Football Preview: Yorktown Should Be a Contender

by DAVE FACINOLI, Staff Writer

What might be the best thing about the Yorktown Patriots this coming season is the high school team has a good deal of versatility and depth at many different positions. As a result, veteran Yorktown coach Bruce Hanson says there is excitement about his team in regard to making a serious run to win the National District championship this fall. Yorktown and Hayfield are expected to be two of the top district contenders. “We’re kind of excited,” Hanson said. “We have some players and we have progressed pretty good. I like the mix of our guys.”

Some of the Patriots’ top players for the team’s second-year spread offense are senior running back Khalil Doles; junior quarterback Jordan Smith; junior brothers Kevin and Kyle Bailey at running back or wide receiver; senior?? wide receivers David Bernhardt and Devin Gaby; junior running back Austin Browne; senior linemen Gunther Poth, James Krech, John Todd, Mark Karua; and junior linemen Nick White and Charles Whelden. Junior Michael Rogers, senior Antonio Francis and sophomore Mika Gregory are others who could get time at running back.

SEP. 3, 2010- SUNGAZETTE.COM

Yorktown Wins, Wakefield Falls in First Games

The Yorktown Patriots opened their season with a victory and the Wakefield Warriors dropped their first game of 2010 in non-district high school action last night. Yorktown defeated the visiting Wilson Tigers from Washington, D.C., 32-14.

Quarterback Jordan Smith led Yorktown on offense with 81 yards rushing, and he completed 7 of 12 passes for 91 yards and one touchdown of nine yards. Also on offense for Yorktown, Khalil Doles rushed for 66 yards and a TD, Antonio Francis rushed for 51, Michael Rogers completed five passes, David Bernhardt had five catches for 38 yards and a touchdown, and Devin Gaby had three catches for 22 yards and a TD.

SEP. 17, 2010- SUNGAZETTE.COM

Yorktown Drops First

by DAVE FACINOLI and DAVE STEINBACHER, Staff Writers

The Yorktown Patriots (2-1) could not overcome six turnovers in a 27-0 loss to the undefeated and visiting Centreville Wildcats (3-0) Sept. 16.

Yorktown had 233 total yards. Khalil Doles rushed for 73 yards, Antonio Francis for 30, and quarterback Jordan Smith ran for 18 yards and completed 9 of 21 passes for 84 with two interceptions.

SEP. 25, 2010- YHSFOOTBALL.COM

Yorktown Comes Back to Beat Hayfield

Yorktown had one of their biggest wins in years coming from behind to beat the Hayfield Hawks tonight 17-16 at Hayfield. Yorktown left the half behind 16-0 and came out the second half and scored 17 unanswered points to win the game. The defense buckled down and stopped Hayfield on their opening drive of the second half. Yorktown’s first score was set up in the third quarter by a long pass from Jordan Smith to David Bernhardt with Tony Francis following up with the rushing touchdown.

Later in the fourth quarter coach Hanson turned to his senior placekicker, Mike Dola, who responded with an amazing 51 yard field goal to take the Pats within 6 points of the Hawks. Yorktown’s next possession and score was set up by key runs by Zach Greene and Austin Brown. In one of the most exciting Yorktown finishes ever, Smith threw a fourth and long into the end zone hitting Andy Rockelli for 6 points followed by the crucial point after by Dola.

On Hayfield’s ensuing possession, Kevin Bailey put the icing on the cake with an interception with less than 3 minutes to play. The Patriots then whittled down the clock to close the game as the players rushed onto the field.

SEP. 26, 2010- SUNGAZETTE.COM

Yorktown, W-L Win on the Road

by DAVE FACINOLI, Staff Writer

Yorktown (3-1,1-0) rallied from a 16-0 halftime deficit to nip the Hayfield Hawks, 17-16. “We needed this win to keep pace with Washington-Lee,” Yorktown coach Bruce Hanson said. “It was a big win for us.”

The Patriots were able to rally because they stiffened on defense in the second half and their offense got going. Entering the second half, Yorktown had gone eight quarters without scoring.

Te Patriots cut the lead to 16-7 on a one-yard run by Antonio Francis and Michael Dola’s extra point. Dola’s 51-yard field goal cut the lead to 16-10.

With about four minutes left in the game, Yorktown took the lead on a 15-yard scoring pass from Jordan Smith to Andy Rockelli on a fourth-and-15 play, and Dola’s extra point. “I never thought about kicking a field goal there. I thought we needed to go for it,” Hanson said.

