Dec. 13: Jeffrey Overton Jr., Freedom-Woodbridge

photo by sarah boutwell

On a team loaded with standout players and offensive firepower, Jeffrey Overton Jr. still stands out. He stood apart during the regular season, throughout the playoffs and one more time in the Virginia 6A championship game.

Overton, a junior running back and defensive back already being heavily recruited by several top college football teams, rushed 31 times for 264 yards and two touchdowns and also threw a touchdown pass to lead Freedom-Woodbridge to a 42-34 win over Highland Springs, capping the Eagles’ second consecutive undefeated season.

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

“He has unique size, athleticism, balance and strength,” said Freedom Coach Darryl Overton, who is Jeffrey’s uncle. “He’s just relentless. Starts on both sides of the ball. Plays on kickoff, kickoff return. Having 30-plus carries but still playing defense every play says it all.”

On defense, Overton made seven tackles with two tackles for loss and broke up one pass. He already holds more than 20 college scholarship offers and posted Monday on Instagram that Ohio State had just joined that list.

Overton is a three-year starter on offense and a two-year starter on defense. This season he rushed for 2,643 yards and 41 touchdowns.

“He’s a humble, quiet kid,” Darrly Overton said. “Does what you ask him to do. His dad is my brother and our defensive coordinator. He’s everything you want a coach’s son to be. He’s quiet. He works. He doesn’t complain.”

Dec. 6: Hunter Thompson, Oakdale

photo by elise harich

Hunter Thompson will leave Oakdale High School as the football team’s career record holder in every receiving category. And in the biggest game of the year, the standout wide receiver turned in one last performance for the ages.

Thompson, who has accepted a scholarship to play for Ohio University, caught 15 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns as the Bears capped their undefeated season with a 42-35 victory over rival Linganore in the Maryland 3A championship game.

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

“We felt like that’s where we had an advantage, with Hunter matching up there,” Oakdale Coach Kurt Stein said. “We knew that was where we were going to have to make our big plays, so we just leaned into it.

“We told him all week it was going to be his day. That’s what we worked on all week in practice, trying to get him vertical and take some shots to him.”

Thompson finished the season with 78 catches for 1,455 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also returned two punts and one kickoff for touchdowns.

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

DC
Friendship Collegiate DE DeAndre Cook, a Penn State recruit, made six tackles for loss and had three sacks as the Knights won their second consecutive DCSAA Class AA title, 25-13 over Dunbar.

LOUDOUN
Stone Bridge WR-LB Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding caught two passes for 62 yards and one touchdown and on defense made four first hits, had two quarterback hurries and broke up a pass as the Bulldogs won their eighth consecutive game, beating Mataoca, 21-10, in a Virginia 5A semifinal.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Wise RB-LB DeCarlos Young rushed19 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns and on defensemade seven tackles with one tackle for loss as the Pumas beat Broadneck, 21-0, in the Maryland 4A final.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Freedom-Woodbridge QB Tristan Evans-Trujillo completed 21 of 25 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns, setting a new state record with 120 career touchdown passes, and rushed for another score as the Eagles beat Madison, 55-14, in a Virginia 6A semifinal for its 28th consecutive win.

Nov. 29: Aaron Chiles, Good Counsel

photo by taylor mCLAUGHLIN

With the rain and wind swirling throughout the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game, completing passes was going to be a challenge. With that in mind, Good Counsel deployed standout linebacker Aaron Chiles to follow DeMatha Catholic’s quarterback, wanting to snuff out as many offensive options as possible.

To say the plan worked well might be an understatement. Chiles, who has accepted a scholarship to play football at the University of Florida, made 12 tackles with four tackles for loss and three sacks, as Good Counsel beat DeMatha, 7-0.

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

“He really led the defense all season and is the quarterback of the defense,” Good Counsel Coach Andy Stefanelli said. “Given the conditions, both teams were struggling to throw the ball and the next threat was their quarterback running the ball. So we devised a scheme where Aaron spied the quarterback and if he took off, it was Aaron’s job to get him. He played sideline to sideline, lights out. It was a great finish to his career.”

Chiles finished the season with 122 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, two forced fumbles and three blocked kicks. Good Counsel had a short-yardage package installed for Chiles to get in the game on offense on Tuesday but running back Dilin Jones scored the game’s only touchdown before that formation could get on the field.

“Aaron runs like a running back,” Stefanelli said. “He’s just a phenomenal athlete. He could have easily been our starting tight end or fullback on offense, but we try not to play guys both ways.”

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

ANNE ARUNDEL
Broadneck QB CJ Watkins threw one touchdown pass and rushed for two more scores as the Bruins beat Churchill, 31-7, in a Maryland 4A semifinal game.

DC
Dunbar RB Dre’aun Wood rushed 14 times for 112 yards and two touchdowns as the Crimson Tide beat Ballou, 28-7, in the DCIAA Turkey Bowl.

FREDERICK
Oakdale QB Evan Austin completed 12 of 17 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 12 times for 159 yards and four touchdowns as the Bears beat City, 57-20. 

LOUDOUN
Stone Bridge LB Jonathan Newton made 13 tackles and had two sacks as the Bulldogs beat Briar Woods, 29-6, in the Virginia 5A Region D final.

NORTHERN REGION
Madison RB Dominic Knicely rushed 18 times for 149 yards and three touchdowns as the Warhawks beat Westfield, 31-7, in the Virginia 6A Region D final.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Wise RB DeCarlos Young rushed nine times for 212 yards and three touchdowns and returned a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown as the Pumas beat Eleanor Roosevelt, 62-21, in a Maryland 4A semifinal.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Brentsville QB Trent Hayes, making his first start of the season at quarterback, threw his third touchdown pass of the game with seven seconds left as the Tigers beat Armstrong, 30-28, in the Virginia 3A Region B final.

PRIVATE
Maret RB-LB Dom Santoiemma rushed for two touchdowns as the Frogs beat Coolidge, 30-27, in the DCSAA Class A championship game.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Calvert K Keith Baker made a 32-yard field goal with 1 minute 25 seconds left to lift the Cavaliers to a 17-14 win over Forest Park (Md.) in a Maryland 2A/1A semifinal.

