Q&A with Holliston coach Todd Kiley
At the beginning of the season, we projected Hopkinton to win the Tri-Valley Large again, as we figured Holliston would not be able to bounce back from its uncharacteristic 5-5 season.
However, we could not have been more wrong, as Holliston has been dominant this season en route to a 6-0 record heading into the Division 5 playoffs.
On Monday night, we spoke on the phone with Holliston coach Todd Kiley of the toughness of the Division 5 South bracket, his team, and other topics as the Panthers prep for the postseason.
Here is an edited version of that conversation.
MassVarsity: I remember we talked at the beginning of the season about Division 5 South being such a loaded bracket even before the season, and it seems like it has sort of come true. The top four seeds have a combined record of 24-2. What do you see as you look forward to this postseason run?
TK: It's a loaded bracket. We kind of knew that preseason. Even some of the teams that haven't done as well have some great programs that can make some noise in this bracket. You take a Foxboro, who has probably played the toughest schedule out of anybody, and they've got tough kids over there, well coached. You just never know with them. You take the top four or five, Hanover being the fifth, and you see any one of those top four teams could win the state title. I truly believe that. Hey, it's just the nature of the beast this year. This is probably the most competitive division in the state, in my opinion. But that's what you want, though. You want to play the best.
MV: Another thing we talked about earlier, one of the expectations of your team is you liked what you had up front. Obviously, that's come true, too. What do you like about those offensive and defensive linemen?
TK: They're doing a great job for us. They've been the heart and soul of our team on both sides of the ball. Everything starts up front. They're a close-knit group. They're strong, athletic, and smart. They work extremely well together.
MV: Who are some of the guys that have really stepped up for you this year? I know you've got a nice mix of seniors and juniors and sophomores. Who are the guys who have played the best for you so far?
TK: Obviously, our two captains, Scott Elliott and Will Crowley. They start for us. They're really our only two-way starters right now. They start offensive and defensive line. Not only are they great players, but they're great leaders, too. You've got those two leading the way line-wise. My quarterback's doing a great job, Matt Arvanitis. First year, obviously, running the show. I've thrown a ton at the kid, just a ton. He's an extremely bright kid, and he's athletic. He's a tough, athletic kid, and still growing physically. He's done just a great job stepping into that role. Tristan Benson, our running back, him and Dylan Ibbitson have been doing a great job in that spot sharing the carries there. Dylan Ibbitson also on defense has been great. On the defensive side of the ball, our safety, Mitch Gimblett has been great for us. He's sort of the quarterback of our defense. Then a defensive end of ours, Dave Harding, has been outstanding for us, doing a great job, as well. My tight end has played as well as any tight end has played in this program, Topher Ryan.
MV: One of the things I've noticed is the Tri-Valley has had some really good teams this year, it's just that a lot of them have beat each other up. Then you get to the Ashland game at the end of the year, and you really just put it on them. Do you feel like your team has really just built up and gotten better each game?
TK: Absolutely. From our first scrimmage until now, we're a totally different team. I think you're going to see that with younger teams. We had quite a few sophomores starting for us last year. So to have those sophomores last year in their roles as juniors this year, you almost treat them as seniors because they have that type of experience. Those juniors are starting to play like seniors. You can see that confidence in those kids. And, then, like I said, we have a nice blend of senior leadership that complements the underclassmen. The improvements and strides we've made since Day 1 are huge. So we are a different team than we were on Week 1, that's for sure.
MV: And, obviously, a kid like Scott, this state has always produced great offensive and defensive linemen, but Scott going to Harvard is going to play at a very high level. What has his impact been like? Have you seen a guy like him in your program before in terms of being able to dominate up front?
TK: Yeah, we haven't had a kid that has dominated up front like him in my 16 years here. It goes beyond his play, too. The leadership has been unreal. We've had some great captains here, and it helps. This is his second year in this role. But when he talks, the kids listen. He's another coach. He's just absolutely everything you want in a football player. If I was the coach of some FBS school, he's my first offer. If I'm a GM of some NFL team, I'm taking Scott Elliott at some point. He has "it." He's a foxhole guy, too, you know? He has all the intangibles, and has the play to go with it, and he's a phenomenal kid off the field, too. He's the full package. So he means a tremendous amount to this program, no doubt about it.
