Team: Falls Church Jaguars (National District)
Coach: Said Aziz (2nd Year)
2010 Record: 2-8 (0-7 District)
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Last Game: Loss 42-7 at Jeb Stuart – 11/5/2011
Key Departures: DE/TE Ali Salimi, DB/RB Kevin Mulumba, DE/TE Matt Evans
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Key Returnees: RB Dayshawn Meadows, DL/OL Kenric Lofton, WR/DB Richard Henderson, RB/LB Marco Ferrufino
Returning Offensive Starters: 4
Returning Defensive Starters: 4
Position Strengths: RB/OL
Key Games: Sept. 1 @ Thomas Jefferson, Sept. 23 @ Edison, Oct. 14 vs. Wakefield, Nov. 4 vs. Jeb Stuart
Overview:
“Limit The Mistakes.” Those words have been heard throughout the Falls Church football complex all off-season, and will continue to be heard, until second year head coach, Said Aziz, is convinced that his players fully embody the meaning. In 2010, Aziz’s first year at Falls Church, the Jaguars averaged five turnovers per contest. While that statistic is unsettling, Jaguar players were transitioning from the spread offense they ran just a year before under then head coach, Anthony Parker, to the newly installed option offense. Aziz and the rest of his coaching staff retooled the offense against this off-season, and implemented the multi-back offense, which will be showcased this season.
Youth is the topic of conversation among Falls Church coaches. The Jaguars have a combined total of 12 juniors and seniors on the roster heading into 2011 season, and 31 sophomores. With a team this young, senior and junior leadership must be shown by the team’s handful of veterans.
Dayshawn Meadows (Sr.) headlines a stable of Jaguar running backs. Last season, Meadows was named Second Team All-National District and rushed for nearly 850 yards, and coaches expect for him to accomplish even more this season. Six-foot tall wide receiver Richard Henderson (Jr.) leads this year’s crop of Falls Church receivers. Aziz has yet to name a starting quarterback, but hopes that a clear favorite emerges before the team concludes summer camp later this month.
Kenric Lofton (Sr.), 6’2, 280lbs., will anchor the Falls Church defensive front. Lofton posses a rare blend of strength and agility that will give opposing centers fits. Three other starters from last year’s squad will join Lofton. LB Marco Ferrufino (Sr.) and DB Richard Henderson (Jr.), who also plays wide receiver, will lead the linebackers and secondary.
Breakdown:
Aziz definitely took his lumps in his first year in the National District. Due to a number of reasons, mainly including the lack of proper personnel, the option offense failed to produce yards and points for the Jaguars. Falls Church scored seven or less points in eight games last season. Aziz’s switch to the multi-back offense shows his commitment to building a winning program. Despite the lack of veteran leadership among the team, the upperclassmen they do have are good leaders and will assist the team’s younger players throughout the season. While a seven or eight win season may be perhaps too unrealistic, the Jags could triple their win total from last year and be a legitimate threat in 2012.
Coach’s Corner:
“We had a good group of kids last year. Them having a new coach and a new philosophy was a little hard at times for them to grasp on and we had our struggles,” said Aziz.
“But this year, we are bigger, faster and stronger. The kids know the system and they are excited. We are a young team but there is definitely a foundation there. If we limit the mistakes, we will be in the position to win a lot of games in the fourth quarter.”