Nov. 22: Kaleb Hart, North Point

photo by brent travers

Kaleb Hart sat out the first month of the high school football season, trying to allow a lingering pulled muscle to fully heal before suiting up for the North Point Eagles. Now, though, as the Eagles march toward a second consecutive state championship, Hart is in his usual spot in the backfield, leading the Waldorf school to victory.

This past Friday, Hart rushed 25 times for 264 yards and five touchdowns and also threw a 25-yard touchdown pass – his first completion of the season – as North Point beat Frederick, 56-20, in a Maryland 4A/3A quarterfinal game.

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

“We played it safe [early] but he’s been that guy for us when we needed,” North Point Coach Billy Condo said. “We have a quarterback this year, so unlike last year, he hasn’t had to take that many direct snaps this year.”

Last year, Hart began the season playing linebacker before moving to quarterback out of necessity as the Eagles shook off a slow start en route to their first-ever state title. This year, has been different, though, as Condo said that North Point’s unique offense allows its quarterback or any of its running backs to take the shotgun snap from center. Relying on an experienced and talented offensive line, the 12-0 Eagles have outscored their opponents 485 to 36 this season with nine shutouts.

Hart has rushed for 1,342 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, averaging nearly nine yards per carry. He had thrown three passes – all incompletions – before his 25-yard touchdown pass to Nasir Eatmon this past Friday.

“He’s a student of the game,” Condo said. “He has a high football IQ and relishes the big moments. So far, he has produced big in big games. And he can throw it. People don’t think he can. But that’s the luxury of having an athlete like him.”

North Point faces another challenge this week when it travels to undefeated Blake on Friday.

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

ANNE ARUNDEL
Broadneck DB Logan McGill returned an interception 70 yards for the game-winning touchdown with four minutes left as the Bruins beat Northwest, 21-20, in a Maryland 4A quarterfinal.

DC
Coolidge QB Ronnell Wheeler was named Gravy Bowl MVP after throwing one touchdown pass and running for another score as the Colts beat Anacostia, 14-6, in the DCIAA Stripes Division championship.

FREDERICK
Linganore LB Carter Neal made 13 tackles with two tackles for loss, and forced a fumble in the red zone as the Lancers beat Franklin, 30-10, in a Maryland 3A quarterfinal.

LOUDOUN
Stone Bridge WR Na’eem Abdul-Raheem Gladding caught seven passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Massaponax, 35-14, in a Virginia 5A second-round game.

MONTGOMERY
Churchill RB David Avit rushed 28 times for 201 yards and four touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Bethesda-Chevy Chase, 27-13, in a Maryland 4A quarterfinal.

NORTHERN REGION
Fairfax QB-DB Tristan Edwards completed 7 of 12 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown, rushed 18 times for 158 yards and converted two fourth downs and on defense made 8 ½ tackles and broke up two passes as the Lions beat South County, 30-6.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Eleanor Roosevelt K Niles Brown made a 47-yard field goal at the end of the first half and made 3 of 4 point-after kicks as the Raiders beat Old Mill, 30-28, in a Maryland 4A quarterfinal game.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Battlefield WR Brandon Binkowski caught nine passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns as the Bobcats beat previously undefeated Mountain View, 21-18, in a Virginia 6A second-round game.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Patuxent QB Evan Blouir completed 17 of 21 passes for 408 yards and four touchdowns as the Panthers beat Middletown, 42-7, in a Maryland 2A/1A quarterfinal game.

Nov. 15: Nathan Furgeson, Landon

photo courtesy landon football

It is safe to say that Nathan Furgeson is quite active. In the fall, the Landon School senior starts at quarterback and safety for the Bears’ football team. The winter is for wrestling, where he is a two-time Interstate Athletic Conference champion. Springtime means lacrosse, where Furgeson stars at midfield and has signed a letter-of-intent to play for the University of Delaware.

“He is an amazing athlete,” Landon football coach Paul Padalino said.

Furgeson wrapped up the football season with perhaps his most complete game yet on the gridiron. This past Saturday, he completed 12 of 19 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns, rushed 10 times for 86 yards and on defense made 14 tackles, intercepted a pass and broke up two other passes as the Bears beat rival St. Albans, 36-14, to claim a share of the IAC title. He also punted three times for a 38-yard average.

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

“He impacts the game all over,” Padalino said. “Saturday he was all over the place: making plays on defense, distributing the ball on offense.”

Excelling in athletics runs in the Furgeson family.

Nathan’s oldest brother, John Allan, played football at McDaniel College and older brother Timmy is a linebacker at Villanova. Their father, John, played college football and is the Damascus High wrestling coach.

“Nathan is a football player -- he’s got this tremendous will to win,” Padalino said. “He just embraces the whole physical part of the game and is able to impact the game. His ability to throw the ball improved so much this year. Amazingly, he hasn’t been sacked all year, partly because of his ability to make decisions quickly. Whether it’s him getting rid of the ball on time or scrambling away from people, it’s amazing.”

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

ANNE ARUNDEL
Old Mill RB Max Jones rushed 24 times for 100 yards and one touchdown as the Patriots beat Glen Burnie, 27-6, in a Maryland 4A second-round game.

DC
Anacostia DE Jalen Gant made 15 tackles with three sacks as the Indians beat Bell, 14-13, in the DCIAA Stripes Division semifinals.

FREDERICK
Linganore RB Ethan Arneson rushed 18 times for 224 yards and xxx touchdowns to become Frederick County’s all-time leading rusher as the Lancers beat Manchester Valley, 49-7, in a Maryland 3A second-round game.

HOWARD
Mount Hebron RB Coleman Hallums rushed 13 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns as the Vikings beat Oxon Hill, 49-37, in a Maryland 3A second-round game.

LOUDOUN
Loudoun Valley freshman RB Ethan LaFollette rushed 20 times for 144 yards and three touchdowns as the Vikings won their first home playoff game in nine years, 42-7 over Broad Run in a Virginia 4A first-round game.

MONTGOMERY
Blake QB Kirby Matson completed 12 of 19 passes for 296 yards and four touchdowns as the undefeated Bengals beat Whitman, 35-7, in a Maryland 4A/3A second-round game.

