Dunbar, which reigns in the West division, is returning the majority of its team. The East looks to be a tighter race, with H.D. Woodson Senior High School being the favorite to repeat as the East representative in the DCIAA championship game. Dunbar prevailed over H.D. Woodson 16-14 in the Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving Day 2001.

Ballou Senior High School is expected to push Woodson for the top spot in the East. Ballou’s junior varsity Knights were champions last year and most of the squad is moving up to varsity.

DCIAA teams opened their seasons Aug.30 and Aug. 31 with non-league games. Here’s how the 10 varsity squads stack up this fall.

Head Coach: Willie Stewart

2001 Record: 5-5

Key Players: Michael Dorsey (senior), quarterback; Antwon Hines (senior), running back; William Jackson (senior), tight end

Outlook: After playing last season’s home games on the road, the Indians return to their home turf this year – still without their promised new stadium – hoping to improve from a .500 overall record on the strength of their junior varsity program. The Indians wound up the 2001 season with a 4-1 record for league play.

"We have to come of age," said head coach Willie Stewart. "We’re not as strong as I would like. …I wish I could say we’ll challenge for the championship, but we hope to surprise some folks."

Stewart said he expects the Indians’ offense to be strong, with senior Michael Dorsey at the helm for a second year and two other seniors, Antwon Hines at running back and William Jackson at tight end, expected to stand out with consistent gains.

"Everybody lost a lot of [last year’s varsity] players through graduation," noted Stewart, as he predicted "a toss-up for the eastern division" championship. He expects Woodson’s Warriors to be his team’s toughest opponent this year.

Anacostia started its season Aug. 30 at Roosevelt and travels to Glen Mills, Pa., on Sept. 6. Homecoming is Oct. 25 against Ballou.

Head Coach: Noel Cyrus

2001 Record: 5-6

Key Players: Julius Highland (senior), guard/defensive back; Tyrone Williams (senior), defensive back; Niko Scott (freshman), quarterback

Outlook: Despite their lack of experienced players – especially with a freshman, Niko Scott, as starting quarterback – the Knights are still very optimistic about this season.

"I don’t think that our lack of experience will hinder us from going to the playoffs," said assistant coach David Venable.

The Knights lost quarterback Lincoln Shanklin, wide receiver Daryl Morrow and offensive linemen James Chance, Mike Scott and Raishawn Jones to graduation.

In 2001 Ballou beat Eastern and then lost to Anacostia, which put them behind in the playoff race. The Knights came back to beat H.D. Woodson with two seconds left in the game when Shanklin hooked up with Morrow for a touchdown pass. They were tied with DCIAA champion Dunbar 8-8 in a playoff game, but lost in overtime.

Other key players include a couple of senior All-DCIAA First Team selections: 6-foot-1, 340-pound offensive guard/defensive lineman Julius Highland and 5-foot-9, 160-pound defensive back Tyrone Williams. Both were selections in 2001, with Highland also selected in 2000.

"The East [Conference] will be very competitive. We need three conference wins to qualify for the playoffs, and I feel confident that we will win the three that we need," Venable said. "We want to make the Turkey Bowl, which will be held at Ballou along with the rest of the playoffs."

Ballou opened its season Aug. 30 at Coolidge and will visit Beckley, W.Va., Wilson on Sept. 6. Homecoming is Nov. 2 against Spingarn.

Head Coach: Robert Richards

2001 Record: 0-10

Key Players: Sherman Jenkins (senior), offensive lineman/defensive lineman; Kevin Robinson (senior), wide receiver/defensive back; Michael Henson (senior), wide receiver/defensive back; Roland Williams (junior), quarterback

Outlook: Coming off a winless season, head coach Robert Richards attributes the Clerks’ dismal performance to inexperience and limited numbers. At the end of last season, Cardozo had only 18 players on the varsity team.

The team graduated four seniors and looks for this year’s seniors to step up. Four members of last year’s offense are returning, as well as five members of the defense. Key players are senior offensive and defensive lineman Sherman Jenkins, senior wide receivers and defensive backs Kevin Robinson and Michael Henson, and junior quarterback Roland Williams, who moves up from the junior varsity.

"I hope we are much improved from last year, and we can win a few games," Richards said.

Cardozo hosted Carroll to open its season Aug. 30 and visits H.D. Woodson on Sept. 7. Homecoming is Oct. 25 against Coolidge.

