KFDM COOP Posted November 20, 2007 Report Posted November 20, 2007 Hypolite settled in the saddle for MustangsVan WadeThe Orange LeaderWEST ORANGE — For West Orange-Stark football fans, they’ve had a pleasant time watching a young junior quarterback mature into his own this season.When Ortavious Hypolite took over quarterback duties, he realized that he was still “wet behind the ears.â€Well, 11 weeks into the campaign, Hypolite (6-0, 175) is playing like a seasoned senior as he’s led the Mustangs to a 10-1 record and a trip to the area round of the playoffs.“I’ve learned a whole lot this season and I’m starving to learn some more,†said Hypolite. “I think I’ve had a decent year but there are so many things I know I can get better at.â€After leading the Mustang junior varsity to a district title last year, Hypolite has stepped in and has posted excellent numbers on the varsity.Hypolite has completed 89-of-155 passes for 1,212 yards and 11 touchdowns and has tossed only seven interceptions. With his smooth, wirey frame, he’s also rushed the ball 114 times for 621 yards and 13 TDs.He’s had his moments this year but the highlight was last Saturday’s 51-14 bidistrict win against Coldspring in which he rushed for three touchdowns and passed for two more.“I didn’t think I played very well in the first half and I was so frustrated at halftime, we all were,†said Hypolite. “I wanted us to make a statement in that third quarter and we did that. Our coaching staff, no one out there has a better one. We always seem to make the proper adjustments week after week.’ WO-S led Coldspring 12-7 at the half and then went on a 29-0 tear in the third quarter.Long-time Mustang head coach Dan Hooks has enjoyed watching Hypolite prosper.“We really liked what we had in that kid last year,†said Hooks. “We knew he would be under the gun early in the fall but he’s done such a tremendous job. His work habits have been super. He’s constantly into the game and very seldom is someone not lined up right. He knows our offense from top to bottom. He communicates so well with Coach (Randy) Crouch and Coach (Kevin) Goodwin. He’s like a coach on the field.â€Hooks realized that Hypolite had something really special in the first game of the season against the Dayton Broncos.After being down 14-0 at the half, the Mustangs ripped off 22 unanswered points in the second half. Hypolite bruised his way to 112 yards on 19 carries and scored all three second-half touchdowns. The rest is, well, history. Hypolite has continued to shine and so has Dayton, which went on to win District 22-4A and is in the 4A area round of the playoffs.“Ortavious was so darn nervous in that first half against Dayton,†said Hooks. “He wants to suceed so bad and that made him press a little bit. We told him to go out and play the game he’s capable of and just relax and he’s been cool as a cucumber ever since.â€Hooks credits a great offseason helped propel the young leader.“It all started way back in the offseason and then 7-on-7,†said Hooks. “He developed chemistry with his teammates and they responded to him well. He got in the weight room and really worked hard. The thing about him is that he’s going to get bigger and faster. It seems like he’s grown two inches in just this season. Cornel (Thompson) wants to get him even stronger. Cornel says he wants to make him look more like Vince Young instead of Kobe Bryant.â€Hypolite never really thought about playing quarterback in his early days.“I grew up as a running back and then the coaches wanted to look at me at quarterback in eighth grade and it took off from there,†said Hypolite. “I was always a runner and I still like to run the ball too. I’ve been able to improve on my accuracy but I still have a long way to go in that area. My completion percentage (57.4) isn’t that bad, but we’ve thrown a lot of short passes that have worked well. This offseason, my concentration will be focused on accuracy and trying to get the ball down the middle of the field.â€Hypolite has helped the Mustangs produce 373.5 yards a game and gives a lot of credit where credit very seldom goes.“Without our offensive line, we wouldn’t be where we’re at right now,†said Hypolite. “I love going to battle with those guys. They’ve constantly had my back all season and are right there for me. They’re the ones that get the machine rolling. We’ve been able to run the ball so well and when I pass, those guys give us a lot of time for what we’ve wanted to do. I know lines very seldom get the credit, but that’s really the backbone of a team as far as I’m concerned.â€Hypolite and the seventh-ranked Mustangs have all of their focus on the top-ranked Giddings Buffaloes (11-0), who they will take on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Pearland High School’s Oiler Stadium in the 3A Region III Division II area round playoffs. Giddings downed the Mustangs 20-13 in the same round last year.“It’s a game we’ve been looking forward too,†said Hypolite. “I was on the sidelines in that one last year and that game left a bad taste in our seniors mouths. As a junior, I’d love to help those guys win this time out. Giddings has a great football team and so do we. They (Giddings) have one of the best defenses in the state so we’;re going to have to play our best game of the year.â€One thing for certain, the Mustang quarterback, who is both “hip†and “politeâ€, will give it his best shot.“Ortavious is just one of those pleasant kids that you love to have leading a team,†said Hooks. “He makes top-notch grades and is an excellent kid on and off the field. He communicates well with his teammates and is always smooth when he’s doing it.â€
stangchain Posted November 20, 2007 Report Posted November 20, 2007 Van has really come up with some nice articles lately. We're grateful to him for that.
Hupernikomen Posted November 20, 2007 Report Posted November 20, 2007 Van has really come up with some nice articles lately. We're grateful to him for that.Yeah I know it means a lot to those kids he profiles. He does write nice articles.
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