Backfield leaders developing for Huntingdon

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon football team held its final morning practice of the preseason on Friday.

With school beginning on Monday, this weekend will mark the end of preseason camp. But the Hawks will remain in preseason practice mode until a final preseason scrimmage on Wednesday.

"We'll begin our school-day schedule starting on Sunday," Huntingdon head coach Mike Turk said. "We'll take Monday off, practice on Tuesday and then wrap up the preseason with Wednesday's scrimmage. That will be our final full-speed work before we go into game-week mode on Thursday."

Huntingdon opens the season on Sept. 6 at Louisiana College.

Nine days into the preseason, the Hawks have holes to fill at running back but experience returning at H-Back.

In the backfield, Huntingdon has to replace Austin Bennett and second-team All-Conference selection Garrett Fletcher. The duo combined for more than 1,500 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns last season.

Leading the way at running back are sophomores John Iwaniec and Jay Ware and senior Aaron Cox. Iwaniec was the Hawks' fourth leading rusher as a freshman with 271 yards and three touchdowns on 61 carries.

"We have limited experience returning at running back, but all three of those guys have been solid in the preseason," Turk said. "Iwaniec played some for us last season as a freshman and Ware was a JV guy, but both of them have been working hard. Cox is the oldest guy in the group and he has provided good leadership during the preseason."

Turk said two first-year players, Lorenzo James and Vic Jerald, have caught his eye as well.

"Both of them are still learning, but they have both shown us some good things," Turk said. "Neither of them have shied away from anything we've done so far. Hopefully we are developing some depth there with a group of guys that can get it done for us."

At H-Back, junior Darius Dawsey and senior Jonathan Williams are leading the way. Dawsey was a second-team All-Conference pick last season and finished with 17 catches for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Williams caught three passes for 85 yards and a touchdown last season.

"Having Darius back is big," Turk said. "He is a big and physical guy that can block and catch. He was an unknown going into last fall but he developed into a guy we were trying to get the ball to in key situations. In the preseason, he seems to have picked up right where he left off. He is a big part of what we will be doing.

"Having Jonathan behind him, that gives us two good options. Jonathan played last year and he made some plays for us. Those two complement each other well."