Week 16: Jacob Thomas, Stone Bridge

Photo by Steven Holland/Holland Sports Images

It will be difficult for any high school athlete to match the heroics of Jacob Thomas.

A standout quarterback and safety for Stone Bridge High in Ashburn, this past spring Thomas caught the game-winning pass in overtime that lifted the Bulldogs to the spring 2021 Virginia 5A state championship.

Thomas moved to quarterback this fall and he capped his high school career with one more unforgettable play. Thomas had thrown a touchdown pass and run for a two-point conversion that tied Saturday’s Virginia 5A championship game with 4 ½ minutes left. Following a defensive stop, the Bulldogs took over on their own 10-yard line with 59 seconds left.

Some coaches might have been conservative and played for overtime. Stone Bridge Coach Mickey Thompson, though, had confidence in Thomas, who once again delivered. Thomas quickly guided the Bulldogs down the field. On the game’s final play, from the Maury 38-yard line, Thomas rolled left and heaved the ball deep to the right. Wide receiver Ezekiel Wimbush came back to the ball to make the catch, then fought his way into the end zone for a game-winning touchdown as Stone Bridge pulled off a 27-21 victory.

“Every time there is a big moment, Jacob comes through,” Thompson said. “The moment is never too big for him. When he took us down the field to tie the game, it looked effortless, a man among boys. Then he takes us down the field again. Don’t get me wrong, there are other people making plays too, but he puts them in position to make it happen.”

For his efforts, Thomas was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week for the second time this season. The Player of the Week is honored throughout each Wednesday on WTOP Radio.

Thomas’s stats in the championship game were modest. He completed 5 of 10 passes for 140 yards and rushed four times for 39 yards. But Thomas made the most of those completions, including a 19-yard touchdown pass to Doniven Cooper on fourth-and-12 and a 36-yard touchdown to Dylan Hundertmark that pulled the Bulldogs within 21-19 with 4 ½ minutes left. Thomas then ran in the two-point conversion to tie the game.

The game-winning pass was Thomas’s 31st touchdown pass this season, breaking the school record previously set by Thompson’s son, Patrick.

“He;s the best quarterback in the state,” Mickey Thompson said. “He’s ridiculous. Somebody is going to put him at quarterback [in college] and he’s going to be unbelievable.”

Week 15: Cody Howard, Northern

Photo by Greg Tuck

As he celebrated leading the Northern High football team to its first-ever state, Cody Howard worked his way toward the sideline at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and saluted the Patriots’ jubilant fans.

As he saw the scene unfold, Coach Rich Holzer quietly smiled inside at his star wide receiver and strong safety, who will play for Navy next season.

“He was caught up in the moment,” Holzer said. “I’ve never seen him do a ‘look at me’ kind of thing, so it was kind of funny to see him fired up. He’s the kind of kid who just does everything right.”

Howard made plays all over the field this past Saturday. On offense, he caught 12 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns. Howard also made 12 tackles on defense as Northern beat Linganore, 28-23 in the Maryland 3A championship game.

For his efforts, Howard was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week. The Player of the Week is honored throughout each Wednesday on WTOP Radio.

“He’s real quiet, but he’s a leader, a two-year team captain,” Holzer said. “Every single practice, he’s the first one on the field setting things up for the coaches and he’s the last one off. He’s as tough as they come.”

That toughness was tested Saturday. Howard, who missed one regular season game because of a concussion and two more with mononucleosis, was sidelined in the middle of the second quarter with a knee injury.

Howard returned in the third quarter playing only on defense to reduce the strain on his knee as Northern protected a 28-14 lead. But as previously undefeated Linganore drew closer, Howard wanted back on the field.

“He went over to our receivers coach [Jon Marlowe], who then got on the headset and said, ‘Cody said to put him back in the damn game,’ ” Holzer retold the story. “Welp, I guess we have to put him back in then. Next thing you know, he started catching passes and moving the chains. He’s a special football player.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Player of the Week High School Football Player of the Week Honor Roll:

FREDERICK
Linganore WR Matthew Hauptman caught seven passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the Lancers’ 28-23 loss to Northern in the Maryland 3A championship game.

LOUDOUN
Broad Run QB Brett Griffis completed 21 of 29 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 100 yards and two more scores as the Spartans rallied in the final minute to beat Salem, 28-24, in a Virginia 4A semifinal.

MONTGOMERY
Quince Orchard DE Kendall Johnson made seven tackles (three for losses) and had two sacks as the Cougars completed their undefeated season by beating Wise, 31-13, in the Maryland 4A championship game.

NORTHERN REGION

Madison QB Connor Barry completed 11 of 17 passes for 117 yards and one touchdown and rushed 12 times for 45 yards and two touchdowns as the Warhawks beat South County, 28-6, in a Virginia 6A semifinal.

PRINCE GEORGE’S

Douglass QB Josef Manley completed 7 of 13 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 43 yards and another score as the Eagles beat Milford Mill, 29-14, to win the Maryland 2A championship.

WCAC
Carroll RB-LB Shon Reid rushed for a 10-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime to lift the Lions to a 35-27 win over Theodore Roosevelt in the DCSAA Class AA championship game.

Week 14: Robbie Engelberg, Maret

Robbie Engelberg spent this past summer trying to figure out his college path. A standout wide receiver and safety in football, the Maret School senior was being recruited by many Football Championship Subdivision programs. The starting catcher on the Northwest Washington school’s baseball team, he also was garnering interest from college recruiters in that sport.

It was after a trip that included a football visit to Army and a baseball visit to Yale that Engelberg traveled to Charlottesville to visit with the University of Virginia football coaches. The Cavaliers offered the opportunity to join the team as a preferred walk-on.

“He took it on the spot,” said Mike Engelberg, the longtime Maret football coach and Robbie’s father. “It’s his dream school. We live in Virginia. He was being recruited by everybody at the [FCS] level and was like, ‘I don’t care. I want to go to Virginia.’ He knew what he wanted and he went for it.”

Robbie Engelberg has been on the sidelines with his father since he was a toddler And while Mike Engelberg fondly recalled pictures of his oldest child on the sidelines while “always eating something,” father and son enjoyed one more special moment on the field together this past Saturday night.

Robbie Engelberg caught 11 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown and on defense made 16 tackles as Maret edged Bell, 11-8, in a thrilling DCSAA Class A championship game.

For his efforts, Engelberg was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week. The Player of the Week is honored throughout each Wednesday on WTOP Radio.

For the season, Engelberg caught 86 passes for 1,049 yards and 17 touchdowns, while making 77 tackles, forcing three fumbles and intercepting three passes.

“We kind of all thought that baseball was the path he was going to go, but being the son of a football coach pushed him the other way,” Mike Engelberg said. “It was the right decision with the year he has had. He’s going to be in good shape.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Player of the Week High School Football Player of the Week Honor Roll:

DC
Theodore Roosevelt QB Kerry Burns Jr. completed 10 of 18 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score to lead the Rough Riders to a 37-22 victory over H.D. Woodson in the DCIAA Turkey Bowl. 

