South Kingstown's Tim Hazard makes a tackle during last year's Division II Super Bowl against Toll Gate.

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The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

There’s a new head coach and a lot of new players, but fortunately for South Kingstown High football fans, it’s the same Tim Hazard.

Last season, as a junior, Hazard was one of only three underclassmen in the state to earn first-team All-State honors as the 17 touchdowns he scored from his fullback slot played a major role in South Kingstown’s drive to the Division II state title.

But several of the other starters from that championship team graduated last spring, plus veteran Rebels mentor Bruce Tardiff retired after last season and handed the head-coaching reins to his five-year assistant, Eric Anderson.

The graduation losses meant Anderson began his head-coaching career this season with five seniors, but then quality is always better than quantity –– especially when it comes to running backs.

Hazard has picked up where he left off last season, with six touchdowns over three league games this season. That point production has led the Rebels to a 3-0 Division II record, the only unblemished slate in Division II-B.

“We have been trying to put him in position to do his thing,” Anderson said of Hazard’s 473 rushing yards in the Rebels’ three league games and a 12-0 nonleague victory over Hendricken.

The good news for Anderson and South Kingstown fans is that Hazard isn’t even the Rebels’ top ground-gainer this season.

“Actually, Kane Noka (senior halfback) has a few more yards than Tim,” said Anderson. “He has 476 yards in the four games.”

But Anderson knows there’s a big difference between a 3-0 start and a successful defense of a state title. Two of the Rebels’ three Division II victories came against teams that have only one combined victory in six games, and the victory was a 14-12 nail biter over Coventry.

The Rebels could be facing one of those challenges tonight when they play host to Lincoln. The Lions will come into the game with a 1-1 record after posting a one-point triumph over Shea in their first league game. They dropped a 21-0 decision to Cranston East two weeks ago.

Bulldogs fast learners

South Kingstown isn’t the only South County team sporting a perfect league record.

Before the start of the season, veteran Westerly coach Chris Wriedt said, “If our young players can get up to varsity speed quickly, we can be very competitive.”

Apparently, the young Bulldogs are fast learners.

Three weeks into the season, Westerly is the only undefeated team in Division I-A (3-0).

Sparked by six touchdown passes from quarterback Brandon Moore and four TD receptions by Mike Portunato, the Bulldogs have outscored the opposition, 88-43, in their three league triumphs. Included in those victories was a 34-19 triumph over Warwick, last year’s undefeated regular-season II-A champion. It was Warwick’s only loss in 10 combined regular-season league games between last season and this year.

Westerly goes after its fourth league victory tonight when the Bulldogs host Tolman at 7. The Tigers are one of four teams tied for second place in II-A with 2-1 records.

Rams, Eagles on road

While South Kingstown and Westerly are putting their undefeated Division II records on the line in South County, up in the Providence area Barrington and La Salle, the only undefeated Division I teams, will be trying to maintain perfect slates.

The Rams and Eagles will be on the road tonight as La Salle, which leads the division with a 3-0 record, visits Hendricken and Barrington (2-0 in league play) meets East Providence at Pierce Field.

It’s probably not surprising that according to game summaries reported to The Journal sports department, two of the top three scorers in Division I wear Barrington or La Salle uniforms.

Barrington junior running back Mike Reed is the second in the HS GameTime Division I scoring race with 60 points in four games overall, two points behind North Kingstown’s Dave D’Errico.

La Salle’s Gus DelFarno, who scored three touchdowns in the Rams’ victory over previously undefeated Portsmouth last Friday night, is third with 48 points, on eight touchdowns.

Perfect records on line

Four of the other five undefeated teams in the state — Narragansett and Tiverton in Division III and Exeter/West Greenwich and Hope in Division IV — also are in action this weekend. Exeter/West Greenwich visits Scituate tonight while Narragansett hosts Johnston. Tiverton is at Smithfield and Hope entertains North Smithfield tomorrow afternoon.

Ponaganset, also undefeated in league action (3-0 in Division III), is idle this weekend.

Listen up, coaches

Coaches are reminded to call in scores and scoring summaries to the Journal sports department at (401) 277-7340 immediately after Friday night games and after 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Summaries with points by quarters and individual scoring also can be e-mailed to pjsports@projo.com.

jgillool@projo.com