Everything is pointing toward another winning season for the Hereford High football team.
Coming off an 8-3 campaign, which included a first-round playoff loss to Patterson, the Bulls appeared poised for a deeper playoff run in Class 2A.
"I have four sophomores who are now seniors and they have experienced two playoff losses in the first round," said Hereford third-year coach Ric Evans, alluding to Mike Nash, Nick Greenspan, Zach Johnson and Joey Chestnutt. "Their big motivation is not to just make the playoffs, but get past the first round. They have a chip on their shoulder, which I love. I love their attitude."
If attitude counts for something, the Bulls should be flirting with a state championship.
"We have been labeled as soft around here for the last five years," Evans said. "They are not liking that label. This team has an edge and an attitude."
Hereford must overcome one major roadblock — replacing graduated quarterback Mike Mozelack.
"Mike had a great year for us," Evans said. "He was a heck of an athlete. We are going to miss him."
Either senior quarterback Johnny Marchineck (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) or junior Josh Wegrzyn (6-2, 190) will step into the starting role. There's a real battle going on for the position.
Marchineck has starting experience from last year running the Wing-T offense. He also played running back.
"He spot started for us last year (at quarterback)," Evans said. "I like his speed and ability to read the field, and he has a great arm. He has the whole package."
It's quite possible both Marchineck and Wegrzyn could play.
Evans also likes Wegrzyn's potential.
"He has a great arm as well," the coach said. "He doesn't have the same speed (as Marchineck), but he is very smart quarterback. He is very intuitive. He just sees things, reads things and goes."
The quarterbacks will be working behind an offensive line anchored by senior guards Joe Kelbaugh (5-11, 200) and Nash (6-2, 295) and Greenspan (6-4, 205), a center.
Junior tackles Matt Lee (6-1, 265) and Raben Albin (6-1, 220), senior tight end Chestnutt (6-0, 185) and junior guard Blake Walter (6-1, 200) are Hereford's other talented linemen who play along the offensive front.
"We are not as big on the offensive line as last year," Evans said. "So we are going to rely on technique and speed. Their footwork has to be right on. They can't be slow."
If there's been a secret to Hereford's success through the years, it's been a reliance on an effective ground game. Last year, the Bulls ran for 2,900 yards and 45 touchdowns.
Senior running backs Mack Cotterino (5-9, 160), Zach Johnson (6-1, 190) and Kahlil Rich (5-2, 125) give the Bulls depth and talent.
In Hereford's 3-4 defense, Nash emerged as a dominant player last year at nose guard.
He recorded eights sacks and 45 tackles, which including 12 for losses.
The line also features Kelbaugh, a tackle, and junior end Troy Tuveson (6-5, 210).
"I feel we are going to have a really good defense," Nash said. "We are returning a lot of starters. I think we will hold teams to a very small amount of points."
Nash Walter, Marchineck and juniors Cale McCrudy (6-1, 180) and Will Blake should be difference makers at linebacker.
The strength of the defense will be the secondary, where all four starters in cornerbacks Rich and Griffin Wilson (6-0, 165) and safeties Johnson and Dylan Principio (5-9, 150), a senior, return.
"They are all very athletic and can really play," said Evans, whose team returns six starters on both offense and defense.
2016 Hereford football schedule:
Sept. 2 — North Harford, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 — Pikesville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 — Eastern Tech, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 — at Randallstown, 1 p.m.
Sept. 30 — at Owings Mills, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 — Chesapeake, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 — Western Tech 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 — at Loch Raven, 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 — at Overlea, 7 p.m.
Nov. 5 — at New Town, 7 p.m.