AIR RAID
The dark Friday night skies have been electrified recently. No it’s not the lightning, and it is something more than the Friday Night lights of the stadium. Look skyward and you will find that what is lighting up the skies is the Venice Indians new found air attack.
With Trey Burton throwing to an array of receivers, the Indians have passed for close to 500 yards and six touchdowns in the past four games. Burton who has 34 completions out of 64 attempts is well on his way to pass for over a thousand yards, something Venice hasn’t had in a 10-game season. Matt Ackles was the last quarterback to get close with over 900 yards in 2002; the Indians went to the State Semifinals that year. Venice has certainly opened up its offense, and is much more of a threat to opposing defenses. Burton’s favorite targets are Gerry Hunek and Billy Marsden, the X and Z receivers. Hunek, who has eight receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns, is a senior this year, as is Marsden who has accounted for 115 yards on six receptions and a touchdown. Burton also likes to throw to his fellow sophomore and basketball teammate, the 6’4” tight end Brandon Wilkinson. He has had eight receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown.
Venice, who has traditionally been known for running the ball, knew early on that they could be a threat in the air. “We knew we would be able to throw the ball during the summer, said Coach John Peacock, “We worked, and spent countless hours developing our pass. We worked everyday over the summer for an hour and a half.” It looks as though it has paid off for the Indians so far. Peacock also feels that with the offense being much more two-dimensional, it will put more pressure on opponents. “Defenses have to prepare for both our running and passing game now. They are not able to load the box and stop the run any more.” With this newfound air attack Venice’s opponents are slowly starting to respect the pass. “In the past no one respected our pass. I think they are starting to, but we have to be more consistent at catching. We have had a lot of dropped balls.”
Fans tonight should expect to see more of the same out of Venice. The Indians have been working hard all week, making sure that they minimize the amount of dropped passes. Venice hasn’t won their homecoming game the past two seasons and the team looks to make up for it tonight.
So keep your eyes to the sky!
The dark Friday night skies have been electrified recently. No it’s not the lightning, and it is something more than the Friday Night lights of the stadium. Look skyward and you will find that what is lighting up the skies is the Venice Indians new found air attack.
With Trey Burton throwing to an array of receivers, the Indians have passed for close to 500 yards and six touchdowns in the past four games. Burton who has 34 completions out of 64 attempts is well on his way to pass for over a thousand yards, something Venice hasn’t had in a 10-game season. Matt Ackles was the last quarterback to get close with over 900 yards in 2002; the Indians went to the State Semifinals that year. Venice has certainly opened up its offense, and is much more of a threat to opposing defenses. Burton’s favorite targets are Gerry Hunek and Billy Marsden, the X and Z receivers. Hunek, who has eight receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns, is a senior this year, as is Marsden who has accounted for 115 yards on six receptions and a touchdown. Burton also likes to throw to his fellow sophomore and basketball teammate, the 6’4” tight end Brandon Wilkinson. He has had eight receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown.
Venice, who has traditionally been known for running the ball, knew early on that they could be a threat in the air. “We knew we would be able to throw the ball during the summer, said Coach John Peacock, “We worked, and spent countless hours developing our pass. We worked everyday over the summer for an hour and a half.” It looks as though it has paid off for the Indians so far. Peacock also feels that with the offense being much more two-dimensional, it will put more pressure on opponents. “Defenses have to prepare for both our running and passing game now. They are not able to load the box and stop the run any more.” With this newfound air attack Venice’s opponents are slowly starting to respect the pass. “In the past no one respected our pass. I think they are starting to, but we have to be more consistent at catching. We have had a lot of dropped balls.”
Fans tonight should expect to see more of the same out of Venice. The Indians have been working hard all week, making sure that they minimize the amount of dropped passes. Venice hasn’t won their homecoming game the past two seasons and the team looks to make up for it tonight.
So keep your eyes to the sky!
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THE DREAM TEAM – 2007 JV COACHING STAFF
For the past three seasons the Venice Indian varsity-coaching staff had pulled double duty coaching the junior varsity squad. This year however, a change was made and JV no longer has to share. The level of coaching experience by no means has dropped off. That’s because new JV head coach Pete Dombroski spent relentless hours compiling his staff. What he wound up with is probably the most knowledgeable junior varsity coaching staff in the history of football.
