Published September 04, 2008 10:26 pm - Hilldale at Skiatook
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Radio: KBIX 1490 AM
Right or left, Hilldale takes aim at Skiatook
By Kenton Brooks
Phoenix Sports Writer
Right-handed? Left-handed?
It doesn’t make that much difference to Tanner Mullens, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior defensive end for the Hilldale High School football team.
When he lines up tonight against Skiatook tonight in the 2008 season opener, the Bulldogs will have a left-handed quarterback calling the plays. Jason Vail, a 6-4, 180-pound senior, lines up under center.
“It will be a little bit different because I’m used to a right-handed quarterback,” Mullens said. “All of the quarterbacks we have on our team are right-handed. I’ll find out (tonight) how much of a difference it’s going to be. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem at all.”
Mullens and the Hornets didn’t have much of a problem with Vail last year as he completed 10 of 22 passes for 113 yards in the 28-10 loss to Hilldale. Hilldale is 2-0 against the Class 5A program, also winning 41-9 in the 2006 season opener.
Mullens, who had 11 tackles last season, remembers the talent Vail showed last season.
“He’s started since his sophomore year,” Mullens, entering his third season as a varsity player, said. “I know he’s not real fast, but he’s elusive. He makes you miss a lot.”
Don Hendrix, the Hornets’ coach, doesn’t want Mullens and the rest of the defense to miss Vail when he runs and moves out to throw the ball.
“(Vail) throws the ball extremely well and has good feet,” Hendrix said. “He’s a very good player.
“Whether he’s left-handed or right-handed, it shouldn’t make a difference but what happens is a team is used to right-handed quarterbacks. The (right-handed) quarterback looks to his right easier. The left-handed quarterback tends to throw more to his left and teams normally don’t defense to that side.”
Mullens is more concerned with the quarterback himself.
“I have to contain him because he’s a pretty good runner,” he said. “I have to make sure he doesn’t get outside of me when he runs with the ball.”