NORTHERN REGION
Westfield RB Kennedy Duda rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns and returned a kickoff 95 yards for another score as the Bulldogs beat Washington-Liberty, 30-7, in a Virginia 6A first-round game.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Oxon Hill RB Cameron Azodeh rushed 25 times for 264 yards and three touchdowns and caught three passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns as the Clippers lost to Mount Hebron, 49-37, in a Maryland 3A second-round game.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Freedom-Woodbridge Jeffrey Overton Jr. rushed 18 times for 280 yards and seven touchdowns as the Eagles beat Potomac (Va.), 75-7, in a Virginia 6A first-round game.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Northern RB Tyler Brown rushed 39 times for 281 yards and three touchdowns, caught a 16-yard pass and on defense made four tackles and intercepted a pass as the Patriots beat Arundel, 42-21, in a Maryland 3A second-round game.

WCAC
DeMatha Catholic DL Emmett Laws, a Virginia Tech recruit, made 11 tackles with two tackles for loss and two sacks and forced a fumble that he recovered as the Stags beat St. John’s, 21-3, in a WCAC semifinal.

Nov. 8: Daniel Cuthbertson, Manassas Park

photo courtesy manassas park football

Manassas Park High School sophomore Daniel Cuthbertson had never played organized football before this fall. Coach Mark Teague talked Cuthbertson into coming out for the Cougars’ team this season, hopeful that the teenager might be able to contribute as the first-year coach attempted to resurrect team after the school cancelled the 2022 season because of low turnout.

There have been plenty of learning curves along the way, but Cuthbertson made sure to leave one final mark on the 2023 season.

This past Friday, he carried 33 times for a school-record 445 yards and seven touchdowns as Manassas Park finished its regular season with a 49-27 victory over Richard Wright Public Charter School.

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

“He earned that 445,” Teague said. “On our roster, 98 percent of the team had never played football in any organized fashion. They didn’t know the game. It’s a testimony to these guys take it on and win two games this year.”

Cuthbertson, who is 5 feet 10 and 165 pounds, rushed for 232 yards and two touchdowns in the Cougars’ previous victory, a 21-20 win over Jefferson that snapped a 21-game losing streak. He had contributed mostly on defense in the season’s first few games before a strategic change put him in the shotgun in Manassas Park’s single-wing offense.

Cuthbertson quickly made up for lost time. He started just seven games but finished the season with 213 carries for 1,625 yards and 15 touchdowns.

“He’s a tough kid,” Teague said. “He’s still raw and has a lot to learn, but he’s a natural at it. We need to polish up a few things as far as fundamentals, but he’s going to be a problem for opposing teams the next two years.”

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

ANNE ARUNDEL
Old Mill RB Max Jones rushed 27 times for 197 yards and two touchdowns as the Patriots beat North County, 30-0, in a Maryland 4A first-round game.

DC
Phelps RB-LB Gabriel Wiggins rushed 16 times for 111 yards and one touchdown and caught a 53-yard pass and on defense had a sack, forced a fumble and intercepted a pass as the Panthers beat McKinley Tech, 12-0.

FREDERICK
Linganore RB Ethan Arneson rushed 13 times for 218 yards and five touchdowns as the Lancers beat Rockville, 63-6, in a Maryland 3A first-round game.

HOWARD
Wilde Lake LB Aamir Stewart made 12 tackles with two sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble to clinch the victory as the Wilde Cats beat Centennial, 17-6, in a Maryland 2A first-round game.

LOUDOUN
John Champe QB Dominic Plush completed 28 of 35 passes for 517 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for another score as the Knights beat Freedom-South Riding, 50-7.

MONTGOMERY
Einstein RB-S Raymon Bent rushed seven times for 257 yards and four touchdowns and returned an interception 100 yards for another score as the Titans beat Northwood, 52-0, in a Maryland 4A/3A first-round game.

NORTHERN REGION
Chantilly RB Avery Chow rushed 40 times for 207 yards and four touchdowns as the Chargers beat Oakton, 31-12.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Douglass RB-DB DeRae Edwards rushed 14 times for 275 yards and one touchdown and intercepted a pass on defense as the Eagles beat Friendly, 22-7, in a Maryland 2A/1A first-round game.

PRIVATE
Episcopal LB Luca Farinaccio made nine tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble as the Maroon beat Bullis, 23-20 in overtime.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Leonardtown RB Zach Meade rushed 25 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns as the Raiders beat Howard, 42-12, in a Maryland 4A/3A first-round game.

WCAC
Paul VI RB Gavin Colby rushed 21 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers beat O’Connell, 30-9.

Nov. 1: David Avit, Churchill

photo by george calhoun

The Churchill High football team found itself in quite a predicament in this past Friday’s regular season finale. In a meeting of 7-1 teams, the Bulldogs trailed Walter Johnson, 22-0, early in the second quarter.

Churchill, though, had one important thing on its side: senior running back and defensive back David Avit, who has been among the region’s most prolific offensive players all season. Avit got started with a 37-yard touchdown run nine minutes before halftime and when pkay resumed, he kicked things into gear.

Avit rushed 27 times for 248 yards and three touchdowns and caught three passes for 56 yards and another score as Churchill rallied for a 32-30 victory over Walter Johnson.

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

“The way he is playing right now is incredible and he’s doing it against top-level competition. We’ve had a schedule that is pretty tough and he does it every week,” Churchill Coach Joe Rydzewski said. “He’s done it against everybody. It doesn’t really matter who [the opponent is] right now.”

Avit’s older brother Ezekiel, is a freshman wide receiver at Maryland and David hopes to be playing college football next fall. He has several scholarship offers as he tears through the competition. For the season, Avit has rushed for 1,674 yards and 16 touchdowns, rushing for more than 100 yards in each of the Bulldogs’ eight victories.

“You see how big he is and think he has to be this huge power back – and he runs with power – but his quick feet and balance are unbelievable,” Rydzewski said.

Churchill begins the Maryland 4A playoffs at home on Friday against Richard Montgomery.

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

ANNE ARUNDEL
North County WR-DE Nate Bedell rushed nine times for 170 yards and one touchdown and on defense made six tackles with three tackles for loss, broke up two passes and blocked a field goal as the Knights beat South River, 33-13.

DC
Anacostia DE Jalen Gant made 17 tackles with five tackles for loss and four sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble for a touchdown as the Indians beat Phelps, 42-20.