FREDERICK
Linganore RB Josh Little came off the bench and rushed 35 times for 228 yards and the game-clinching touchdown as the Lancers beat Frederick, 23-14, in a Maryland 3A semifinal.

LOUDOUN
Stone Bridge QB Jacob Thomas completed 11 of 13 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Mountain View, 37-0, in the Virginia 5A Region D final.

MONTGOMERY
Quince Orchard DB Jalen Husky was matched up with Northwest’s top receiver all night and blocked the potential game-tying point-after kick as the Cougars held on for a 14-13 victory in a Maryland 4A semifinal.

NORTHERN REGION
Madison RB Alex Jreige rushed 24 times for 113 yards and three touchdowns as the Warhawks beat Centreville, 35-7, in the Virginia 6A Region D final.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Wise DE Amar Thomas made 16 tackles (four for losses) and had three sacks as the Pumas beat C.H. Flowers, 28-6, in a Maryland 4A semifinal.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Brentsville RB-DB Bryce Jackson rushed 12 times for 53 yards and one touchdown and caught the game-winning 49-yard touchdown pass on the game’s final play as the Tigers advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in school history with a 13-7 win over Meridian in the Virginia 3A Region B final.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Northern WR-DB Tyler Baskett caught six passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns, averaged 44 yards on three kickoff returns and made four tackles and intercepted a pass on defense as the Patriots beat Chesapeake, 16-13, in a Maryland 3A semifinal.

WCAC
Carroll RB-LB Shon Reid rushed 11 times for 127 yards and made nine tackles as the Lions beat Dunbar, 32-12, in a DCSAA Class AA semifinal.

Week 13: Wyatt Hagan, St. John's

The St. John’s roster is loaded with top college prospects sifting through their scholarship offers. But one of the Cadets’ most important players has yet to receive one scholarship offer. Coach Pat Ward calls quarterback Wyatt Hagan “the most underrated player in the DMV.”

While college recruiters have yet to make a strong pitch to Hagan, opposing defense are well familiar with the 5-foot-11, 185-ound senior. This past Sunday, Hagan took one last chance to demonstrate his skills, completing 15 of 28 passes for 233 yards and four touchdowns as the undefeated Cadets beat Good Counsel, 30-14, to win the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship.

For his efforts, Hagan was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week. The Player of the Week is honored throughout each Wednesday on WTOP Radio.

“He has that moxie,” Ward said. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid who competes his tail off every day.”

It is that effort, Ward said, that helped Hagan enjoy a successful season, leading the Cadets to an 11-0 record. Hagan completed 145 of 222 passes for 2,280 yards and 24 touchdowns with just three interceptions – which Ward hopes college recruiters will notice, even though the competition for scholarships has grown stronger, given the emergence of the NCAA transfer portal and the extra year of eligibility provided to recruits for the 2020 season that was disrupted by the global pandemic.

“Wyatt is underappreciated,” Ward said. “He’s not the most heralded guy, but he is super important to our team.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Player of the Week High School Football Player of the Week Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Chesapeake RB-LB Victor Listorti rushed 36 times for 141 yards and one touchdown and made five tackles on defense with one sack as the Cougars beat Atholton, 27-0, in a Maryland 3A quarterfinal.

DC
Bell WR-DB Dajuan Samuel rushed for one touchdown and intercepted a pass on defense as the Griffins beat Coolidge, 10-0, to win the DCIAA Gravy Bowl.

FREDERICK
Frederick RB Taejon Anderson rushed 4 5times for 300 yards and four touchdowns as the Cadets rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Franklin, 49-38.

HOWARD
Oakland Mills QB Kanye Holland threw one touchdown pass and ran for a 52-yard touchdown as the Scorpions beat Owings Mill, 22-14, in a Maryland 2A quarterfinal.

LOUDOUN
Broad Run WR-DB Arnav Thornhill caught 12 passes for 169 yards and on defense made five tackles (one for loss) and recovered a fumble as the Spartans beat Loudoun County, 24-19, in a Virginia 4A Region C second-round game.

MONTGOMERY
Northwest QB-DB Darius Lorfils threw one touchdown pass and rushed for 114 yards and two more scores as the Wildcats beat Paint Branch, 33-26, in a Maryland 4A quarterfinal.

NORTHERN REGION
South County RB Trenton Johnson rushed 13 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns and caught six passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns, including the decisive 60-yard score with three minutes left as the Stallions beat Robinson, 34-28, in a Virginia 6A Region C semifinal.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Douglass RB Vincent Oliver rushed 19 times for 280 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles beat Kent Island, 20-14, in a Maryland 2A quarterfinal.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Battlefield WR Braden Boggs caught seven passes for 193 yards and two long touchdowns as the Bobcats remained undefeated with a 48-13 win over Osbourn in a Virginia 6A Region B semifinal.

PRIVATE/OTHER
Meridian RB-TE-DB Graham Felgar rushed 10 times for 25o yards and two touchdowns, caught two passes for 26 yards and one touchdown and on defense made seven tackles, recovered a fumble and returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown as the Mustangs beat Goochland, 40-21, in a Virginia 3A Region B second-round game.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Lackey RB Jamari Somerville rushed 14 times for 196 yards and three touchdowns, including a 98-yarder, as the Chargers beat Elkton, 58-28, in a Maryland 2A/1A quarterfinal.

Week 12: Anthony Giordano, South Lakes

As South Lakes Coach Jason Hescock sees it, there is not much secret to the success of Seahawks running back and linebacker Anthony Giordano.

“He’s everything you want in a football player,” Hescock said. “He’s a coach’s dream.”

A leader in the weight room and the practice field, Giordano also excels in the classroom, carrying a 4.4 grade-point average and a 1530 SAT score. He’s also darn good on the football field, where this past Friday he enjoyed one of the best performances by any player this season.

In South Lakes’ playoff opener, Giordano rushed 28 times for 303 yards and five touchdowns on offense. On defense, he made 10 tackles (four for losses), sacked the quarterback twice and forced one fumble as the Seahawks advanced with a 36-21 win over Yorktown.

For his efforts, Giordano was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week. The Player of the Week is honored throughout each Wednesday on WTOP Radio.

Giordano joined the South Lakes varsity as a sophomore and started both ways as a junior. This season as a senior, though, he has taken things to another level, rushing for 1,570 yards and 23 touchdowns, while making 90 tackles (13 for losses) with five sacks. He has also caught one touchdown pass and returned an interception for a touchdown.

“He’s a throwback,” Hescock said. “We don’t have many two-way players. He’s one of three and one of the strongest guys on the team. He does the little things right. He trains hard in the offseason and the way he prepares carries over to his performance. He’s a downhill runner, but he’s elusive at the same time. He attacks you at the same speed the whole game.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Player of the Week High School Football Player of the Week Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Chesapeake RB Victor Listorti rushed 22 times for 141 yards and four touchdowns as the Cougars beat Long Reach, 39-12, in a Maryland 3A East Region second-round game.

