New coach Hyppolite, Hallandale face test
HALLANDALE BEACH — When the Hallandale Chargers met St. Thomas Aquinas last season, it turned out to be one of the more epic games of the season in Broward County.
St. Thomas (2-1), ranked seventh nationally by Max-Preps, has remained powerful. But much has changed at Hallandale (2-1) as the two teams prepare to square off again tonight at Brian Piccolo Stadium.
In the clash between the eventual Class 7A state champion Raiders and the Chargers, who made it to the 5A regional finals, Hallandale quarterback Tyler Huntley threw for four touchdowns and 468 yards, 222 of them to star WR Joshua Hammond.
It wasn’t enough, as Trevon Grimes scored the game-winning TD inAquinas’ 36-28 win.
The architect of the Chargers’ success, coach Dameon Jones, resigned in December. The Chargers also waved goodbye to a school-record 21 seniors who earned football scholarships, including Huntley (now playing at Utah) and Hammond (Florida).
Hallandale, hoping to pick up where the 2015 Chargers left off, hired a coach with a championship pedigree.
Benedict Hyppolite served as an assistant for Miami Booker T. Washington’s Tornadoes, helping guide the team to the past three of its current run of four straight state titles. He also played on the Tornadoes’ 2007 title team.
Helping Hyppolite, 26, are a slew of assistants who also won state titles: assistant head coach Anthony Collins (Pace, 2005), defensive coordinator Derek Richburg (Miami Northwestern, 1998), WR coach Khalil Jones (Northwestern, 2001), LB coach John Brown (Booker T., 2008), DL coach Donald Heaven (Carol City, 1996 and 1997), OL coach Rudy Taylor (Chaminade, 2003), assistant LB coach Quinton Swang (Northwestern, 1998) and assistant OL coach Daniel Jerome (Booker T., 2012).
Hyppolite and his staff run the same “Fun-n-Gun” offense that’s been so effective for Booker T.
“The philosophy is the same,” Hyppolite said. “Continue to be aggressive, continue to play fast, continue to air it out, and when the box is less [crowded], we’re going to run the ball and just have fun.”
Junior QB Legend Moore is excited about facing St. Thomas, as the Chargers already pulled off one upset, downing Deerfield Beach to open the season.
“That’s like a test for us to see where we’re at,” he said.
Moore will distribute the ball to playmakers such as senior wideout Shemar Thornton, freshman RB Tywan Cash, freshman WR Thaiu Jones-Bell and junior WR Julian Holmes.
The Chargers defense features linebackers Divyne Adderson and Nicholas Reed stopping the run to allow DBs Treyonn Lane and Willie White to create turnovers on the back end.
Cobras visit IMG
Before Boyd Anderson (3-0) has its district showdown with Dillard (3-1), the Cobras get quite the challenge on the road against Bradenton IMG Academy, ranked second nationally by USA Today and Max Preps.
Bucks-Colts in 11-8 A clash
Deerfield Beach (1-2) returns to Broward this week for its district opener at Coral Springs. The Colts are 3-0 and coming off a bye.
Heritage Patriots gets back at it
The Patriots (4-0) had a second to come up for air, cruising over 0-4 Coconut Creek after a tough opening stretch. Now American Heritage returns to the weekly challenge, hosting a Miami Norland team that just gave Class 6A No. 1 and four-time reigning state champ Miami Central a run for its money.