FREDERICK
Brunswick QB Ethan Houck completed 4 of 6 passes for 50 yards and rushed eight times for 215 yards and five touchdowns as the Railroaders beat Catoctin, 49-30.

HOWARD
Atholton LB Khalil Johnson made 21 tackles as the Raiders beat River Hill, 33-20.

LOUDOUN
Rock Ridge WR-DB Darian Ferrell caught 10 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns and on defense made six tackles, forced a fumble and returned an interception for a touchdown as the Phoenix lost to Heritage, 41-27.

MONTGOMERY
Gaithersburg RB Gideon Ituka rushed 31 times for 382 yards and five touchdowns as the Trojans beat Richard Montgomery, 48-37.

NORTHERN REGION
South Lakes QB Nick Harris completed 14 of 19 passes for a season-high 347 yards and five touchdowns as the Seahawks beat Centreville, 45-3. It was his fifth game with five touchdown passes this season.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Bladensburg RB Marcus Ross rushed 15 times for 292 yards and three touchdowns and caught five passes for 131 yards and one touchdown as the Mustangs lost to Laurel, 28-25.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Gainesville QB Colton Kilmer completed 26 of 34 passes for 440 yards and five touchdowns and rushed nine times for 71 yards and another score as the Cardinals beat Freedom-South Riding, 51-18.

PRIVATE
Model RB Jeremiah Whitehead rushed 17 times for 260 yards and four touchdowns, caught two passes for 71 yards, returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and another score and on defense made 10 tackles as the Eagles beat Mercersburg, 52-36.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Leonardtown RB Zach Meade rushed 19 times for 189 yards and one touchdown as the Raiders beat Chopticon, 28-14.

WCAC
Good Counsel DB Judah Jenkins returned an interception 46 yards for a touchdown, made six tackles and broke up three passes as the Falcons beat Gonzaga, 28-6.

Oct. 25: Grant Maloney, West Potomac

photo by fletcher condon

West Potomac football coach Chadwick Louisville calls junior wide receiver Grant Maloney “Mister Excitement.”

Maloney, also a standout lacrosse player, has earned the nickname for his ability to make spectacular plays on the football field and this past Friday might have been the biggest example of all.

Maloney caught four passes for 158 yards, including touchdowns of 74 and 57 yards, returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown and a kickoff 72 yards for another score as the Wolverines beat Alexandria City, 35-15.

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

“He makes a lot of explosive plays,” Louisville said. “People don’t realize the speed he has. He is a 4.4-4.5 [40-yard] guy, but people won’t believe that. But watch his film and all the explosive plays – no one is going to catch him when he gets a step on them.”

Louisville said that Maloney began making big plays as a freshman on the Alexandria school’s freshman football team. The team’s coach was talking with Louisville about Maloney and how good the player was once he had the ball.

“So I said, ‘Why don’t you just snap it to him?’ ” Louisville recalled. “So they just ran it out of the single wing.”

On the lacrosse field, Maloney plays offensive midfield and attack and was named second-team all-Patriot District last season after scoring 29 goals with 13 assists as a sophomore.

“He puts his speed to good use on the lacrosse field,” Louisville said. “He’s heavy into lacrosse. He just plays football because he’s good at it.”

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 Jordan Penn caught seven passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns as the Patriots beat Glen Burnie, 27-26.

DC
Dunbar RB Michael Clark rushed 23 times for 274 yards and five touchdowns as the Crimson Tide beat Ballou, 62-34.

FREDERICK
Oakdale RB Cole Swinimer, a 5-foot-7, 150-pound senior, rushed 194 yards and four touchdowns as the Bears beat Urbana, 42-22.

HOWARD
Reservoir DE Moses Bailey made eight tackles with five tackles for loss and three sacks and also forced a fumble as the Gators beat Long Reach, 28-27.

LOUDOUN
John Champe QB Dominic Plush completed all 10 of his passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns as the Knights beat Park View, 64-7.

MONTGOMERY
Churchill RB David Avit rushed 27 times for 237 yards and four touchdowns, caught a 25-yard touchdown pass, returned one kickoff for a touchdown and on defense made three tackles as the Bulldogs beat Richard Montgomery, 64-50.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
DuVal RB Ofiubuke Aneke rushed five times for 176 yards and three touchdowns as the Tigers beat High Point, 42-0.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Freedom-Woodbridge QB Tristan Evans-Trujillo completed 17 of 19 passes for 378 yards and four touchdowns as the Eagles beat Potomac (Va.), 65-0.

PRIVATE
Georgetown Prep RB Colin Reynolds rushed 32 times for 228 yards and two touchdowns as the Little Hoyas beat Landon, 24-21.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Huntingtown WR-DB Brody Wittington caught four passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns, rushed four times for 46 yards and three touchdowns and on defense made four tackles and broke up a pass as the Hurricanes beat St. Charles, 41-7.

WCAC
DeMatha DT Emmett Laws, a Virginia Tech recruit, made six tackles with 2 ½ sacks, and made game-saving tackles on the final two plays of regulation as the Stags made a goal-line stand and beat St. John’s, 14-7 in overtime.

Oct. 18: Gideon Ituka, Gaithersburg

photo by phil fabrizio

There are not many secrets when it comes to the Gaithersburg High football team’s offensive game plan.

The Trojans have 5-foot-10, 240-pound senior running back Gideon Ituka, a big, strong powerful runner who has accepted a football scholarship offer from Wisconsin – and he is going to get the ball. A lot.

While opponents know what is usually coming, stopping Ituka is another matter. This past Friday, he rushed 26 times for a career-high 304 yards and four touchdowns, carrying Gaithersburg to a 28-14 win over Seneca Valley.

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

“Everybody is keying on him, we know that every week,” Gaithersburg Coach Shawn Prather said. “That’s nothing new. But not a whole lot is going to change. We have to keep people honest by throwing the ball, but there is no mystery.”

Ituka has rushed for at least 100 yards in six of seven games this season, and the Trojans have won each of those games. Ituka has tallied 1,405 yards and 21 touchdowns so far this season leading Gaithersburg to a 6-1 mark and securing the team’s first winning record since 2013.

