Brookland Middle School pulled off a giant shocker in the 2024 District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCIAA) Middle School Championship by defeating number one-seed John Hayden Johnson Middle School, 18-12. The win on November 13 at Ballou High School was a historical feat for the program as they had lost past championship chances.
Johnson had been the powerhouse middle school football team for years—not just in D.C but across the nation—crushing opponents every week and winning titles. Johnson had already beaten Brookland earlier this season, 27-6. But Brookland was not about to let it die there. Egged on by past disappointments and their role as the underdog, the Breeze unleashed a ferocious bid to pull off a major defeat and dethrone the reigning champions.
“Words cannot express the feeling of making history here at Brookland,” said Brookland head coach Osiris Walcott to The Washington Informer, in his 10th season there. “We have come so close before, but this time we actually did it. We believed in ourselves even when others did not. That’s what makes this victory so special.”
Brookland’s football team began nine years ago in the Stars Division and won four championships. Since they moved to the Striped Division in 2022, though, they have had to contend with tougher teams, like Johnson. It only became tougher, but the Breeze made it to the finals that year but lost to Johnson. They made it to the semifinals the following year and lost to Jefferson Middle School.
“It was a maturing process for sure,” Walcott said.
This year’s championship was built on the strength of star players: Gregory Dargen, Kavon Martin, Sir Ryan Whittington Jr., Dekeen Kuyateh, and Demetrius Mathis II. Mathis played a crucial role in the championship game, scoring the team’s initial touchdown and then breaking open a game-changing kick return for a touchdown.
In wishing Brookland well, Walcott also noted Johnson’s continued success under head coach Michael Sharrieff. Sharrieff has elevated youth football in the D.C. area by setting a high standard for competitiveness. His program has produced elite-level players, with many Johnson alums going on to stellar high school programs and even college teams.
“When you look at what Coach Sharrieff has done, it is remarkable,” Walcott said. “We have benefitted from the legacy he has created."
Sharrieff was honored in February 2024 by the Pigskin Club of Washington with an award for his work in youth football. In accepting the award, he spoke to the importance of teaching as a coach.
“I think to be a great coach, you have got to be a great teacher. You have got to love teaching. You know you only coach 12-15 times a year, but you teach a whole lot of days in between that.”
For Walcott, the win is an amazing milestone, but the pride and joy of his career is seeing his players grow up on and off the field. Six of his former Brookland players are now suiting up at the college level. Walcott says, "what satisfies me most is that we are in a position to set these kids up for success.”
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