Football Hawks take valuable lessons from 2009

“But knowing that we lost 30 players who had been here the first four years and expecting to have a winning season again – we lose sight of that,” he said. “We had the opportunities in close games to have another championship season. It just didn’t happen. I’ve got to feel proud of them, of how hard they worked and how well they responded to what we asked them to do.”

While Shorter saw 10 players earn Mid-South West All-Conference honors, with senior running back A.J. Cooley and senior linebacker Logan Lollis repeating as the West Division’s respective Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, the Hawks’ drive to move the program even further forward was stymied in close outcomes of three of their key division games.

All told, the trio of setbacks against eventual division champion Lambuth, Cumberland (Tenn.) and Bethel were all decided in the final seconds by a combined 13 points.

“It seemed a lot of close calls didn’t go our way and last year they did,” Jones said of the heartbreaking defeats. “Those things happen in this game. We have to learn to use those moments to teach the kids. There will be more moments in their lives where there will be more flags and more turnovers beyond football.

“You have to let the Lord teach us.”

The 28-23 road loss to Lambuth was the first tough lesson for the Hawks, as Shorter rallied from a 12-point deficit in the second half to score what appeared to be a winning touchdown in final seconds, only to see the play nullified by a holding penalty.

“I feel we did make the play to win the game,” said Jones.

Despite the defeat, the Hawks remained in the hunt.

Despite five turnovers in its matchup against Cumberland, Shorter scored the go-ahead touchdown with 58 seconds to play, but saw it slip away when Cumberland responded with the game-winner with four seconds left to steal a 14-13 decision.

The season finale against Bethel proved to be more of the same as the Hawks were hurt by four turnovers, the final one which led to the touchdown with 35 seconds left that lifted Bethel to a 21-14 win.

“In both games, despite the turnovers, we were down to the last few ticks of the clock,” Jones said. “You win those games and you’re conference champion. We didn’t this time. Those things teach – even though what you want may not happen, you keep trying.”

Jones also dismisses the notion that, in light of the loss of so many veterans off of last year’s championship team, the 2009 season could be classified as a rebuilding seasons.

“Saying it’s a rebuilding season sends a message to your kids you don’t think it can be done,” said Jones. “Normally speaking, that’s what a lot of people and fans would call it, but we want to be the very best we can be, which is what God wants us to do in everything we do in life.” Effort was never an issue for the Hawks week in and week out, as evidenced by their impressive representation on the All-Conference teams, especially Cooley and Lollis.

For the second straight season, Cooley proved his ability to impact a game by running the football.

The holder of every rushing record at Shorter – the Bowdon product ended his career as Shorter`s all-time leading rusher with 4,111 yards and 50 career rushing touchdowns – Cooley ran for 1,429 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2009, averaging 6.3 yards per carry and leading the Mid-South at 129.9 yards per game.

He crossed the goal line a total of 20 times with the help of one receiving score and a pair of kick off return TDs.

Cooley ranked second in the NAIA in total rushing for the second straight year, finished third in the country in scoring and fourth in rushing yards per game. He eclipsed the 200-yard mark three times this season, including a school record 255-yard, four TD effort in a win over Belhaven that earned him NAIA National Player of the Week honors.

While Cooley maintained his high status on the field, Lollis did the same on the defensive side of the ball for the Hawks.

After leading Shorter with 104 tackles this season, his second straight season of triple digit tackles after he notched a single-season record 113 in 2008, Lollis stands alone as Shorter`s all-time leading tackler with 328 stops.

Lollis is also the Hawks` all-time leader in sacks – he had six this season – and demonstrated his dominance with a single-game record, 3.5 sacks against Belhaven.

“Not only did they leave a mark on the record book,” Jones said of Cooley and Lollis, “they have left a mark in others with their unselfishness and the relationships they have built.”

Four other Hawks joined Cooley and Lollis on the Mid-South West Division first team.

Offensively, two linemen who helped make Shorter the NAIA’s top rushing offense for the second consecutive season at 326.0 yards per game earned first-team recognition – senior Kaven Walker and sophomore Nick Newborn.

Senior slot back Jordan Hazard and sophomore Antwon Appleton rounded out Shorter`s first team selections.

Hazard was one of the most explosive weapons in Shorter`s arsenal this season, his first and last with the Hawks after transferring in from Tennessee-Chattanooga, serving as the team`s leading receiver with 13 catches for 347 yards and four touchdowns, scoring two TDs and accounting for 169 yards on the ground and returning two kickoffs for touchdowns as well.

Each of Hazard`s eight total touchdowns came from at least 20 yards out and included a school record 85-yard TD catch against Cumberland. He set a single-game receiving record with 102 yards against Pikeville.

The speedy Appleton was a perfect compliment to the inside power of Cooley. The Fort Payne, Ala., native rushed for 758 yards and six touchdowns, picking up 8.6 yards each time he carried the football. He ranked fourth in the Mid-South in rushing yards per game (68.9) and picked up a career-high 129 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries against LaGrange College.

Four Hawks earned Mid-South honorable mention recognition as well.

While sophomore lineman Andy Kellogg earned a spot on the offensive team, sophomore linebacker Daniel Hazard, junior linebacker Garrett Hochstetler and senior corner A.J. Baker were defensive picks.

Baker leaves as Shorter`s all-time leader in interceptions with 15 after tying his own single-season record of five in 2009.

In addition, and one of the honors Jones feels is even more important, 20 Hawks were named to the Mid-South All-Academic squad, as they maintained at least a 3.25 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

That list included junior quarterback Ben Williams, who rushed for 706 yards and seven touchdowns and passed for 766 yards and eight TDs.

The Hawks are already turning their attention to 2010 as the players have started off-season workouts and the coaches have begun hitting the road to concentrate on recruiting.

“That’s the high mark importance for us right now,” Jones said about signing the newest class of Hawks.

According to Jones, the lessons learned this season will grade out in the future.

“You always want to be in a position to compete for championships,” Jones said. “Our players put us in that position again this year. We want to strive to be champions every year.

“I’m confident we’ll be back.”