Derelle Hunter Named West Islip Patch Athlete of the Season

Patch prediction:  is a name that will blare from loudspeakers on Saturdays next fall.  Only it won't be in a Cougar uniform anymore.  Hunter will accept a DI or DII football scholarship and continue to shine on the gridiron. Wherever he chooses to go, he'll blow the minds of his coaches, teammates, and fans, to say the least.  He'll get faster, shiftier and stronger, and thrive in a college atmosphere. 

Don't believe me?  Check back with Patch in a year, then apologize.  

The senior running back put up gaudy numbers--comical, really-- in his last year at .  In nine games this season (SJB went 5-5, but stats for only nine games were called into Newsday), Hunter rushed for 2,179 yards on 247 carries and 24 touchdowns. If you're keeping count at home, that's 242 yards per game, 8.8 yards per carry. 

But more important than his numbers, he led his team to a 

"What matters most is winning that championship," Hunter told Patch after the game. "MVP, that's second. But it's still a really good feeling to finish the year."

Hunter said he's been offered football scholarships, but has .  However, nothing is concrete yet. 

Some more fun/eye-popping Hunter rushing statistics for football fans (based on information for nine games):

• He eclipsed 200 yards on the ground in seven games this season.
• He rushed for two or more touchdowns in eight games.
• He tallied three, four-touchdown performances in 2010. 
• His biggest game this year came in a 25-20 win at Cardinal Spellman on Sept. 25.  Hunter carried the ball 24 times for 345 yards and three touchdowns.  Ridiculous. 
• Hunter returned three kickoffs for touchdowns; 88, 80 and 96 yarders that all found paydirt.
• Half of his 24 touchdowns came on runs longer than 20 yards.  Eight of them were 35-yards or longer, including TD runs of 75 and 72 yards.