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2024 HICKORY HORNETS PREVIEW

HERMITAGE – With fully intact starting units returning on the offensive and defensive lines, a multi-year starter at quarterback back in the fold and numerous other explosive performers on the perimeter, the Hickory Hornets have plenty of reasons for optimism in 2024.

The Hornets feature plenty of seasoned veterans from the 2023 squad, which won the District 10 Class 3A title, advanced to the state semifinals and posted 11 victories.

Hickory entered that 2023 season with plenty of uncertainty on the offensive line. That situation has turned 180 degrees since then as the Hornets return all five starters, along with other veterans.

Junior All-State selection Luke Lewis returns at the center position while senior Ben Walls and junior Adam Tonty are back at guard. Senior Spencer Lee and junior Michael Ristvey return as starters at offensive tackle. Senior Joey Garm and junior Will Hosick are also returning lettermen who will push for starting spots.

Junior Sarmad Shakoor, a transfer from Youngstown’s Chaney High School, will challenge for time on the offensive line this fall.

“I’m really happy with our depth,” sixth-year head coach Bill Dungee said. “We can go 8 or 9 deep and rotate them without missing a beat.”

The offensive line will protect senior quarterback Zander Telesz, who took over as the starter during the second half of his sophomore season in 2022. The 6-foot-3 Telesz threw for 1,601 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. He also ran for 673 yards and a team-leading 10 touchdowns as a junior.

“Camp has been very clean, from an execution standpoint, because we have a senior with so much experience at quarterback,” Dungee said. “There’s nothing that surprises Zander now. He remembers everything. He can really lead these guys. That’s a huge advantage.”

Telesz ranked second on the team in rushing last year, trailing then-freshman Kelvin Morrison. Morrison ran for 718 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie in 2023. He caught five passes for 189 yards on the season while also adding a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Belle Vernon in the state semifinals.

Morrison will be the starting halfback while juniors Brody Bishop and Jamal Calhoun are also in the backfield mix. Bishop is a two-time District 10 Class AAA champion as a lightweight wrestler. Calhoun finished second in the 100-meter dash at the District 10 Class AAA Championships last year, recording a time of 10.75 seconds.

“Morrison was our leading rusher last year. He has good experience, even though he’s only a sophomore. Bishop has really good hands and knows how to run the football,” Dungee said. “Calhoun is the fastest kid on our team and the fastest kid in District 10. Between those three, I think we’ll have a nice rotation in the backfield.”

Sophomore Jadon Phillips is expected to earn one of the starting spots at wide receiver. Junior track standout Sebastian Bromley, senior Bobby Mainor and senior Mikey Reardon are also battling to start at receiver in the Hornets’ spread attack.

“At the skill positions, we’re young and inexperienced, but we’re super talented,” Dungee said.

At tight end, converted junior lineman Matthew Myers and junior basketball standout Trevor Borowicz will both see extensive time. According to Dungee, Borowicz will be used along the line and on the outside. Freshman Dante Evans will also challenge for time at tight end.

Hickory will again employ a three-man defensive line under defensive coordinator Matt Schneider. Lewis returns at nose tackle after sharing the team lead with three sacks last year. Lee and Walls return at defensive end while Shakoor will also press for a starting role.

Garm and Ristvey also saw action on the defensive line in 2023 and will likely be in the rotation again this fall.

Myers recorded 55 tackles in seven starts at inside linebacker last year before sustaining a season-ending injury. He will help lead the linebacking corps. Telesz returns at outside linebacker after intercepting three passes in 2023. He started in the defensive backfield earlier in his career. Sophomore Jakiah King returns as the starter on the opposite side. Borowicz has the inside track to start at strongside linebacker.

“If you’re talking about concerns, that’s probably the biggest one,” Dungee said. “It’s a really athletic, big group. I love the length and athleticism of that group. We have some inexperience and then some real experienced guys. That’s a group that will need to grow up pretty quickly, but they’re super talented.”

All-State performer Phillips returns at cornerback after intercepting seven passes in 2023. Calhoun is expected to man the other cornerback position. Mainor has the inside track at free safety with Morrison looking to start at strong safety. Freshman Christian Dungee is battling for time at both safety spots.

Bromley will punt. Senior Logan Stanford, a four-year member of the program, will handle place kicks. “Logan has done a great job. We’re really happy with him as our kicker,” Bill Dungee said.

Hickory tied with Grove City and Sharon with 5-2 records in Region 3 last season. Those three teams are now in Region 4, along with fellow Class 3A teams Conneaut, Slippery Rock and Titusville. “It’s a good league,” Bill Dungee said. “Whoever wins this league is probably poised to make a deep run, win a District 10 championship and go on from there.”