Week 16: Blake Horvath, Navy

PHoto courtesy navy athletics

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week for the third time this season after returning from an injury with a dominant performance to lead the Midshipmen to a 31-13 victory over rival Army this past Saturday at Northwest Stadium in Landover.

Horvath, injured early in Navy’s 35-0 loss to Tulane on Nov. 16, completed 4 of 9 passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 25 times for 204 yards and two more scores as the Midshipmen claimed the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for the first time since 2019.

“Blake Horvath is a special young man, one of the toughest kids that I know,” Navy Coach Brian Newberry said. “He’s been through some really difficult injuries this year. We weren’t sure if he was going to be able to play this game. Really, this past week was his first week of going full in practice. We cut him loose and I thought he played extremely well today. … He makes the engine go for sure.”

Horvath started the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run to cap the game’s opening possession. He threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Chatman in the second quarter that made it 14-0.

After Army pulled within 14-10 in the third quarter, Horvath responded with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Eli Heidenreich and his second one-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter sealed the win, finishing off quite a performance in his first action in an Army-Navy game.

“It was frustrating to watch on the sideline the past two years,” Horvath said. “You want to be in control and leave your mark on the game. … You can go back to February 27 when we walked into our winter workouts and photos of the CIC Trophy are plastered on every locker and every wall. It’s been since then that we’ve put this game into our heads. … There is a pain that comes with singing first. We didn’t want to do it again. The Brigade didn’t want to sing first and none of the fans wanted to sing first.”

Week 15: Josh Ehrlich, Susquehanna

photo courtesy susquehanna athletics

Susquehanna University quarterback Josh Ehrlich, who starred at Broadneck High School in Annapolis, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after another sensational performance led the River Hawks into the NCAA Division III quarterfinals for the first time since 1991.

Ehrlich completed 25 of 37 passes for 274 yards and one touchdown as Susquehanna went on the road to beat St. John’s (Minn.), 41-38.

“He’s played out of his mind this year,” Susquehanna Coach Tom Perkovich said following Susquehanna’’s win over Hobart in the previous round of the NCAA Division III tournament. “Josh, his improvement from last year to this year, I don’t know if I’ve seen a kid make the jump he made, especially with all we ask him to do at his position.

For the season, Ehrlich has passed for 2,864 yards and 32 touchdowns with just four interceptions. He also has rushed for 601 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named the Landmark Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Ehrlich, who is the son of former Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich, also last week was named a semi-finalist for the Gagliardi Awards presented to the most outstanding NCAA Division III football player and recognized excellence in athletics, academics and community service, That award, ironically, is named after St. John’s legendary former coach John Gagliardi.

Week 14: Braxton Woodson, Navy

photo courtesy navy athletics

Navy quarterback Braxton Woodson, making his first start of the season, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week after his career-best performance sparked the Midshipmen to a 34-20 win over East Carolina this past Friday.

Woodson, a sophomore, completed 12 of 19 passes for a career-high 165 yards and one touchdown and rushed 15 times for a career-high 125 yards and two touchdowns as Navy (8-3, 6-2) clinched third place in the American Athletic Conference.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the way our guys rallied around our young quarterback and couldn’t be more proud of the way he played today,” Navy Coach Brian Newberry said. “That was critical for him to come out here and have success. Everything from here on out is up for that young man. Super proud of the way Braxton played and composed himself.

“Braxton settled in once he made a few plays. He gained a little confidence. And we had a bunch of guys make plays out here.”

East Carolina, which had won its previous four games, led 3-0 at halftime. But after failing to put points on the board in the first half, Woodson directed five touchdown drives in the second half, including a 61-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Kent and touchdown runs of 38 and 10 yards.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Woodson, who started in place of injured teammate Blake Horvath. “You put a lot of work into this sport and to show the fruits of your labor on the field, it’s amazing.”

The Midshipmen have one more regular season game remaining. The winner of the Army-Navy game on Saturday, Dec. 14 at Northwest Stadium will win the Commander-in-Chief Trophy.

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:

• Villanova RB David Avit (Churchill) rushed 17 times for 94 yards and caught two passes for 75 yards as the Wildcats beat Eastern Kentucky, 22-17, in an FCS first-round playoff game.

• Susquehanna QB Josh Ehrlich (Broadneck) completed 16 of 21 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 14 times for 48 yards and two touchdowns as the River Hawks beat Hobart, 42-35, in a Division III second-round game.

• LSU LB Greg Penn III (DeMatha) made nine tackles with 1 ½ tackles for loss as the Tigers beat Oklahoma, 37-17.

• BYU S Tanner Wall (Yorktown) made 13 tackles – more than double his previous career high – as the Cougars beat Houston, 30-18.

• Virginia Tech LB Caleb Woodson (Battlefield) made a team-leading nine tackles as the Hokies beat Virginia, 37-17.

