A year ago, Dan Hostetler?s season came crashing down. After a one-loss regular season, his River Hill High football team lost a heartbreaker in the Class 3A state semifinals.
This year?s team hasn?t forgotten that, and neither has Hostetler.
“We really felt that loss because we had that game the whole time, and we let up a little,” Hostetler said. “This year, we realized there?s no room for a slip or let-up.”
Hostetler has taken it upon himself to make sure there are no slip-ups this year.
“He wants to be involved in everything,” Hawks coach Brian Van Deusen said.
And he is. The only units on which the 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior does not see time are the kickoff and kickoff return teams, but Hostetler, a quarterback/safety/punter, said he might join those units tonight when River Hill (12-0) hosts Franklin (10-2) in a 3A state semifinal.
Hostetler has thrown for 1,012 yards and 14 touchdowns, but he enjoys playing defense, particularly if he makes a mistake on offense.
“I just love being able to take it out on the other team,” said Hostetler, who is second on the team with 89 tackles. “I hate sitting on the sideline watching.”
Last season, he played linebacker, but this season, he?s been moved to safety. It has paid off, with nine interceptions.
“Putting him back there in center field, he breaks well on the ball and he?s got great hands,” Van Deusen said. “But he?s also a hitter.”
That hard-hitting mentality serves him well in another of the three sports in which he excels ? lacrosse. The spring sport has helped him with his football field vision.
Hostetler is being recruited by roughly 20 Division I programs ? 10 each in lacrosse and football. He could follow his brother Ben, a former River Hill quarterback who now plays both sports at Georgetown.
“Lacrosse and quarterback are kind of the same ? knowing where people are on the move at all times,” said Dan, the youngest of three brothers.
The Hostetler name is something that has followed Dan?s family. His uncle Jeff was an NFL quarterback for 12 seasons.
But the Howard County family is starting to come out of Uncle Jeff?s shadow. Eldest brother Matt played football at Brown. Cousin Josh, Dan?s favorite target last season, holds a number of receiving records at River Hill. Then there?s Luke, Josh?s younger brother, who is a junior varsity quarterback.
“I guess you could say there are some expectations,” Dan said. “People get annoyed with it, like, ?When?s the last Hostetler coming through??”
