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C.D. Hylton High School Bulldogs — Northwest Region, Division 6, Class AAA Cardinal District
Head Coach: Lou Sorrentino, 7th year, 58-15
2007 Record: 3-7 overall, 2-4 district
Returning Starters: 6 offense/3 defense
Key Losses: OL Ryan Martinez; TE Eric Martin; DL Justin Smith.
Top Returners: RB Bill Nyantakyi, Sr., 5-6, 170; RB Khyree Blake, Sr., 5-8, 175; RB Stephen Heaton, Sr., 5-8, 180; OL Ron Neverson, Sr., 6-2, 295; OL/DL Britt Burton, Sr., 6-3, 355; OL/DL Iatezaz Tariq, Sr., 6-0, 230; Charlton Oliver, Sr., 6-2, 235; QB Joel Himan, Sr., 5-10, 180; QB/DB Jabari Dukes, Jr., 6-1, 180; WR/CB Kevin Wheeler, Sr., 6-1, 160; CB/WR Dayne Mullins, Sr., 5-10, 170; K/P Taylor Tekesky, Sr., 5-11, 160.
Fresh Faces: LB Christian Harris, Soph., 5-8, 190; WR/DB Travis Marion, Jr., 6-1, 165.
Game to Watch: Week 10, Oct. 31 at Potomac
The Bulldogs point to their Week 10 game against Potomac as sort of a microcosm of their season last year. The Panthers beat the Bulldogs, 28-26, and headed off to the AAA Div. 5 Virginia state title game, while the Bulldogs stayed at home during the playoffs for only the second time this decade. Head coach Lou Sorrentino’s squad will look to get some revenge at Potomac on Halloween.
Bulldog Redemption
By Paul Frommelt
Content Editor, DigitalSports — Prince William County
Fifth in a series of 10.
The 2007 C.D. Hylton Bulldogs accomplished something that no team in the program’s history has done.
They had a losing season.
Since the program first fielded a varsity team in 1992, the Bulldogs have been one of the top program’s in the state. They’ve won AAA Div. 6 Virgina State football titles in 1998, 1999 and 2002. They’ve won nine Northwest Region titles and 11 Cardinal District crowns. Since head coach Lou Sorrentino took over in 2001, the Bulldogs have compiled a 58-15 record.
So how does a proud program rebound?
“I think that it humbled us and motivated us,” said Sorrentino, who doesn’t shy away from last year’s record. “That is the first losing season that this program has ever had. We have a pretty strong tradition here, so we weren’t expecting that. I think sometimes people come to Hylton thinking that they are automatically supposed to win. It is through a lot of hard work and teamwork.”
So during a preseason practice a week before school starts, Sorrentino is making sure his squad stays motivated.
“It is just a matter of trying to get better every day,” he said. “That’s why I’m doing a lot of barking out here today, because I have yet to see that today. They have to learn how to practice, work hard every day consistently and believe in themselves and work together. If they do that, we will be fine.”
While last year’s varsity squad’s struggles were much-publicized, the C.D. Hylton junior varsity team put together a undefeated season. Sorrentino has been busy getting those young players to mesh with his returning veterans.
“[We have a] young team, but most of them were the nucleus of the J.V. team. We are excited about that,” said Sorrentino. “These guys are going to be good, the question is how soon.”
That isn’t to say that the older Bulldogs aren’t going to make a difference. Returning senior running backs Bill Nyantakyi, Khyree Blake and Stephen Heaton will anchor the Bulldogs’ running game while quarterbacks Joel Himan and Jabari Dukes will be able to give the Bulldogs a threat through the air. Seniors Ron Neverson, Britt Burton and Iatezaz Tariq provide the muscle on the line.
“We are trying to bring back that fire to Hylton,” said Nyantakyi. “We are looking to have a good season.”
Bulldogs Looking for Dogfights
While the Bulldogs’ record last year only shows three wins — that doesn’t mean that Hylton wasn’t a tough team to beat. Three of the Bulldogs’ seven losses were by less than ten points, including a two-point loss to the Potomac Panthers, which went on to the AAA Div. 5 Virginia state title game.
“It wasn’t like we were a poor club last year. We had two teams in our district that were state finalists. In this league, I think that there is a thin line between success and failure,” said Sorrentino. “[This year], we are going to be in a lot of dogfights, so a lot of little things will determine what our record will be.”
email: pfrommelt@digitalsports.com
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