DC
H.D. Woodson QB Novaun Lee rushed for one touchdown and threw a touchdown pass as the Warriors beat Dunbar, 20-18, in a DCIAA semifinal game.

FREDERICK
Linganore RB Ethan Arneson rushed 50 times for 309 yards and three touchdowns as Linganore beat Oakdale, 44-27, in a Maryland 3A West Region second-round game.

HOWARD
Atholton RB Kevin Smitson rushed eight times for 59 yards and one touchdown and caught six passes for 129 yards as the Raiders beat River Hill in a Maryland 3A East Region second-round game.

LOUDOUN
Broad Run RB Aslin Shipe rushed 30 times for 187 yards and one touchdown as the Spartans beat Sherando, 41-13, in a Virginia 4A Region C first-round game.

MONTGOMERY
Blair QB Kendell Anderson completed 13 of 21 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 11 times for 56 yards and two touchdowns as the Blazers beat Laurel, 56-35, in a Maryland 4A North Region second-round game.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
C.H. Flowers LB Kendric Council made 10 solo tackles, had three tackles for loss, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble as the Jaguars beat Bowie, 38-6, in a Maryland 4A South Region second-round game.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Unity Reed QB Blake Moore completed 12 of 22 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns as the Lions beat Patriot, 49-35, in a Virginia 6A Region B first-round game.

PRIVATE
Georgetown Prep RB/LB Isaiah West rushed 24 times for 260 yards and three touchdowns and made five tackles as Georgetown Prep beat Bullis, 28-13, to win the Interstate Athletic Conference championship.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Northern RB Nathan Torres rushed 17 times for 161 yards and three touchdowns and returned a kickoff 67 yards to set up another score as the Patriots beat St. Charles, 48-34, in a Maryland 3A South Region second-round game. The Patriots rushed for 358 yards and did not allow a sack.

WCAC
St. John’s QB Wyatt Hagan completed 17 of 22 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns as the Cadets beat Gonzaga, 28-0, in a WCAC semifinal.

Week 11: Isaiah Ragland, Centreville

Centreville running back Isaiah Ragland waited his turn to be the focal point of Wildcats’ offense. The team had some talented, experienced skill players carrying the load this past spring.

With those players now in college, Ragland has assumed a yeoman’s workload and he has delivered. Ragland posted his ninth 100-yard game of the season this past Friday, totaling 261 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries and leading Centreville to a 20-0 win over Westfield.

It was Ragland’s third consecutive game – and sixth overall -- with more than 200 yards. He has rushed for 2,116 yards and 24 touchdowns this season and was named the Concorde District Offensive Player of the Year.

For his efforts, Ragland was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week. The Player of the Week is honored throughout each Wednesday on WTOP Radio.

“He’s tough and he’s got great vision,” Centreville Coach Jon Shields said. “He’s all muscle and he’s gotten better and better each week. He breaks that first tackle and has the ability to accelerate on contact and run you over.”

At 5 feet 7 and 190 pounds, Ragland regularly displays his power and durability. He averages 10.3 yards per carry. His 33 carries against Westfield were a season high, but Shields said that Ragland works hard away from the field to make sure he is ready on game night.

“There is always that inherent risk, but he keeps himself in shape,” Shields said. “He’s a weight room guy, a nutrition guy. He takes care of himself.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Player of the Week High School Football Player of the Week Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Arundel QB Jake Long completed 20 of 30 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns as the Wildcats beat Chopticon, 36-15, in a Maryland 4A/3A East Region first-round game.

DC
H.D. Woodson RB Kavon Snead rushed 15 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns as the Warriors beat Wilson, 24-15.

FREDERICK
Frederick FB-NG Josh Hayward had three short touchdown runs, caught a 13-yard touchdown pass, made three tackles for loss and forced a fumble that he returned 40 yards for a touchdown as the Cadets beat North Hagerstown, 55-7, in a Maryland 3A West Region first-round game.

HOWARD
Howard WR Tyler Baruch caught two touchdown passes, the second coming on 16-yard fade for the game-winning score with three seconds left as the Lions beat Reservoir, 18-14, in a Maryland 4A/3A West Region first-round game.

LOUDOUN
Stone Bridge QB Jacob Thomas completed 6 of 8 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns and rushed five times for 100 yards and one touchdown as the Bulldogs beat Independence, 56-7.

MONTGOMERY
Damascus RB-LB Dillon Dunathan rushed 14 times for 164 yards and four first-half touchdowns and made five tackles as the Swarmin’ Hornets beat South Hagerstown, 54-13, in a Maryland 3A West Region first-round game.

NORTHERN REGION
Centreville RB Isaiah Ragland rushed 33 times for 261 yards and two touchdowns as the Wildcats beat Westfield, 20-0. Ragland finished the regular season with 2,116 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Wise QB Jayden Sauray completed all five of his passes for 164 yards and four touchdowns as the undefeated Pumas beat Northwestern, 77-0, in a Maryland 4A South Region first-round game.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Patriot QB Sam Fernandez completed 18 of 28 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for two more scores as the Pioneers lost to Battlefield, 42-41.

PRIVATE
Maret QB Andrew Catron completed 19 of 26 passes for 219 yards and five touchdowns and rushed eight times for 47 yards as the Frogs beat Flint Hill, 40-6.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
North Point RB Michael Craig rushed 18 times for 185 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles beat Leonardtown, 34-21, in a Maryland 4A/3A South Region first-round game.

WCAC
Carroll FB-LB Shon Reid rushed 11 times for 90 yards and on defense made 21 tackles (five for losses) and broke up two passes as the undefeated Lions beat St. Mary’s Ryken, 33-26.

Week 10: Emmanuel Baskerville, West Springfield

E&P Photography

When Emmanuel Baskerville took over as the West Springfield quarterback following a teammate’s injury in the third game of the season, Coach Anthony Parker thought that his team would have to rely on Baskerville’s running ability to move the ball on offense.

Baskerville played quarterback on the school’s junior varsity last spring, but he began this fall starting at running back and free safety.

Then circumstances dictated that Baskerville play quarterback and he quickly surprised.

“It was 7-7 against [Washington-Liberty] when he came in and we won 34-14,” Parker said. “He’s been rolling ever since.”

While Baskerville and the Spartans have been generating offense and putting up points, nothing came close to this past Friday. Baskerville completed 16 of 34 passes for 464 yards and five touchdowns and rushed 10 times for 120 yards and three touchdowns as West Springfield beat West Potomac, 59-56.

For his efforts, Baskerville was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week. The Player of the Week is honored throughout each Wednesday on WTOP Radio.

