(Gridiron note: DaeSean also received 4,579 votes in last week’s poll that asked what player you would select first overall if there was a high school fantasy football league.)

By Steve Franzello

If you watch Mountain View’s football games this year, there’s one player you won’t have much trouble spotting on the field.
No. 5, junior DaeSean Hamilton, logs a ton of minutes as a two-way starter—and veteran coach Lou Sorrentino wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I’ve always tried to keep [the double duty] to a minimum and we probably should with him,” said Sorrentino. “But we’re a better team when he’s out there. Good things happen.”
Those things have been happening all year for the gifted wide receiver, who also starts at cornerback and handles the team’s kickoff and punt returns.
But in last Friday’s important 24–7 Commonwealth District victory over Stafford, they couldn’t have come at a better time for the Wildcats.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Hamilton turned in his best overall performance of the season, hauling in seven passes from quarterback Bubby Morgan for 177 yards, including two for touchdowns, as the Wildcats (6–2) grabbed a share of second place in the district.
 After his second score, The Free Lance–Star’s player of the week intercepted a pass on the Indians’ ensuing possession that led to another Mountain View touchdown.
Hamilton’s big night gave him 53 receptions and 958 yards for the year—tops among area receivers.
The last area player to reach the 1,000-yard mark in 10 games was Orange’s T.J. Minor, who had 1,054 for the Hornets in 2005.
As the Wildcats’ new “go-to” guy, Hamilton has come a long way since his first start as a freshman three years ago.
After honing his skills behind former Mountain View standouts Anthony Johnson and Aaron Williams, he has emerged as a big-time receiver who can make things happen after he catches the football.
“I’ve learned a lot from watching other players,” said Hamilton, who was an all-district honorable mention selection on the Mountain View basketball team last year.
“I think I’ve gotten better at my concentration and not dropping the ball. Probably my best assets are my size and my hands,” he said.
Sorrentino also likes his smarts.
“He’s got great physical assets, but a lot of people don’t realize how intelligent he is,” the coach said. “He’s really sharp and knows all  the receiver positions. He picks up things really quickly.”
Those assets could take the Wildcats’ budding star to another level in the future. He’s already been contacted by several Atlantic Coast Conference  programs, including Virginia Tech and Virginia.
But for now, he’s just looking forward to helping Mountain View win. After this week’s bye, the Wildcats entertain Orange and then close the regular season at Brooke Point.
“We want to go farther this year,” Hamilton said. “And I want to do whatever I can to help us achieve that goal.”