Hawkom ready to get Manchester Central football back into playoffs

The outcome has become so familiar for Alex Hawkom, it might as well be scripted each season.

The Manchester Central High School football team has a mostly successful regular season, but something happens down the stretch, and the Little Green end up missing the postseason by a game.

Last year might have been the toughest to take yet, as Central went into the finale against Bedford knowing that the winner was going to the playoffs.

The Little Green ended up losing 26-6, their third straight loss, and fourth year in a row on the outside of the tournament. In fact, the last three years, Central has gone 6-4 - including a win in the annual Thanksgiving game - and finished a game out.

"I think we’ve been 6-4 and missing the playoffs by one game for I don’t know how long," Hawkom said. "We’ve watched it. When we were kids, we knew we were coming to Central, and we’d be (at Gill Stadium), watching the games or in the outfield playing. We’d see it and they’d be one game out.

"We came together as a team and said this is not going to be us. We’re breaking the mold. We’re more talented than 6-4 and not making the playoffs."

Central started the year off right with a 33-16 win over Bishop Guertin. Hawkom could see early in the year that the Little Green were eager to get the season started.

"We’ve had an awesome preseason," he said. "At our scrimmages, we’ve been really coming together as a team. We’ve got new some pieces coming in. It’s like our youth team is back together and now we’re all seniors."

It's been a long road to this point for Hawkom, who started out as a tight end when he began playing football when he was about 8 years old. After his team's quarterback moved away, the coaches moved him to quarterback, which he quickly settled into.

"I like the weight on my shoulders," Hawkom said. "I like being a leader. I have a large influence and people are looking to me. I love the moment. It’s really cool."

A starter since his sophomore year, Hawkom's experience has been key for the Little Green so far this season, especially with a shortened training camp and fewer days of double sessions.

"Especially now that they’ve shortened the double sessions to almost half, to have an experienced quarterback is pretty special," Central coach Ryan Ray said.

Hawkom knows that all eyes are on him this year, including his younger teammates. He's been focused a little more this year on trying to set the right example for them.

"When we’re around the younger kids, I know they kind of look up to me and I know I have to be a good example. The coaches help me out a lot, and the other captains as well, making sure that we’re the example. This is what the JV kids and the freshmen are looking at."

What's also helped Central prepare for this year has been the team's chemistry, which Hawkom believes is the best his seen.

"Sometimes, there’s a disconnect between the line and the skill guys, but that’s absolutely not the case here," he said. "We’re all a family here. We’ve been playing for like eight years together. We’ve got a lot of chemistry between receivers, running back and the line.

"Having varsity experience has helped me so much. I remember my sophomore year and even early in junior year, I would get really nervous before games because these kids are all older than me. Now it’s just like taking care of business."