Catonsville's Hylton Brothers Quietly Making a Name for Themselves

With all the different playmakers and personalities on Catonsville’s roster this year, there are two players you may not have noticed, but should.

Perhaps when you’re 5’6 apiece and only about a combined 300 pounds coupled with the fact that you don’t talk a big game, it’s easy to go on under the radar. But, that’s just the way brothers Josh and Joseth Hylton like it.

“We just like to show our actions on the field,” Josh said, not surprisingly straight and to the point.

And that they have, but, making the Hylton’s effort all the more remarkable is that despite their apparent lack of size, the duo plays the two positions on the field that draw not just contact, but full-on collisions, on practically every play.

At fullback Josh, a senior, is helping pave the way for a rushing attack that’s amassed over 1700 yards on the ground this season. He’s also made the most of his opportunities when handed the ball, carrying for over 400 yards and four touchdowns on just 42 attempts this year.

Meanwhile, Joseth, a junior in his first year on varsity, has fit right in to a linebacker spot vacated by former four-year starter Tyler Weedon. The Comets coaching staff estimates he’s easily in the top five on the team in tackles and he’s also returned an interception for a score.

The tandem is proving that size is hardly everything. In addition to a lot of hard work in the weight room, they’re profiting from aspects of the game that can’t be taught: heart, determination, speed, instincts and football IQ.

“They are a good model for anybody in the ninth and tenth grade who says ‘maybe I’m a little on the small and short side,’” head coach Rich Hambor said. “But, you can succeed at any level no matter what your size is, and they are good evidence of that.

“They’re intense, but soft spoken. Very polite, great family. The two nicest kids you want to have on the team. Maybe you wouldn’t equate that with football ordinarily, but they take on our philosophy of playing hard and if you defeat a guy on a play, help them back up and do it again.”

In Josh’s case, success hasn’t come without a good deal of patience and humility. While he knows he’s fully capable of assuming the featured back position in the Comets’ offense, he’s accepted his role as the power back and even turned it into a positive, acknowledging that the experience he’s gaining while blocking will make him a better all-around running back.

“He’s learned to do his job and he doesn’t complain about how many times he gets the ball,” Joseth said.

Said Hambor, “It’s about as unselfish as you can get. A lot of kids I know would be very unhappy with it and he’s dealt with it very well.”  

“Very well” might just be an understatement. Josh is without question making the most of his touches. Along with ranking second on the team in rushing, he is leading the Comets with 9.7 yards per carry and as the deep man on kick returns he’s already returned one 95 yards for a score.

On the other side of the ball, Joseth is every bit as assertive, sometimes even needing the reminder to not always go after the highlight reel hit and instead wrap up and make the sure tackle. Over the course of the season he’s proven his smarts by reading defenses and shooting in to fill the correct gaps, while displaying the type of fearlessness crucial in taking on bigger players head on.

While Josh said he was a bit surprised that Joseth earned the starting linebacker spot, having watched him for seven varsity games he’s well aware why his younger brother’s been so successful.

“For one he’s very aggressive,” Josh said. “He has the mindset of just going after everything. He’s quick too.”   

In fact, there’s no shortage of aggression between these brothers, who, in addition to football, both wrestle and run track during the winter and spring seasons.  As far as their competitive nature, just ask the Hylton family’s living room couch, one which has been broken on several occasions due to Josh and Joseth’s impromptu wrestling matches.  

And, while both are honor roll students who boast GPA's well over 3.0, a life without sports in it is one they don’t even want to envision. They love to compete and they certainly embrace physical contact—it’s just that simple.

But, if the two were to go up against one another who would come out on top? The answer is not nearly as straightforward. However, one thing is for certain, neither would back down.

“I can’t really say who would win,” Joseth said. “We’re both strong. It’s just going to be a big collision.”