Prather said that Ituka has worked hard to get to this point, adding more than 10 pounds of muscle and improving his speed.

“You know what is coming and he is still doing it,” Prather said. “He’s a power runner with speed, so he can run away from people, too.”

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

ANNE ARUNDEL
Broadneck WR Eli Harris caught seven passes for 130 yards and three touchdowns as the Bruins beat Annapolis, 35-28.

DC
H.D. Woodson DL Deonte Harrison made 10 tackles with five tackles for loss and three sacks  as the Warriors beat Theodore Roosevelt, 14-8.

FREDERICK
Oakdale WR Hunter Thompson returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown and caught two touchdown passes as the Bears remained unbeaten with a 41-22 win over Walkersville.

HOWARD
Mount Hebron RB Aidan Hauf rushed 10 times for 101 yards and one touchdown, caught a 25-yard touchdown pass and threw a touchdown pass as the undefeated Vikings beat Centennial, 50-8.

LOUDOUN
Briar Woods QB Brady Carmical threw four touchdown passes as the Falcons defeated Potomac Falls, 28-0.

NORTHERN REGION
South Lakes QB Nick Harris completed 20 of 31 passes for 332 yards and five touchdowns and rushed three times for 52 yards as the Seahawks improved to 7-0 by beating Oakton, 56-18. It was his fourth game this season with five touchdown passes.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Largo RB Tymond Foxx rushed 31 times for 244 yards and three touchdowns as the Lions beat Friendly, 24-20.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Freedom-Woodbridge QB Tristan Evans-Trujillo completed 12 of 14 passes for 203 yards and four touchdowns as the Eagles beat Woodbridge, 63-7.

PRIVATE
Landon WR-DB-K Chase Robertson, a Utah lacrosse recruit, caught a 32-yard touchdown pass, returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown, made 12 tackles and kicked three extra points as the Bears beat Episcopal, 21-14.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Patuxent WR-DB Evan Jones caught 10 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns and on defense made seven tackles and intercepted a pass as the Panthers beat Northern, 53-39.

WCAC
Good Counsel WR Demarion Fowlkes caught an 80-yard touchdown pass and then caught a 32-yard touchdown pass with 25 seconds left in regulation as the Falcons sent the game to overtime where they prevailed, 35-28 over previously undefeated DeMatha.

Oct. 11: Jackson McCarter, Patriot

photo courtesy nsmt media

Another week, another school record for one of the Washington area’s most prolific running backs.

Just one week after setting a Patriot High mark with six touchdowns in one game, junior Jackson McCarter etched his name into the record book with another spectacular performance. He rushed 31 times for 381 yards and five more touchdowns as the Pioneers beat neighborhood rival and previously undefeated Gainesville, 56-26.

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

“He really can do it all,” Patriot Coach Sean Finnerty said. “We run a gap scheme, so you see a hole, put a foot in the ground and get vertical, but he has top-end speed so he can really get around the end too. People would describe him as a make-you-miss guy, but Friday he showed he can run you over as well.”

McCarter, who also runs indoor and outdoor track, qualified for the Virginia 6A state championships last year in the 100-meter dash.

That speed and hard work in the weight room has shown up on the football field. He rushed for 974 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore, but has taken things up a notch this season, tallying 112 carries for 1,126 yards and 18 touchdowns in six games.

Against Gainesville, Finnerty said that McCarter benefited from strong blocking by the offensive line and that he got more carries that usual because the game was not too lopsided.

“It’s a rivalry game and we wanted to make sure nothing crazy happened,” Finnerty said. “Our kids up front blocked extremely well. Some plays he didn’t even get touched. He hit the hole and was gone. It was the perfect storm.”

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

ANNE ARUNDEL
Arundel QB Ahmir Lowery completed 22 of 34 passes for 306 yards and three touchdowns, rushed 11 times for 60 yards and directed the game-winning drive in the closing minutes as Arundel beat Meade, 35-28.

DC
Ballou WR Lorenzo Martin caught eight passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns as the Knights beat Theodore Roosevelt, 42-6.

FREDERICK
Linganore RB Ethan Arneson rushed 40 times for 233 yards and four touchdowns as the Lancers beat Frederick, 49-35.

HOWARD
Mount Hebron RB Coleman Hallums rushed 11 times for 266 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 15 yards as the Vikings beat River Hill, 35-0.

LOUDOUN
Broad Run RB/S Devin Ellison rushed 14 times for 46 yards and on defense made 10 tackles with two tackles for loss and intercepted four passes as the Spartans beat Heritage, 20-0.

MONTGOMERY
Richard Montgomery QB Anthony Dixon Jr. completed 23 of 27 passes for 303 yards and five touchdowns as the Rockets rallied to beat Rockville, 39-35.

NORTHERN REGION
Madison WR Cord Yates caught eight passes for 141 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown on which he broke several tackles for the winning score with 39 seconds left as the Warhawks beat Westfield, 24-21.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Largo RB Tymond Foxx rushed 12 times for 236 yards and three touchdowns, including a 96-yarder, as the Lions beat Crossland, 40-0.

PRIVATE
St. John’s Catholic Prep RB Zion Ntemi rushed 23 times for 160 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 27 yards and another score as the Vikings beat Fairmont Heights, 28-25.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Lackey LB Brandon Brevard made 11 tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack as the Chargers beat Westlake, 32-28.

WCAC
Good Counsel S Faheem Delane made 10 tackles with two tackles for loss and two on special teams, blocked a field goal and blocked a punt as the Falcons beat St. John’s, 28-7.

Oct. 4: Roman Jensen, Maret

Photo by cory royster

In the words of his coach, Maret quarterback Roman Jensen just speaks football.

It’s the result of having grown up around the game, with a father who played and then coached. Add in a personal love for the game and a strong and accurate arm and the numbers speak for themselves.

Through the five games, Jensen has put together statistics that could represent an entire season for most high school quarterbacks, punctuated by his most recent performance. This past Saturday against Wheeling (W.Va.) Central Catholic, Jensen completed 19 of 24 passes for 445 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 97 yards and two touchdowns as the Frogs improved to 5-0 with a 64-28 victory.

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

“Football is his first language,” Maret Coach Mike Engelberg said. “He can run an offense. He knows where all 22 guys on the field are supposed to be and doesn’t just understand the play, but he knows how it is supposed to develop.”

