You Can Only Hope To Contain Him
By Ross Edwards
Article Launched:11/22/2006 10:57:18 AM EST

LEOMINSTER -- It's almost impossible to talk about the Blue Devils
without mentioning Jon Hernandez.

Averaging over 178 rushing yards and nearly two touchdowns per game,
the senior captain has led Leominster to the top of Division 1 and
helped punch a ticket to the team's second straight Super Bowl
appearance.

"Jon's had a great year. He's put two great years together," said
Leominster coach John Dubzinski. "He's such a hard-working running
back and he just makes plays that some of our other backs over the
years have not been able to make. We've been very happy and lucky to
have him."

Neither big nor particularly overpowering, the 5-foot-9 Hernandez has
nevertheless made a name for himself as one of the hardest backs in
the area to bring down. His agility, breakaway speed and cutting
ability make open-field tackling a nightmare for defenses, and have
allowed Hernandez to accumulate 1,787 yards on the ground, easily tops
among Central Mass. runners.

It's no surprise that the buzz around Leominster focuses on
Hernandez's

BORDER=0></A> talent. However, it's the words of opposing
coaches who have run up against the star back that truly speak to the
senior's ability.

"I don't know if you can stop him. I mean, no one has," said North
Middlesex Regional coach John Margarita before a Week 4 battle with
Leominster, which the Blue Devils won, 34-7. "Hopefully you can
contain him a little bit and maybe outscore him, I guess. I don't
know. I saw the Everett tape, and they're the best team in the state
and they couldn't stop him."

While he's clearly the primary weapon of Leominster's offensive
attack, Hernandez is quick to point out that his teammates have been
working hard to help spread the ball around. When defenses fall into
the trap of focusing solely on Hernandez, Leominster quarterback Dean
Boisse and fullback Dan Creed have been there to make them pay.

"We have a dominant offense," said Hernandez. "We can pass, we can
run. We have great runners like Dean Boisse and Dan Creed. Our offense
is complete and we have a lot of kids to stop, and it's going to be
very hard for Fitchburg to do.

"It takes a lot of pressure off me, especially when teams key on
me. If (my teammates) step it up, that gives me running room and when
we pass the ball, that gives me running room. We've been playing good
this year and we have a good team."

Hernandez should get his fair share of carries on Thanksgiving, but
what he does on the other side of the ball may be just as important as
his offensive play.

Fitchburg quarterback Jeremy Kimber has emerged as a potent passing
threat this season, accumulating 1,105 yards through the air. From his
safety position, Hernandez will have to have a big game slowing down
receivers Orlando Anderson and Josh Less if the Blue Devils are going
to be successful.

"We've been playing high-intensity defense," said Hernandez. "After
the Everett game we stepped it up. We're doing good, defense wins
games."


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