Cato June

So apparently what Cato June has done with the Anacostia High School football program has caught some attention!  For those who have followed my posts over the past several months after Cato June took over, this will hopefully give you a glimpse into what he's done (with help from Walter Cross) with the program.  

''NFL Films Presents'' - Anacostia Revisited - A return trip to visit the Anacostia Indians, a high school team from Washington, D.C. with talented and motivational coaches.

The scheduled listings for the show are:

Tuesday, 12/4: ESPN2, 2:30 AM
Wednesday, 12/5: ESPN2, 3:30 PM

Friday, 12/7: NFL Network, 4:30 PM
Saturday, 12/8: NFL Network, 7:30 AM and 1:30 PM

Anacostia played for the DC public school championship on Thanksgiving day in the Turkey Bowl.  Despite their improvement this year, they were considered a big underdog.  Anacostia played a great game and found themselves with a 4th and goal on the oppenents 5 yard line in the 4th quarter down 12-6.  A pass play went just over the oustretched fingertips of the Anacostia receiver and Anacostia settled for the runnerup spot this year.

Cato June was voted coach of the year in DC.

Edit: Indeed, Walter Cross is the OC for Anacostia!

For the first time since 1995 (when Cato was playing for the team), Anacostia HS will be playing for the D.C. championship.  Anacostia won their semifinal matchup by way of forfeit last week (use of ineligible player).

Anacostia advances to the Turkey Bowl - to be played at Eastern High School (a block from RFK stadium) at 11am on Thanksgiving day.  They will play the local bully - Dunbar HS - for the championship.

For those who haven't been following my posts, Cato took over the coaching duties this season and turned around a team that had won only a single game over the past two years.  Let's hope they can finish this fantastic run.

With only a single win over the prior two seasons and with Cato June in his first season as head coach, Anacostia HS posted a 6-4 record and qualified for the DC playoffs for the first time in 10 years.  In a single season, Cato has changed the entire culture within and surrounding the program.

For those living in DC who are interested:

Seminfinals @ Cordozo HS (in NW): Saturday at Noon

Finals: Thanksgiving

Edit: Changed the semifinal game time and the topic no longer reads OT (I get a little paranoid about what's OT).

Had the opportunity to watch the Anacostia High School football team play out here in the DC.  Some may recall that Cato June returned to DC and is currently in his second year coaching Anacostia.

The team looked great in a 20-14 win.  Not surprisingly, they rely on a tough, hard hitting, and stingy defense.  They're now 4-3, a nice turnaround after having won just a single game over the past 2 seasons combined.  He's really changed the culture at the school as well, with their formerly empty stands consistantly being filled on Friday nights.

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/01/homecoming-for-cato-june-71615.html

There's also this tweet:

NewLeadersOrg New Leaders 

 

Congrats @CatoJune for being named Head Football Coach at Anacostia HS! You'll love working at a New Leader-led school - Ian Roberts rocks!

 

 

Here's wishing him nothing but the best. Hopefully one day he'll be able to send a few kids to Ann Arbor!