Season Preview: Osbourn Park Yellow Jackets

By Brian Hunsicker

Published: August 27, 2008

The building blocks of many an offense start with the linemen. That Osbourn Park has four returning linemen gives the Yellow Jackets a nucleus to build on — even if those linemen come from disparate backgrounds.

Coach Brian Beaty counts off the returners and stops at four.

“Now they didn’t necessarily play offensive line,” he warns, “but they were on the team.”

So the Jackets have something to build around as they try to bounce back after a 3-7 record, hoping to rebuild the continued success that Osbourn Park enjoyed only a few years ago.

One player who could aid in that process is transfer Dominique Terrell, the latest in the line of Terrells to come through Manassas-area schools.

Terrell’s older brother Zach had a wildly successful career at Manassas Park, leading them to a state title in 2004. Zach is now playing at Liberty.

Terrell’s cousin Jay had a solid career as well, playing for Brentsville and then Manassas Park, leading the Cougars to the state final in 2005.

But just what impact Dominique Terrell will have on the Yellow Jackets remains to be seen. Beaty knows that Terrell, who threw for 641 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 412 yards and five touchdowns in five games as a freshman at Manassas Park, comes with plenty
of speed, but isn’t quite sure how he’ll fit into the game plans.

“He’s a young kid, so we really don’t know [about him],” said Beaty, whose starting quarterback last season, Aaron Lee, graduated. “He’s a quarterback, he has some talent, he has some speed.

“But there still is a lot to learn, a long ways to go. He’s been practicing hard, and I’ve been kind of pleased with how he’s works. I really don’t know what he’s going to bring to us.”

Offensively, Osbourn Park returns its top rusher from last season, senior Shawn Khanamuenwai, who rushed for 926 yards.
Though the Yellow Jackets were young last season, Beaty said he hopes that the inexperience of last season — and the close losses that came with it — pay dividends this season.

OP’s defense is in a similar situation with several experienced players returning. Among them is Christian Portillo, who will move from defensive end to linebacker this year.

The overriding theme for the Jackets’ defense is to reduce the number of big plays allowed. Beaty said there were simply too many last season, and that must change if OP’s progress is to keep moving forward.

“Last year we were 3-7, and that just wasn’t acceptable,” Beaty said. “We’ve been decent over the years. We just need to get back on top. That’s our goal, to get back to the playoffs and play a little bit ... better football. The last few years, I don’t think we’ve done that.”

Team info
2007 record: 3-7
Offensive look: Single wing
Defensive look: 4-3
Returning starters: 6 (offense); 7 (defense)
Last playoff appearance: 2003
Overall record last five years: 28-24
Speed merchant: CB Devon Edwards (5-10, 173, sr.) is the team’s speediest player and has the technique to go with it, coach Brian Beaty said.
Powerhouse performer: LB Mike Noblit (6-1, 186, sr.) has put in plenty of time in the weight room, Beaty said, and it shows in his physical style of play. 
Blue collar special: OT James Schambach (6-1, 262 sr.), by his very position, is a blue-collar player. But Beaty praised his coachability, saying he does all that is asked of him.
Other key returners: S Zach Bargeron (6-1, 181, sr.); WR Mason Baxter (5-10, 172, sr.); RB Shawn Khanamuenwai (5-7, 175, sr.); OG David McNeill (6-2, 224, sr.); RB/DE Kevin Quinn (6-1, 232, sr.); OT Hunter Ward (6-3, 255 sr.); DB John Zelsnack (5-18, 156 sr.); C Elliott Lloyd (6-0, 181, jr.); LB Christian Portillo (5-10, 178, jr.); WR Gary Jackson (5-9, 155, so.)
n Promising newcomers: WR Chris Mason (5-9, 152, so.); QB/S Dominique Terrell (5-10, 154, so., transfer from Manassas Park)


Head coach
Brian Beaty
Age: 47
Year as Osbourn Park’s head coach: 8th
Overall Record at Osbourn Park: 42-32
Coaching background: Graduate assistant, Abilene Christian University, 1984; assistant coach, Stonewall Jackson H.S., 1985-87; assistant coach, Woodbridge H.S., 1988-2000.
Teaches: Physical education
Family: Wife Kim, daughters Simone and Sierra


SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted)
Sept. 5 Colonial Forge
Sept. 12 at Potomac
Sept. 19 Gar-Field
Sept. 26 at Loudoun Valley
Oct. 3 Battlefield (7 p.m.)
Oct. 10 at Culpeper
Oct. 17 Liberty
Oct. 24 at Stonewall Jackson
Oct. 31 at Fauquier
Nov. 7 Osbourn