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Mustangs map out air assault QB Kennedy is no passing fancy for HV By FRANK SILOW MURPHY -- When a team graduates the offensive and defensive players of the year in the conference and all but one starting lineman on both sides of the line of scrimmage, the word rebuilding routinely slips into the coach's vocabulary. But that's not the case at Hidden Valley, which expects to challenge for its third straight Skyline Conference championship despite losing all-star personnel. Mustangs coach Jim Figoni is known to favor a power I-formation ground attack, but the former University of Oregon center is rethinking his offensive philosophy this season to fit the talent available. Thus, Hidden Valley might divert from the formula that produced undefeated back-to-back Skyline campaigns the past two years. And rightfully so. Hidden Valley won't revisit the "run-and-shoot" era that preceded Figoni's second stint as the Mustangs head coach. But with a versatile quarterback in Matt Kennedy and a group of talented receivers, look for the Mustangs to open up the offense quite a bit. "We have five guys that can start for any team in the league at wide receiver," Figoni says. "We don't have as dominating a tailback as we've had with Tim (Orr). We don't have a dominating tight end like we had with Andy Sakraida. We'll do the things that will get us the most mileage this year." The Mustangs' offense will revolve around Kennedy, a first-team all-conference quarterback. The hard-nosed 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior has emerged as the team leader. "He has dedicated himself to get ready for this season more than any player I've had in the past," Figoni says. Quarterback coach Vince Randall, a former lineman during the Neil Lomax years at Portland State, recalls a play last season against Coquille in which Kennedy demonstrated his toughness. "Coquille had this 300-pound lineman named Bubba Cole," Randall says. "We called a fade pattern. Matt watched this big kid come straight at him, but he waited until our receiver got open. He stayed in the pocket and threw a TD, but got crushed in doing so. He's got a lot of courage and the kids really follow him." Kennedy, who will also be used as a starting linebacker, relishes the new personality for the Mustangs' offense. "We're going to be a lot more balanced this year," he says. "I feel real confident because I've learned how to read defenses very well. It comes to me pretty easily." Randall concurs on Kennedy's ability to deal with situations: "Matt's a smart enough kid, he can take advantage of whatever front he's faced with. He can get a good pre-snap read." The Hidden Valley three-receiver alignment will feature Ryan Wilson, Willy Isley and Dereck Horning. Wilson is the fastest of the trio, but Isley and Horning are both tall, strong and can also run well after the catch. Junior Nick Mason, who showed promise when replacing Orr last year, and speedy sophomore Isaac Harrop will share the job as the tail back in the I-formation. Additionally, Mason and Harrop both have excellent pass catching skills. Senior Jon Porzio is the Mustangs' lone returning starting lineman. But he's a unanimous first-team all-conference defensive tackle. Porzio's season came to an early end due to a late-season car wreck that put him in the hospital with a head laceration, dislocated shoulder and broken jaw. He's healed from the injuries. On defense, the Mustangs strength is in the secondary with safeties Wilson and Horning. Both were first team all conference, while Wilson was second team all-state. "They cover a lot of ground," says Hidden Valley defensive coordinator Mike Porzio, Jon's dad. "They're real smart. Plus they both can come up and deliver a hit." Despite the Mustangs apparent lack of experienced linemen, Figoni is confident with the players on hand. Figoni has a group of big, athletic lineman to choose from. "You have to realize our backup kids have practiced every day the past two years against the best team in the league, us," says Figoni. "We had three extra weeks of practice last year because of the playoffs. You can't put a price on how much experience these kids got from that." Mustangs at a glance COACH : Jim Figoni (sixth year, 34-16; coached Hidden Valley 1984-86 with a 9-17 record). ASSISTANTS : Mike Porzio (defensive cordinator/inside linebackers/tight ends), Vince Randall (quarterbacks/outside linebackers), Todd Willaman (defensive line/running backs), Ryan Morgan (receivers/defensive secondary), Chris Pendleton (freshmen/sophomores), Bill Jiron (freshmen/sophomores), Kirk Kolb (freshmen/sophomores). 1998 LEAGUE RECORD : 7-0 (first, Skyline). 1998 OVERALL RECORD : 9-2. PREDICTED FINISH THIS YEAR : First. 1998 REGULAR SEASON SCORES Hidden Valley Opponents 37 Coquille 6 7 Brookings-Harbor 32 27 Henley 20 20 Lakeview 8 12 North Valley 0 26 Phoenix 0 10 Mazama 7 46 Rogue River 24 47 Illinois Valley 9 STATE PLAYOFFS 41 Astoria 35 24 Central 55 RETURNING STARTERS OFFENSE (5 ): Quarterback Matt kennedy (6-1, 195, sr.), wide receiver Ryan Wilson (5-10, 180, sr.), wide receiver Willy Isley (6-2, 195, sr.), wide receiver Dereck Horning (6-3, 185, sr.); guard Jon Porzio (6-0, 220, sr.). DEFENSE (7) : Safety Dereck Horning, defensive back Willy Isley, safety Ryan Wilson, cornerback Pete Mengershausen (5-8, 145, sr.), cornerback Danny Parker (5-10, 165, jr.), inside linebacker Jesse Sallas (5-10, 215, sr.), tackle Jon Porzio. OTHER NOTABLES Center/defensive line Josh Hagemeyer (6-3, 210, jr.), lineman Donald Lavenbarg (6-2, 245, jr.), lineman Aaron Skinner (6-1, 210, jr.), lineman Nathan Combe (6, 205, jr.), lineman Josh Bergrud (6-1, 245, sr.), lineman Joe Birkmeyer (5-11, 180, sr.), fullback/linebacker John Purinton (5-11, 192, jr.), running back/defensive back Nick Mason (5-9, 175, jr.), running back/defensive back Isaac Harrop (5-10, 178, so.), tight end/linebacker Ben Bickle (5-10, 170, sr.), tight end/linebacker Tim Estes (5-11, 185, sr.), tight end Rich Lewman (6-0, 190, jr.), linebacker Rob Adler (5-10, 180, jr), lineman Nick Kennedy (5-10, 185, so.), fullback/defensive line Curtis Strickland (5-10, 220, so.), tight end/linebacker Chris Ryder (6-0, 195, so.), lineman Tyler Morrison (5-10, 180, sr.). 1999 Schedule Sept. 10 COQUILLE, 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at Brookings-Harbor, tba Sept. 24 at Henley, 7 p.m. Oct. 1LAKEVIEW, 7 p.m. Oct. 8 NORTH VALLEY, 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Phoenix, 7 p.m. Oct. 22 MAZAMA, 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at Rogue River, 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at Illinois Valley, 7 p.m. FOOTBALL 99 Index Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.