James Powell, who roamed the sidelines for over thirty years as Indian head football coach, is the Offensive Coordinator for Dombroski. Also, Athletic Director, head girls softball coach, and legendary baseball coach at Venice, Larry Sandburg, is the Defensive Coordinator. Along with Rich Carroll, who you may know from little league and Challenger Baseball; Jay Thinnes from the pop-Warner field; retired Venice Police Chief Jim Hanks; Dennis Adrian and Bill Howe, the above make for a who’s-who of Venice coaching staff.
The student-athletes at this level have the opportunity to learn a great deal from these men. “Jim Powell taught Fred Flintstone how to carry the rock”, said Dombroski. “We introduce the game at the freshmen level, sharpen and fine-tune on JV, and execute what we learned on varsity. There are no better coaches than Larry and Jim to sharpen these kids at this level. We want to get them ready to play under the Friday night lights, not Thursday night lights.”
The kids seem to relate well with their new coaches. It took a while to adjust, but it looks like they are learning a lot. Though many of them say it is hard to understand Coach Powell’s thick Alabama accent. “I’m a kid from Jersey, said Dombroski, and I have to interpret Alabamianism to these guys, but the kids understand. It comes across to them.”
No matter what, it is obvious that these men belong on the football field teaching what they know about the game to these young men. It comes natural, and they have a deep love for high school football. According to Dombroski, “This is what they do best. Explaining what football is all about, getting back to the roots of the game. It would be a shame not to pass on their knowledge to future generations, that’s why I’m glad they are back out there.”
When you can’t find them on the sidelines, Dombroski says that the staff meets one way or the other everyday. “We get together as a group everyday to discuss practice and personnel. We are a tight bunch and we have a lot of fun. I hope the kids pick up on that and some of it rubs off on them.”
For the past three seasons the Venice Indian varsity-coaching staff had pulled double duty coaching the junior varsity squad. This year however, a change was made and JV no longer has to share. The level of coaching experience by no means has dropped off. That’s because new JV head coach Pete Dombroski spent relentless hours compiling his staff. What he wound up with is probably the most knowledgeable junior varsity coaching staff in the history of football.
James Powell, who roamed the sidelines for over thirty years as Indian head football coach, is the Offensive Coordinator for Dombroski. Also, Athletic Director, head girls softball coach, and legendary baseball coach at Venice, Larry Sandburg, is the Defensive Coordinator. Along with Rich Carroll, who you may know from little league and Challenger Baseball; Jay Thinnes from the pop-Warner field; retired Venice Police Chief Jim Hanks; Dennis Adrian and Bill Howe, the above make for a who’s-who of Venice coaching staff.
The student-athletes at this level have the opportunity to learn a great deal from these men. “Jim Powell taught Fred Flintstone how to carry the rock”, said Dombroski. “We introduce the game at the freshmen level, sharpen and fine-tune on JV, and execute what we learned on varsity. There are no better coaches than Larry and Jim to sharpen these kids at this level. We want to get them ready to play under the Friday night lights, not Thursday night lights.”
The kids seem to relate well with their new coaches. It took a while to adjust, but it looks like they are learning a lot. Though many of them say it is hard to understand Coach Powell’s thick Alabama accent. “I’m a kid from Jersey, said Dombroski, and I have to interpret Alabamianism to these guys, but the kids understand. It comes across to them.”
No matter what, it is obvious that these men belong on the football field teaching what they know about the game to these young men. It comes natural, and they have a deep love for high school football. According to Dombroski, “This is what they do best. Explaining what football is all about, getting back to the roots of the game. It would be a shame not to pass on their knowledge to future generations, that’s why I’m glad they are back out there.”
When you can’t find them on the sidelines, Dombroski says that the staff meets one way or the other everyday. “We get together as a group everyday to discuss practice and personnel. We are a tight bunch and we have a lot of fun. I hope the kids pick up on that and some of it rubs off on them.”
