Experienced in the tradition of Hiram High School football, seventh-year head coach Andy Dorsey is prepared to go into this new season with his team.

Dorsey led the Hornets to their best season in history, 11-1 in 2009. However, his team was only able to pull out one win in region play in 2011, as they beat Osborne High School in mid September.

Even though the team struggled to get the wins, OL Austin Kastl was named to the AAAA Region 5 North first team while seven other players were named to the second team; DL Dakota Adair, OL Justin Collett, LB Dorian Joseph, RB Chris Miller, RB Kevin Mitchell Jr., OL Tank O’Hara and DL Austin Post. Two other Hornets, Kendall Palmer and Mike Wilson, were on the honorable mention list.

For the upcoming season, with the graduation of 17 seniors, the Hornets are still mature enough to compete as they had more juniors than anything on the field last year.

He listed key returners as QB Roderick Harrison, O’Hara, Collett, LB/RB Julian Dickens, and RB/FB Kevin Mitchell Jr.

Dorsey and his team are striving to get back to the playoffs, where they went in 2009 and 2010.

Head Coach: Andy Dorsey, seventh season as head coach, all at Hiram (40-25-0)

Region: 5-AAAAA

Key Returners: QB Roderick Harrison, OL Tank O’Hara, OL Justin Collett, LB/RB Julian Dickens, RB/FB Kevin Mitchell Jr.

2011: 4-6 overall; 1-5 in north subregion of Region 5-AAAA.

2012 schedule:

Aug. 31 Paulding County

Sept. 7 at Rome

Sept. 14 Villa Rica

Sept. 21 at N. Paulding

Oct. 5 at Lithia Springs

Oct. 12 East Paulding

Oct. 19 South Paulding

Oct. 26 at Allatoona

Nov. 2 Woodland

Nov. 9 at New Manchester