Can Hilmar reload and go from ordinary to extraordinary again in 2009?

HILMAR -- Quinton McCown didn't mind the hero treatment.

The pats on the back. The handshakes. The high-fives.

After winning the section title last year, the Hilmar quarterback couldn't walk around town without being congratulated about the big win.

"It was nice," McCown said. "Everyone knows who you are. Practically our whole town was at the game.

"It was a great atmosphere."

The celebration went on for weeks after Hilmar's 17-6 win over Central Catholic in last year's Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship.

Marques and his teammates were Hilmar heroes.

"It was unbelievable," Hilmar coach Frank Marques said. "In my opinion, the reason winning the section title was so special was because we beat a dynasty.

"We beat a team that teams have been clawing at for years. We were the team that finally took them down."

The blue section banner now hangs in the gym. Many of the players bought blue jackets and championship rings.

However, now it's time to turn the page. Hilmar has the tough task of putting last year's success behind it and focusing on this season.

Marques tried to help speed up the process by meeting with his seniors before practice started. The message was quick and to the point: Last year was fun, but it's over -- now it's time to move on.

"I think we've already done it," safety/running back Carlos Diaz said. "It was nice to win a section championship.

"It's a new year with a different team. We have to focus on our jobs and get after it again."

This year, it will be an almost entirely new cast for Hilmar.

McCown is the only returning starter on offense.

The defense also will feature a lot of new faces, with only Diaz and linebacker Trent Goiburn returning.

"We have some talent, but we don't have a lot of depth," Marques said. "We can't afford any key injuries.

"If we stay healthy, we'll be fun to watch. "

If you only return one starter, McCown is not a bad piece to have back.

The 6-foot-3 senior completed 50 of 95 passes last year for 919 yards and eight touchdowns despite playing in only eight games.

"He's a natural leader," Marques said. "He just does it, and the kids respond to him.

"We didn't even talk to him about it. There's a lot of pressure on him, but no more pressure than what he saw playing quarterback against Central Catholic at UOP."

McCown likes the responsibility.

"I want the guys to come to me if they have any questions," McCown said. "I know all the routes and the blocking schemes.

"If anyone is not sure, they've come to me. Day by day, there's been less and less questions."

With a tough preseason schedule, the newcomers won't have much time to jell together.

After opening against Denair in the Week One, Hilmar will play Hughson, Central Valley, Argonaut and Calaveras.

Hilmar will also have to deal with teams gunning for the defending section champs.

"If anything, we're going to have a huge target on our backs," Marques said. "Coaches are going to hype it up. I would if we were playing a championship team."

Is Marques worried about a championship hangover?

Not with this group.

"The kids feel the pressure of repeating," Marques said. "Hopefully, they use it as motivation.

"It's not like we've won three or four in a row and we've lost motivation.

"We've only done it once. We're nowhere near that. There's no reason to be cocky."