Hollister is supplementing its young football program with the addition of synthetic turf for the 2016 season.
Coach: Jacob Hamon (3rd season)
2015 record: 2-8 (lost to Aurora in district quarterfinals)
Players to Watch: Jackson Beckemeier (QB), Landon Farquhar (DB), Tyler Gross (OL/DL), Josh Neville (LB/RB), Patrick Schultz (OL/DE), Hayden Walton (RB/LB)
The days of muddy football and iffy practice fields are gone at Hollister High School.
PHOTOS: HOLLISTER FOOTBALL PRACTICE
The school has renovated its football field for the 2016 season, highlighted by new synthetic turf.
"You kind of see how it formulates and how districts buy into (new) programs. Our district has done an awesome job to get us what we need to be successful," said Hollister coach Jacob Hamon. "It rained early on in summer camp, it was a monsoon, and we came out after it was over and practiced right away. It was great to have that ability for our kids. You're not running around in mud and stuff and tearing up your field in Week 1."
The renovations to Hollister’s field – which included a mid-field logo, goal posts and colored end zones – cost more than $600,000.
Thanks to donations and sponsorships from private businesses, Hollister’s school district did not foot one penny for the bill.
"We're incredibly blessed here," Hamon said. "Our administration and our board of education really do a good job of taking care of us as a (coaching) staff and program here. You can really see it with the youth of our program.
"As a program, we've taken a lot of pride in this gift. It was fully funded from outside sources. It was awesome to see our community step up in that regard for these kids."
FULL LIST OF FOOTBALL PREVIEWS
As for the on-field product, Hollister is still seeking that breakthrough (i.e. winning) season.
The Tigers started playing as a varsity program in 2010. That was also their best season in program history, as they won three games and earned a state playoff berth by finishing as district runner-up.
Offensively, the Tigers will have a big and experienced line leading the way. Four returning senior starters – Tyler Gross, Brandon Gandy, Parker Schultz and James Vrana – along with sophomore Zach Crawford form an O-Line unit that averages about 250 pounds across the board.
"They're our leaders," Hamon said about Hollister’s offensive line. "If we're doing something fun as a team, they're the guys up front having fun with us and really pushing us. Some of those guys, they kind of hung out in the fold last year and now they're starting to come out and really become a part of this and come into their own abilities."
Junior quarterback Jackson Bekemeier will shoulder much of the offensive load, both as a passer and runner. Also seeing carries will be the junior tandem of Hayden Walton and Bryan Canote.
One newcomer to watch is 6’2” junior wide receiver Derek Morris, who is one of the school’s top basketball players and is suiting up for football for the first time since junior high.
“As coaches, part of our job is getting the top (athletes) in the school to come out and play,” Hamon said.
Defensively, Hollister will run again run a 4-4 scheme.
The Tigers will move Schultz from defensive tackle to defensive end this season. As a junior, he earned second-team all-conference honors by tallying 49 total tackles, including five sacks and nine tackles for loss.
Josh Neville was a playmaker at linebacker/safety as a sophomore last season, with five fumble recoveries. Fellow junior and defensive back Landon Farquhar had three interceptions.
VOTE IN CONFERENCE FAN POLL
Entering his third season, Hamon is preaching patience as Hollister looks to make noise in its final days in the COC-Small. The Tigers will leave the conference following the 2017-18 school year and switch to an independent affiliation.
Hollister will host a jamboree on Aug. 12 then faces Pleasant Hope at home in Week 1 (Aug. 19).
"As a coach, you look at your schedule by yourself sitting in your office and think, 'Hey, these are the games we should win, (these are the games) I feel like we're going to win.’ But you just don't know," Hamon said. "I always hate to say, 'We're going to win four games, we're going to win five games, we're going to win all of them. I'm a realist. We're going to week-by-week, play-by-play and snap-by-snap and get it done that way. That's our goal."
