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.

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 SECOND TEAM

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

Yorktown is coming off a first round Northern Region win against McLean, 20-6. While Lee came from behind to beat Hayfield 25-20.
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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.

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

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