Hopi Spring Football <br>

Polacca, Ariz.-Spring football was a huge success at Hopi High School, according to first year Coach Russ Semore. Sixty-one players came out for the Bruin gridiron squad. “I couldn’t be happier. The kids were great. They’re learning and they have a good attitude. They’re absorbing a lot of new offenses and defenses,” he said.

Coach Semore said there is as much talent at Hopi High as anywhere in the 3A North. “I’m surprised with the overall number of kids who can do things,” he said. “Most had not done the things that we’ve asked them to do. It’s new to them, but they’re as skilled as anybody.” Semore said the weight room will be open all summer.

The weight and speed program will begin June 3. The program will be open Monday through Thursday from 8-11 a.m. and 4-8 p.m.

“We’ll lift an hour each day and we’ll throw every day. We’ll have passing leagues on Thursday nights. We can make ourselves quicker by learning how to do things correctly,” he said.

Coach Semore said he expects seniors Dale Lalo, Joseph “Buck” Auclair and Ramone Addington to be the team leaders. He said the Bruins will be three deep at quarterback with Virgil Torres, Leonard Hawk and Auclair. Kellen Polingyumptewa and Lalo will be the top running backs. Addington and Hawk will lead the receivers.

Coach Semore said he is committed to talking to parents, providing transportation and doing whatever it takes within the rules to make sure the football players get to the summer practices. Hopi High, which found it a bit rough going last year in its first season in the 3A North, expects to be competitive every game this coming season. Coach Semore said wins happen in the second half of a game if a team is in shape.

“If we’re in a position to win in the second half, we’ll be okay,” he said. “A lot of it is having a chance. Then you can make things happen. If the kids keep the same attitude all season as they have now, then we’ll have a pretty good football team. If the kids have a good attitude and work hard, then they can do anything.”

Coach Semore said the football players need to continue to work hard to develop techniques such as footwork. “I won’t ask them to do anything that won’t make them better. If I have them run a drill, it’s because it’s something that will make them better during game conditions,” he said.

Coach Semore said the new Hopi offense is complex.

“Right now the kids are thinking instead of playing, but we’ll put points on the board once the kids get it,” he said. “It will take awhile to get going in the game situation, but it will work because the kids are hungry to learn.”

Coach Semore also plans a multiple defense. “We’re not going to line up the same way each time,” he said. “We’re going to try to be quicker than we have been in the past. It’s vital that our defense play well. I know we have kids who can play defense.

"It’s important early in the year for the defense to be well-educated and that’s our job as coaches.” Addington and Polingyumptewa will be the linebackers that lead the defense. Special teams should be a strong point for Hopi which had strong kickoff and punt returners last year. Lalo is an outstanding kicker whose field goals could prove the difference in close games.

Coach Semore feels his strong coaching staff is a huge plus. The staff includes George Burgess, Skip Keith, Jeff Carruthers, Nolan Sulu, Lendrick Lomayestewa and Miguel Rodriguez. Semore’s son Chris, who plays at Adams State College, also helped out. “During spring football, the focus was on fundamentals,” Semore said.

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