Anonymous By KEVIN THOMAS Staff Writer --
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
11-20-2009
Bangor: Lonnie Hackett's unorthodox running style has confounded opponents all season.
Byline: Anonymous By KEVIN THOMAS Staff Writer --
Edition: Final
Section: Sports
Type: News
BANGOR --
He does not appear heavy, unless you consider all the weighted courses he takes at Bangor High.
But Lonnie Hackett is strong.
And he's fast.
Still, there is more.
Hackett, a senior with a 4.34 grade-point average, is a prime reason why Bangor (11-0) could become just the third Eastern Maine team in 23 years to win the Class A state championship. The Rams meet Windham for the title at 11:06 a.m. Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
Hackett, 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, will get the ball often, displaying speed, his tenacity to run into the line, and his ability to keep going.
Part ballet dancer and part bumper car, Hackett jumps, spins and stays on his feet.
'He's quite unique,' said Bangor Coach Mark Hackett. The coach and player are second cousins and did not meet until Lonnie entered high school.
Initially watching the young Hackett dance around the field, a football coach might be tempted to straighten the lad out. But all the moves produced results.
'We didn't want to stop his idiosyncrasies because he gets the job done,' the coach said.
After gaining 1,073 yards last year, Hackett has nearly doubled that with 2,064 yards this season, including 176 yards on 34 carries last week in the Eastern Maine final, a 24-7 win over Brunswick.
'He's elusive,' said Brunswick lineman Harrison Kemp. 'He's able to run straight, spin around the tackle and gain his speed right back. He was incredible.'
Hackett said the moves aren't planned.
'Just instinct,' he said. 'I see game films and say, 'Why did I do that?'
But Hackett knows why. 'I hate getting tackled,' he said.
Hackett is a three-sport athlete who finished fourth in the 100- meter dash at last year's indoor state meet and patrols center field for the Rams in the spring.
As a young football player, he was the stereotypical speedy running back.
'In youth football, he'd go around the end and no one could catch him,' Coach Hackett said. 'It's been a process for him to run between the tackles.'
Hackett has learned to settle for shorter gains, but he is still dangerous inside.
In the Brunswick game, after Bangor's defense stopped the Dragons at the goal line, the Rams' offense got the ball on their own 1. Hackett took an inside handoff and broke free for a 22-yard gain.
Bangor will keep pounding away with Hackett, evidenced by his 34 carries last week. The Rams can do that because of Hackett and an offensive line that rarely gets outmuscled.
Add in quarterback Joe Seccareccia, a two-way threat who rushed for 92 yards last week; a pounding fullback in Maxx Alexander; and two receivers who know how to get to the ball - Josiah Hartley and Nate Henigan - and the Rams are a force, averaging more than 33 points a game.
'Both the offense and defense are clicking,' Hackett said after the Rams held the high-powered Dragons to one touchdown last week.
Hackett will be called on to carry a lot of the load Saturday. He's used to it, on the field and in the classroom. Of his six courses, five are advanced placement.
He has applied for early decision at Bowdoin College and hopes to play football for the Polar Bears.
But he has one more high school game to play; a chance to spin, leap, and dazzle one more time.
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:
kthomas@pressherald.com
Illustrations/Photos:
Caption: Michael C. York Photo/Bangor Daily News Lonnie Hackett has
been a workhorse running back for Bangor and also has an ability to
break big plays, having rushed for more than 2,000 yards this
season.
Copyright 2009 Blethen Maine Newspapers
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
11-20-2009
Bangor: Lonnie Hackett's unorthodox running style has confounded opponents all season.
Byline: Anonymous By KEVIN THOMAS Staff Writer --
Edition: Final
Section: Sports
Type: News
BANGOR --
He does not appear heavy, unless you consider all the weighted courses he takes at Bangor High.
But Lonnie Hackett is strong.
And he's fast.
Still, there is more.
Hackett, a senior with a 4.34 grade-point average, is a prime reason why Bangor (11-0) could become just the third Eastern Maine team in 23 years to win the Class A state championship. The Rams meet Windham for the title at 11:06 a.m. Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
Hackett, 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, will get the ball often, displaying speed, his tenacity to run into the line, and his ability to keep going.
Part ballet dancer and part bumper car, Hackett jumps, spins and stays on his feet.
'He's quite unique,' said Bangor Coach Mark Hackett. The coach and player are second cousins and did not meet until Lonnie entered high school.
Initially watching the young Hackett dance around the field, a football coach might be tempted to straighten the lad out. But all the moves produced results.
'We didn't want to stop his idiosyncrasies because he gets the job done,' the coach said.
After gaining 1,073 yards last year, Hackett has nearly doubled that with 2,064 yards this season, including 176 yards on 34 carries last week in the Eastern Maine final, a 24-7 win over Brunswick.
'He's elusive,' said Brunswick lineman Harrison Kemp. 'He's able to run straight, spin around the tackle and gain his speed right back. He was incredible.'
Hackett said the moves aren't planned.
'Just instinct,' he said. 'I see game films and say, 'Why did I do that?'
But Hackett knows why. 'I hate getting tackled,' he said.
Hackett is a three-sport athlete who finished fourth in the 100- meter dash at last year's indoor state meet and patrols center field for the Rams in the spring.
As a young football player, he was the stereotypical speedy running back.
'In youth football, he'd go around the end and no one could catch him,' Coach Hackett said. 'It's been a process for him to run between the tackles.'
Hackett has learned to settle for shorter gains, but he is still dangerous inside.
In the Brunswick game, after Bangor's defense stopped the Dragons at the goal line, the Rams' offense got the ball on their own 1. Hackett took an inside handoff and broke free for a 22-yard gain.
Bangor will keep pounding away with Hackett, evidenced by his 34 carries last week. The Rams can do that because of Hackett and an offensive line that rarely gets outmuscled.
Add in quarterback Joe Seccareccia, a two-way threat who rushed for 92 yards last week; a pounding fullback in Maxx Alexander; and two receivers who know how to get to the ball - Josiah Hartley and Nate Henigan - and the Rams are a force, averaging more than 33 points a game.
'Both the offense and defense are clicking,' Hackett said after the Rams held the high-powered Dragons to one touchdown last week.
Hackett will be called on to carry a lot of the load Saturday. He's used to it, on the field and in the classroom. Of his six courses, five are advanced placement.
He has applied for early decision at Bowdoin College and hopes to play football for the Polar Bears.
But he has one more high school game to play; a chance to spin, leap, and dazzle one more time.
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:
kthomas@pressherald.com
Illustrations/Photos:
Caption: Michael C. York Photo/Bangor Daily News Lonnie Hackett has
been a workhorse running back for Bangor and also has an ability to
break big plays, having rushed for more than 2,000 yards this
season.
Copyright 2009 Blethen Maine Newspapers
