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In order to build a stronger Hampden-Sydney football program, you have to do it from the ground up. And for new head coach Vince Luvara, that means making changes in ways that don’t automatically show up on the field. But if all goes according to plan, by the end of the season, the results will be pretty clear. 

Luvara and his staff already achieved two records for the Tigers. First, they brought 156 players to camp, the most in school history. And second, out of that 156, a total of 82 are freshmen. That means for the first time in a long time, Hampden-Sydney will be playing junior varsity games. 

“We needed to build the roster up at certain positions to have the depth to play these (JV) games. You don’t get better by watching,” Luvara said. “You don’t get better by being on the scout team. You’re only going to get your freshmen better by getting them reps. That’s a core belief I have.” 

At some point in the season, Luvara said, there’s a good chance some of those freshmen will be needed due to injuries. And in order to get them ready for those moments, the freshmen have to be competing now. That’s why Luvara set up the junior varsity games. There are five JV games, scheduled for early in the season. 

‘We really tried to elevate our space’ 

It’s one of several changes Luvara is making with the Tigers, which finished 6-4 last season, including a 49-10 loss in the latest edition of ‘The Game’ against Randolph-Macon. Some of those changes are cosmetic. The school renovated the practice field, just finished a major revamp to the locker room and set up a full nutrition station in the football office. They also became the only Division III football program with a full-time strength and conditioning coach this season, while also hooking up players in camp with GPS vests and heart rate monitors. Why? So they can track how hard the players are running and how fast they’re running. 

“We really tried to elevate our space,” Luvara said. “We’re able to invest a lot into their development here. It’s just giving our guys resources so they can reach their full potential on the football field. And we’re just trying to make the football experience as close to a Division I school as we can.” 

To do that consistently, you need playmakers and leaders. Luvara points to several on this Hampden-Sydney squad. There’s Logan Cohn, the starting center. This offseason has been a special one for the rising senior, as he returns to campus as a national champion. Cohn won in the U23 super heavyweight division for National Olympic Weightlifting this summer. 

“He has great leadership skills and he anchors that offensive line,” Luvara said of Cohn. “Logan is also a great teammate.” 

The offense will also be led by junior quarterback Carter Sido. The Texas native started the first two games last year before a season-ending injury, lighting up the scoreboard when he was on the field. Sido went 30 for 48 (62.5%), compiling 304 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He also rushed for 210 yards on 26 carries and three rushing touchdowns, totaling 514 yards of total offense in just two games.

“He was the Offensive Player of the Week for the ODAC the first two weeks before (the injury),” Luvara said. “He’s a special talent.” 

Luvara also pointed to his wide receiver corps as one of the most talented he’s been around in his career. That includes junior Mason Cunningham, another Texas native. Cunningham, who earned D3football.com Third Team All-Region 3 and First Team All-ODAC a year ago, started all 10 games, catching 79 balls for 794 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Mason had three 100-yard receiving games and led the ODAC in receptions, receptions per game (7.9, ninth nationally), receiving yards and receiving yards per game (79.4). 

Looking at the Hampden-Sydney defense

As a linebacker at Allegheny College (Pennsylvania) and as a coach, Luvara has mainly stayed on the defensive side of the field. And his defenses shut down teams. At Washington & Jefferson last year, Luvara’s defense gave up just 12.7 points per game. That was good enough for 15th in Division III. The Presidents yielded just one touchdown or less in four games during 2023, including one shutout. Since 2017, a Luvara-led defense has not given up more than 18 points per game. That shutdown mentality, a focus on preventing scores is something not just his own staff, but competitors draw attention to. 

He takes over a team this season with a defense featuring senior linebacker Jackson Lott as the leading returning tackler. Lott last season had 57 total tackles, including 18 solo and 39 assists, along with 1.5 sacks. There’s also junior cornerback James Townsend, who had 33 total tackles, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. Townsend is also remembered for blocking the point after kick against Shenandoah in overtime, to secure Hampden-Sydney’s 26-25 win. 

Rising in the polls

The Tigers will enter the season picked to finish fourth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Football Preseason Poll. The Tigers garnered 31 points, including one first-place vote, among the eight schools. 

Randolph-Macon was picked first with 48 points, ahead of Washington and Lee (43), Bridgewater (33) and H-SC (31), along with Shenandoah (26), Averett (22), Guilford (11) and Ferrum (10). RMC received six first-place votes, while W&L got the other first-place vote.

So when do the Tigers get things started? The first game is set at home against Delaware Valley (PA) University on Saturday, Sept. 7. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium.