LANTANA – Through two games, the Hector Clavijo era at Santaluces is off to a good start.
Not only is Santaluces undefeated with a 2-0 record in the regular season, but that record also comes with a win against a fellow top 10 team in Boynton Beach, which the Chiefs handled in Week 2 of the regular season.
Overall, there is always going to be plenty of takeaways to take from a team that opens up the season undefeated.
On the field, though, the budding relationship between quarterback Will Prichard and his tight end, Chase Hanning, might be the biggest development to start the season.
While Santaluces has a shopping list of pass catchers for Prichard to choose from, it’s his connection with the senior tight end that may start turning heads across the county.
In their season opener against Inlet Grove, Prichard and Hanning combined for two touchdowns, including a short touchdown right before halftime to make the score 20-13 in favor of the Chiefs.
Hanning’s performance and overall play style drew comparisons from current Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki, who has built a strong NFL career thus far operating as a bigger wide receiver.
“Chase is a big target,” Clavijo said. “He’s got great hands. He reminds me of Mike Gesicki. He’s a big-frame guy with big hands, get up high point the ball. He’s gonna be a good player for us.”
Given that comparison, it is almost fitting that Prichard and Hanning combined for a 52-yard touchdown against Boynton Beach (1-1) that was very reminiscent of a Gesicki touchdown.
After getting the ball back following a critical pass deflection, Santaluces called Hanning’s number.
As Prichard scanned the field, he immediately saw Hanning get open in the open field. After connecting with him, it was up to Hanning to make a play and, in a truly fitting fashion given the comparison, Hanning outran the Boynton Beach defense for the score.
“The safety jumped into the inside. I was faking my block, ran across the middle,” Hanning said of his touchdown. “Got wide open, used my speed to get out to the touchdown.”
Clavijo continued:
“If he gets open upfield, he’s a missile,” Clavijo said following the Boynton Beach game. “He can really run, you saw guys just stop chasing him. … He’s an older player but he’s young from a football standpoint, so we’re getting him going there.”
The last point is an interesting one for Santaluces as it prepares for the rest of the season.
Through two weeks, the strides that the Chiefs have taken are recognizable.
Not only have they seen big-time performances from their marquee players, including the aforementioned Prichard and defensive back Amir Gibson, but inexperienced and younger players have also taken steps forward.
While it has not always been perfect, Santaluces’ ability to handle adversity, whether it be unique offensive and defensive schemes, or injuries – as was the case against Boynton Beach, when Santaluces saw multiple running backs battle injuries – Santaluces has ultimately found ways to win the games.
For Clavijo, the next focus is going to be finding Santaluces’ own identity and honing in on that.
“We got to figure out what we’re good at,” Clavijo said. “We got to figure that out and then once I figure that out, we got to figure out how to execute better.”
Clavijo continued.
“At the end of the day, when I took over the playcalling duties, I took over late, so I think once I get myself in a groove, along with figuring out what we can really do against different defenses … So once we kind of go back and break down the film and see what we’re really good at, we’ll start attacking it and narrowing it down and just sort of growing off of that,” Clavijo said.
For the then ninth-ranked/now sixth-ranked Santaluces Chiefs, the next opportunity to find their identity and grow off of the positive start will come in Week 3.
The next moment will be on Thursday, Sept. 8, when the Chiefs travel on the road for the first time to play Olympic Heights (1-1). Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
PHOTO CREDITS: Kiara Dennis
