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Sports

Titans Hope to Take the Next Step

Behind Grosser and Summers, T.C. Williams is gunning for the school's first postseason appearance since 1990.

As the T.C. Williams football team walked off the field last November after for its sixth win of the 2010 season, coach Dennis Randolph was hoping his team had advanced to the region playoffs for the first time in 20 years.   

The win, which clinched the Titans’ first winning season since 1995, was not enough. A combination of wins and losses by other teams around the region that night left the Titans on the outside of the playoffs once again.

“Sometimes you work really hard and you come up a little bit short,” Randolph said. “I think that has left a bitter pill in their mouth. They want to get over that hump and get to that next level.” 

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Since practice for the 2011 season began in early August, it’s clear that the disappointment from last season is a big motivator.

“From day one that’s been the goal; it’s everything,” said junior quarterback Alec Grosser. “It is a fun experience hanging out with the guys every day and working hard with them, but the playoffs are what we are shooting for. That’s what it is all about.”

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Grosser takes over as the full-time starter this season after filling in last year when senior Doug Murphy went out with an injury. His time under center in real game situations have helped Grosser prepare for this season.

“The experience of playing on the varsity level in my 10th grade year let me know what to expect,” Grosser said. “It is still football. You remember what to do in certain situations to win games, because I’ve been there before.”

The Titans were 4-2 with Grosser as the starter last season, which included five games with more than 200 yards passing. The team also averaged 31 points per game with Grosser as the starting signal-caller.

However, Grosser’s inexperience showed in his mistakes, including two costly interceptions in .

“He now has six games under his belt. We are going to see a more experienced quarterback,” Randolph said. “He’ll cut down on his interceptions. He’ll throw more touchdowns. You saw last year what he was capable of doing, and he certainly didn’t get worse.”

Even with the passing ability of Grosser, Randolph expects the Titans to rely heavily on the running game. Senior Za’Quan Summers, who rushed for 830 yards and eight scores while averaging 6.5 yards per carry last season, leads a talented backfield that includes fellow senior Mohamed Sesay and junior Dealo Robertson, this year’s camp standout.

Robertson caught the coach’s eye with solid preseason practices. The junior also stood out in a recent scrimmage against Herndon when he filled in for Summers, who has been nursing a minor injury.

“We are very happy with what Dealo is doing in place of Za’Quan. He’s as good as any back in the region. It’s a great problem to have,” Randolph said. “We are going to have to find a way to get him into the game and get him carries because he deserves it.”

This season, the Titans expect to improve on the defensive side of the ball. Last year, the defense struggled in late-season losses to West Potomac and West Springfield.

“It’s not that we didn’t play well offensively,” Randolph said. “Winning games ends up being about defense and we really need to step it up on that side of the ball.”

The defense will anchored by linebackers Sesay and Ed Massaquoi, defensive linemen Demetry Johnson and Malik Hackett, and Jalani Winbush in the secondary.

The quest for the playoffs begins Thursday at Wakefield. The game begins at 7:30 p.m.

On Sept. 9, the Titans travel to face region power Westfield at 7:30 p.m., and then return home the following week for their home opener against Robinson on Sept. 17 at 1 p.m.

Grosser believes that the Titans are ready.

“We are where we should be, we are putting a lot of plays in the playbook," he said. "Compared to last year, we are way ahead.”

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