HOOPESTON — It’s been nearly two decades since the Hoopeston Area Cornjerkers have qualified for the Illinois High School Association state football playoffs.

However, coming off of last season’s 3-6 record, the most wins in nearly a decade, there is talk of the Cornjerkers earning its first playoff berth in 18 years.

The 1993 season was the last time Hoopeston Area competed in a playoff contest — and almost all of its current players were not even born yet.

Senior offensive lineman Cody Inman says he and his fellow seniors have their eyes set on a playoff berth.

“That’s our expectations for this season, a playoff berth,” Inman said. “We’ve been playing together for almost 12 years now and we feel it’s our time. We want that playoff bid; we want to do something special for Hoopeston Area High School.”

Inman also said it would be special to do it for the town of Hoopeston.

“People say if you make the playoffs, you will be a celebrity in Hoopeston, but I just want to bring it to our school,’’ he said. “The people in town want it just as bad as we do — they haven’t had it since 1993.”

Hoopeston Area coach Michl Kearney said this year’s team is still a work in progress, due to a lack of numbers.

“Right now we are just trying to learn, we’ve only got 30 kids out here,” Kearney said. “We’ve got 15 first-year players this year.”

Kearney said while the three wins were a great improvement last year, but that is in the past and this new season brings new challenges.

“Last year was last year, this is a new year,’’ he said. “You can’t go off of what you did last year, especially with a new group of kids. We want to build off of the success and yes the ultimate goal is to be in the playoffs, but we have to take care of business each week and not worry about what happened last year.”

The Cornjerkers will have a new offense this season which will feature an option attack out of a different number of formations.

Kearney says no player’s position is set in stone yet.

“It’s a big puzzle and we are just trying to fit all the pieces together,’’ he said.

Projected starting quarterback Robbie Irvin is excited about the new offense.

“Last year, we struggled in the first half of games to score, this year our offense looks pretty strong and we hope to come out and score a lot of points,” Irvin said.

The option based attack on offense will challenge the Cornjerker offensive line.

“We’re not very big up front and that will present some challenges and will force our guys to work harder at getting better,” Kearney said.

Inman is projected to start at center.

“Cody is the anchor of our line,’’ Kearney said. “He knows all of our plays, and he knows all of the shifts that we will use.

“He will play a key part to the success of our offense.’’

Kearney said each week is a playoff game for the Cornjerkers.

“We have to take this season one week at a time,’’ he said.

The Cornjerkers know it will be tough season in a very competitive Vermilion Valley Conference this season.

“No game is a guaranteed win,” Irvin said. “It’s going to be a battle every week and we have to bring it to be successful.”

Kearney is eager to get the season going and his players will be rewarded with a successful season.

“These kids are working very hard and they do everything asked of them,” Kearney said. “Our motto this year is the number four. Play four quarters, play four downs as if they’re the last downs and play for the team; not yourself.”

“Anytime the game is on the line we are going to play for the win.”

Hoopeston Area opens the 2011 season on the road against South Piatt. The first home game for the Cornjerkers will be Sept. 2 against Tri-County.

The first Vermilion Valley Conference game for Hoopeston Area will be Sept. 9 at Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Chrisman.

Hoopeston Area Cornjerkers

Coach — Michl Kearney

2010 Record — 3-6

Schedule

Date     Opponent    Time

Aug. 26    at South Piatt    7 p.m.

Sept. 2    Tri-County    7 p.m.

Sept. 9    at Geo-RF/Chrisman *     7 p.m.

Sept. 16    at Oakwood/A-P *    7 p.m.

Sept. 23    Schlarman *    7 p.m.

Sept. 30    Salt Fork *    7 p.m.

Oct. 7    at Bismarck-Henning *    7 p.m

Oct. 14    Westville *    7 p.m.

Oct. 21    At Milford/Cissna Park *    7 p.m.

* — Vermilion Valley Conference games

All Times Central