HAMBURG — Not lost on Damian Buggy is the symbolism of him following fellow Mount Carmel graduate Joe Sinkovich as the seventh head football coach in the 45-year history of the Hamburg program.
As a second-grade student, Buggy watched as Sinkovich was one of the seniors who took the stage for ceremonies honoring the 100th anniversary of Mount Carmel football. That made quite an impression, and he went on to have a similar career and achieve individual and team success.
Buggy, who had been an assistant on Sinkovich’s staff for six years before taking last year off, hopes he can continue building on Hamburg’s success of the past nine seasons.
During that time Sinkovich compiled a 48-48 overall record, including 0-4 in the postseason, to become the only coach with a non-losing record for the Hawks.
“What we’ve been able to do is bring what people think of as a Coal Region mentality of playing tough football,” Buggy said. “Our kids are proud of that, and even when things aren’t going their way, they continue to play hard and compete.
“To me, I don’t believe it matters where you coach — inter-city Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, the Coal Region or the Berks Conference. If you do your job as a coach, your players will respond and they will win.”
The Hawks return three key members of the offensive backfield — junior quarterback Nick Kuhn, leading rusher senior Ian Hamilton (532 yards, 8 TDs) and junior speedster Dariel Ruiz, who averaged 18 yards a play. Complementing them will be sophomore speedster Jordan McAllister.
Last year, Kuhn was thrust into the starting QB position and developed solid leadership skills, showing a strong arm and a love of competition. He completed 18-of-34 for 237 yards and a touchdown in limited duty.
Returning linemen are senior T.J. Romoho (5-foot-10, 235) at guard, a starter since his freshman year, senior center Dustin Snyder (5-11, 250) and senior guard Damian Bausher (5-7, 215). Sophomores Quinn Nabozny (6-7, 280) and Jacob Metcalfe (6-3, 260) are the projected starters at tackle.
Senior Robbie Henne, who had 15 receptions for 113 yards, moved from running back to wide receiver to take advantage of his speed, and there may be times he lines up in the backfield. Junior Aaron Nelson is a wide receiver with big-play potential, and sophomore Andrew Payne will be worked into the rotation.
“Offensively, we are getting away from the wing-T and moving towards a multiple-pro offense,” Buggy said. “We feel that it is the best way to use multiple athletes and get them the ball in space. It really plays to our strengths.”
Henne is called the leader of the defense and returns at safety. Other returning defensive starters are Snyder at tackle, Bausher and Hamilton at linebacker, Kuhn at corner, Nelson at safety and junior Mike Madara at corner.
Senior Jamin Levan has the inside track as a starting end, and Ruiz appears ready to take over as a starter in the secondary. McAllister and Payne are expected to get playing time at safety.
“Our offseason commitment has been great, and we’re certainly looking forward to the challenges of the season,” Buggy said. “Section 2 of the Berks League is one of best Class AA leagues around, and we just hope to be competitive against perennial powers like Berks Catholic and Wyomissing and an improving Fleetwood.
“With Wyomissing winning states two seasons ago and Berks Catholic making a deep run into the playoffs last year, we geared our offseason competition to go against larger and highly successful programs. Our staff wanted our kids to get a taste of the level of competition they will be facing come league play.”
Hamburg has one schedule change, losing Blue Mountain because of the Eagles leaving the Berks League to join the Anthracite Football League. Replacing them is a Week 6 home game against Twin Valley.
