Coaches Corner: Colts rebound, bury Harborfields 51-0

Week 3 saw the Hills West Colts bounce back in a big way after a disappointing 33-7 loss to Westhampton in week 2. The Colts hammered Harborfields 51-0 improving their season record to 2-1. This week the Colts travel to Rocky Point for a Wednesday night game under the lights. Earlier in the week I spoke to Coach Madden about this upcoming challenge and this is what he had to say….

When we spoke last week coming off the disappointing Westhampton loss, you told me your “big time players” were not playing like big time players. Did that change against Harborfields?

Yeah, definitely. Deyvon Wright, Justin Brown, Gerald Filardi, Cherrod White, and Luke Anderson all stepped up the way they were supposed to. They were led by the offensive line. James Regateiro and Chris Freda displayed great effort and played extremely well.

Championship teams often find a way to use early season adversity as a spring board for late season success. Is that happening with your team right now?

It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. I talk about mentality and the Hills West mindset. I don’t know if they really bought in to all of that but last week was what I like to call “a come to Jesus moment”, where my players have to hold themselves accountable and hold each other accountable to get the results that they want and I think they did it.

It’s never easy to shutout a team on their home field. How’d your defense do it and who stood out?

I think it was just a great game plan by Coach Pitman and Coach Brahocky. They did a great job preparing the guys and got them to buy in. The three defensive tackles, Keith Slaughter, Cam Rimmer, and James Regateiro did a great job; along with linebackers Mike Carubia and Jake Cetta. Our edge players and secondary did a great job cleaning up. Again, a great game plan and the guys really followed it which was the key.

Your team rushed for 333 yards and 5 touchdowns this week in the blowout win. How much credit do you give to the offensive line?

One hundred percent, those guys have really jelled. We made a couple changes there with some alignments. I think they bought into it and again it’s just a mentality. It’s all about mentality.

Last week you stressed how important it would be for your team to bounce back in a big way this week and they did. How do you avoid overconfidence from your group?

It’s a short week. We do play Wednesday night against 1-2 Rocky Point, so they’ll be very hungry on their home field especially with it being a night game. If we’re overconfident we’ll have problems but I don’t think that will happen.

There’s not a lot of time to ready your team this week for a rare Wednesday night game under the lights at Rocky Point. Will it change your approach or preparation in any way?

We just have to be faster, quicker with it all. We have to try and cram 5 days of work into 2. But it’s the same thing for them and who ever executes on game day and doesn’t turn the ball over will come out on top.

Thanks again Coach. Good luck and I’ll see you next week.

Come out and support your Colts as they battle the Rocky Point Eagles at Rocky Point High School. Kick off is at 7pm. Hope to see you there!!

Douglas Lattuca

Assistant Sports Editor