Head Coach: Jarrell Robinson

2001 Record: 4-5

Key Players: Sean Hodge (senior), quarterback; Michael King (senior), linebacker; Terrance Dance (senior), safety; Osiris Walcott (senior), cornerback; Leroy Holmes (sophomore), offensive lineman; Haymond Johnson (junior), offensive lineman; Sterling Gaston (senior), wide receiver

Outlook: Coolidge ended last year with a 4-5 season in which its biggest disappointment was a 6-0 loss to Roosevelt, which kept the Colts out of the playoffs.

"When we didn’t get into the playoffs when we lost to Roosevelt 6-0, that turned our season around," said head coach Jarrrell Robinson.

Highlights of the Colts’ 2001 season included winning their homecoming game and going to Chester, Pa., where they beat Chester’s football squad (a rematch at Coolidge is set for Sept. 14).

The Colts graduated four key seniors, including quarterback Antonio Pixley, middle linebacker Jed Burgess, defensive lineman Carl Stanley and running back Tyrone Adams.

Senior Sean Hodge will get the nod at quarterback this season, with senior wide receiver Sterling Gaston being one of his key receivers. Junior lineman Haymond Johnson and sophomore lineman Leroy Holmes will be keys to providing protection for Hodge.

Seniors Michael King, Terrance Dance and Osiris Walcott will anchor the Colts’ defense. King will lead the linebacking corps, with Dance and Walcott anchoring the secondary.

"I hope to do better this season. I think we can win more games if we can get the kids out earlier," Robinson said. "Sometimes players want to come out [to practice] when school starts. You can’t do that; you need them out here in August."

Robinson said he looks at all games with the same importance, but he conceded that league games are important because they set up teams for the playoffs.

Coolidge opened at home Aug 30 against Ballou and hosts Spingarn on Sept. 7. Homecoming is Nov. 9 against Wilson.

Head Coach: Craig Jeffries

2001 Record: 9-2

Key Players: Vernon Davis (senior), tight end/safety; Dominique Blackwell (senior), center; Justin Alderhold (senior), offensive lineman

Outlook: The Crimson Tide won the DCIAA championship for the fourth season in a row and they look to stay on top, despite the loss of four key players who will continue their football careers on the college level. Nose guard Larry Brown will play at Kent State University, linebacker Luke Kane at Syracuse University, linebacker Eric Ruth at West Virginia University and offensive lineman Sadi Williams at Bryant College.

A major contributor this year for the Crimson Tide is 6-foot-4, 220-pound tight end/safety Vernon Davis, who was an All-Metro Second Team selection and is a pre-season All American. Vernon, a senior, is currently being talked about as being one of the top players in the country and has already received more than 25 scholarship offers.

Senior running back Lavon Hines is another key player and his linemen are just as important to Dunbar’s offense, as senior center Dominique Blackwell and offensive lineman Justin Alderhold anchor the line.

"I expect to compete for the championship again," said head coach Craig Jeffries. "This is probably my strongest team physically. We look to be the team to beat on the road to the championship."

Dunbar began its season Aug. 31 by hosting Harrisburg, Pa., and travels to Good Counsel on Sept. 6. Homecoming is Nov. 1 against Cardozo.

Head Coach: Darnell Irby

2001 Record: 3-7

Key Players: Kevin Ball (senior), running back; Desmond Johnson (senior), offensive lineman; Sadd Austin (senior), linebacker; Rafael Johnson (senior), offensive lineman

Outlook: The Eastern Senior High School Ramblers’ 2001 season was a learning experience. The Ramblers’ varsity squad had few seniors: wide receiver Dominique Saunders, cornerback Tyrone White, safety Tarik Bundy, and offensive/defensive lineman Denarmbi Marshall.

This year, all but these players are returning and head coach Darnell Irby says he is optimistic about the upcoming season.

"We had a young team. Hopefully we got a year’s worth of experience," Irby said.

Key players for the Ramblers include senior tailback Kevin Ball, senior offensive lineman Desmond Johnson, senior linebacker Saad Austin and senior offensive lineman Rafael Johnson.

"I should see improvement," Irby said. "I need to fill key holes, but I’m very optimistic."

Eastern’s first game was Aug. 30 at Cumberland, Md., and travels to Wilson on Sept. 6. Homecoming is Nov. 1 against Anacostia.

Head Coach: Daryl Tilghman

2001 Record: 6-5

Key Players: William Aull, WR/S-Jr., Brighton Caesar, LB-Sr. and Emanuel Prince, LB-Sr.

