Friday, Aug. 28, 2009

ALTON: Redbirds hope team chemistry puts them back on track

ALTON -- After going 8-2 in 2006, football life for the Alton Redbirds has taken a couple steps backward.

But as Joe Hook begins his 11th season on the sidelines, thoughts of consecutive seasons with marks of 3-6 and 2-7 are a thing of the past.

"We have been doing pretty well in practice so far, there's a pretty good start to it," said Hook, 46-50 in 10 seasons at Alton. "There seems to be good team chemistry and that was something we've been lacking the last couple of years. I think we will have a better attitude. We have better athletes at skilled positions this season."

Alton, which lost seven of its last eight games after defeating Quincy 41-22 in opener, qualified for the playoffs each season from 2001-06. But since winning eight games in 2006 -- their most wins since 1992 -- the Redbirds have been trying to find a way to reach that level again.

"Our first goal is to have a winning record and get into the playoffs," Hook said. "We went about seven years without having a losing record, so we want to do that again and go from there."

Alton, which opens the season tonight in Quincy, will rely on running the ball and mixing in the pass. The Redbirds will be led by quarterback Devin Williams, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior and two-year starter.

"He had a great off-season and looks pretty good," Hook said of Williams, who threw for 352 yards with a pair of touchdowns and also ran for two TDs.

Alton will have to replace the rushing production of graduated senior Kenny Jones, who ran for 1,011 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Offensive linemen Alex Llewellyn and Billy Netzhammer were also lost to graduation.

Auditioning to run the ball are junior Brian Proctor (5-11, 187), who had limited carries in 2008, William Lewis, senior Jake Hook (5-7, 155), 2008 leading rusher and junior Jacoby Womack (341 yards) and junior Eyaiver Tripplett (5-9, 155, jr.).

Junior Dorian Scruggs (6-2, 165) and sophomore Kevin Wade (6-1, 160) are the main targets at receiver.

Hook is excited about the Redbird defense.

Linebackers William Lewis and Corbin Newquist will anchor the defense. Tripplett, Hook and Womack are among the defensive backs.

"I think our defense is going to be a lot better," Hook said. "We'll be more physical. We haven't had a lot of team speed the last couple of years, but this year we have more team speed.

"We're trying to use different guys on the offensive and defensive lines."

It will also be a new look in the coaching ranks on defense, as Al Womack replaces Dwight Tungett as defensive coordinator. Tungett, who has been with Hook the previous 10 seasons, is now coaching at Civic Memorial.

Alton might find it difficult to reach the upper echelon of the Southwestern Conference again.

East St. Louis is trendy pick to be on top, but Belleville East, Belleville West, Edwardsville and O'Fallon could also make noise. Granite City is improving, as is Collinsville.

"Conference is going to be tough again," Hook admitted. "East St. Louis is the odd-on favorite. They have the reputation. So you definitely have to put them at the top until somebody knocks them off."