Week 13: Jimmori Robinson, UTSA

photo courtesy utsa athletics

University of Texas at San Antonio linebacker Jimmori Robinson, who starred at Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week after his record-setting performance helped the Roadrunners beat Temple, 51-27, this past Friday.

Robinson made seven tackles, setting a school record with 5 ½ tackles for loss and matching a school record with four sacks as UTSA won its third consecutive game.

“It was Senior Night, so I wanted to play for my seniors and my brothers, 28 of us,” said Robinson, who earned his bachelor’s degree earlier this year. “I wanted to put my best foot forward.”

An all-state football player and all-district basketball player at Hayfield, Robinson acknowledged that getting to Senior Night was “a long journey.” He played for Dodge City (Kan.) Community College in 2019 then attended Monroe College in New Rochelle, N.Y., which did not field a team in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Robinson subsequently transferred to UTSA. He played four games and redshirted in 2021 and played in all 14 games and made 25 tackles in 2022. He made 40 tackles and had his first college start in 2023 and things to another level this season with 40 tackles, 15 ½ tackles for loss and 9 ½ sacks so far this season.

“Jimmori has improved in so many ways since we’ve had him,” UTSA Coach Jeff Traylor said earlier this season. “Obviously he’s always been a good football player, but just the human being that he is. There’s a lot of things about him that I’m proud of. I still think his best ball is in front of him. He works tirelessly at his game.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:

• Morgan State RB Jason Collins Jr. (Theodore Roosevelt) rushed 12 times for 114 yards and two touchdowns and caught seven passes for 89 yards as the Bears beat Howard, 35-21.

• Towson RB Devin Matthews (Justice) rushed 15 times for 134 yards and one touchdown as the Tigers beat Campbell, 45-23.

• Auburn LB Jalen McLeod (Friendship Collegiate) made 10 tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack as the Tigers beat Texas A&M, 43-41, in four overtimes.

• Yale RB Joshua Pitsenberger (Avalon) rushed 25 times for 120 yards and one touchdown as the Bulldogs beat Harvard, 34-29.

• Penn State LB Tony Rojas (Fairfax) made six tackles with one sack as the Nittany Lions beat Minnesota, 26-25.

• East Carolina WR Anthony Smith (Huntingtown) caught four passes for career-high 121 yards and a 50-yard touchdown that gave the Pirates the lead as they rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat North Texas, 40-28.

• Monmouth WR TJ Speight (Meade) caught seven passes for a career-high 151 yards as the Hawks beat Stony Brook, 55-47.

Week 12: Brandon Washington, Gallaudet

photo courtesy gallaudet athletics

Gallaudet University quarterback Brandon Washington has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week after another sensational performance led the Bison to victory in his final collegiate game.

Washington, a senior who began his college career as a wide receiver before transitioning to quarterback so that he had the ball in his hands every play, rushed 26 times for 164 yards and two touchdowns, caught four passes for 85 yards and one touchdown and completed a 13-yard pass as Gallaudet finished its season with a 37-15 win over Dean College in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference consolation game.

“He’s been a rock,” Gallaudet Coach Chuck Goldstein said. “He’s one of the best players to come through here. We’ve had a couple special players, but he ranks among those top three guys. They’re just different. He grew while he was here and he matured, not just on the field but in the classroom too. He’s going to graduate.”

Gallaudet switched the run its offense out of the shotgun this season to better take advantage of Washington’s running ability. With Saturday’s performance, he finished his career at Gallaudet’s all-time leading rusher with 2,421 yards and 30 touchdowns.

“The only time he was under center this year was to quarterback sneak. You know about the tush push? Well, his new thing was jumping over and riding the wave,” Goldstein said. “He just does things that aren’t natural. We had a low snap that hit him in the knees – he picks it up and instead of handing it off like the play calls, he keeps it and it’s a touchdown.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:

• Lafayette RB Jamar Curtis (St. John’s) rushed eight times for 51 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 40 yards and another score as the Leopards beat Stonehill, 42-10.

• Susquehanna QB Josh Ehrlich (Broadneck) completed 16 of 25 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns as the River Hawks completed the regular season with a 55-7 win over Lycoming.

• Bridgewater DL Demarco Fleming (St. Charles) made six tackles with 4 ½ tackles for loss and 1 ½ sacks and forced two fumbles as the Eagles beat Guilford, 58-0.

• Presbyterian TE Nathan Levicki (Broadneck) caught two touchdown passes as the Blue Hose beat Marist, 42-23.

• Yale RB Joshua Pitsenberger (Avalon) rushed 25 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass as the Bulldogs beat Princeton, 42-28.

• James Madison S Jacob Thomas (Stone Bridge) made a career-high nine tackles and broke up two passes as the Dukes beat Old Dominion, 35-32.