At 6 feet and 205 pounds, Jensen has a sturdy frame and is comfortable running the ball. But it’s the ability to patiently wait out plays and allow them to develop that helps him stand apart.

“He’s the most accurate passer I’ve ever seen at the high school level and can make every throw on the field,” Engelberg said. “He’s so talented at keeping the play alive and keeping his eyes down field. Most high school quarterbacks, when they feel pressure, they just tuck the ball and run. But he’ll keep the play alive and make the big play after the scramble drill starts.”

Jensen’s father, Troy, played at San Jose State and coached in high school and college for several years, most recently as the secondary coach at Millersville University, where his recruiting territory included Washington. He became familiar with Maret while recruiting, which led to Roman enrolling there for the 2022-23 school year after the family moved to the area. Troy Jensen also became Maret’s secondary coach.

“It worked out perfect for us,” Engelberg said.

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

ANNE ARUNDEL
Old Mill RB Max Jones rushed 15 times for 191 yards and five touchdowns and caught a 29-yard touchdown pass as the Patriots beat Crofton, 48-6.

DC
Phelps WR-DB Ishmael Everette rushed for a 13-yard touchdown and intercepted two passes, returning one 47 yards for a touchdown, as the Panthers beat Ron Brown, 37-23.

FREDERICK
Oakdale QB Hunter Thompson caught nine passes for 212 yards and one touchdown, setting school records for single-game and career receiving yardage as the Bears beat Middletown, 42-25.

HOWARD
Reservoir FB-DE Moses Bailey made seven tackles with two tackles for loss and recovered three fumbles, returning one for a touchdown and returning another 60 yards to set up the tying score as the undefeated Gators beat Marriott Ridge, 24-21.

LOUDOUN
Loudoun Valley RB Mack Gaffney rushed 10 times for 121 yards and three touchdowns as the Vikings beat Rock Ridge, 42-14.

MONTGOMERY
Rockville RB Josiah Garcia rushed 17 times for 270 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams beat Poolesville, 49-21.

NORTHERN REGION
South Lakes QB Nick Harris completed 22 of 23 passes for 301 yards and five touchdowns as the Seahawks beat Chantilly 49-14.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Potomac (Md.) QB Marshawn Perry completed 14 of 22 passes for 367 yards and five touchdowns as the Wolverines beat Largo, 47-12.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Patriot RB Jackson McCarter rushed 17 times for 242 yards and six touchdowns as the Pioneers beat Osbourn Park. 69-6.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Patuxent QB Evan Blouir completed 9 of 11 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns as the Panthers beat Chopticon, 43-0.

WCAC
Good Counsel QB Frankie Weaver completed 13 of 23 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns as the Falcons beat St. Mary’s Ryken, 42-6. 

Sept. 27: Kayon Prather, Watkins Mill

photo courtest watkins mill football

Watkins Mill sophomore football player Kayon Prather doesn’t look like your typical running back. At 6 feet and 260 pounds, he appears better suited for his position on other side of the ball: defensive end, where he focused much of his energy in the season’s first three games.

But a change in offensive strategy put Prather in better position to succeed on both sides of the ball this past Friday and he took full advantage. Prather rushed eight times for 127 yards and four touchdowns on offense and made four tackles for loss with two sacks on defense as the Wolverines ended one of the region’s longest losing streaks, beating Wheaton, 27-13, for the first win since 2019.

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

“He’s a freak athlete with his size,” Wolverines Coach Chad Wilson said. “And able to move as fast as he does? He’s super strong, just a natural athlete.”

Afterwards, jubilant players celebrated by dousing second-year coach Chad Wilson with a cooler of water.

“It was amazing,” Wilson said. “These kids worked their butts off with me for two years. They didn’t waver. And now they are hungry for more.”

Count Prather, whose older brother Kaden is a wide receiver at the University of Maryland, among the hungriest. He shined on the Gaithersburg school’s junior varsity last year before being called up to the varsity. His future is probably on the defensive side of the ball, but Wilson is hesitant to say that because he regularly sees Prather’s ability on offense.

Wilson had rushed for just 18 yards on four carries in the season’s first three games, all shutout losses. Watkins Mill switched to a power-I formation better suited to running the ball and Wilson flourished against Wheaton.

“I’ve been watching him progress as a runner,” Wilson said. “I imagine he’s going to get to 6-1 and 275 and at the next level that projects more as a defensive end and he’s fast enough to play linebacker. I don’t see many 6-1, 275 tailbacks out there. But if there is a program that takes a chance, there is no doubt in my mind that he can do it.”

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

ANNE ARUNDEL
Meade QB Brian Jamison completed 12 of 17 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns as the Mustangs beat Crofton, 40-6.

DC
Ballou QB Kelvin Hewitt completed 16 of 21 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another score in the Knights’ 37-34 loss to Urbana.

FREDERICK
Oakdale QB Evan Austin rushed 19 times for 95 yards and one touchdown and completed 13 of 19 passes for 190 yards as the Bears beat Linganore, 21-14.

HOWARD
Howard RB Darius Moore rushed 24 times for 233 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a two-point conversion as the Lions beat Wilde Lake, 14-6.

LOUDOUN
Loudoun Valley WR-DB Cole Kielhorn caught six passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns, made four tackles and intercepted a pass to seal the victory as the Vikings beat Loudoun County for the first time since 2016, 27-20.

NORTHERN REGION
W.T. Woodson QB Aidan Dash completed 21 of 33 passes for 265 yards and five touchdowns as the Cavaliers beat Alexandria City, 42-14.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Suitland QB-DB Camron Tolbert completed 4 of 6 passes for 57 yards and one touchdown, rushed five times for 36 yards and two touchdowns and on defense made two tackles and intercepted a pass as the Rams beat Bladensburg, 37-0.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Freedom-Woodbridge QB Tristan Evans-Trujillo completed 18 of 23 passes for 427 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for another score as the Eagles beat Gar-Field, 60-0.

PRIVATE
St. Albans RB-LB Jack Zamer rushed 14 times for 214 yards and two touchdowns, including a 98-yarder, and made eight tackles on defense as the Bulldogs beat John Paul the Great, 50-13.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Northern QB Isaiah Randall completed 23 of 31 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns and rushed seven times for 127 yards and one touchdown as the Patriots beat Lackey, 40-18.

