Special teams coming into focus for Hawks

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon football team began to transition from preseason mode to game-preparation mode on Thursday.

With a single practice in the afternoon, the Hawks began to focus on their season opener with Louisiana College.

"This is the time when practices become a little less physical and the focus turns more to preparation," Huntingdon head coach Mike Turk said. "I think we've accomplished a lot in the preseason. We're still trying to find some help at some positions, but we have identified some young guys we think have a chance to help us this season."

On special teams, the Hawks have a mixture of returning experience and new faces. Sophomore Parker Allen is back to handle punting. In nine games last season, Allen averaged 37.6 yards on 28 punts, with a long of 60 yards.

He had 11 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. His 60-yard punts against Birmingham-Southern and Greensboro tied for the fifth longest punts in program history.

"The experience Parker has, his understanding of what we do and how we do it, is a plus," Turk said. "His technique is solid. He gets the ball out of there and generally hangs it up there so our guys have time to get down the field."

Behind Allen are freshmen Bryce Bump and Austin Ford.

At placekicker, the position battle is still ongoing. Turk said juniors Trey Collins and Austin Wood and freshmen Chase Young and Ford have each done well in the preseason.

"We have four guys working there and that competition is ongoing," Turk said. "Trey handled kickoffs for us last season and he returns with the most experience. Young kicks the ball well and his leg strength is above average and Wood and Ford have both done some good things as well. We haven't settled on one guy yet, so it's an open battle."

Junior Buck Robinson returns to hold on extra points and field goals and senior Jake Rhodes will step in as the long snapper.

In the return game, senior Jamichael Bibb is expected to again handle punt returns. Bibb had 13 returns for 101 yards last season. Juniors Willie Coleman and Nick Haas are back to handle kickoff returns. Coleman led the team with 14 kickoff returns for 370 yards last season.

The Hawks will practice at 9 a.m. on Friday.