Football Players Eager to Return 'Glory' to Churchill

From the moment his team hit the field for the start of preseason practice, it has been clear to Winston Churchill football coach Joe Allen that this year’s Bulldogs have the makings of a championship team.

A veteran group, Churchill returns 14 starters of its 22 starters from last year’s team that won five of its final eight games.

“The kids know that we potentially have a very good team,” Allen said, entering his third season as the Bulldogs head coach. “And throughout preseason practice, they’ve been working hard, just flying through things and the leadership has been very solid, too. They’ve worked extremely hard in preparation for the season and we’re all expecting big things this year.”

Having just narrowly missed out on qualifying for the playoffs each of the last two years, Allen sees his players extremely hungry to get over the hump this season.

After battling injuries during the early part of last year, the Bulldogs went on a four-game winning streak during the middle of the season before three painful late season losses eliminated them from playoff contention. Two of the three losses came by a mere seven point margin.

Just a year earlier, in Allen’s first season as head coach, Churchill started the year on a seven-game winning streak, but lost each of its final three games and failed to qualify for the postseason.

“The kids really want it this year,” Allen said. “They’re really excited for the season, have been working extremely hard all year long and we’re hoping that leads to a big year.”

Offensively, Allen will depend largely on senior running back Curtis Kamara, a returning starter, who led the team with 800 rushing yards last season. A bruising back with good speed, the 5-foot-10-inch, 209-pound Kamara posted 97 yards or more in four of the Bulldogs’ final six games. This included a season-best 170 yards, along with two touchdowns, in a 42-35 loss to Wootton.

Senior middle linebacker Bret Sickels will anchor Churchill’s attack-based defense. A big-hitter with good instincts, Sickels was a first-team All-League selection by the Washington Post following last season.

Allen is also counting on big impacts from senior defensive end/tight end Nadim Elhage, senior offensive lineman/defensive lineman Karou Diakite, quarterback Lansana Keita and junior wide receiver Dominique Williams.

Allen is also excited about transfers Vince Montgillon and Malik Harris. Montgillon, a junior, is expected to see significant time at cornerback. Harris, meanwhile, will see time at both running back and linebacker. Allen says Harris, though just a sophomore, “is going to be a great player.”

The Bulldogs begin their season against Kennedy Sept. 2.

“Everyone’s pretty optimistic,” Sickels said. “We know we should have a great season. We’re really talented and we all think we can win a state championship. The offense should put up a lot of points and the defense is going to [generate] a lot of pressure. Our goal is a state championship.”

Diakite added, “The way the last two seasons ended are just unacceptable. Churchill’s always had a winning tradition and we want to bring the glory back to the program, and I definitely think this team is capable of winning a state championship.”

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