Damian Bausher 12 5-7 215 OL-LB
Ian Hamilton 12 5-6 170 RB-LB
Barrett Hamilton 12 5-11 160 TE-DL
Robbie Henne 12 5-7 165 WR-DB
Jamin Levan 12 5-11 190 TE-DL
Kai Miller 12 5-7 145 WR-DB
T.J. Romoho 12 5-10 235 OL-DL
Dustin Snyder 12 5-11 250 OL-DL
Jarrod Blickley 11 5-8 145 WR-DB
Jacob Conrad 11 5-11 145 WR-DB
Joey Cotto 11 5-10 180 QB-LB
Daniel Fuellner 11 5-9 165 WR-DB
D.J. Gromlich 11 5-11 230 OL-DL
Tyler Herber 11 5-10 180 RB-DB
Matthew James 11 5-8 145 RB-LB
Nick Kuhn 11 5-11 145 QB-DB
Jared Lesher 11 6-6 200 TE-DL
Kyle Machmer 11 5-8 145 WR-DB
Michael Madara 11 5-6 135 RB-DB
Jonathan Mullen 11 5-6 165 OL-DL
Aaron Nelson 11 6-0 180 WR-DB
Dariel Ruiz 11 5-6 145 RB-DB
Divine Tinner 11 5-9 200 OL-DL
Cameron Brown 10 5-9 165 TE-DL
Ryan Brownmiller 10 5-10 145 WR-DB
Alex Castellano 10 5-9 240 OL-DL
Romeo Eaddy 10 5-5 115 WR-DB
Collin Kamp 10 6-2 260 OL-DL
Thomas Kissinger 10 5-6 150 RB-DB
Eddie Ludovici 10 6-3 265 OL-DL
David Madara 10 5-7 185 OL-DL
Kline Maxwell 10 5-7 210 OL-LB
Jordan McAllister 10 5-6 145 RB-DB
Jacob Metcalfe 10 6-3 260 OL-DL
Quinn Nabozny 10 6-7 280 OL-DL
Andrew Payne 10 6-0 160 WR-DB
Steven Sherwood 10 5-6 170 RB-DL
Gabriel Vazquez 10 5-9 150 WR-DB
Hawks at a glance
Head coach: Damian Buggy (1st season)
Assistant coaches: Chris Beissel, Dave Kline, Joel Motuk, Derek Sola, Pat Hanlon, Toby Wolber, Ritchie Reinhart, Glenn Miller
Last year: 5-6, 1-5 Berks Football League Section 2. District 3 Class AA qualifier
Coach’s record: 0-0
Mascot: Hawks
Stadium: Hamburg Area Stadium
District/Classification: 3 AA
Eastern Conference Classification: Class AA South
Starters returning: 6 offense, 4 defense
KEY RETURNEES (9): Dustin Snyder (sr., C-DT), Damian Bausher (sr., G-LB), Robbie Henne (sr., WR-S), Ian Hamilton (sr., RB-LB), T.J. Romoho (sr., G), Nick Kuhn (jr., QB-CB), Aaron Nelson (jr., WR-FS), Tyler Herber (jr., S), Mike Madara (jr., CB)
KEY NEWCOMERS (6): Jamin Levan (sr., DE), Dariel Ruiz (jr., RB-CB), Jordan McAllister (soph., RB-S), Andrew Payne (soph., WR-S), Jacob Metcalfe (soph., T), Quinn Nabozny (soph., T).
SEASON OUTLOOK: With just eight seniors, Hamburg will rely on a large underclassman turnout to support a key nucleus of upperclassmen that are expected to provide the maturity and experience needed to be successful. Offensively, the Hawks return their leading rusher in Hamilton and a talented receiver in Henne, which should help the ongoing maturity of junior QB Kuhn. Defensively, those three leaders are joined by LB Bausher, DT Snyder, SS Herber and FS Nelson. A winning regular season and postseason berth appear to be realistic goals, but the Hawks might be a year away.
2013 results
Berks Football League
5-6, 1-5 BFL II
ELCO W, 55-54
Annville-Cleona W, 25-22
No. Lebanon W, 22-21
Fleetwood L, 7-52
Kutztown W, 47-26
Blue Mountain L, 0-33
Berks Catholic L, 13-34
Wyomissing L, 13-34
Pequea Valley W, 28-18
Sch. Valley L, 13-34
District 3 Class AA
First Round
Berm. Springs L, 12-35