While this feature

is about the top programs in the 00's decade (2000-2007), the CD

Hylton story of success actually began with two games left in the 1997 season,

when head coach Bill Brown changed his offense to the wing-T. Led by sophomore

QB Kenny Irby the Bulldogs won the final two games in 1997 and the next

twenty-eight after

that, completing back-to-back 14-0 seasons and winning the AAA Division 6 State titles in

both 1998

and 1999.

At

the turn of the century, Coach

Brown asked quarterback Daryl Overton (Bowie State), a former wide receiver who also started at

defensive back, to lead a team which included a number of noteworthy players

such as; D.J. Walton (Virginia Tech), a first team All-State selection at

defensive back, running back and the state's co-offensive player of the year,

and Karibe Dede (Auburn University and Montreal of the CFL), a first team

All-State selection at linebacker. Easily winning their first nine games

to open '00, the Bulldog express

was derailed by undefeated archrival Potomac in the Cardinal District

Championship game, but avenged that loss two later by upsetting Potomac 18-13 in

the regional championship game after topping George Washington 28-14 in the

opening round. The win secured the program's third straight regional

championship as Walton played a remarkable game

recording ten tackles and

four interceptions on defense while rushing for 103 yards and two touchdowns on

offense. However, with five starters out the following due to injury

(including three quarterbacks), Hylton was no match for Deep

Creek in the semi-finals losing 42-0. Pictured right are current Head

EN">The 2001 started with great promise and the

Bulldogs rolled through the regular season undefeated. Little change in

the postseason as they bested Brooke Point 49-0 in the opening round and blanked

George Washington 35-0 in the regional championship game. Led by

senior Ahmad Brooks (first team All-State linebacker, Defensive Player of the

year, second team All-State running back, USA Today's Defensive Player of the Year,

University of Virginia, and Cincinnati Bengals), the Bulldogs entered the state semi-finals

undefeated and feeling good, but were upset by Thomas Dale 27-22. One of the

season highlights was the induction of Head Coach Bill Brown, the only head coach

in the school's history up to that point, into the VHSL Hall of Fame.

Shortly after the end of the season, he

announced his retirement and simultaneously introduced his successor, Lou

Sorrentino, the former head coach of the Culpeper Blue Devils.

EN">The 2002 Hylton Bulldogs were undoubtedly the best defensive

team in the school's history and

EN">quite possibly one of the best Virginia

has ever seen. Notching a 13-1 record, the Bulldog defense surrendered only

63 points during the season and posted seven shutouts, leading the program to an

AAA Div. 6 championship. In the postseason, they blanked Gar-field 14-0,

topped Osbourn Park 27-10, avenged the '01 loss to Thomas Dale with a 22-8

victory and secured the state title with a 6-0 blanking of Oakton. Several

players earned first team All-State honors including Jono Petrovich (guard),

Endor Cooper (linebacker), and R.J. Dawson (defensive tackle), while James

"Bear" Parker was named a second team member. Other key members

of the squad included quarterback and safety Jeff Overton, middle linebacker Jackie Watkins,

defensive end Chris Winston, defensive tackle Dennis Thompson, and defensive

back Deon Butler. Capping the remarkable season, his first at Hylton, Sorrentino was

named the AAA Div. 6 Coach of the year.

EN">After winning the school's third AAA Div. 6 state

title in football and returning so many key players from the 2002 team,

expectations were high for 2003 season and the Bulldogs lived up to the

hype. They rolled through the regular season unblemished, then beat

Gar-filed 35-0 in the opening round before securing their sixth straight

regional championship with a 14-7 win over Osbourn Park. In the state

semis, the undefeated Hylton squad met the undefeated Westfield

Bulldogs in a state semifinal game, losing 24-14. Though Hylton didn't

return to the state finals, the school was well

represented on the post season All-State teams with Endor Cooper (Howard

University) repeating as a first team selection at linebacker, Jackie Watkins

(Hampton, Delaware State) earning a first team selection at middle linebacker

and Deon Butler (Penn State) being named a first team defensive back and second team

wide receiver. Defensive end Donnell Sands (Hampton University) and

quarterback Tristin Simmons earned second team honors.