WCAC
Good Counsel RB Dilin Jones rushed 11 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns as the Falcons beat Stone Bridge, 41-3.

Sept. 20: Colin Reynolds, Georgetown Prep

photo by DONHEE CUI

Georgetown Prep running back Colin Reynolds rushed 30 times for 253 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winning four-yard score in overtime, as the Little Hoyas edged Woodberry Forest, 28-25. For his efforts, Reynolds was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week.

“The first time I saw him on film, I said, ‘Dang, he reminds me of someone.’ And it’s Kelvin Bryant,” Georgetown Prep Coach Dan Paro said, comparing Reynolds to the former University of North Carolina and Washington Redskins standout. “He has a glide to him. He’s gotten a lot stronger and he’s starting to do all the little things right. That’s what we worked on last year a lot. His practice habits have really improved.”

At 6 feet 2 and 195 pounds, Reynolds has the size and speed to excel on the football field. He rushed for 1,103 yards and nine touchdowns last season, earning first-team All-Interstate Athletic Conference honors in his first season at Georgetown Prep. Reynolds has taken things to another level this season in helping the Little Hoyas to a 3-0 start.

An outstanding athlete, Reynolds also plays forward on the Georgetown Prep basketball team in the winter and competes on the track team in the spring. His college recruiting is starting to pick up, Paro said.

“He’s been working hard and progressively getting better,” Paro said. “He’s just been Mr. Reliable. He’s been a force, he’s durable and sets up everything that we do offensively.”

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

ANNE ARUNDEL

Annapolis RB Tyler Womack rushed 28 times for 341 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for three two-point conversions as the Panthers beat rival Severna Park, 42-30.

DC
Ballou QB Kelvin Hewitt completed 14 of 23 passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns as the Knights beat McKinley Tech, 35-0.

FREDERICK
Linganore RB Ethan Arneson rushed 26 times for 204 yards and six touchdowns as the Lancers beat Walkersville, 42-12.

HOWARD
Howard LB Caleb Snype made 11 of his 16 tackles in the fourth quarter as the Lions held off River Hill, 12-8.

LOUDOUN
Riverside QB Robert Evelyn completed 17 of 22 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 10 times for 81 yards as the Rams beat Freedom-South Riding, 35-14.

MONTGOMERY
Bethesda-Chevy Chase WR-DB Lucas Scribner returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown, returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and rushed twice for 75 yards and a touchdown as the Barons beat Poolesville, 41-13.

NORTHERN REGION
South County WR Jacob Orth caught eight passes for 201 yards and one touchdown as the Stallions beat Fairfax, 50-7.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Suitland LB Daniel Atsou made 13 tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack and recovered a fumble as the Rams beat Oxon Hill, 27-8.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Battlefield QB Calum O’Shea completed 11 of 14 passes for 216 yards and five touchdowns and rushed seven times for 91 yards and one touchdown as the Bobcats beat Woodbridge, 56-0.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Northern QB Isaiah Randall completed 14 of 15 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns and rushed three times for 93 yards and two touchdowns as the Patriots beat La Plata, 42-7.

WCAC
Gonzaga QB Aidan Conrath completed 28 of 42 passes for 415 yards and four touchdowns and one two-point conversion in the Eagles’ 35-29 loss to Loyola Blakefield.

Sept. 13: Dom Nichols, Urbana

photo courtesy oakdale football

Now in his third year as a starter for the Oakdale High football team, Dom Nichols has always had the physical tools to succeed. The senior tight end and defensive end, who has accepted a football scholarship to play for the University of Michigan, put in countless hours this past offseason, working to refine his skills and it is showing in the results.

This past Friday, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound Nichols made plays on both sides of the ball. On defense he made 11 tackles with 4 ½ tackles for loss and two sacks, while on offense he caught a 40-yard pass and threw a 37-yard touchdown pass on a trick play as the Bears beat visiting Allegany, 41-24.

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

“The potential was always there because of his size and speed, but now he’s starting to put it all together,” Oakdale Coach Kurt Stein said. “Just being consistent and improving his technique. He’s always been a great athlete and able to make great plays, but it is the consistency of being great every down. He worked hard this offseason on the finer points of being a defensive end.”

Nichols also worked this summer to get himself more involved in Oakdale’s offensive playbook. During one workout, Nichols asked Stein to develop some trick plays that he could be a part of.

“I told him he couldn’t throw, so he picked up a ball and threw it 50 yards,” Stein said.

That led to practice last week, where the Bears installed a play for Nichols to throw the ball, resulting in his long touchdown pass to Ohio recruit Hunter Thompson in the second quarter.

Nichols has started on the Bears’ basketball team the past two seasons, but plans to enroll at Michigan for the spring semester.

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

ANNE ARUNDEL
Meade WR Tyrique Jones caught four passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns as the Mustangs beat Severn, 48-14.

DC
Phelps LB Gabriel Wiggins returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown, returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown, rushed for a two-point touchdown and had two tackles for loss and one sack as the Panthers beat Richard Wright, 15-6.

HOWARD
Glenelg QB Zach LaFountain threw two touchdown passes and rushed for three more scores as the Gladiators beat Hammond, 48-0.

LOUDOUN
Lightridge WR-DB Al Honesty caught 10 passes for a school-record 201 yards and two touchdowns and on defense made three tackles and forced a fumble as the Lightning beat Sherando, 27-25.

MONTGOMERY
Walter Johnson RB Dylan Byrd rushed 25 times for 131 yards and three touchdowns as the Wildcats beat Richard Montgomery, 53-22.

NORTHERN REGION
South Lakes QB Nick Harris completed 8 of 12 passes for 198 yards, threw touchdowns to five different receivers and rushed three times for 77 yards and one touchdown as the Seahawks beat Falls Church, 65-0.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Wise RB-LB DeCarlos Young rushed 27 times for 211 yards and three touchdowns and made 11 tackles with four tackles for loss and two sacks as the Pumas beat Eleanor Roosevelt, 22-16.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Gainesville QB Colton Kilmer completed 17 of 29 passes for 178 yards and four touchdowns and rushed 17 times for 133 yards as the Cardinals beat Woodbridge, 34-20, to improve to 3-0.

