HEGINS — For Mike Ulicny, coaching high school football is like throwing a spiral: Once you learn how to do it, you never forget.
In 16 seasons from 1989-2004, Ulicny coached Tri-Valley to 11 playoff appearances, three District 11 titles and a 117-65-3 mark.
Last fall, Ulicny came out of retirement to coach the Dawgs again and guided the squad to an 8-3 record and a berth in the District 11 Class A semifinals.
“Last year when I came back, I thought a lot had changed in terms of different offenses and different defenses,’’ Ulicny said.
“And it has to a certain point, but it still comes down to do you have players who can block and tackle and run. You don’t need a lot of fancy stuff.’’
Ulicny used Pine Grove as an example. The Cardinals got in I formation, gave the ball to Ryan Heim and let him run wild behind a strong offensive line. The result was last season’s Tri-Valley League championship.
Moments later Ulicny added: “It’s still a matter of basics, and we try to stress that to our kids and our coaches. It’s still the same old game.’’
Just like throwing a spiral.
The best part about Tri-Valley’s roster this season is that the player throwing the spirals will the same player who did it last season.
Quarterback Hunter Harner returns for his senior season as one of the most electrifying players in the TVL.
Harner, though, is known more for his legs than his arm. He rushed 218 times for 1,384 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.
He also passed for 442 yards and five TDs.
An emphasis this preseason was to improve the short and intermediate passing game both in terms of Harner’s mechanics and the backs’ and receivers’ ability to catch the ball consistently.
“It’s nice to have Hunter back at quarterback,’’ Ulicny said. “We know he can run the ball and make a lot of things happen, make the big plays.
“We need to develop him as a passer because we don’t have the horses in front to block like we did last year.’’
Rebuilding an offensive line that lost four starters to graduation is Tri-Valley’s major challenge this season.
The one player back, junior guard Hunter Herb,will be a three-year starter.
“I’ll step it up and become a leader and show them how we’re going to do it,’’ Herb said. “We had a great senior class last year, and they showed us how it had to be done.’’
In addition to Herb, junior tackle Dan Opozda took some significant snaps a year ago.
After that, the jobs are wide open. Entering camp, senior Dominick Carado was the favorite at the other guard spot, with senior and Line Mountain transfer Beau Rothermel at tackle. Junior Deven Schwalm will be the center. Across the front five, Tri-Valley averages 227 pounds.
“Last year we had all our linemen back and no skill positions,’’ Ulicny said. “This year it’s kind of the other way around.’’
If the line can do its job, the Dawgs have lots of skill people capable of making big plays.
Junior split end Jaden Buchanan (13-158, 4 TDs) returns, with junior Chase Schaeffer (44-166, 4 TDs rushing) at flanker.
In the backfield with Harner, senior fullback Anthony Snyder (38-177, 1 TD) and junior halfback Tyler Lucas (9-55) will get the bulk of the carries. Freshman Danny Scheib also could see action at fullback.
“The skill positions are there,’’ Ulicny said. “It’s just a matter of finding a line. Hopefully we can.’’
One positive going into preseason camp was the fact that this is Ulicny’s second season back.
“The terminology is basically the same as it was last year, and we’re a lot more familiar with what the kids can do,’’ Ulicny said.
At a Class A school like Tri-Valley, it’s common for the same names that start on offense to show up on defense, too.
Again, the line is being rebuilt as defensive end Herb is the only returning starter up front. Opozda projects as the other defensive end, with Rothermel and sophomore Bryon Rusinko at defensive tackle in the base 4-4 scheme.
Linebacker is a strength as Schaeffer and Lucas return outside and Snyder is back inside. Joining them will be Scheib.
Harner started at safety last season, with Buchanan returning at one of the cornerback spots. Senior Josh Chacon is getting a look at the other corner.
“Most of the kids that start play both ways,’’ Herb said. “They’re out there the whole game so you’ve got to get ready for 48 minutes.’’
Another constant at a school the size of Tri-Valley is lack of depth. The team has seven seniors, nine juniors, six sophomores and an influx of 17 freshmen.
Having more than 30 players in camp will help as the Dawgs try to find young players who can contribute enough to give the starters a break every now and then.
Toughness is never a problem at Tri-Valley. Remember, Harner, Snyder and Schaeffer are state qualifiers in wrestling, and Scheib is an up-and-coming wrestler as well.
“We know we have some varsity players — about half — we’ve got to find another half that can step up,’’ Ulicny said. “If we can find kids who are willing to sacrifice (for the good of the team), I think we can be competitive in the league.