EN">After losing fourteen starters to graduation,

the 2004 season was thought to be a rebuilding one by some. Though they

had their first season in seven years in which they suffered more than one regular season

loss, the Bulldogs won the Cardinal

District, advanced to the regional championship game with a 35-20 victory over

Woodbridge, then won a 28-21 overtime squeaker against Stonewall Jackson to

capture the Northwest Region title for the seventh straight year. Unable

to muster any offense against Robinson in the semifinal game which ended their

season, Hylton lost 41-0, yet exceeded most preseason expectations. Ara Derboghossian

earned first team All-State honors at offensive guard.

EN">

Expectations

were high again in 2005 as the Bulldogs entered the season feeling that they could

go all the way. Led by senior Aaron Adusei (first team All-State linebacker), Tony

Keiling (second team All-State linebacker, Concord University), Prince Anumah

(second team All-State defensive tackle), Rondell Kelley (second team All-State

safety), defensive end Tommy Moore, and linebacker Omoniyi Bakare, the defense

allowed only 46 points during the regular season, notching a 10-0 record and

winning another Cardinal District championship. The offense tallied 421 points led by

quarterback Darius Reynolds (Reedly Junior College), running back Courtney

Anderson (Morgan State), and wideout Marchall Dill

(William & Mary) on the season. After two playoff wins (12-7 over

Woodbridge and 35-27 over Osbourn) securing their eighth straight Northwest Region title, the Bulldogs met

defending champion Landstown in the state semifinals. Trailing by five

with the ball on Landstown's five-yard line, the 'Dawgs were victimized by a

Percy Harvin interception as the future University of Florida star returned it 99 yards to end the Bulldogs

season in a 25-14 game. Pictured right is Ahmad Brooks.

EN">After seven games in 2006, the Bulldogs were

undefeated and heading to Woodbridge confident that they would win and looking forward to the

postseason where they'd have the opportunity to defend their Northwest Region

title again. However, Woodbridge

running back De'Antwan "Rocket" Williams and the Vikings stopped the Bulldog winning streak and set the stage

for a second loss to

Potomac

the following week. The back-to-back losses eliminated the Bulldogs from

postseason play as they finished a single point out of contention in the VHSL rating system. Led by senior

running back Omoniyi Bakare (Fairmont State), offensive guard Leo Grassilli (San Diego

State), William Alvarez (first Team All-State offensive tackle, Virginia Tech), and

fullback Tommy Moore (Hampton University), the Bulldogs had a powerful running game that almost got them back into the

playoffs.

EN">In 2007 the Bulldogs had their first and only losing season

in the decade, yet tight end Eric Martin (Virginia Tech), wide receiver Morgan

Carter (Rutgers), linebacker Danzel White (Towson), and center Ryan Martinez (US

Naval Academy) all received full scholarships. The junior

varsity team went undefeated given Bulldog fans hope that a return to

the playoffs is in the cards for 2008.

Perhaps

the most impressive aspect of Hylton's success over the course of this decade is

the fact that they didn't just roll the ball out there and out-athlete everyone

who they played as evidenced by the fact that they played a number of close

games in the postseason. Of their fourteen playoff wins in the 00's, nine

were decided by 14 points or less meaning that there were teams within the

region capable of challenging the Bulldogs, but few could get over the hump and

actually take them down. Only three of their losses were decided by two

touchdowns or less so, if Hylton was in the game, they usually found a way to

win it which is a testament to their tenacity, confidence and their coaches'

ability to keep them focused on the prize.

Make sure to visit

this C.D.

Hylton-dedicated website for an outstanding look at the program.

Thank you to Bill Goodman for providing photos for this feature.