This season, the Hough football program has five sets of brothers who play on its junior varsity or varsity rosters. Pictured above are four of the five sets, beginning with (front row, from left) junior Patrick Campbell, freshman Ethan Handy, sophomore Kyle Dueitt and sophomore Jake Rodman; (back row) senior Jackson Campbell, junior Everett Handy, junior Blake Dueitt and senior Josh Rodman. (Chris Hunt/DavidsonNews.net)

By CHRIS HUNT
DavidsonNews.net

Hough High School’s impressive 24-21 victory at West Charlotte last Friday night was its third in four I-MECK 4A Conference football games this fall. In just their second season, it seems the Huskies have quickly forgotten they were supposed to be underdogs who would be lucky to pull off an upset here or there.

This week – Homecoming Week at Hough – the stakes get even higher. On Friday night at 7 p.m., the Huskies (4-4 overall) will play their biggest game of the 2011 season when they host the Mooresville Blue Devils.

As it stands before the game, both teams are tied for second place in the I-MECK 4A standing with 3-1 marks. It’s hard to believe, but a win by Hough on Friday night would not only secure a spot in the postseason for the young Huskies, but it could possibly lead to a first-round HOME playoff game.

What a difference a year makes, right?

As if a battle for second place isn’t enough to sweeten the pot of this pivotal I-MECK 4A conference match-up, Hough also has some unfinished business after losing by 50 points to the Blue Devils last season, 62-12. A few Hough players even said they look forward to the Mooresville game, more so than tilts against Hopewell and North Meck this season.

On Tuesday, Oct. 11, Hough’s student body spray-painted a wrecked car for Friday’s Hough Homecoming Prep Rally, which will be held the afternoon before the Huskies’ football game against Mooresville High School. (Chris Hunt/DavidsonNews.net)

It’s safe to say that Collins doesn’t need much of pregame speech on Friday. He can save his “Win one for the Gipper” for another day. Last year’s score alone is enough incentive to get up for the big game.

“I think this is a big game because we got embarrassed real bad last year,” said Collins. “The score was (62-12) and Mooresville didn’t pull up for four quarters of football – which in 4A high school football, I don’t really expect a team to pull up.

“It was a life lesson. I thought our kids felt like they were taken advantage of, and they feel now like they are a little better than last year … it’s homecoming … they’ve won a couple of games in a row so I’ll let them stay fired up (for the Mooresville game).”

Mooresville has more in common with Hough than matching conference records; both team have similar blueprints for success. Collins said the Blue Devils – just like his team – play great defense and rely on running the ball to control the pace of the game. Mooresville quarterback Deonte Black and running back Dee Tomlin are the top weapons. The Blue Devils’ record is 6-2 this season and its only I-MECK 4A loss is to first-place Mallard Creek.

“I think the Mooresville coaching staff is one of the best in the conference,” said Collins. “I watch them week-in-and-week out put a good game plan together for every team they play, so I think it will be a good game to watch on Friday.”

FAMILY TRADITION

In its second season, Hough’s football program has already become family tradition for several local households. This year, five sets of brothers grace the varsity and junior varsity rosters.

Senior running Jackson Campbell, junior linebacker Everett Handy, junior defensive tackle Blake Dueitt and senior defensive end Josh Rodman play for the varsity squad and they have younger brothers following in their footsteps. Campbell (Hough’s starting running back with 793 yards rushing this season) and his brother, junior linebacker Patrick, play together on the varsity squad. Freshman linebacker Ethan Handy, sophomore quarterback Kyle Dueitt and sophomore safety Jake Rodman wait their turn while playing junior varsity football for the Huskies. While keeping the players’ names straight could be difficult, Collins said the unusual number of siblings on the Huskie’s roster is proof that his program is heading in a positive direction.

“I think it’s neat because usually if the older brother isn’t having success at the varsity level, the younger brother ends up leaving the program,” said Collins. “You see our younger guys excelling (because the older brothers hold them accountable) so I’m excited to see them play at the next level.”

Blake Dueitt, a standout on defense, agreed that this year’s team feels like it has a family atmosphere – but not just because 10 players share a name with a teammate. Although separated by age and class, the older players have a vested interest in the performance of the younger junior varsity players because they are either family or friends of the family who they grew up with.

But familiarity isn’t the only reason the Hough program has taken off so quickly. Blake Dueitt is highly motivated to help the junior varsity offensive linemen who protect his younger brother Kyle, a quarterback on the junior varsity team.

“When I talk to my brother; I’ll give him hints about his team,” said Blake Dueitt. “I’ll tell him, “I’m reading your offensive linemen’s hands and you need to talk to them about how they put their hands down – whether they put pressure on them or don’t put pressure them – because that’s a key to the defense (whether they are going to run the ball or pass it).”

WANT TO GO?

What: Mooresville at Hough. It’s the Huskies’ Homecoming game.
When: Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m. Gates open 5:30 p.m.
Where: W.A. Hough High School stadium, 12420 Bailey Road, Cornelius