Year in Review of Sports Yorktown Football Was Top Story

Yorktown Football

Austin Brown, No. 32, helped lead the Yorktown Patriots to a National District championship and perfect regular-season record this past fall. (Photo by Deb Kolt)    

 

 Posted: Saturday, December 24, 2011 7:42 am | Updated: 7:49 am, Sat Dec 24, 2011.

Yorktown Football Was Top Story by DAVE FACINOLI, Staff Writer Sun Gazette Newspapers |

The sports year for 2011 was loaded with competitive events and filled with numerous athletic achievements by teams and individuals specific to the Sun Gazette’s coverage area in Arlington.

Following is a list of what the sports staff at the Sun Gazette ranked as the top 20 highlights in 2011 that were reported in our paper.

1. Yorktown Football

The Yorktown High School football team completed its first undefeated regular season in school history with a 10-0 record, won the National District championship with a 7-0 mark, finished second in the Northern Region, and set a single-season school record for victories with 12. In addition, longtime Yorktown coach Bruce Hanson won his 200th career game during the 2011 campaign.

All-Arlington Football Teams by DAVE FACINOLI, Staff Writer Sun Gazette Newspapers |

Seniors from Wakefield and Yorktown high schools have been chosen as the Arlington Sun Gazette’s best offensive and defensive football players for their efforts during 2011 fall campaign.

In addition, Yorktown High’s Bruce Hanson is the Sun Gazette’s 2011 Coach of the Year. Hanson led the Patriots to their best record in school history at 12-1, the team’s first perfect 10-0 regular season, a National District championship and a runner-up finish in Division 5 of the Northern Region playoffs. 

Yorktown lost to eventual Group AAA state runner-up South County in the region title game.

The Sun Gazette’s Offensive Player of the Year for 2011 is Wakefield quarterback Drew Powell.

The left-handed Powell passed for 1,867 yards, ran for 676 and had 39 yards in pass receptions. He threw 16 touchdown passes and ran for seven more scores. Powell had a couple of games when he threw and ran for more than 100 yards each.  Wakefield won just one game during the fall, but Powell was the most productive offensive player, as far as statistics, in the National District.  Wakefield head coach Keith Powell said the quarterback plans to play college football, but the school hasn’t been determined.

The Sun Gazette’s Defensive Player of the Year is Yorktown linebacker Austin Browne. The 6-foot, 240 Brown clogged the middle of Yorktown’s defense, making running the ball difficult for opponents, and he covered well in pass defense.

Browne was the team’s leading tackler and helped Yorktown record three shutouts and hold four other opponents to seven points or fewer.

There will an important meeting for any juniors and seniors (and their parents) who are interested in playing sports at the college level. If there’s any interest at all you won’t want to miss this.

Wednesday, November 30th
7 pm in the Yorktown cafeteria

Spread the word. This is open to all students in the area, not just Yorktown students.

COACHES ALL-NORTHERN REGION FIRST TEAM

COACHES ALL-NORTHERN REGION SECOND TEAM

Game Day – Yorktown vs. South County. 1:30pm at YHS. Come early for seating and parking. Booster hopes the county will go easy on parking in the permit areas. Check out this map for parking. Since game time is during the day, parking restrictions are in effect. However, as Booster said, we hope the county will look favorably on folks during the game who can’t find any other place to park. See the map under the Info tab for parking areas…there are two lots at the school. Also, the Knights of Columbus is generously allowing the use of their parking as well….a short walk to the field. Go Patriots!!

See our ad in this week’s Arlington Connection. Wear or Show your blue this Friday, Nov. 25, 1:30pm at YHS, as the Patriots take on South County for the Region Championship. Go Patriots!!

Thanks to Robert Stephens and RHS Productions for the highlights

DIVISION FIVE — #6 LEE LANCERS (7-4) AT #2 YORKTOWN PATRIOTS (11-0)

The two programs have not met each other in the past decade. Though both have been fairly regular participants in the postseason, their paths have not crossed. This is the fifth time that Lee has qualified for the postseason since 2000 but only the second time that they have advanced to the regional semifinal level. Their deepest run during that timeframe came in 2009 when they advanced to the regional title contest losing to Stone Bridge. This is the sixth season since 2000 that Yorktown has been a playoff participant and their win last week against McLean marked the second time that they won a first round contest. Their deepest run came in 2003 when they lost the regional championship game to Madison.

The Lancers opened the season on fire scoring 23 or more points in each of their first five contests putting up 30 or more in four of those five. However, in their past six contests, the offense has been haled to 21 or less in four games and were shut out by Lake Braddock. Still, on the season, the group averaged 29.4 per game so they’ve been productive. Quintez Diggins is the engine that makes the whole thing work as he’s accounted for 2,343 yards of offense throwing for 1,311, rushing for 758 with another 274 receiving. In total, he’s been responsible for 15 scores this season. Michael Jolly provides support in the run game as he’s totaled 578 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Bradley Hann shares time under center and has thrown for 1,178 yards and 14 touchdowns. Meanwhile, out wide Kyon Taylor and Cameron Lewis have been to go-to guys with Taylor grabbing 51 passes for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns while Lewis tacked on 39 receptions for 597 yards and five scores. They’ll test themselves against a Yorktown defense that has limited four of their last five opponents to one touchdown or less and have only been hit for more than 20 points in three games this season in notching an undefeated record.