“He’s definitely surprised us,” Parker said. “He’s just been really accurate with the ball and throws a great deep ball. We have two receivers on the outside who can run and Manny can really get it out there. It’s an advantage for us.”

Baskerville’s favorite target this past Friday was wide receiver Aaron Fields, who caught eight passes for 315 yards and four touchdowns. West Springfield trailed 49-38 with eight minutes remaining before Baskerville threw 97- and 65-yard touchdown passes to Fields and added a rushing touchdown of his own.

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Player of the Week High School Football Player of the Week Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL

Chesapeake RB Victor Listorti rushed 12 times for 208 yards and four touchdowns in the first half as the Cougars beat Northeast, 55-12. Listorti set a new school record with 19 rushing touchdowns this season.

DC

H.D. Woodson RB Kevan Snead rushed 26 times for 219 yards and one touchdown as the Warriors lost to Theodore Roosevelt, 20-12.

FREDERICK

Oakdale QB Joe Pippin completed 7 of 8 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns as the Bears beat Tuscarora, 47-8.

HOWARD

Atholton QB Miles Scott threw touchdown passes of 36 and 27 yards late in the second quarter as the Raiders took control of the game and beat Mount Hebron, 28-19, to claim a share of the Howard County championship for the first time in 10 years.

LOUDOUN

Tuscarora RB Bryce Duke, a Virginia Tech recruit, rushed 19 times for 255 yards and four touchdowns as the Huskies beat Lightridge, 42-7.

MONTGOMERY

Blair WR Jamall Worrell caught six passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns and returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown as the Blazers beat Bethesda-Chevy Chase, 28-19.

PRINCE GEORGE’S

Laurel RB Amare Ary rushed eight times for 249 yards and three touchdowns, caught three passes for 47 yards and a touchdown and intercepted a pass on defense as the Spartans beat DuVal, 41-10.

PRINCE WILLIAM

Patriot QB Sean Finnerty completed 13 of 18 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 17 times for 176 yards as the Pioneers beat John Champe, 51-25.

PRIVATE

St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes OT Ewan Clark, a Columbia recruit, had seven pancake blocks as the Saints beat Bullis, 39-7.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND

Leonardtown RB Tyler Weeks rushed 19 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns and made six tackles on defense as the Raiders beat Thomas Stone, 44-21.

WCAC

O’Connell QB-LB Job Grant scored touchdowns four different ways (10-yard run, 30-yard interception return, 67-yard punt return and 88-yard kickoff return) and made 21 tackles with one sack and recovered a fumble as the Knights beat John Paul the Great, 25-13.

Week 9: Bisi Owens, Glenelg

Photo by Jung Pak

Glenelg quarterback Bisi Owens had another performance for the ages this past Friday. He rushed for 338 yards and five touchdowns and completed all three of his passes for 95 yards and another score as the Gladiators beat Marriotts Ridge, 56-24.

For his efforts, Owens was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week. The Player of the Week is honored throughout each Wednesday on WTOP Radio.

And yet, Glenelg Coach Tim Cullen said, the three-sport standout – Owens also plays basketball and is a state champion triple jumper -- makes even more of an impact on the defensive side of the ball.

“He’s pretty much our offense, as good as he is,” Cullen said. “I know it sounds crazy, especially when you look at his stats, but he’s even better on defense. He’s a game-changer at free safety.”

The Owens brothers have carried Glenelg to many victories on the football field in recent years. Bisi’s older brother, Wande, was a standout running back and the second-leading rusher in Maryland high school history, leading the Gladiators to the Maryland 2A championship game in 2018. He now plays cornerback at Yale University.

Bisi Owens has led Glenelg to a 7-1 mark entering this week’s regular season finale against Reservoir. He has rushed for 1,238 yards and 23 touchdowns, passed for 635 yards and eight touchdowns and on defense has made eight tackles for loss and intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown.

“They are high IQ players and big competitors,” Cullen said. “Anything you ask them to do, they can do it.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Player of the Week High School Football Player of the Week Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL

Broadneck QB Josh Ehrlich completed 14 of 19 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 18 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns as the Bruins beat Old Mill, 41-25.

DC

Dunbar RB Daequan Harvin rushed 19 times for 248 yards and four touchdowns as the Crimson Tide beat H.D. Woodson, 26-20.

FREDERICK
Linganore RB Ethan Arneson rushed 12 times for 135 yards and five touchdowns as the Lancers beat Thomas Johnson, 70-7.

LOUDOUN
Loudoun Valley WR Carl Bertaut-Strange caught five passes for 100 yards and one touchdown, returned a kickoff 68 yards for a touchdown and had five punt returns for 62 yards as the Vikings beat Lightridge, 38-13.

MONTGOMERY
Rockville WR-S Okeyo Akungo rushed seven times for 185 yards and three touchdowns, caught five passes for 85 yards and one touchdown and on defense made three tackles (one for loss) as the Rams beat Northwood, 42-0.

NORTHERN REGION
Centreville RB Isaiah Ragland rushed 25 times for 326 yards and scored three of his four touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Wildcats broke open a tied game and beat South Lakes, 27-13.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Bowie WR Ryan Manning caught six passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat DuVal, 51-9.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Patriot RB Keith Jenkins rushed 21 times for 272 yards and three touchdowns as the Pioneers beat Freedom-South Riding, 52-15.

PRIVATE
Maret WR-S Robbie Engelberg caught six passes for 76 yards, rushed for a touchdown and on defense made nine tackles, recovered a fumble and made the game-clinching interception as the Frogs beat previously undefeated Sidwell Friends, 22-14.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Patuxent RB-LB Cameron Bott rushed for 53 yards and one touchdown and on defense made eight tackles, had three sacks and forced a fumble as the Panthers beat McDonough, 46-20.

WCAC
St. John’s DL David Ojiegbe had four sacks and forced two fumbles as the Cadets beat DeMatha, 14-7.

Week 8: Anthony Dixon Jr., Richard Montgomery

Anthony Dixon Jr. began this season as the starting quarterback for the Richard Montgomery junior varsity football team. Just a 5-foot-8, 140-pound sophomore, the hope was that the strong-armed Dixon could get experience and continue to grow physically and as a player.

But then a teammate’s injury thrust Dixon into action for the Rockets’ varsity. He made his debut against high-powered Northwest. His second start came against another top team, Quince Orchard.

Dixon, though, has not seem phased by the situation or the imposing size of some of his opponents. And this past weekend, he delivered a memorable performance that landed in the record books at one of the region’s oldest schools.

Dixon completed 20 of 31 passes for 305 yards and six touchdowns, leading Richard Montgomery to a wild 47-32 victory over Walter Johnson. For his efforts, Dixon was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week. The Player of the Week is honored throughout each Wednesday on WTOP Radio.

“We knew he had the arm strength, he’s one of those kids where he throws the ball and makes it look easy,” Richard Montgomery Coach Randy Thompson said. “Our biggest concern with him was not really having a freshman season, playing just two games in the spring, and his ability to lead on the field, to lead in the huddle and just hold up over the course of a season at his age and size.

