Loudoun Football 2008: Dominion

For Titans, Something Old and Something New

By Paul Tenorio

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

It was business as usual Monday morning on the practice fields behind Dominion High School. The team was split into several position groups around the field going through different drills when new head coach Karl Buckwalter suddenly stopped and headed towards the stairs that led back up to the building.

He whistled once, then twice, shouting out assistant’s names and signaling for them to bring their groups back to where he stood. When his team had gathered behind him, Buckwalter walked over to his new wife, Patti, whom he married on August 10, and her two sons, Brandon and Michael, and introduced them to the team.

"We’re a part of your family," Buckwalter said. "And now you’re a part of ours."

It was a bonding moment for a team that is undergoing a change in identity under Buckwalter – who built winners in previous stints at McLean (1990-99) and Colonial Forge (1999-2003) – and a reflection of the fresh start the new regime brings following five consecutive losing seasons since the opening of the school in 2003.

"I told them I was getting married on Sunday," Buckwalter said. "And that my honeymoon was … at Dominion on Monday."

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Dominion Season Preview

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Chris Taylor will lead Dominion at quarterback. Last spring as a junior, Taylor was a first-team all-district selection as a third baseman. (Katherine Frey)

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Dominion sophomore running back Deandre Reaves returns after rushing for 1,280 yards and scoring 17 total touchdowns last year. (Katherine Frey)

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Karl Buckwalter enters his first year as coach at Dominion after successfully building programs at McLean and Colonial Forge. (Katherine Frey)

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Junior middle linebacker Riley Sullivan is expected to be the leader of the Dominion defense this season. (Katherine Frey)

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Sophomore running back/defensive back Trey Baxter reels one in during football practice at Dominion. (Katherine Frey)

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Senior Henry Lobo, center, will be counted on to be one of Dominion's top playmakers this year. (Katherine Frey)

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Buckwalter, who has a career coaching record of 72-72, took over the program in February following the resignation of Mike Dougherty. The one-time Washington Post All-Met Coach of the Year has a reputation for rebuilding. In the early 1990s, he turned around a McLean program that had gone 1-29 in the three seasons before his hiring, leading the Highlanders to the playoffs in five consecutive seasons and capturing the Northern Region Division 5 title in 1995.

In 1999, Buckwalter moved to the newly opened Colonial Forge and after going 3-19 in the first three years, his team went 9-2 and won the Commonwealth District in 2002. Colonial Forge went 8-4 in 2003 before he resigned after the season.

Now at Dominion, Buckwalter said he hopes to continue that rebuilding trend by first shifting the mentality of a program that has never won more than four games in a season.

"My expectations are to start changing the culture here," Buckwalter said. "Changing the culture of 'hoping to win,' to 'expecting to win.' Once we do that and that happens and that permeates through and they believe in what we’re doing and what they’re doing, then the wins will come."

But while the transition in mentality begins off the field, on the field Buckwalter has several players with which to work as he looks to start winning games. The group is highlighted by the leading rusher in the Dulles District last year, Deandre Reaves. The sophomore tailback racked up 1,280 yards and 17 total touchdowns as a freshman.

Reaves bulked up in the offseason, working tirelessly in the weight room, according to Buckwalter, and the added muscle on his slight frame should help the young back as he likely once again carries the load for the Titans.

"He’s beyond his years as far as talent and he's a hard worker," Buckwalter said. "He's just blessed with a lot of skill. … He’s special."

Reaves will likely be helped by the addition of senior quarterback Chris Taylor. Taylor, a first-team all-district selection at third base for the baseball team last spring, had not played football since his freshman year but quickly established himself as the likely starter.

The 6-foot, 185-pound Taylor displayed a strong arm during practice, and with wide receivers Derrick Lewis and Aaron Good as well as tight end Andrew Russell, Dominion now has the threat of a passing game, meaning teams won’t be able to stack nine in the box to stop Reaves as they often did last season.

"That’s going to help us a lot because [defenses are] going to have to play honest," Reaves said. "If they key on the run … once the safeties creep up we can air it out."

But while Reaves and Taylor bring security to the offensive skill positions, Buckwalter focused much of the early part of practice with the offensive and defensive lines, where the Titans must work to improve. Dominion lacks size and experience in the trenches, and the development there will be vital for the program’s success.

"I think we're going to go as our line goes,” Buckwalter said. "And for me that's the biggest sense of urgency."

But with players such as seniors Henry Lobo (RB/DB) and Derek Geegbae (RB), sophomores Trey Baxter (RB/DB) and Alex Ward (OT) and junior Riley Sullivan (LB), Buckwalter has the base of a team on which to build.

That core is a start for Buckwalter, who repeated his goal of changing the mentality of the program before introducing another of his philosophies to sum up his hopes for where the program ends up.

"We have to make them adjust to us," he said. "And when that happens we’re going to win a bunch of ball games."

Tagged: 2008 Football Preview, Dominion High School, football, high school sports

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