But I am under no such unwritten rules restrictions. There are four games on the first weekend of the season that I believe have compelling story lines. Each could go a long way towards projecting an arc of the season.
Northwest vs Whitman
Location: Marco Stadium at Walt Whitman High School
2008 Records:
- Whitman 4-6
- Northwest 6-5 (Playoffs)
- Players to watch:
Northwest: Hassan Dixon, Jarrhett Butler, Ali Tolson
Whitman: Henry Kuhn, Larry Kline, Kevin Secala
Story Line: Northwest is coming off an emotional offseason, and first year coach Mark Maradei and his coaching staff will need to keep their teams’ emotions focused and controlled prior to and early in the game. Northwest has the players to be serious playoff contenders, but Whitman is a very experienced team, with a bevy of starters returning on defense. Offensively, quarterback Henry Kuhn finished last season on a high note for Whitman as they knocked Springbrook out of the playoffs. The emotional tone for the Northwest season could be set here.
Wootton vs Sherwood
Location: Sherwood High School Directions
2008 Records:
- Wootton 7-4 (Playoffs)
- Sherwood 14-0 (State 4A Champions)
- Players to watch:
Wootton: Jeff Porter, Alex Kelly, Matt Grimm
Sherwood: Alex Cole, Patrick Garland, A.J. Pignone
Story Line: Both teams are in a transition. Sherwood won the state title last year after knocking on the door for several years. However they’ve lost virtually every member of last year’s team. Kelly, Garland and Pignone will vie for the starting quarterback job for first year coach Pat Cilento, who replaces the legendary Al Thomas. Wootton made the playoffs last year for the first time in 16 years, but the firepower provided by Matt Mooney must be replaced. Jeff Porter and Alex Kelly will run the offense, and their effectiveness in coach Bill Malling’s complex schemes will be tested quickly. Both teams would love to repeat last seasons’ results.
Rockville vs Walter Johnson
Location: Walter Johnson High School Directions
2008 Records:
- Rockville 5-5
- Walter Johnson 1-9
Players to watch:
Rockville: Crusoe Gongbay, Phil McTighe, Kevin O’Brien
Walter Johnson: Sean Montgomery, Ryan Davis, Pat Texeira
Story Line: Both teams are looking to take a step forward. For first-year Rockville head coach Kevin Bernot that would mean a 2A playoff berth for the Rams, who came up one game short last season. For first year Walter Johnson coach Jon Kadi that would mean building on a one-win season last year. The game will be held at Walter Johnson’s new stadium, the first home game for WJ in over a year. Both coaches and teams believe their programs have turned corners, and both will be looking to build as the season progresses.
Seneca Valley vs Clarksburg
Location: Clarksburg High School Directions
2008 Records:
- Seneca Valley 12-1 (Playoffs)
- Clarksburg 10-1 (Playoffs)
Players to watch:
Seneca Valley: Pierre Hinton, Dimitri Parker, Kwame Rogers
Clarksburg: Andrew Veith, Sam Collins, Ace Clark
Story Line: Welcome to the Maryland 3A division, Clarksburg: your first game is against perennial state powerhouse Seneca Valley. Both teams are elite; both teams have not just playoff aspirations, but championship dreams; both teams are missing key players from last years squads, but neither team rebuilds, they just reload. The winner of this game gets an early leg up in the 3A division race and some local bragging rights.
I'm sure their will be additional compelling games over the first weekend, but these are worth keeping an eye on. If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to add them to the comments.
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