• Catholic QB John Whelan completed 21 of 26 passes for 377 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for a touchdown as the Cardinals closed their season with a 56-22 win over Juniata.

• Cornell K Alan Zhao (Marriotts Ridge) made all four of his field goal attempts, including the game-winning 38-yarder with 58 seconds left as the Big Red beat Dartmouth, 39-22. Zhao, who made a career-long 48-yard field goal in the first quarter, is 10 of 10 this season.

Week 11: Jalen Redfearn, Shenandoah

photo courtesy shenandoah athletics

Shenandoah running back Jalen Redfearn, who played at Woodbridge High School, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after the biggest day of his career on any level led the Hornets to a 35-7 win over Hampden-Sydney.

Redfearn, a junior with only one previous 100-yard game during his college career, carried 38 times for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

“Jalen does a great job,” Shenandoah Coach Scott Yoder told the Winchester Star after the game. “If you've watched us this year, you know how physical he can run the football, but it was lean on the O-line. [However] many plays we got, we just keep leaning on the O-line. You got a lot of guys up there that played a lot of football, and we felt like that could be an advantage for us.”

Redfearn tallied 81 yards rushing on Shenandoah’s opening drive and broke his previous career-high of 117 yards before halftime.

“I like to set the tone for my team," Redfearn told the Winchester Star. "The feeling that everybody's proud of me and everybody's saying good game, that's really what I do it for."

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:

• Morgan State RB Jason Collins Jr. (Theodore Roosevelt) rushed 24 times for a career-high 152 yards and one touchdown and caught two passes for 14 yards as the Bears beat Delaware State, 36-28.

• Lafayette RB Jamar Curtis (St. John’s) rushed 28 times for 122 yards and three touchdowns, including two scores in the final 7 ½ minutes as the Leopards rallied to beat Colgate, 21-20.

• Christoper Newport WR Trey Hayes (Dominion) caught five passes for 132 yards and one touchdown as the Captains beat Montclair State, 33-10.

• Averett LB Tre’ Maxwell (Centreville) made 12 tackles with one tackle for loss as the Cougars beat Guilford, 28-21.

• Wake Forest WR Taylor Morin (Westfield) caught nine passes for 110 yards in the Demon Deacons’ 46-36 loss to Cal.

• Towson LB Daniel Raymond (Friendly) made five tackles with 1 ½ tackles for loss and returned his first career interception 62 yards for a touchdown as the Tigers beat Hampton, 27-10.

• Navy P Riley Riethman punted seven times for an average of 49.7 yards per punt, placing three inside the 20-yard line, as the Midshipmen controlled field position and beat South Florida, 28-7.

• Penn K Sam Smith (Quince Orchard) made both of his field goal attempts, including a career-best 45-yarder, and all seven of his point-after kicks as the Quakers beat Cornell, 67-49.

Week 10: Wande Owens, New Hampshire

photo courtesy unh athletics

NEW HAMPSHIRE SAFETY WANDE OWENS NAMED
DC TOUCHDOWN CLUB COLLEGE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

WASHINGTON (November 5, 2024) – University of New Hampshire safety Wande Owens, who starred at Glenelg High School in Howard County, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after leading the Wildcats to a 31-14 win over Albany this past Saturday.

Owens, a graduate student who transferred from Yale, made a team-high 10 tackles with one tackle for loss and returned an interception 50 yards for his first collegiate touchdown as New Hampshire (5-4, 3-2 CAA) snapped a two-game losing streak.

A two-way star in high school, Owens found himself a home on the defensive side of the ball in college. He tied for the Yale lead with 63 tackles in 2022, earning first-team All-Ivy League honors.  In 2023, Owens was the Bulldogs’ second-leading tackler, with 55 tackles and tied for the team lead by breaking up seven passes.

Needing to find a new school because the Ivy League has not allowed student-athletes to utilize the extra year of eligibility for the season lost due to Covid-19, New Hampshire got a tip on Owens from Yale defensive coordinator Sean McGowan, who previously coached seven seasons at New Hampshire.

After settling on New Hampshire for his final collegiate season, Owens quickly became one of the Wildcats’ top players. He currently leads the team with 81 tackles. New Hampshire defensive coordinator Garrett Gillick said that Owens has been the biggest addition to the team’s defense.

“I’ve never seen a player pick up the range of responsibilities that he carries as a safety in our defense in both our base defense and subpackages,” New Hampshire defensive pass game coordinator and safeties coach Scott James said. “In any one play, he can be a safety, a linebacker or a nickel cornerback. And to do it with as little errors as he does speaks to his level of preparation and detail.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:

• Salisbury DB Malachi Baker (Carroll) made a team-leading and career-high eight tackles, intercepted two passes and forced a fumble as the Sea Gulls beat The College of New Jersey, 52-35, to clinch at least a share of the New Jersey Athletic Conference title.

