By Eli Locke

Sentry Staff Reporter

Last season, the varsity football team went undefeated in the regular season and, after avenging last year’s defeat to South County, suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Stonebridge in the Virginia Division Five Regional Final. Next year, the team will not only be challenged by trying to fill spots for departing seniors: but also the two coaches that have left the team.

Former linebacker coach Jamie Aubrey and varsity defensive coordinator Wayne Hogwood have decided to leave Yorktown’s football program to join cross-county rivals Wakefield for the 2013-2014 fall season. Aubrey teaches physical education at McKinley Elementary School; Hogwood teaches physical education at Jamestown Elementary School. At Wakefield, Hogwood will assume the role of head varsity coach, while Aubrey will be head junior varsity coach as well as varsity linebacker coach.

The move makes sense for Hogwood, who attended and played football at Wakefield during his high school days.  As for Aubrey, his move was prompted both by Hogwood and by a new challenge.

“Coach Hogwood called me and told me he has accepted the head coaching job at Wakefield and wanted to know if I was interested in joining him.  I think the challenge of turning around a football program really intrigued me,” mentioned Aubrey.

According to sophomore Jack Storrs, a middle linebacker this past season on the varsity team, Hogwood’s move was no surprise.

“It didn’t shock me that Hogwood left because he attended Wakefield in the past… I wish them the best,” stated Storrs.

Hogwood and Aubrey have a tough task ahead of them: Wakefield’s varsity team has not had a winning record since going 6-4 back in 1983. Under Keith Powell, the Warriors went 0-10 this past season. However, this has not affected Hogwood’s optimism for the future.

“I am extremely excited about this. I get to put some green back on [Wakefield’s school color]. Being a head coach is something I really want to do,” expressed Hogwood.

It is clear the two new coaches have many challenges ahead of them due to the program’s recent lack of success, and Aubrey is aware of this.

“It doesn’t happen over night.  We’re getting better everyday but it’s going to take some time,” he noted.

With the programs going in opposite directions in recent years, the Patriots have beaten the Warriors by a combined score of 127-6 over the past two seasons.

Aubrey realizes that currently, Yorktown has the upper hand.

“The games haven’t been competitive in recent years. Our goal at Wakefield is to go out every game, compete and win ball games…At Wakefield we are trying to imitate Yorktown’s tremendous success,” stated Aubrey.

However, Aubrey still expressed optimism for the current Wakefield program.

“I think Wayne [Hogwood] has a plan to turn things around, but that can’t happen without hard work.  It doesn’t happen over night.  We’re getting better everyday but it’s going to take some time…I think by the time the season comes around we’ll be ready to compete every Friday,” he added.

Regardless, it is clear the coaches will be missed. Storrs is grateful for what Aubrey and Hogwood have taught him in their time at Yorktown.

“I learned a lot from them. They had such a high football IQ and really helped develop us as players. They were always on top of things during games and let us know what to do,” stated Storrs.

However, this feeling is reciprocal, as Aubrey is appreciative of the things he has learned during his tenure under current, long-standing varsity head coach Bruce Hanson. Aubrey praised Hanson’s ability to bring the student body together over football games, among other things.

“I learned more than I ever thought I could [from Hanson] in the four years I coached at Yorktown.  From X’s and O’s to how to interact with the student athletes, he was a tremendous help.  I hope to bring everything I learned from him over to Wakefield,” Aubrey said.

Hanson’s experience and history have a calming effect on the locker room in times of coaching change with the likes of Aubrey and Hogwood leaving, added Storrs.

“Hanson makes a world of a difference,” remarked Storrs.

All in all, the Patriots will be without two intelligent and influential coaches for the next football season.