“Kids in our school, they’re good kids and they’re hardworking kids,’’ he added. “A lot of them play more than one sport, and they’re competitive by nature.’’
Dominick Carado 12 6-0 205 OL-DE
Josh Chacon 12 5-10 160 HB-LB
Hunter Harner 12 6-0 180 QB-DB
Mark Klinger 12 6-0 160 SE-DB
Beau Rothermel 12 6-1 230 OL-DL
Anthony Snyder 12 5-10 180 FB-LB
Jericho Zemencik 12 6-2 195 TE-SE-DB
Jaden Buchanan 11 6-3 175 SE-DB
Edward Drake 11 6-0 180 SE-DB
Hunter Herb 11 6-1 230 OL-DL
Tyler Lucas 11 5-10 160 HB-LB
Dan Opozda 11 6-1 225 OT-DT
Chase Schaeffer 11 5-11 170 FB-LB
Deven Schwalm 11 5-10 245 OL-DL
Ryan Sholley 11 5-11 175 TE-DB
Willie Ward 11 5-10 295 OL-DL
Tyler Dalton 10 5-9 155 HB-DB
Colby Harner 10 5-10 155 K
Jake Kroh 10 6-0 180 FB-LB
Rayce Newswanger 10 5-10 150 SE-QB-DB
Nick Rice 10 5-10 255 OL-DL
Bryon Rusinko 10 5-10 190 OL-LB
Devin Bixler 9 5-11 135 SE-DB
Ashton Buchanan 9 5-9 135 FL-DB
Nate Dean 9 5-8 135 TE-LB
Josh Kroh 9 5-11 200 OL-DE
John Lindenmuth 9 5-9 250 OL-DL
Mike Miller 9 5-11 205 OL-DE
Cole Rothermel 9 5-7 150 HB-LB
Bailey Ruch 9 5-7 145 HB-LB
Danny Scheib 9 5-10 215 FB-LB
Dawson Schwalm 9 5-8 155 FL-DB
Logan Sherman 9 5-6 190 OL-DL
Josh Sholley 9 5-6 150 RB-LB
Micah Ulicny 9 5-11 180 OL-DE
Quinn Weist 9 5-7 180 OL-DL
Logan Yoder 9 5-11 155 QB-DB
Darren Young 9 6-3 270 OL-DL
Braxton Zerbe 9 5-10 125 SE-DB
Dawgs at a glance
Head coach: Mike Ulicny (2nd season, 18th overall)
Assistant coaches: Brian Bowman, Marty Shade, Richie Dunkelberger, Jay Howard, Bryn Bowman, Kevin Scheib
Last year: 8-3, 7-2 Tri-Valley League. District 11 Class A semifinalist
Coach’s record: 125-68-3 (.638)
Mascot: Bulldogs
Stadium: Bulldog Stadium
District/Classification: 11 A
Eastern Conference Classification: Class A South
Starters returning: 6 offense, 6 defense
KEY RETURNEES (7): Hunter Harner (sr., QB-DB), Anthony Snyder (sr., FB-LB), Hunter Herb (jr., OL-DL), Chase Schaeffer (jr., FB-LB), Jaden Buchanan (jr., SE-DB), Tyler Lucas (jr., HB-LB), Dan Opozda (jr., OT-DT)
KEY NEWCOMERS (11): Jericho Zemencik (sr., TE-DB), Dominick Carado (sr., OL-DE), Beau Rothermel (sr., OL-DL, transfer from Line Mountain), Josh Chacon (sr., HB-LB), Deven Schwalm (jr., OL-DL), Willie Ward (jr., OL-DL), Edward Drake (jr., SE-DB), Bryon Rusinko (soph., OL-LB), Jake Kroh (soph., FB-LB), Tyler Dalton (soph., HB-DB), Danny Scheib (fr., FB-LB)
SEASON OUTLOOK: Dawgs face the opposite challenge as last season, when they had a veteran line but an inexperienced backfield. This fall, the club returns one of the Tri-Valley League’s most explosive players in Harner among a bevy of talented rushers and receivers. If the Dawgs can solidify their offensive and defensive lines, their playmakers can do damage and cause havoc on both sides of the ball. TVL title contender.
2013 results
Tri-Valley League
8-3 overall, 7-2 TVL
Annville-Cleona W, 35-17
Juniata W, 29-22
Newport W, 13-7
East Juniata W, 28-0
Upper Dauphin W, 20-0
Millersburg W, 41-28
Williams Valley L, 14-28
Halifax W, 46-16
Pine Grove L, 14-49
Line Mountain W, 14-7
District 11 A Semifinals
Sch. Haven L, 0-42