How these three-sport senior athletes are helping change perceptions at New Berlin
NEW BERLIN — New Berlin coach Seth Hill doesn’t blame other teams for kicking the ball away from Kevin Howell.
The elusive senior has returned five kickoffs for a touchdown in his career.
Howell certainly has the ability to replicate that success in college if granted the opportunity — on top of being an explosive running back, Hill said.
“I've had a lot of success doing that and that's probably one of my favorite things to do,” Howell said, “but they don't kick it to me anymore, so I don't get the ball a lot anymore on that, so we're trying to find ways to give me the ball on kick returns.”
Kickoff return specialist
Howell generated a couple of TDs via special teams last season and jested that “usually the kicker is not very fast.”
“I think I see the field very well,” Howell said. “It's so fun to see all of the guys just coming at me and then one of my guys just comes up and blows them up and I run right behind them and there's usually a hole and I cut, and off to the races.
“Usually, I'm one of the fastest guys out there, so it's kind of hard to catch up to me.”
More:Clutch catch helps Maroa-Forsyth football rally to win over state-ranked Williamsville
His versatility as a receiver and running back also helped garner all-Sangamo Conference second team on offense last fall in which he totaled 382 yards and three TDs on that side of the ball.
Howell has now specifically settled into the running back position. He leads the Pretzels (3-4) with 572 rushing yards and 11 TDs despite no carries last week against Athens due to an injury. He also has one TD catch.
He duly credited assistant coach Tanner Shafer.
“This year I just took off,” Howell said. “Coach Shafer taught me a lot of stuff. He's a great coach, great running back in college (at Monmouth College) and high school (at New Berlin). I just look up to him and he's teaching me everything I know, so it's awesome. I love running the ball.”
Meet the field general
Howell shares the backfield with senior quarterback Ben Hermes.
Hermes, not unlike Howell, has shouldered various roles over the years. In fact, he has played virtually every position except on the offensive and defensive line.
He occasionally appeared at quarterback beginning sophomore year as Joey Meiseman’s backup before taking over this season.
His first start there came against Pleasant Plains in the shortened 2021 spring season and replaced Meiseman again the following season against the aforementioned Cardinals due to an injury.
That past experience instills confidence to this day.
“Obviously being a sophomore starting any position could be a little shaky, especially being the quarterback for a team,” Hermes said. “But that was a real interesting game and real fun season. It's something I look back to, 'Hey, I played quarterback as a sophomore.'
“Just looking back to sophomore year, I'm like, 'Well, I led the team as a sophomore and I played all right as a sophomore, so why can't I do it as a senior now?'”
Hermes has completed 62 of 134 passing attempts for 987 yards and 10 TDs with six interceptions this fall.
More:'Coming together': Jacksonville Routt celebrates 100 years of football in style
“When Joe went down right there at the end of the season in the Plains game (last fall), Ben was somebody that we knew who had great leadership qualities,” Hill said. “He was somebody who we knew was tough enough to get the job done. When we came and talked to him about coming into that game going into the second half, he went to the team and said, 'Hey, let's go win a ball game,' and they followed him and he did exactly that.
“He's a guy who has great leadership talent and then going into the offseason he did a lot of work with our quarterbacks coach (Cam Cummings) to really strengthen his arm, his mechanics and his throwing motion. He's one of the smartest kids that I think I've ever seen on the football field.
“He just understands the game, he understands the offense, he understands how defenses move, and he understands the guys who are playing with him.”
A love for all things sports
Both Howell and Hermes are genuine athletes.
They also play basketball and track together and their favorite sport changes with the seasons.
Hermes, though, dislikes the notion that New Berlin is a basketball school and wants to change that perception.
“New Berlin's just not a basketball school and people shouldn't just think of us in basketball,” Hermes said. “They should also think of us not only in football, they should think of us in track, baseball and volleyball — they should think of us in all different sports. We're really trying to flip that narrative here from what has been in years past.”
Hermes indeed appreciates all sports. He also doubles as a play-by-play announcer on the NFHS Network covering New Berlin volleyball and baseball games. Howell may intend to play either football or basketball in college, but Hermes is just fine suiting up for sportscasting after high school.
“I love sports too much to give it up,” Hermes said.
The Pretzels will have to win their last two games against Class 2A state-ranked Maroa-Forsyth then Pleasant Plains in order to become playoff eligible.
Howell and Hermes relished their time on the football team regardless.
“I think it's a great program,” Howell said. “Lots (of players) come up from Waverly and Franklin (in the co-op). You'd think that we don't get along because we're rivals in basketball and all of the other sports, but we actually get along just fine and everyone contributes to the team.
“The Waverly/Franklin guys help out a lot. I think they brought 24 kids out of the 50 or so on the team, so they help out a bunch and I'm so glad that they're on the team and I hope they don't go away.”
Contact Bill Welt: (217) 788-1545, bill.welt@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/BillWelt
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: IHSA football: Kevin Howell, Ben Hermes relish time at New Berlin