PRIVATE
Maret QB Roman Jensen completed all of 11 of his passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 11 times for 98 yards and three touchdowns as the Frogs beat St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes, 51-14.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Patuxent QB Evan Blouir completed 13 of 22 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown and rushed 22 times for 154 yards and three touchdowns as the Panthers beat Huntingtown, 41-31.

WCAC
Gonzaga K John Holley made all six of his point-after attempts, kicked a 38-yard field goal and had two kickoffs for touchbacks and the Eagles beat Fordham Prep, 45-0.

Sept. 6: Miles Halbert, Northern

photo by karen remington

Miles Halbert is a busy teenager. A junior at Northern High School in Calvert County, he starts on offense and defense for the school’s football team. He also is a sprinter on the track team and plays outfield on the baseball team.

As Northern opened its football season this past Friday night, once again it was easy to see why he is in such high demand.

Playing wide receiver and strong safety, Halbert caught seven passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns on offense and intercepted a pass on defense as the Patriots beat Westlake, 47-7. For his efforts, Halbert was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week.

“What makes Miles special is his speed,” Northern Coach Rich Holzer said. “It’s deceptive, because when he gets out there and you watch him warm up, he doesn’t look fast. But then you get in games and he just glides.

“They played him 1 on 1. We didn’t do anything fancy. … We felt he could win against any corner they put out there. We were going to force them to put a corner and a safety out there and double team him.”

Halbert started both ways for the Patriots as a sophomore last season, finishing with 30 catches for 433 yards and four touchdowns with 65 tackles, four interceptions (returning three for touchdowns), three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He is being recruited by college football and college baseball teams.

This year, he was selected one of Northern’s team captains, the first time Holzer has had a junior in that position since he was coaching at Mount St. Joseph in Baltimore and had talented linebacker Marlowe Wax, who now plays at Syracuse University.

“Miles is just a talented kid,” Holzer said.

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

ANNE ARUNDEL
Old Mill RB Max Jones rushed for 321 yards and four touchdowns as the Patriots beat Annapolis, 34-12.

DC
Bell QB Demarco Valladares completed 13 of 21 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns as the Griffins beat KIPP DC Legacy, 38-8.

FREDERICK
Frederick WR-DB Davian Pryor caught five passes for 93 yards, rushed for a touchdown, rushed for a two-point conversion following a bad snap and on defense made 13 tackles and intercepted two passes as the Cadets beat Middletown, 29-12.

HOWARD
Mount Hebron RB-LB Aidan Hauf rushed 13 times for 112 yards and two touchdowns and on defense made four tackles and intercepted a pass as the Vikings beat Wilde Lake, 46-12.

LOUDOUN
Tuscarora QB Thomas Peede rushed for four touchdowns as the Huskies beat Independence, 42-13.

MONTGOMERY
Churchill RB David Avit rushed 28 times for 268 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Seneca Valley, 27-7.

NORTHERN REGION
Langley RB-LB Cannon Clarke rushed for a touchdown, caught a 34-yard pass and on defense made eight tackles with three tackles for loss, forced one fumble and returned an interception 40 yards as the Saxons beat Herndon, 21-0.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Suitland S Derrian George made five tackles and intercepted three passes as the Rams beat Coolidge, 20-6.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Freedom-Woodbridge WR-DB EJ Reid, a Wake Forest recruit, caught five passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns and intercepted two passes on defense deep in his own territory as the Eagles held on to beat Varina, 35-27.

PRIVATE
Bullis LB Chris Forbes, who has committed to play for Old Dominion, made nine tackles, with seven of them for losses, as the Bulldogs beat St. Mary’s-Annapolis, 24-16.

WCAC
Gonzaga DL David McMorris, a Syracuse recruit, made five tackles with three tackles for loss and 2 ½ sacks as the Eagles beat Calvert Hall, 26-0.

August 30: Michael Brown, Friendship Collegiate

Photo courtesy friendship collegiate

During the past two high school football seasons, Michael Brown made play after play for Dunbar High. Now a senior having transferred to Friendship Collegiate, Brown used the most of his opportunities to show his former teammates and coaches that he remains one of the area’s biggest gamebreakers.

A wide receiver and running back at Friendship Collegiate, Brown made big plays on both sides of the ball in this past Friday’s season opener, leading Friendship to a 19-6 victory over Dunbar. For his efforts, Brown was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week.

“He is very dynamic with the ball in his hands,” said Friendship Collegiate Coach Mike Hunter, whose team is the DC State Athletic Association Class AA defending champion. “He’s a playmaker in every phase of the game: He’s able to create turnovers on defense, is dangerous [as a returner] in the kicking game and is a threat with the ball on offense.”

Brown, who is 5 feet 10 and 170 pounds, has been a threat throughout his high school career, earning DCSAA all-state honors in each of the previous two seasons. Suiting up for Friendship and facing his former team, Brown finished with four catches for 87 yards and one touchdown and on defense made six tackles and intercepted a pass. His 17-yard touchdown catch came on the first snap after play resumed following an hour-long weather delay in the third quarter.

Hunter said that Brown currently holds a handful of scholarship offers, including Boston College and Marshall, but that he expects that number to grow considerably.

“If it doesn’t, a lot of schools are going to be missing out,” Hunter said. “He’s a dynamic guy that more schools should be taking a look at.”

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

LOUDOUN
Riverside QB Robert Evelyn completed 11 of 16 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 44 yards and another score as the Rams beat Broad Run, 30-29.

NORTHERN REGION
West Springfield RB Mark-Anthony Whyte rushed 11 times for 225 yards and five touchdowns as the Spartans beat Hayfield, 42-13.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Gainesville QB Colton Kilmer completed 18 of 30 passes for 271 yards and six touchdowns as the Cardinals beat Potomac (Va.), 56-20.

PRIVATE
Archbishop Spalding WR Aaron Igwebe caught five passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns as the Cavaliers beat Don Bosco Prep (N.J.), 28-14.

WCAC
Bishop Ireton WR-DB Aaron Rocke returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown and caught a 23-yard touchdown pass as the Cardinals beat Jackson-Reed, 38-0.