• Catholic RB Daequan Harvin (Dunbar) rushed 23 times for a career-high 242 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals beat Keystone, 42-24.

• Frostburg State DL Yasir Holmes (Lackey) made 14 tackles with three tackles for loss and one sack and forced a fumble as the Bobcats lost to West Virginia State, 38-24.

• Indiana DL Mikail Kamara (Stone Bridge) made seven tackles with 4 ½ tackles for loss and 2 ½ sacks as the Hoosiers improved to 9-0 for the first time ever by beating Michigan State, 47-10.

• VMI LB Steven Riveros (Potomac Falls) made 11 tackles and broke up two passes as the Keydets beat Furman, 21-17.

• Bowie State RB Micah Robinson rushed 22 times for 171 yards and four touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Elizabeth City State, 48-6.

• Howard QB Ja’Shawn Scroggins completed 24 of 41 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns and rushed eight times for 60 yards and one touchdown as the Bison beat Delaware State, 38-0.

• Penn State S Zakee Wheatley (Spalding) tied his career high with 10 tackles (nine solo tackles), broke up a pass and forced a fumble that prevented a touchdown as the Nittany Lions lost to Ohio State, 20-13.

Week 9: Nate Kurisky, Louisville

University of Louisville tight end Nate Kurisky, who played at Gonzaga College High School in Northwest Washington, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after helping the Cardinals erase a 20-point deficit to beat Boston College, 31-27, this past Friday night.

Pressed into extended action because of injuries to teammates, Kurisky caught a pair of touchdown passes, including the go-ahead, six-yard score midway through the fourth quarter as Louisville prevailed after trailing 20-0 in the first half.

Kurisky had caught just two passes in the Cardinals’ first seven games this season. But with one tight end out for the season after having surgery and a fullback also out due to inury, Kurisky played a larger role than usual and delivered.

“Nate is the guy who can do a lot of things for us,” Louisville Coach Jeff Brohm said. “He’s kind of just steady at a lot of things and he knows what to do and he does it the best that he can and doesn’t have very many mental mistakes because he does understand it. I think he’ll continue to do a good job for us and he definitely stepped up this past week.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:

• Wake Forest LB Nick Anderson (Centreville) made six tackles, recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass deep in his own territory in the final minute as the Demon Deacons beat Stanford, 27-24.

• Christopher Newport QB Connor Barry (Madison) completed 17 of 22 passes for 389 yards and two touchdowns and rushed five times for 49 yards and another score as the Captains beat Kean, 32-21.

• Susquehanna QB Josh Ehrlich (Broadneck) completed 16 of 23 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns as the River Hawks beat Wilkes, 48-21.

• Indiana RB Justice Ellison (Flint Hill) rushed 29 times for 123 yards and one touchdown as the Hoosiers beat Washington, 31-17.

• Gallaudet LB Jacob Hundley made four tackles and made his first two interceptions of the season as the Bison beat Dean, 23-6.

• James Madison WR Cam Ross (St. John’s) caught five passes for 39 yards and one touchdown and returned a kickoff 94 yards for another score as the Dukes beat Southern Miss, 32-15.

• Towson TE Carter Runyon (Robinson), a second-team All-American last season, caught two touchdown passes as the Tigers beat Monmouth, 26-14.

• Penn State S Zakee Wheatley (Spalding) made a career-high 10 tackles as the Nittany Lions beat Wisconsin, 28-13.

Week 8: Billy Edwards Jr., Maryland

photo courtesy maryland athletics

University of Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who starred at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after his career performance led the Terrapins to a thrilling 29-28 win over USC this past Saturday.

Edwards, in his first season as Maryland’s starter, completed 39 of 50 passes for a career-high 373 yards and two touchdowns. He also scampered three yards for the game-winning touchdown with 53 seconds left.

“Threw it a little more than I would expect or want him to, but really played at a high level today,” Maryland Coach Michael Locksley said.

With USC often playing man-to-man coverage, that prompted the Terrapins to rely on Edwards’ throwing arm to move the ball. Edwards delivered as Maryland rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Roman Hemby’s 10-yard touchdown run and subsequent two-point conversion pass from Edwards to Kaden Prather pulled Maryland within 28-22 with 10 minutes left.

The Terrapins had their backs against the wall late in regulation, but Donnell Brown blocked a 41-yard field goal attempt with two minutes left, setting up Maryland at the USC 47-yard line with 1:48 remaining. Edwards was 4 of 4 passing on the winning drive; another passing attempt resulted in a 15-yard gain for a pass interference penalty.

On second-and-goal from the 3, Edwards faked a handoff, took a step to his left and then cut up the field and into the end zone.

