Hawks Looking to Build on Past Golden League Gridiron Success
By Donjai Richardson
The Knight Hawks football team had a great year last year, finishing 6-1 in the Golden League and crowned co-champions along with Quartz Hill, and hosted a playoff game to one of the best winning teams in the past decade.
Knight fell in the first round of the CIF Southern Section playoffs last season to Westlake 58-8, who went on to make it to the championship game only to lose to Oaks Christian 29-28. Knight head coach Corey Guilfoos took the defeat as a learning experience and motivation for this year.
“The guys were all down about it, but for us it was a great opportunity. You get to play one of the better teams in the country on your home field,” coach Guilfoos said. “Very few times in your life you can say you went up against some of the best teams. For us we always look for that challenge. We got to see what we need to work on as players and coaches.”
Like most varsity championship-winning teams, Knight lost a lot of its key players like middle linebacker Jordan Stanton, tight end Chris Walton, offensive/defensive linemen Daniel and Diego Marquez, and All-Golden League Lineman of the Year Eddie Rivera.
“Well,” Guilfoos said, “we lost a good group of seniors, we graduated 29 guys, so for us it's all about getting back to the basics. Again in high school football the teams that wins all comes down to the fundamentals.
“We still want to be disciplined," Guilfoos added. "And I think we get better at teaching that each year. We lost a good leader, Stanton, not one guy could replace somebody like that. It's going to take a good group of seniors to fill that role … we're going to have to rely on a group of people.”
Knight welcomes back returning wide receiver Ronnie Jones, running backs Alonte Riley and Corey Finister, offensive lineman David Felmming, middle linebacker Kajhan Harris and quaterbacks Xavier Poutre and Tony Dawson. Poutre and Dawson are competiting for the starting position.
“These two quarterbacks really battled, since last year we played two quarterbacks,” Guilfoos said. “Last year we played two quarterbacks, Donte Castaneda and Robert Sterling, and both of them left, but the good thing about it was that they were both good leaders, so these guys got to see what it took to be a leader at the quarterback position.”
Knight defeated Boron 37-26 in the season opener on Sep. 2 and will open Golden League play on Sep. 30 at Eastside.
KNIGHT HIGH FOOTBALL
2010 RECORD: 6-5 overall Overall, 6-1 Golden League
TOP RETURNERS: Ronnie Jones, Alonte Riley, Corey Finister, David Felmming, Kajhan Harris, Xavier Poutre and Tony Dawson.
NEWCOMERS: None.
2011 SEASON OPENER: 37-26 win over Boron on Sep. 2
2011 LEAGUE OPENER: Fri. Sep. 30, 7 PM at Eastside
2011 SCHEDULE
09/09 7 PM vs. Boron
09/16 7 PM at Canyon
09/23 7 PM vs. Saugus
09/30 7 PM at Eastside
10/07 7 PM at Antelope Valley
10/14 7 PM vs. Highland
10/21 7 PM at Palmdale
10/28 7 PM vs. Quartz Hill
11/04 7 PM at Lancaster
11/10 7 PM vs. Littlerock
Knight High football coach Corey Guilfoos looks to lead his team to the top of the Golden league in 2011.
