They started with 22 players the first season, a group that has dwindled to a remaining handful of seniors who remember the rebirth of Flint Hill football.
After an 11-year hiatus the program was re-instated in 2003 as a junior varsity team before moving up to varsity the next season. From that modest one-win campaign the Huskies have gradually built themselves into a contender in the Mid-Atlantic Conference. Against Maret on Homecoming this Saturday afternoon, Flint Hill has a chance to move into first place alone and give itself a shot at an outright championship when it closes out league play against rival Potomac School on Nov. 4.
“It’s a chance for us to make history,” said senior offensive lineman Kelly Halpin. “I had never even played football before my freshman year. I think a lot of us were that way. But we stuck with it. It’s looking like the best decision I’ve ever made.”
With steady leadership from Halpin and fellow seniors Mike D’Onorfio, Zach Ghannam and Mike Walton — four of the remaining holdovers from that initial junior varsity season — the Huskies are 5-1 overall and 2-0 against MAC competition. They have been bolstered by the addition of wide receiver/defensive back Emani Fenton (O’Connell transfer) and the emergence of sophomore running back Arlandis Harvey (450 rushing yards, six TDs). Junior wide receiver Shane Savage (O’Connell transfer) has over 400 receiving yards and has scored at least one touchdown in every game.
Flint Hill has made a habit of rallying for wins this year, including last week’s 34-14 MAC victory over Sidwell Friends where it trailed 14-0 in the first half.
“Before we thought we might win a game like that,” said Halpin. “Now, we expect to win every game we play. That’s the biggest difference of all.”
MAC Attack
» Maret (5-1, 3-0) at Flint Hill (5-1, 2-0), Saturday, 2:30
» Maret hasn’t won a Mid-Atlantic Conference title since the conference was established in 1994.
» Maret is led by QB Sam Mulroy, who has rushed for more than 400 yards and thrown for more than 900 yards so far. His favorite target is Alex Kennedy, who caught 10 passes for 137 yards in Maret’s 10-0 win Friday over St. James.