However, we could not have been more wrong, as Holliston has been dominant this season en route to a 6-0 record heading into the Division 5 playoffs.
On Monday night, we spoke on the phone with Holliston coach Todd Kiley of the toughness of the Division 5 South bracket, his team, and other topics as the Panthers prep for the postseason.
Here is an edited version of that conversation.
MassVarsity: I remember we talked at the beginning of the season about Division 5 South being such a loaded bracket even before the season, and it seems like it has sort of come true. The top four seeds have a combined record of 24-2. What do you see as you look forward to this postseason run?
TK: It's a loaded bracket. We kind of knew that preseason. Even some of the teams that haven't done as well have some great programs that can make some noise in this bracket. You take a Foxboro, who has probably played the toughest schedule out of anybody, and they've got tough kids over there, well coached. You just never know with them. You take the top four or five, Hanover being the fifth, and you see any one of those top four teams could win the state title. I truly believe that. Hey, it's just the nature of the beast this year. This is probably the most competitive division in the state, in my opinion. But that's what you want, though. You want to play the best.
MV: Another thing we talked about earlier, one of the expectations of your team is you liked what you had up front. Obviously, that's come true, too. What do you like about those offensive and defensive linemen?
TK: They're doing a great job for us. They've been the heart and soul of our team on both sides of the ball. Everything starts up front. They're a close-knit group. They're strong, athletic, and smart. They work extremely well together.
MV: Who are some of the guys that have really stepped up for you this year? I know you've got a nice mix of seniors and juniors and sophomores. Who are the guys who have played the best for you so far?
TK: Obviously, our two captains, Scott Elliott and Will Crowley. They start for us. They're really our only two-way starters right now. They start offensive and defensive line. Not only are they great players, but they're great leaders, too. You've got those two leading the way line-wise. My quarterback's doing a great job, Matt Arvanitis. First year, obviously, running the show. I've thrown a ton at the kid, just a ton. He's an extremely bright kid, and he's athletic. He's a tough, athletic kid, and still growing physically. He's done just a great job stepping into that role. Tristan Benson, our running back, him and Dylan Ibbitson have been doing a great job in that spot sharing the carries there. Dylan Ibbitson also on defense has been great. On the defensive side of the ball, our safety, Mitch Gimblett has been great for us. He's sort of the quarterback of our defense. Then a defensive end of ours, Dave Harding, has been outstanding for us, doing a great job, as well. My tight end has played as well as any tight end has played in this program, Topher Ryan.
MV: One of the things I've noticed is the Tri-Valley has had some really good teams this year, it's just that a lot of them have beat each other up. Then you get to the Ashland game at the end of the year, and you really just put it on them. Do you feel like your team has really just built up and gotten better each game?
TK: Absolutely. From our first scrimmage until now, we're a totally different team. I think you're going to see that with younger teams. We had quite a few sophomores starting for us last year. So to have those sophomores last year in their roles as juniors this year, you almost treat them as seniors because they have that type of experience. Those juniors are starting to play like seniors. You can see that confidence in those kids. And, then, like I said, we have a nice blend of senior leadership that complements the underclassmen. The improvements and strides we've made since Day 1 are huge. So we are a different team than we were on Week 1, that's for sure.
MV: And, obviously, a kid like Scott, this state has always produced great offensive and defensive linemen, but Scott going to Harvard is going to play at a very high level. What has his impact been like? Have you seen a guy like him in your program before in terms of being able to dominate up front?
TK: Yeah, we haven't had a kid that has dominated up front like him in my 16 years here. It goes beyond his play, too. The leadership has been unreal. We've had some great captains here, and it helps. This is his second year in this role. But when he talks, the kids listen. He's another coach. He's just absolutely everything you want in a football player. If I was the coach of some FBS school, he's my first offer. If I'm a GM of some NFL team, I'm taking Scott Elliott at some point. He has "it." He's a foxhole guy, too, you know? He has all the intangibles, and has the play to go with it, and he's a phenomenal kid off the field, too. He's the full package. So he means a tremendous amount to this program, no doubt about it.
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