“The biggest thing for me the final drive was to try to continue what I did the whole game, where I found success and getting the ball out to the playmakers … and let them do the hard work,” said Edwards, a redshirt junior who played one season at Wake Forest before transferring to Maryland.

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:

• Lafayette RB Jamar Curtis (St. John’s) rushed 27 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns and caught five passes for 42 yards as the Leopards beat Sacred Heart, 31-17.

• Virginia Tech CB Mansoor Delane (Spalding) made nine tackles as the Hokies beat Boston College, 42-21.

• Shepherd WR Cameron Dorner (Oakdale) caught eight passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams beat Millersville, 35-21.

• Indiana RB Justice Ellison (Flint Hill) rushed nine times for 105 yards and two first-half touchdowns as the Hoosiers improved to 7-0 for the first time since 1967 with a 56-7 win over Nebraska.

• Catholic RB Daequan Harvin (Dunbar) rushed 32 times for 157 yards as the Cardinals beat Lycoming, 14-12.

• Susquehanna WR Kyle Howes (Urbana) caught seven passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown as the River Hawks beat Juniata, 66-21.

• Navy CB Dashaun Peele made three tackles with one sack and returned two interceptions for touchdowns as the Midshipmen improved to 6-0 for the first time since 1979 by beating Charlotte, 51-17.

• Gallaudet QB Brandon Washington rushed 25 times for 151 yards and four first-half touchdowns as the Bison beat Anna Maria, 39-34.

Week 7: Greg Penn III, LSU

photos courtesy LSU athletics

Louisiana State University linebacker Greg Penn III, who attended DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, has been named the DC Touchdown Club College Football Player of the Week after making nine tackles with half a sack to help the Tigers beat Ole Miss, 26-23 in overtime this past Saturday.

It has been a strong season for Penn, a senior who was LSU’s second-leading tackler last season. Two weeks ago, he made 14 tackles in a win over UCLA and he has picked up even more responsibility after standout linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. suffered a season-ending knee injury in that game.

“I can’t say enough about the defensive effort tonight,” LSU Coach Brian Kelly said after beating Ole Miss. “Sacks. Harassing the quarterback. Making the big plays when they needed to. That’s what we’ve been talking about in terms of getting better each and every week on both sides of the ball.”

Now in his third year as a starter, Penn also was recognized as a team leader before the season, with Kelly bestowing LSU’s No. 18 jersey to Penn. That jersey annually is given to an LSU player who is recognized for their leadership.

“He kept our defense together last year,” Kelly said. “We won 10 games last year and he kept our unit together through some difficult times, because he was about LSU football. He was about, when we brought a transfer in at his position, all he did was work harder. He represents all the principles of being a great teammate and a guy you can count on.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:

• Georgetown DC Cooper Blomstrom made four tackles with two sacks and intercepted a pass as the Hoyas beat Lafayette, 17-0.

• Susquehanna QB Josh Ehrlich (Broadneck) completed 11 of 11 passes for 203 yards and four touchdowns as the River Hawks beat Keystone, 79-6.

• Frostburg State QB Myles Fulton (Old Mill) completed 17 of 23 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns as the Bobcats beat Glenville State, 41-9.

• Howard S Kenny Gallop Jr. made eight tackles with one sack and the Bison held Sacred Heart scoreless in the second half, rallying for a 21-14 win.

• Virginia State WR Malik Hunter (Woodbridge) caught six passes for 110 yards and one touchdown as the Trojans beat Bowie State, 38-17.

Week 6: Eli Heidenreich, Navy

photo courtesy navy athletics

Navy running back Eli Heidenreich has been named the DC Touchdown Club College Football Player of the Week after accomplishing something that had never been done before in Navy history and leading the Midshipmen to a 34-7 win at Air Force this past Saturday.

Heidenreich, a junior from Pittsburgh, has quickly emerged as one of Navy’s top playmakers. On Saturday, he rushed six times for 100 yards and caught five passes for 101 yards. It is believed to the first time ever that a Navy player had at least 100 yards receiving and 100 yards rushing in the same game.

“Whenever I see him out there, he’s always my first read – my trust and confidence in him,” Navy quarterback Blake Horvath said. “He had a great game. He’s always where he is supposed to be and always able to make a play.”

Navy is off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 2017 in large part due to its offensive success. The Midshipmen average 43.6 points per game, with Heidenreich leading the team with 20 catches for 449 yards and five touchdowns. He also is averaging 8.6 yards per carry on his 20 rushes.

More importantly, Coach Brian Newberry and his players noted, beating Air Force for the first time since 2019 puts Navy in position to win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in the season finale against Army. Heidenreich noted that it was his first victory against another service academy.