OCT. 2, 2010- YHSFOOTBALL.COM

Yorktown Moves to 4-1 with Win over Falls Church

The Patriots improved their record to 4-1 (2-0 in the National District) with a 27-6 win over Falls Church tonight.

They were aided by a strong 1st quarter with two touchdowns, the first a 52 yard pass from Jordan Smith to David Bernhardt, and a 7 yard pass from Smith to Devin Gaby. Mike Dola added another career tying 51 yard field goal to make it 17-0 at the half.

The sole Falls Church touchdown came after an errant snap went over Dola’s head, giving the Jaguars excellent field advantage and subsequently scoring on the drive. Yorktown’s last score came following a Smith 37 yard run capped off with a Tony Francis run into the end zone, making it 26-7.

OCT. 2, 2010- SUNGAZETTE.COM

Generals, Patriots Earn Victories, Warriors Fall

by DAVE FACINOLI, Staff Writer

In a National District high school game, Yorktown (4-1, 2-0) defeated the host Fall Church Jaguars, 26-7. Yorktown built a 19-0 first-half lead in its win. Jordan Smith led the Patriots’ offense by rushing and passing for about 100 yards each, according to Yorktown coach Bruce Hanson.

For the second week in a row, Michael Dola kicked a 51-yard field goal for Yorktown. Also, Antonio Francis had a short touchdown run.

OCT. 9, 2010- YHSFOOTBALL.COM

Yorktown Rolls…Beats Edison 30-0

Powered by an offensive line that opened holes and protected the QB, Yorktown improved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in district play by beating Edison 30-0 snapping a 5-year losing streak in a big way.

The defense was nearly flawless in stopping drives, making sacks, and coverage. All season Yorktown’s defense has been stingy in giving up points and tonight they performed excellently.

Nice runs were made by Austin Brown, Tony Francis, and Micah Gregory and pass completions by Andy Rockelli, David Bernhardt, Mike Rogers, and Kyle Bailey. Devon Gaby had a key fumble recovery to keep the first quarter drive alive. Mike Rogers, Kevin Bailey and Austin Brown all chalked up interceptions.

OCT. 23, 2010- SUNGAZETTE.COM

Patriots Overcome Early 6-0 Deficit

by DAVE FACINOLI, Staff Writer

At the end of the first quarter last night, the National District was temporarily turned on its end as the host Wakefield Warriors led the first-place Yorktown Patriots, 6-0. By halftime, however, things had returned to normal. Yorktown led 21-6 en route to a 39-13 victory.

With the win, Yorktown (7-1, 5-0) remained in sole possession of first place in the district, and Wakefield fell to 1-7, 1-4. In the Oct. 22 contest, Wakefield controlled play in the first quarter and took a 6-0 lead on a two-yard scoring run by quarterback Drew Powell.

In the second period, Yorktown quarterback Jordan Smith (9 of 15 or 231 yards, four touchdowns) threw scoring passes covering 33 yards to Kyle Bailey and 18 to David Bernhardt. Also in that period, Tony Francis (68 yards rushing) had a 21-yard scoring run and Michael Dola kicked three extra points.

In the second half, Kevin Bailey and Bernhardt caught two more TD passes of 39 and 84 yards, and Khalil Doles (128 yards rushing) had an eight-yard TD run.

OCT. 30, 2010- SUNGAZETTE.COM

Yorktown Clinches District Championship

by Dave Facinoli

Making good on a goal set at the end of last season, the Yorktown Patriots clinched the National District championship last night. The Patriots (8-1, 6-0) did so with a 28-14 home victory over the Mount Vernon Majors.

The outright district crown is the Patriots’ first since 2003. Overall, the high school team has won eight district titles (three outright and five shared) since the creation of the league in 1994. Yorktown shared the championship with Edison in 2006.

“The outright district champs. That’s kind of cool,” Yorktown coach Bruce Hanson said. “These things are hard to win, but we really thought we had a chance this year. It’s nice to win it outright.”

Yorktown has one game remaining in the regular season on Friday, Nov. 5 against Arlington rival Washington-Lee. After that game, the Patriots will likely be the No. 2 or 3 seed in the Northern Region Division 5 playoffs.

In the win against Mount Vernon, Kyle Bailey led the Patriots. He returned the game’s opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and caught scoring passes of 28 and 55 yards from Jordan Smith. Tony Francis had a one-yard scoring run for Yorktown and Mason Hitt kicked four extra points.

The Patriots led 21-0 at halftime.“I got kind of conservative with the playing calling in the second half,” Hanson said. “Our defense did a good job. Their touchdowns were kind of on fluke plays and tipped passes.” The victory was Yorktown’s sixth in a row this season.