Football

August 31, 2010

All grown up

Danny Nankivell, Harrison

Quarterback Danny Nankivell leads an experienced group of seniors for Harrison.

Click Here for more photos from Harrison's football practice.

By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director

HARRISON –Coming off of consecutive 3-7 seasons and with one of the smallest rosters in the state, a lot of people may not have high expectations for the Blue Tide in 2010.

Head coach Dave Nankivell admits he may be bias, but he sees something different. Nankivell, a former player at Harrison, has a special relationship with this year’s senior class. He has watched this class with seven starters including his young brother Danny, grow up from the youth program all the way to where they are today.

“You have a group that’s really like my little brothers,” the elder Nankivell said. “They were always around my parents’ house growing up when they were kids. You watch them grow, you watch them become men. And now of course it’s really a unique situation. I do have high expectations because I just want the best for those kids and I’ve known them for such a long time.”

There are reasons for optimism for the Blue Tide this season. After playing with as few as 16 players at times last season, the roster has grown to 30 this year. Harrison also brings back an experienced core, returning seven starters on offense and six on defense.

Offensive Overview:

Rahim Douelfakar, Harrison

At 6-foot-4, TE Rahim Douelfakar presents matchup problems for opposing defenses.

For years, a lack of experience on the offensive line has been a concern for the Blue Tide. This year the unit has four returning starters in seniors Bobby Archibald (right tackle), Cesar Anicama (right guard) and Albert Gomez (left guard) along with sophomore Justin Touzet (left tackle). Anicama is a three-year starter on the line. Anthony Ferreiro is the starter at center and Stalin Inahuazo provides experienced depth as well.

Quarterback Danny Nankivell is a two-year starter who can throw the ball and has the potential to create plays with his legs as well.

His favorite target is sure to be tight end Rahim Douelfakar. The senior uses his 6-foot-4 frame and athleticism makes him one of the more difficult players to defend in the division and creates multiple options in the Harrison offense.

“The kid is probably if not the (best), one of the best athletes in the entire conference,” Dave Nankivell said. “He’s just a presence. He’ll hit people, he jumps. The way he jumps up for balls, if I was Danny I’d be buying him lunch everyday because the kid is going to make tremendous plays. He’s got gigantic hands. He’s athletic. He’s fast. It’s amazing the amount of athleticism he has.”

Tijani Reski, Andres Economou and Anthony Perez will see time at receiver for Harrison. Running back Luis Aviles takes over as the primary ball carrier and is also a receiving threat out of the backfield. Senior Ernie Brodie provides a physical presence at fullback.

Defensive Overview:

Anthony Perez, Harrison

Senior Anthony Perez takes over as a starter at cornerback and receiver.

After being forced to play at defensive end a year ago, Danny Nankivell shifts over to free safety for his senior season. Aviles is a safety/outside linebacker hybrid in the Blue Tide’s 4-4 attack. They’ll be joined in the secondary by a pair of aggressive cornerbacks in Perez and Reski.

“Our secondary has come a long way,” Dave Nankivell said. “Danny reads like a quarterback and he’s not afraid to come up and make a tackle. Perez and Tijani (Reski) are both athletic, they’re receivers, they’re quick and they got a good nose for the ball.”

Ferreiro is a returning starter at inside linebacker and will be joined by Brodie and Brian Renkart.

Harrison also returns three starters on the defensive line with Anicama and Douelfakar on the ends. Gomez and Inahuazo will start inside with Archibald providing depth throughout the line.

Star Spotlight: Luis Aviles, RB/OLB/S

Luis Aviles, Harrison

Luis Aviles led the Blue Tide last year in rushing yards and receptions.

For the past two seasons, Luis Aviles has been waiting for this opportunity. A reserve his first two seasons, Aviles made the most of his limited opportunities as a junior, posting team highs in rushing yards (390) and receptions (24) in a running back by committee situation. For Aviles’ senior season, he knows that he will be the main guy in the backfield.

“It’s very important,” Aviles said about his new role. “Even when I was younger, my sophomore year, they told me I had to be ready to take the ball as a senior. I’ve been working my hardest until now and I’ve finally got my shot.”

Aviles, who said he models him game off of the Giants’ Ahmad Bradshaw and Lions rookie Jahvid Best, is a dangerous runner from outside the tackles.

One of Aviles’ goals is to rush for 1,000 yards this season. With the hard work he has put in this offseason, it’s a goal that head coach Dave Nankivell believes is an obtainable one.

“Over the past two years he’s really come out of his shell,” Nankivell said. “He’s gone to a lot of football camps, he’s a maniac in the weight room. He really loves the game of football. He’s gotten so much faster. He really takes pride in his work ethic.”