“That’s something that sits with you and you think about all offseason and all summer and you’re just ready to prove a point,” Heidenreich said. “I think today we really made a statement.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week College Honor Roll:

• Wake Forest LB Nick Anderson (Centreville) made a game-high 11 tackles as the Demon Deacons beat N.C. State, 34-30.

• Villanova RB David Avit (Churchill) rushed 13 times for 183 yards and four touchdowns as the Wildcats beat Stony Brook, 42-24.

• Christopher Newport QB Connor Barry (Madison) completed 34 of 44 passes for 443 yards and four touchdowns as the Captains lost to Salisbury, 42-38.

• San Diego State RB Marquez Cooper (Quince Orchard) rushed 30 times for 109 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning two-yard score midway through the fourth quarter, and caught four passes for 28 yards as the Aztecs beat Hawaii, 27-24.

• Susquehanna QB Josh Ehrlich (Broadneck) completed 19 of 25 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns as the River Hawks beat Catholic, 48-14.

• Gallaudet RB Dre’Vaughn Mackall (Calvert) rushed 28 times for a career-high 238 yards and three touchdowns as the Bison beat Nichols, 42-28.

• Penn LB Kadari Machen (Gonzaga) made 15 tackles with one tackle for loss as the Quakers lost to Dartmouth, 20-17.

• Slippery Rock WR Mike Solomon (Huntingtown) caught two touchdown passes, including the game-winning, 11-yard score with 12 seconds left for a 33-32 victory over Indiana (Pa.) in a meeting of previously undefeated teams.

Week 5: David Avit, Villanova

photo courtesy villanova athletics

Villanova University running back David Avit, a freshman who starred at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after his career day carried the Wildcats to a 24-10 win over Long Island University this past Saturday.

Avit more than doubled the output of his first four collegiate games, setting career-highs with 24 carries for 160 yards and scoring his first collegiate touchdown on a five-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter as Villanova improved to 4-1, with its lone loss coming at Maryland.

Avit had carried just 24 times for 115 yards in the season’s first four games. He already was getting an increased workload against Long Island and then became the team’s primary rusher after teammate Isaiah Ragland (South Lakes) was sidelined by an injury midway through the game.

“I knew I had to instill confidence in myself,” Avit said. “Even though I’m a freshman, that doesn’t mean anything. I know I’ve got the size and I’ve got the speed and the coaches believe in me, so I just have to believe in myself. When I believe in myself, I don’t think anything can stop me.”

The victory was Villanova’s 19th consecutive against FCS regular season opponents and 12th consecutive win at home.

“A lot of people that didn’t see our young backs prior to this season thought that was going to be a big question mark for us,” Villanova Coach Mark Ferrante said. “I think the running backs now have proved to everybody they can play a little bit and it’s good to see.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week College Honor Roll:

• Bucknell CB Aaron Davis (Friendship Collegiate) made two tackles, broke up one pass and returned an interception 79 yards for a touchdown as the Bison beat Lehigh, 38-35 in overtime.

• Frostburg State QB Myles Fulton (Old Mill) completed 18 of 27 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns as the Division II Bobcats beat FCS Mercyhurst, 25-24.

• Navy QB Blake Horvath completed 9 of 11 passes for a career-high 225 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 13 times for 84 yards and one touchdown as the Midshipmen improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2017 with a 41-18 win over UAB.

• Shenandoah QB Steven Hugney (Robinson) completed 16 of 26 passes for 328 yards and five touchdowns as the Hornets beat Juniata, 62-27.

• Stevenson DB Bryan Kelly (Clarksburg) made six tackles, broke up three passes and forced and recovered a fumble as the Mustangs beat Alvernia, 34-20.

• Georgetown QB Danny Lauter completed 25 of 33 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 1 minute 10 seconds left, as the Hoyas beat Columbia, 20-17.

• LSU LB Greg Penn III (DeMatha Catholic) made a career-high 14 tackles as the Tigers beat South Alabama, 42-10.

• Shepherd LB JT Kouame-Yao (Westfield) made 13 tackles with 4 ½ tackles for loss and one sack as the Rams beat Shippensburg, 38-0.

Week 4: Blake Horvath, Navy

photo courtesy navy athletics

United States Naval Academy quarterback Blake Horvath has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week for the second time this season after yet another sensational performance lifted the Midshipmen to a most impressive victory.

Horvath, a junior who won the starting job in the preseason, was masterful as he completed 9 of 12 passes for a career-high 192 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 12 times for a career-high 211 yards and four touchdowns as Navy beat American Athletic Conference preseason favorite Memphis, 56-44.

“I thought he was outstanding today – just his decision making, throwing the football on target and his ability to run,” Midshipmen Coach Brian Newberry said. “He can run -- that’s the most impressive thing with me. I didn’t know how effective a runner he was going to be and he’s been that. And his ability to get us in the right plays, to make the right decisions and run the offense. I’m blown away by his progress in a year. He’s playing at a really, really high level and he’s only going to get better.”