“We weren’t scared when he had to go in, but we weren’t 100 percent sure how he would react at the varsity level. He’s done great. He’s made smart plays. He’s surprisingly mature in terms of his game ability. He just seems to understand the flow of what it means to play quarterback.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Player of the Week High School Football Player of the Week Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Broadneck QB Josh Ehrlich completed 16 of 23 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 96 yards as the Bruins broke open a game that was tied at halftime and beat Severna Park, 48-14.

DC
Theodore Roosevelt RB Jaun Pratt rushed 14 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns as the Rough Riders beat Dunbar, 28-21, in a meeting of the top teams in the DCSAA Stars Division.

FREDERICK
Tuscarora WR-DB Andrew Cramer completed 7 of 10 passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 73 yards and one touchdown and on defense made six tackles and forced a fumble in overtime as the Titans beat Thomas Johnson, 27-21.

HOWARD
Glenelg QB Bisi Owens rushed 20 times for 124 yards and scored two touchdowns as the Gladiators beat River Hill, 21-7.

LOUDOUN
Woodgrove K Kollin Samaha kicked three field goals (31, 33, 45) as the Wolverines beat Potomac Falls, 16-14.

NORTHERN REGION
Justice RB-LB Abdullah Mohamed rushed 13 times for 71 yards and one touchdown, caught three passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns and on defense made 11 tackles and intercepted a pass as the Wolves beat Falls Church, 28-7.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Wise QB Jayden Sauray completed 10 of 16 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns and rushed seven times for 67 yards and one touchdown as the Pumas beat Suitland, 38-0.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Battlefield WR-DB Braden Boggs returned two interceptions for touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass as the Bobcats beat Unity Reed, 38-0.

PRIVATE
Avalon RB Joshua Pitsenberger carried seven times for 158 yards and three touchdowns, caught four passes for 24 yards and returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown as the Black Knights beat John Carroll, 40-9.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Huntingtown K Bryce LaFollette, a Virginia Tech recruit, made a 22-yard field goal in overtime to lead the Hurricanes to a 10-7 win over previously undefeated Northern in a battle for first place in the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference.

WCAC
Good Counsel DE Neeo Avery made eight tackles and had three sacks as the Falcons beat Gonzaga, 17-0.

Week 7: Kevin Winston Jr., DeMatha Catholic

Jim Geiser/seegametimephotos.com

The DeMatha Catholic football team has a deep and talented roster, affording Coach Bill McGregor the luxury of using players exclusively on one side of the ball. Senior Kevin Winston Jr., however, is just too talented to play solely on offense or defense.

So Winston, who has accepted a scholarship offer to play football at Penn State, starts at wide receiver and at safety for DeMatha. He also plays on special teams. And in this past weekend’s 30-6 victory over Gonzaga, Winston showed once again that he excels in all three phases of the game.

Winston caught four passes for 101 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown. He made 11 tackles on defense. He also delivered the biggest plays in the game’s key sequence, after Gonzaga blocked a punt for a touchdown, cutting DeMatha’s lead to 10-6 in the third quarter.

Winston came off the edge to block the point-after kick. He then returned the ensuing kickoff 78 yards, setting up a touchdown and firmly swinging the momentum back to the Stags as they improved to 5-1 and stayed on track for a showdown against St. John’s on October 22. For his efforts, Winston was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week. The Player of the Week is honored throughout each Wednesday on WTOP Radio.

“He’s so valuable for us and done so much for us, we can’t take him off the field,” McGregor said. “He literally took the game over and changed the whole outcome of the ballgame.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Player of the Week High School Football Player of the Week Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Broadneck QB Josh Ehrlich completed 14 of 19 passes for 218 yards and threw touchdown passes to three different receivers as the Bruins beat Annapolis, 42-0. He also rushed seven times for 43 yards.

DC
Richard Wright QB Stephon Fuller completed 18 of 22 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 25 yards and another score as the Spartans beat Cesar Chavez, 38-0.

FREDERICK
Frederick RB Taejon Anderson rushed 24 times for 204 yards and tied the school single-game record with five touchdowns as the Cadets beat Walkersville, 49-28.

HOWARD
Oakland Mills QB-DB Kanye Holland threw two touchdown passes and intercepted a pass on defense as the Scorpions beat Mount Hebron, 20-6.

LOUDOUN
Broad Run QB Brett Griffis, a Wake Forest recruit, completed 15 of 23 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 12 times for 80 yards as the Spartans beat previously unbeaten Heritage, 28-0.

MONTGOMERY
Northwest WR-LB Devon Anderson caught three touchdown passes as the Jaguars beat Sherwood, 37-14, in a meeting of previously unbeaten teams.

NORTHERN REGION
Fairfax RB-LB Tony Rojas rushed 27 times for 227 yards and three touchdowns, caught two passes for 50 yards and a touchdown and on defense made three tackles as the Lions beat West Potomac, 34-14.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Laurel RB Amary Ary rushed nine times for 133 yards and three touchdowns, caught a 45-yard touchdown pass and returned a kickoff 65 yards for another score as the Spartans beat Parkdale, 42-12.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Freedom-Woodbridge QB Davis Bryson completed 9 of 14 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns and rushed eight times for 208 yards and five touchdowns as the Eagles beat Colgan, 84-20.

PRIVATE
Spalding RB Jordan Harris rushed 27 times for 195 yards and three touchdowns as the Cavaliers beat Malvern Prep, 31-17.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
McDonough TE-MLB Makai Young made 16 tackles, had 1 ½ sacks, forced one fumble and recovered two fumbles, returning one 35 yards for a touchdown as the Rams beat Thomas Stone, 19-13, for their first win of the season.

Week 6: Jacob Thomas, Stone Bridge

Steven Holland/ Holland Sports Images

Jacob Thomas started at free safety the past two seasons for the Stone Bridge High football team. That is the position he plans to play at the University of Richmond, where he has accepted an athletic scholarship.

But Thomas also is a gifted player on offense, and now a senior, the Bulldogs need to him to be their quarterback -- a position he last played on the Ashburn school’s freshman football team in 2018. Halfway through this season, though, Thomas already has shown that he can excel at that position, too.

This past Saturday night, before a soldout crowd at Segra Field, Thomas once again showed why Coach Mickey Thompson consider him one of the best to suit up for Stone Bridge. Thomas completed 10 of 13 passes for 367 yards and five touchdowns and rushed five times for 22 yards and two more scores as the Bulldogs beat rival and previously undefeated Broad Run, 64-7, in the annual Battle of the Burn. In limited time on defense, he also recovered a fumble.

For his efforts, Thomas was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week. The Player of the Week is honored throughout each Wednesday on WTOP Radio.