The Yorktown offense has not only been as prolific as Lee’s, they’ve been more consistent averaging 40.0 points per contest and the Patriots have scored at least 20 points in every contest this season. On seven occasions, they’ve put up 40 or more points. Dual-threat quarterback Jordan Smith is the unit’s top playmaker having thrown for 1,224 yards and 11 touchdowns with another 427 yards and eight touchdowns rushing. He’s not the lone playmaker however as running back M.J. Stewart has totaled 1,429 yards and 20 touchdowns rushing with support from Austin Browne whose rushed for 685 yards and nine scores. They’ll face off with a Lee defense which has held their last four opponents to a total of 44 points but were hit hard in the four-game stretch prior to those contests allowing 33, 38, 48 and 45 points from week four through week seven.

This game is seemingly set up as a high-scoring shootout with the last team touching the ball getting the victory as both offenses have been electrifying while the defenses have struggled against top-level offenses. From a consistency standpoint, the Patriots have been the better team but the Lancers have played the tougher competition so they might be more prepared for this fight. Look for a big second-half play to decide the outcome here.

VHSL-Reference.com Pick : Yorktown 23, Lee 17

Come cheer on the Patriots as they take on the Lee Lancers Friday, Nov. 18 at Yorktown High School, 2700 N. Greenbrier Street in Arlington. Kickoff is 7:30pm.

Yorktown is coming off a first round Northern Region win against McLean, 20-6. While Lee came from behind to beat Hayfield 25-20.
…
The Patriots are 11-0 on the season and Lee comes with a 7-4 record with several quality wins under their belts.

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Be there Friday to support the Patriots, tickets are at the gate.

Go Patriots!

Patriots Tie District Record

Arlington Sun Gazette

by DAVE FACINOLI, Staff Writer | Posted: Tuesday, November 8, 2011 7:21 am

With their 55-33 victory over the Washington-Lee Generals on Nov. 4, the undefeated Yorktown Patriots (10-0, 7-0) have won 18 straight regular-season National District contests over a three-season stretch.
That mark ties the district record for the longest winning streak, held with the Edison Eagles.
Last season, Yorktown finished 7-0 when the Patriots were the district champions. In 2009, Yorktown won its final three league high school games.
Edison won 18 straight games in recent seasons when Vaughn Lewis was the Eagles’ head coach.
The Patriots, who are the No. 2 seed in the Northern Region Division 5 playoffs and host a first-round game on Friday, Nov. 11 against the McLean Highlanders (6-4) at 7:30 p.m., can set a new district win streak early next season. That win could come in week two of the 2012 campaign when Yorktown plays at Wakefield.

First playoff game is Friday, Nov. 11, 7:30pm at Yorktown, vs. McLean

Semi-final playoff game is Friday, Nov. 18, 7:30pm at Yorktown

Regional Final game is Friday, Nov. 25, time and location TBA.

Tonight is Senior Night for the Patriots as they take on the Generals.  Here are your Patriot Seniors:

Jordan Smith

Austin Browne

Nick White

Josh Bunche

Kevin Haberstick

Nolan Paduda

Mason Snider

Melky Assouramou

David Bunton

Jeremy Jenkins

Jack Maher

Jake Whiteman

Duncan Kay

Danny DeLaBarra

CJ Fennell

Charlie Whelden

Brian Owens

Brandon Denny

Jermian McDermott

Mason Hitt

JV DEFEATS WASHINGTON-LEE

The JV ended its season on a high note defeating rival Washington-Lee at the Generals’ home field by a score of 21-14.  The Patriots struck immediately with Eric Stahr taking the opening kick-off through some nice blocking on the left side and outracing everyone to the end zone for an 85-yard touchdown.  While W&L scored later in the quarter to pull ahead 8-6, Yorktown retook the lead on a 45-yard drive in the second quarter on nice gains by running back Da’Jhaun Short and first down passes from quarterback Will Roebuck to Greg Dalzell and Eric Stahr.  Dalzell finished the drive with a 2-yard run, and Will Roebuck converted for 2 points on a pass to Mike Mangan.  W&L’s scoring threat at the end of the first half was stopped on an interception by Eric Stahr at the 25-yard line.  The Patriots extended their lead on a 32-yard drive in the third quarter on a first down pass to Da’Jhaun Short and a 2-yard keeper by Will Roebuck, and Philip Greco made the extra point for a 21-8 lead.  Greco also had several long kick-offs and punts during the game.  W&L attempted a comeback late in the 4th quarter pulling to within 21-14 with 4:48 left and retaking possession with 1:40 left.  The Patriots’ defense held, however, with Joe Tarver stopping a W&L sweep for a 10-yard loss, and Eric Stahr intercepting a pass at the 15-yard line on the final play.

FRESHMEN DEMOTE GENERALS

The Yorktown Freshmen made a season-ending statement along Washington
Boulevard Thursday night with a convincing win over arch-rival
Washington-Lee. The scoring began on the Patriots’ second drive, with a
Clinton Janey 70 yard dash setting up a David Tebor touchdown. Quinn
Cox then scooped up a Generals’ fumble, which led to a touchdown pass
from Joe McBride to Ben Calvert. Noah Gaby grabbed a second
Washington-Lee fumble, which the Patriot offense turned into another
Janey score. As the first half drew to a close, Yorktown put two
quarterbacks on the field — Joe McBride took a snap, pitched the ball
to Charlie Tiene, who threw a strike to Chris Saulnier in the end zone.
The Generals got on the board with two scores in the second half, but
Ben Calvert added one more for the Patriots, leaving the final score
38-12.

The Freshmen finish the season 6-3, winning six of their last seven games.