Horvath did not see any action as a freshman and played in four games last season, making one start. His first two starts this year were against Bucknell, which competed in the Football Championship Subdivision, and Temple, which has struggled recently in the AAC. Putting up big numbers against those teams was one thing, to do it against Memphis was another.

“I hope we have some believers now, I’ll say that,” said Horvath, who also caught a 13-yard pass. “With Temple and Bucknell, people were not 100 percent sure of what our offense could do. But we knew what we could do the whole time. Coming into this game, we didn’t want to be overzealous, but we had a lot of confidence with the playmakers that we have.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week College Honor Roll:

• Maryland QB Billy Edwards Jr. (Lake Braddock) completed 28 of 32 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns as the Terrapins beat Villanova, 38-20.

• Maryland WR Tai Felton (Stone Bridge) continued his torrid season, catching 14 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown as the Terrapins beat Villanova, 38-20.

• Catholic QB Joey Gulbin, a graduate transfer from Fordham, completed 24 of 31 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals beat SUNY-Morrisville, 28-27.

• Monmouth DB Deuce Lee (Gonzaga) made eight tackles and forced and recovered the game-clinching fumble in the final minute just outside the goal line as the Hawks beat Florida International, 45-42, for the first-ever win over a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent.

• Rutgers DB Robert Longerbeam (T.C. Williams) made a team-high seven tackles and made the game-clinching interception as the Scarlet Knights beat Virginia Tech, 26-23.

• Navy LB Colin Ramos made 20 tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack as the Midshipmen beat Memphis, 56-44.

• James Madison WR Cam Ross (St. John’s) caught seven passes for 107 yards and one touchdown as the Dukes beat North Carolina, 70-50.

• Bowie State DB Mekhi Williams (C.H. Flowers) made a team-high eight tackles with one tackle for loss and intercepted two passes as the Bulldogs beat Livingstone, 31-17.

Week 3: Tai Felton, Maryland

photo courtesy maryland athletics

University of Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton, who starred at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week after his third straight 100-yard performance led the visiting Terrapins to a 27-13 victory over Virginia this past Saturday night.

Felton, a senior who made 19 starts entering this season, has blossomed into one of the nation’s top performers in the early part of the season. On Saturday, he caught nine passes for 117 yards and one touchdown, helping the Terrapins rally from a halftime deficit.

“It was definitely cool being back in the home state and getting a W,” Felton said, noting that he had several high school friends in attendance. “One thing I worked on the whole offseason is my mental state and how I go about things off the field and on the field. Of course I have [personal] goals but the main goal is to win as many games as I can with this team.”

Through the season’s first three games, Felton has totaled 27 catches for 447 yards and four touchdowns – ranking about the nation’s top five in each of those categories. He also has set career-highs for catches in a game (11 vs. Michigan State) and yards receiving in a game (178 vs. U-Conn.).

“The best thing about him is how persistent he has been,” Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards said. “He knew he had to wait his turn and play special teams … he kept pushing and pushing and now the golden opportunity is in front of him.

“He’s as physically gifted as they come and he’s really got his head on straight this year. He knows it’s going to be a long season and he’s just trying to get better one day at a time and you obviously see the results he’s able to have.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week College Honor Roll:

• Liberty DE TJ Bush Jr. (Freedom-Woodbridge) made five tackles with 1 ½ sacks and broke up two passes as the Flames beat UTEP, 28-10.

• Robert Morris RB Tyvon Edmonds Jr. (Bishop McNamara) rushed 19 times for 133 yards and one touchdown as the Colonials beat Mercyhurst, 55-28.

• Frostburg State QB Myles Fulton (Old Mill) completed 13 of 20 passes for 350 yards and five touchdowns as the Bobcats beat West Liberty State, 57-23.

• Averett LB Tre’ Maxwell (Centreville) made nine tackles with two tackles for loss and broke up two passes as the Cougars beat Greensboro, 27-20.

• Villanova RB Isaiah Ragland (South Lakes) rushed 17 times for 141 yards as the Wildcats beat Towson, 14-13.

• Howard QB Jaylon Tolbert completed 23 of 41 passes for 267 yards and four touchdowns as the Bison beat Morehouse, 35-21.

• Maryland S Dante Trader tied his career-high with 11 tackles and intercepted a pass as the Terrapins held Virginia scoreless in the second half for a 27-13 win.

• Georgia State QB Christian Veilleux (Bullis) completed 26 of 41 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning 25-yard score with 15 seconds left, and rushed for a touchdown as the Panthers beat Vanderbilt, 36-32.

Week 2: Blake Horvath, Navy

courtesy navy athletics

United States Naval Academy quarterback Blake Horvath has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week after setting career-highs and leading the Midshipmen to a 38-11 win over Temple this past Saturday.