“Not only does he make the plays he’s supposed to make, but he also makes a lot of ad-lib plays that other guys can’t see or make,” Thompson said. “We had a few plays that everybody thinks look great, but they just broke down and he ran around and made something happen. He can make you look great as a coach.”

For the season, Thomas has completed 47 of 65 passes for 1,051 yards and 14 touchdowns with just one interception, while rushing for 225 yards and four touchdowns, leading Stone Bridge to a 6-0 mark and continuing an amazing run.

Thomas scored 28 points in the title game as the Bulldogs’ boys basketball team won the Virginia 5A championship last winter. Then in the spring, Thomas led the Stone Bridge to a 10-0 record and another championship. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the state semifinals, then made the game-winning, one-handed touchdown catch in overtime of the championship game.

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Player of the Week High School Football Player of the Week Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL

Old Mill QB Myles Fulton completed 23 of 38 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns as the Patriots beat South River, 32-0.

DC

Dunbar WR Michael Brown caught five passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns and had an 18-yard touchdown run as the Crimson Tide beat Ballou, 58-0.

FREDERICK
Urbana QB Keegan Johnson, making his first varsity start, completed 9 of 11 passes for 185 yards and four touchdowns, rushed three times for 15 yards and kicked six extra points as the Hawks beat Gaithersburg, 42-12.

HOWARD

Wilde Lake DE Elijah Queen had six sacks, returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble as the Wildecats beat Centennial, 55-6.

MONTGOMERY

Damascus RB-LB-K Dillon Dunathan rushed eight times for 153 yards and three touchdowns (including a 90-yarder), returned an interception for a touchdown and forced a fumble that he recovered for a touchdown as the Swarmin’ Hornets beat Watkins Mill, 61-13. Dunathan also kicked three extra points.

NORTHERN REGION

Lake Braddock QB Daniel Lipovski completed 22 of 30 passes for 380 yards and six touchdowns as the Bruins beat South Lakes, 65-35. WR Evan Harrington had six catches for 188 yards and five touchdowns.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Wise QB Jayden Souray completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and four touchdowns and rushed four times for 75 yards and another score as the Pumas beat Gwynn Park, 39-0.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Brentsville RB-LB Bryce Jackson rushed 12 times for 129 yards and one touchdown and on defense made nine tackles (two for losses) with two sacks as the Tigers beat Warren County, 35-0.

PRIVATE

Sidwell Friends WR-CB Ethan Walker caught four passes for 89 yards and one touchdown and, filling in for an injured teammate, made two interceptions on defense as the Quakers beat Flint Hill, 24-10.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND

North Point RB Michael Craig rushed 26 times for 226 yards and one touchdown and caught a touchdown pass as the Eagles beat Chopticon, 30-7.

WCAC
Carroll WR-DL Nyckoles Harbor made eight tackles for loss with five sacks, caught a 47-yard touchdown pass and blocked a punt as the Lions beat Bishop McNamara, 21-0.

Week 5: Gilbert Tongrongou, Forest Park

Photo by Dan Hunter of Dan Hunter Photography

Gilbert Tongrongou was a slender freshman when he first went out for the Forest Park football team, having played soccer but wanting to take up a different sport. He grew in size and stature over the past three years, blossoming into one of the region’s top players, a two-way lineman who garnered plenty of attention from college recruiters.

Now a 6-foot-4, 260-pound senior, Tongrongou has accepted a scholarship offer to play for Boston College. He makes an impact on both sides of the ball. A teammate’s injury prompted Tongrongou to play tight end this past week on offense, where he was a wrecking ball of a blocker and caught two passes.

But it was Tongrongou’s performance filling in for the Bruins’ injured kicker that might have made the most last impression as he booted the game-winning 25-yard field goal in the second overtime to lift Forest Park to a 25-22 victory over Potomac (Va.).

For his efforts, Tongrongou was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week.

“I always knew Gilbert could kick,” Forest Park Coach John Robinette said. “That overtime kick was a big make.”

It was just one more way that Tongrongou impacted the game. He also made four tackles for loss, giving him 20 in five games this season. Up front on offense, he adapted to the new position and helped clear the way for running back Daniel Peters-John to rush 40 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns with two two-point conversions.

Tongongrou played on the Forest Park junior varsity as a freshman, then started on the varsity defensive line as a sophomore. This past spring, he became a two-way starter and emerged as a top recruit before settling on the opportunity to play defensive line at Boston College.

“He went from being on a couple schools’ radar to being on everyone’s radar,” Robinette said. “He had 20-plus offers in two months.”

Tongrongou hooked a 32-yard field goal attempt in regulation against Potomac, but Robinette said there was no hesitation to send out one of the Washington area’s biggest kickers for the game-winning attempt.

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Player of the Week High School Football Player of the Week Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL

South River QB Camrin Catterton passed for 235 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for three more scores as the Seahawks beat Crofton, 40-6.

DC

Anacostia QB Jeremiah Drummond completed 5 of 8 passes for 70 yards and rushed 10 times for 80 yards and three touchdowns as the Indians beat McKinley Tech, 26-8.

FREDERICK

Linganore RB Ethan Arneson carried 43 times for a school-record 353 yards and three touchdowns as the Lancers edged Oakdale, 54-53 in overtime.

HOWARD

Oakland Mills QB Kanye Holland rushed 19 times for 114 yards and one touchdown and completed 6 of 8 passes for 73 yards and two more touchdowns, including several big fourth-down plays, as the Scorpions improved to 4-0 with a 26-20 win over Atholton.

LOUDOUN

Broad Run QB Brett Griffis, a Wake Forest recruit, completed 11 of 13 passes for 196 yards and four touchdowns and rushed seven times for 128 yards in just three quarters as the Spartans beat Woodgrove, 44-0.

MONTGOMERY

Blake RB Dre’Quan Smith rushed 26 times for a school-record 337 yards and three touchdowns as the Bengals beat Watkins Mill, 34-20.

NORTHERN REGION

Jefferson RB-FS Justin Yoo rushed 20 times for 121 yards and one touchdown with a two-point conversion run and returned an interception 49 yards for another score on defense as the Colonials beat Teach Homeschool, 28-14, to improve to 4-0 for the first time in school history.

PRINCE GEORGE’S

Largo QB-FS Justin McEilwain rushed 12 times for 60 yards, completed 10 of 16 passes for 119 yards and two touchdown passes, including the game-winning 52-yarder with 30 seconds left, and on defense made six tackles and had the game-clinching interception as the Lions beat Fairmont Heights, 14-7.

PRIVATE

Spalding QB Nick Gutierrez rushed 27 times for 147 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning score in overtime, as the Cavaliers improved to 5-0 by beating Gonzaga, 20-13.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND

Leonardtown WR-FS Nick Stearns made four tackles and intercepted two passes on defense and made several key blocks on offense as the Raiders beat North Point, 14-13.

WCAC

O’Connell QB-LB Job Grant rushed nine times for 115 yards and two touchdowns, threw a 25-yard touchdown pass and made five tackles on defense as the Knights beat Annapolis Area Christian, 32-6.

