
L Greensburg 74-26
L Ashland 46-0