Outlook: The Rough Riders will be going through a rebuilding phase this year, after a season during which the defense shut out all of its DCIAA opponents except for Dunbar. Roosevelt lost two standouts to graduation in linebacker/safety Anthony Maddox and middle linebacker Thamer Davis.

Roosevelt’s 2001 season ended with a hard-fought 15-14 playoff loss to DCIAA champion Dunbar. The Rough Riders were down to their third-string quarterback and were driving at Dunbar’s 10-yard line with less than two minutes to go in the game, when Dunbar blitzed and caused the Rough Riders to fumble. Dunbar recovered the fumble to secure the victory.

This year, Roosevelt will start freshman Maurice Stevens at quarterback. Junior wide receiver William Aull is another key player, along with senior linebackers Brighton Caesar and Emanuel Prince.

"We are going to be young this year. We are starting a freshman quarterback," said head coach Daryl Tilghman. "It’s a rebuilding year; the majority of our team is unproven. We just have got to take it game by game."

Roosevelt began play Aug. 30 with a home game against Anacostia and travels to Downington, Pa., on Sept. 6. Homecoming is Nov. 1 against Coolidge.

Head Coach: Steve Powell

2001 Record: 2-7

Key Players: Tommy Hughes (sophomore), quarterback; Anjedwon Jeter (junior), running back; Matthew Queen (senior), nose guard; Darnell Williams (senior), defensive back

Outlook: Spingarn is a young team that will rely on players who have been playing for the last nine to 10 years. The Green Wave looks to build up its defense this year after having a down season as a result of the squad’s lack of experience. The defense will rely on 6-foot-5, 295-pound All-DCIAA defensive end Matthew Queen, who will be moving to nose guard this year.

"We expect Queen to be a force on defense," said head coach Steve Powell. "We are looking to build the defense around him."

Powell also expects big things out of junior running back Anjedwon Jeter, who emerged as the Green Wave’s star ground gainer in the last game of the 2001 season as Jeter rushed for 137 yards against Eastern.

"We are looking for the skilled players to carry us," Powell said. "The bulk of the responsibility will fall on Jeter. We feel he can be an excellent running back."

Spingarn opened its season Aug. 31 against Wyoming East in New Richmond, Va., and travels to Coolidge on Sept. 7. Homecoming is Nov. 8 against Eastern.

Head Coach: Horace Fleming

2001 Record: 3-7

Key Players: Jeremy Williams (junior), offensive tackle/defensive tackle; Trulon Henry (senior), running back/free safety; Deloren Young (senior), quarterback

Outlook: Wilson graduated running back John Boyd, center Josh Majors and cornerback Derrick McCall, but head coach Horace Fleming said filling key holes with experienced players will make the season promising.

"I think we were young [last year] at key positions and we lacked leadership," Fleming said. "We are bringing back kids who have had one year of experience. They will call on each other in a team effort."

Wilson’s key moment and best game in 2001, according to Fleming, was when – in a losing effort – his Tigers held DCIAA champion Dunbar scoreless for three quarters.

The Tigers will be led this year by junior offensive/defensive tackle Jeremy Williams, senior running back/free safety Trulon Henry and senior quarterback Deloren Young.

"This season looks promising. If we get a few surprises to come in and help, it could be key," Fleming said. "People with experience in key positions should work well. I expect to challenge for the championship this year, if things come together."

Wilson opened at home game Aug. 31 against Gonzaga and hosts Eastern on Sept. 6. Homecoming is Oct. 19 against Cardozo.

Head Coach: Greg Fuller

2001 Record: 6-5

Key Players: Richard Fitzugh (senior), running back; Dajuan Stover (junior), running back; Brandon Dow (senior), free safety

Outlook: The Warriors graduated offensive tackle Traveon Smith, guard/defensive tackle Darell Minor and defensive back Terrick Smith, but look to finish relatively high in the rankings this season. The Warriors had a one-point victory over Roosevelt in the playoffs, which got the team over the hump and into last season’s championship game, which they lost to Dunbar, noted head coach Greg Fuller.

This year’s squad will be led by a strong secondary, anchored by senior free safety Brandon Dow, who led the team in interceptions in 2001. Senior cornerback Roland Minor and junior strong safety Donte Herrod also are key players in the secondary.

Other key players include senior running back Richard Fitzugh and junior running back Dajuan Stover.

"It should be a good season for us, with every player returning except for three," Fuller said.

Woodson opened Aug. 30 at Berwick in Pennsylvania and hosts Cardozo on Sept. 7. Homecoming is Nov. 1 against Wilson.

Copyright 2002, The Common Denominator