Week 4: Travon Neal, Frederick

As Frederick High football coach Kevin Pirri talks to college recruiters about standout junior Travon Neal, he has run into a slight problem. Neal excels at wide receiver on offense, but he might be best suited as a college cornerback, Pirri has little video to showcase Neal’s ability on defense.

“He really established himself [during this past spring’s season] and since then they’ve been throwing away from him the whole game,” Pirri said. “The hard thing about selling a corner is that if he’s a good corner, you never hear his name because he cuts the field in half and they never throw his way.”

Perhaps the Cadets’ most recent game might help solve this problem.

Neal caught seven passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns, intercepted three passes on defense and returned a pun 45 yards for another score – all in the first half – as Frederick beat Wheaton, 63-7. For his efforts, Neal was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week.

“I think he is better at defense, but we haven’t seen any team that had a dynamic passing offense,” Pirri said.

Neal typically plays cornerback, but played safety against Wheaton, partly to give him more exposure at a new position. He was around the ball all night, making play after play on offense, defense and special teams – which has been the case throughout the season. A two-time all-Frederick County honoree, he has 24 catches for 486 yards and eight touchdowns and also has rushed for a touchdown and thrown a touchdown pass.

Neal has received interest from some major college programs, but is still looking for his first scholarship offer.

“We’re hoping that will come in the next few weeks,” Pirri said.

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Player of the Week High School Football Player of the Week Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL

Old Mill WR-DB Tim Triplett caught two touchdown passes and intercepted two passes on defense, returning one for a touchdown, as the Patriots beat Arundel, 48-3.

DC

Dunbar RB Daequan Harvin rushed for 146 yards and four touchdowns as the Crimson Tide beat Coolidge, 28-18.

HOWARD

Glenelg QB-FS Bisi Owens completed 5 of 6 passes for 65 yards and one touchdown, rushed 20 times for 142 yards and three touchdowns and on defense made five tackles, had one sack and returned an interception for a touchdown as the Gladiators beat Wilde Lake, 47-7.

LOUDOUN

John Champe QB Patrick Bryan completed 20 of 21 passes for 296 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for two more scores as the Knights beat Colgan, 62-20.

MONTGOMERY

Quince Orchard freshman RB Iverson Howard rushed 17 times for 181 yards and four touchdowns as the Cougars beat Walter Johnson, 63-28.

NORTHERN REGION

Alexandria City WR-DB Josh Clarke had a touchdown catch, intercepted two passes and returned both for touchdowns and made four tackles as the Titans beat Justice, 34-7.

PRINCE GEORGE’S

Wise WR Nik McMillan had five catches for 168 yards and three touchdowns as the Pumas beat Laurel, 51-7.

PRINCE WILLIAM

Osbourn Park RB Thomas Pullen rushed 21 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets beat Herndon, 40-14.

PRIVATE

Maret QB Andrew Catron completed 18 of 21 passes for 318 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed four times for 66 yards and one touchdown as the Frogs beat Richard Wright, 58-12.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND

North Point RB Michael Craig rushed 13 times for 230 yards and two touchdowns, one of them a 94-yarder, as the Eagles beat Westlake, 33-12.

WCAC

LB Shon Reid made 13 tackles and had four tackles for loss as the Lions improved to 4-0 with a 43-0 win over Wilson.

Week 3: Bryce Duke, Tuscarora (Va.)

Things sure have changed for Bryce Duke. In just six months, he has emerged as one of the Washington area’s top football players, having accepted a scholarship offer to play for Virginia Tech. Opposing defenses are geared to stop the Tuscarora (Va.) High running back and their fans are just as aware that stopping No. 22 is the key to their team’s success.

And yet, while the spotlight now shines brightly on Duke, the results remain the same.

Duke rushed 43 times for 305 yards and four touchdowns and caught two passes for 52 yards and a touchdown this past Friday as the Huskies beat John Champe, 42-35.

“He just took over,” Tuscarora Coach Brandon Wheelbarger said. “It was one of those games where everyone in the stadium knew we were going to rely on Bryce. And 40 carries later, he had put on a show.”

It was just the latest prolific chapter for Duke. Already this season, he has rushed for 577 yards and nine touchdowns and caught three more touchdown passes, leading the Huskies to a 3-0 start and stretching their regular season winning streak to 17 games.

Duke plans to graduate high school early and enroll at Virginia Tech for the spring semester, but he remains as focused as ever on the task at hand at Tuscarora.

“I can’t speak highly enough about Bryce,” Wheelbarger said. “He’s invested here to go out the right way. I’ve been really impressed with him.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Player of the Week High School Football Player of the Week Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL

Broadneck QB Josh Ehrlich completed 15 of 27 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns as the Bruins beat South River, 30-13.

DC

Richard Wright RB Chamon Burleigh rushed 16 times for 68 yards, had five catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns and returned two kickoffs for 115 yards as the Spartans lost at Marietta (Ohio), 40-12.

FREDERICK

Frederick WR Travon Neal had 11 catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns, threw a touchdown pass and had 43 yards in punt returns as the Cadets lost to Middletown, 35-33.

HOWARD

Mount Hebron RB-OLB Aidan Hauf rushed six times for 169 yards and two touchdowns and on defense made 10 tackles and forced three fumbles as the Vikings beat Marriotts Ridge, 42-21.

MONTGOMERY

Damascus RB-LB-K Dillon Dunathan rushed nine times for 115 yards and two touchdowns, scored a two-point conversion, made two point-after touchdown kicks, kicked two field goals and on defense made 18 tackles with two sacks as the Swarmin’ Hornets beat Magruder 28-0.

NORTHERN REGION

Jefferson LB Hilal Hussain made 16 tackles and returned an interception 87 yards for the Colonials’ first defensive touchdown in 10 seasons as they beat FCA Bucks, 27-14.

PRINCE GEORGE’S

Laurel WR-DB Amare Ary had eight catches for 207 yards, including a 90-yard touchdown, and intercepted a pass on defense as the Spartans beat Bowie, 24-14.

PRINCE WILLIAM

Hylton WR-DB Dylan Wright caught three touchdown passes and on defense intercepted two passes as the Bulldogs beat Briar Woods, 34-22.

PRIVATE

Avalon RB Joshua Pitsenberger rushed eight times for 152 yards and two touchdowns, caught a 71-yard touchdown pass and returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown as the Black Knights beat Riverdale Baptist, 52-14.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND

Huntingtown TE-LB Chad Connolly made 20 tackles, including five tackles for loss, and had one sack as the Hurricanes beat Leonardtown, 26-6.

WCAC

Paul VI Catholic RB-DB Dug McDaniel, who has committed to play basketball at Michigan, had touchdown runs of 75 yards and 52 yards as the Panthers beat Flint Hill, 41-7.