Horvath, a junior, completed 5 of 9 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown and rushed 15 times for 122 yards and three touchdowns, setting personal bests in rushing and passing yardage. Horvath scored on runs of 2, 62 and 18 yards and also threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Eli Heidenreich.

“He threw some really nice balls,” Navy Coach Brian Newberry said. “That’s the thing about Blake – as he gets more and more confident, he’s going to get better and better. I’m excited about the things he is doing now.”

Horvath did not see any action as a freshman and played in four games last season, making one start. But he entered this season atop the depth chart and is off to a strong start, leading the Midshipmen to two big offensive showings and their first 2-0 mark in five years.

Saturday’s three rushing touchdowns were the first of his career and he became the first quarterback in Navy history to throw three touchdown passes in a season’s first two games.

“Two games, two 400-yard performances – that’s a great job,” Horvath said. “It’s more a testament to our offensive line and the playmaking of these guys.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week College Honor Roll:

• Liberty DE T.J. Bush (Freedom-Woodbridge) made eight tackles with two sacks and broke up a pass as the Flames beat New Mexico State, 30-24.

• Lafayette RB Jamar Curtis (St. John’s) rushed 21 times for 87 yards and three touchdowns and caught six passes for 56 yards as the Leopards rallied to beat Monmouth, 40-35.

• Indiana RB Justice Ellison (Flint Hill) rushed nine times for 117 yards and two touchdowns as the Hoosiers beat Western Illinois, 77-3.

• Maryland WR Tai Felton (Stone Bridge) caught 11 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown as the Terrapins lost to Michigan State, 27-24.

• Howard RB Ja’Shawn Scroggins completed 11 of 22 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown and rushed 13 times for 122 yards and directed the game-winning drive in the final minute as the Bison beat Mercyhurst, 32-31.

• Oklahoma State S Trey Rucker (Flint Hill) made 17 tackles as the Cowboys beat Arkansas, 39-31 in overtime.

• James Madison S Jacob Thomas (Stone Bridge) made five tackles and intercepted a pass as the Dukes held Gardner-Webb without a touchdown in a 13-6 victory.

• Georgia State QB Christian Veilleux (Bullis) completed 26 of 38 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers beat Chattanooga, 24-21.

Week 1: Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State

courtesy penn state athletics

Penn State University safety Kevin Winston Jr., a graduate of DeMatha Catholic High School, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week after making a career-high 12 tackles and forcing a fumble as the Nittany Lions opened the season with a 34-12 win over West Virginia. He also was named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

“All offseason we talked about coming out this year and making this a great year, and showing everybody what we can do,” Winston told reporters after the game. “And, you know, we go to practice every day with that mindset.”

Winston, who was honored as the Touchdown Club’s Maryland High School Player of the Year following the 2021 season, has blossomed into an elite player at Penn State. He played as a reserve during his freshman year but now is in his second year as a starter and is considered a top prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft. Prior to this season, Winston was voted one of Penn State’s captains by his teammates.

Winston made eight of his 12 tackles during the first half as the Nittany Lions burst out to a 20-6 lead at halftime and held the Mountaineers to just one touchdown in the game.

“I don’t have enough adjectives for him,” Penn State Coach James Franklin told reporters last month after a preseason practice. “He’s got a great relationship with the coaches and he’s kind of an extension of the coaching staff. I could go on and on and on. I think he’s gonna have a big year for us and think he’s got a very, very special, bright future.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week College Honor Roll:

• Bluefield WR-DB Nehemiah Carter (Old Mill) returned the opening kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown, caught a 12-yard pass and had a sack as the Rams beat Thomas University, 35-7.

• San Diego State RB Marquez Cooper (Quince Orchard) rushed 27 times for 223 yards and two touchdowns as the Aztecs beat Texas A&M-Commerce, 45-14.

• Eastern Michigan LB James Djonkam (West Springfield) made a game-high 13 tackles with one sack as the Eagles beat Massachusetts, 28-14.

• Maryland WR Tai Felton (Stone Bridge) caught seven passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns as the Terrapins beat Connecticut, 50-7.

• Navy WR Eli Heidenreich caught four passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns and caught a pass for a two-point conversion as the Midshipmen beat Bucknell, 49-21.

• Wake Forest WR Taylor Morin (Westfield) caught six passes for 100 yards and returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown as the Demon Deacons beat North Carolina A&T, 45-13.

• Oklahoma State S Trey Rucker (Flint Hill) made a career-high 15 tackles as the Cowboys beat South Dakota State, 44-20.

• South Carolina DE Dylan Stewart (Friendship Collegiate) made four tackles with two sacks and forced two fumbles as the Gamecocks beat Old Dominion, 23-19.