Poquoson (Bull) Islanders 12-1, 9-0 Bay Rivers, Reg. 1 ADM : 866
head coach : Elliot Duty - 5th year, 34-25, 0-10 debut in 06
alum; was an asst. the prev. 10 years, was def. coord., Hokie
PHS opened in 1910 ... 100th anniversary year Offense : Wing-T
9/03 Dinwiddie 10-30 Loss 10-30
open
9/17 @ Lafayette 29- 9
9/24 Grafton 7- 0
10/01 Jamestown 45- 0
10/09 @ York 28- 0 SAT
10/15 @ Warhill 58-21
10/22 Bruton 40- 0
10/30 @ Tabb 28- 7 SAT
11/05 New Kent 41- 0
11/12 @ Smithfield 42-13 318-50
328-80
11/19 Nottoway 27-6
11/27 James Monroe 42-7 SAT 69-13 397-93
12/4 John Handley SAT
Dinwiddie is 12-0... Generals were state runners-up in '08
James Monroe went 9-3, Grafton 8-3
best scoring O & D numbers of the decade for them
2003 - scored 395 in 13 ganes = 30.3 ppg
last year, scored just 19.5 ppg
this year, 33.1 ppg
2008 - allowed 102 in 11 = 9.3 ppg
last year, gave up 21 ppg
this year, 7.75 & led the state with 5 shutouts,
incuding 8-3 teams Grafton & Bruton
knock off the 30 by Dinwiddie, and that's 63/11 = 5.73
Playoffs since 2006 : 6-4
09 lost in 2nd rd. 08 lost in 1st rd.
07 lost in semis to runner-up Monticello 46-7
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04 beat John Handley in semis 36-34 on Sat. 12/4
lost to Gretna in the finals 40-14
03 lost in semis to runner-up Monticello 35-33
01 lost in semis to state champ Harrisonburg 37-14
Poquoson has faced 8 players who have rushed for more than 1,000 yards,
at least 6 of whom surpassed that mark during the regular season. Those 8
netted a total of 298 yards against Poq., or an avg. of 38 yards per game each.
And it’s not like they didn’t try. The 90 carries among the eight – which comes
out to 3.3 yards per try – averages more than 10 carries per guy.
But for a defense that has allowed averages of 5.5 points and 127 yards in the
past 11 games, stopping the better running backs is a task the Islanders relish.
In the semis, they'll face Handley's Trae Peck, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior,
has rushed for 1,673 yards and 18 touchdowns. He ran for 228 yards and five
touchdowns in the Judges 49-20 win over Warren County in the Region II title.
Cody Hutchison, a 5-foot-9, 170-lb. Sr., led the Islanders w/ 1,035 rushing
yards (1,195 yards total) and 12 TDs on a Bay Rivers District-high 10.1 YPC.
He had a career game against Nottoway, rushing 11 times for 216 yards and
two touchdowns — including gains of 31, 31, 55 and 71
His dad, Buddy, is a Chief Master Sergeant stationed at an Air Force base in
Iraq. This year will be the first time since Cody was 11 they won't be
together during the holidays.
TOP RETURNEES:
QB/CB Tee McConnell 5-10, 170, Sr. RB/LB Cody Hutchison 5-9, 170
RB/LB Dylan Hill 6-2, 185, Jr. RB/LB Thomas Garris 5-9, 195, Sr.
OL/DL Dustin Edwards 6-0, 240, Jr. OL/DL Stephen Boyer 6-3, 260, Jr.
RB/DB Jay Diggs 5-8, 155, Jr. HB/MLB Luke Hill 5-10, 190, Sr.
TE/DE William Haskins 6-2, 225, Sr. PK Michael Lutz 5-11, 201, Sr.
A long list of key returnees from a regional runner-up team that lost very little begins with TE/DE William Haskins, a 6-2, 220-pound Sr. who should move increasingly onto the recruiting radar screen of state FCS (I-AA) schools as the season progresses.
Having your starting QB, Tee McConnell, under center for the third consecutive season is an incalculable advantage. And just to name a few other guys in this brief post, RB Cody Hutchison, LB Luke Hill and LB Dylan Hill could be among the best talents in the district at their primary positions this season.
OFFENSE: Including third-year starting QB McConnell, the Islanders have six guys who can run the ball in the Wing-T with almost equal effectiveness. All will play key roles on defense, so they will take turns running and resting on offense. The line is the biggest the Islanders have fielded in years, with five guys going 225 or better. Boyer and Edwards anchor the interior portion of the line, while Haskins is among the best tight ends in the area.
DEFENSE: Haskins is simply a force who cannot be ignored up front, while the Hill brothers give the Islanders a rugged middle linebacker tandem to rival the talented duo over at Tabb. McConnell will spend more time at cornerback this season, after moving mostly to safety last year, so he could near his nine interception total of 2008. Austin Turner (5-7/150/Fr.) is already looking comfortable at one cornerback spot and is undoubtedly a future star.
Steven Bowyer leads an experienced line on which all of the players got stronger by dedicating themselves to the weight room this summer. Strong participation in the offseason workouts, and the leadership of guys like Bowyer and Haskins, are signs the Islanders are poised to improve upon the chemistry missing until a strong late run last season.
COACH SAYS: "We're going to spread the wealth around on offense, but try to get the ball to the guy with the hot hand when we get to the fourth quarter. We're a year bigger and stronger, so I think we'll be harder to manhandle."