Week 2: Tyler Payne, Woodgrove

Photo by Brandy Payne

When he was pulled up to the varsity to run the scout team near the end of the abbreviated season this past spring, then-freshman Tyler Payne made an immediate impression on Woodgrove Coach Derek Barlow.

“Oh my god, I should have brought this kid up earlier,” Barlow said. “He was shredding our defense.”

Still, as the Wolverines gathered for preseason practice last month, Payne was third on the depth chart, perhaps playing some wingback in Woodgrove’s spread single-wing offense. While his athletic talent was obvious, Barlow required younger players “to earn their stripes.”

Fortunately for the Wolverines, it did not take long for Payne to show he belonged and this past weekend, he led the comeback from a 20-point deficit as Woodgrove remained unbeaten.

Payne completed 14 of 26 passes for 230 yards and a school-record five touchdowns, including the game-winning 70-yarder to Alec Hughes on fourth down with less than two minutes remaining as the Wolverines pulled out a 50-47 victory over Forest Park.

“He came into camp and won the job,” Barlow said. “We haven’t had to water anything down for him. He just does a good job managing the game and when we need to throw, he’s smart and extends the pocket with his feet. He just has that knack – ice water in his veins, which makes the whole offense run.”

Woodgrove (2-0) has a certified standout in running back Price Williams, who has committed to play for Princeton. Williams had been lining up as a quarterback in the single wing, before Barlow decided that Payne was ready.

“He’s fast and athletic and it sounds good and looks good on paper, but you just never know how it will go,” Barlow said, noting that Woodgrove has had a senior quarterback each of the past four seasons. “He keeps progressions. He’s learning how to read coverages and if it isn’t there, he will run.”

Others receiving Player of the Week consideration were:

ANNE ARUNDEL

Old Mill WR Donte Craggette-Drake caught six passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns as the Patriots beat North County, 59-0.

DC

Friendship Collegiate RB Raynard Dugger rushed 15 times for 89 yards and caught the game-winning 86-yard touchdown in the final minute, as the Knights beat Benedictine, 20-14.

FREDERICK

Oakdale WR-DB Evan Austin rushed for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass and returned an interception 89 yards for a touchdown as the Bears beat South Hagerstown, 42-13.

HOWARD

Glenelg QB-FS Bisi Owens rushed 11 times for 111 yards and three touchdowns, completed 4 of 8 passes for 71 yards and on defense made five tackles and broke up three passes as the Gladiators beat Hammond, 35-14.

LOUDOUN

Woodgrove QB Tyler Payne completed 14 of 26 passes for 230 yards and a school-record five touchdowns, including the game-winning 70-yard score on fourth down with less than two minutes remaining, as the Wolverines rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat Forest Park, 50-47.

MONTGOMERY

Walter Johnson WR Lucas Boiteux caught seven passes for 155 yards and one touchdown as the Wildcats rallied to beat Churchill, 21-17.

NORTHERN REGION

Oakton DB Shane Rossini intercepted four passes, made eight tackles and broke up two more passes as the Cougars beat W.T. Woodson, 30-13.

PRINCE GEORGE’S

Potomac (Md.) RB-WR Jamare Glasker rushed four times for 145 yards and three touchdowns and caught a nine-yard touchdown pass as the Wolverines beat Bladensburg, 54-6.

PRINCE WILLIAM

Freedom-Woodbridge QB Davis Bryson completed 17 of 23 passes for 287 yards and threw four touchdown passes for the second consecutive week as the Eagles beat Riverbend, 41-7.

PRIVATE

St. Mary’s-Annapolis RB Wyatt Cotton rushed 31 times for 242 yards and two touchdowns as the Saints beat Loyola Blakefield, 14-12.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND

Northern WR-S Cody Howard had eight catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns on offense and made 12 tackles, broke up three passes and intercepted a pass on defense as the Patriots beat Patuxent, 42-6.

WCAC

Gonzaga RB Joseph Hammond rushed 21 times for 161 yards and one touchdown and caught a 28-yard pass as the Eagles beat McDonogh, 23-7.

Week 1: Thomas Pullen, Osbourn Park

As the Osbourn Park football team prepared for the season, first-year Coach Reggie Scott often chatted with junior running back and middle linebacker Thomas Pullen. If the Yellow Jackets, who had not won a game in nearly two calendar years, were going to turn things around, Pullen had to play a big role.

Photo by Brian Westhoff

“So far, he is living up to it,” Scott said.

Pullen carried 20 times for 189 yards and three touchdowns, leading Osbourn Park to a 35-28 victory over Colgan in its season opener this past weekend and snapping a 13-game losing streak.

For his efforts, Pullen was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week.

Pullen was a starter on offense and defense during the Osbourn Park’s 2021 spring season, but the Manassas school found little success, outscored 222 to 12 in losing all six of its games. Scott was hired after the season and determined to change the culture as well as the Yellow Jackets’ offensive schemes. He watched game films and thought the Yellow Jackets had some talented players, including quarterback Ryan Westhoff.

“This year, things are much more spread out,” Scott said. “I believe we have one of the better quarterbacks in Prince William. That helps open up some of the running lanes for Thomas.”

That plan worked in the season opener as Westhoff completed 7 of 13 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns (both to wide receiver Wyatt Hurley) against Colgan. That in turn helped the running game and Pullen got the job done as well.

“The thing I like about Thomas is that [on defense] he diagnoses the ball carrier really well and gets to the football,” Scott said. “You see it with his runs, too, when he is carrying the football. He plays with good patience, lets his blocks set up, puts his foot in the ground and gets north.”

Other players receiving Player of the Week consideration were:

LOUDOUN

Broad Run QB Brett Griffis, a Wake Forest recruit, threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Spartans beat Briar Woods, 41-6.

NORTHERN REGION

Fairfax DB Amir Green returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and returned an interception for a touchdown as the Lions beat Wakefield, 19-14.

West Potomac WR Emmanuel Ampem returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and caught three passes for 101 yards and a touchdown as the Wolverines beat McLean, 30-0.

Yorktown WR Mason Cunningham returned the opening kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown Friday night before thunderstorms suspended play and when the game resumed Saturday caught a game-winning 56-yard touchdown pass as the Patriots beat Langley, 19-14.

PRINCE WILLIAM

Freedom-Woodbridge QB Davis Bryson completed 12 of 14 passes for 277 yards and four touchdowns and rushed seven times for 100 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles beat Brooke Point, 70-26.

Patriot RB Keith Jenkins rushed 14 times for 225 yards and five touchdowns as the Pioneers beat Hylton, 42-6, in a game that was halted in the middle of the third quarter by thunderstorms.

WCAC

Gonzaga RB Joseph Hammond rushed 19 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles beat Friendship Collegiate, 37-0.

St. John’s RB Jamar Curtis rushed nine times for 82 yards and caught three passes for 96 yards and a touchdown as the Cadets beat Don Bosco Prep (N.J.), 26-7.