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Montgomery County Football Week Seven: Previews and predictions
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Sherwood High School
Week Seven in Montgomery County football actually kicks off this evening with Rockville travelling to Northern for a 2A contest. The big action is on Friday, highlighted by several games with critical importance in the MPSSAA standings. Here is a look at those games (MCM Top 10 ranking in parenthesis).
Damascus (8) at Sherwood (2): While Sherwood holds all the cards in the 4A West race for playoff points, this is still an important game for them to maintain their standing. For Damascus, the stakes and rewards are even greater. Beating a 4A team means an extra point in the MPSSAA system. Of course, the question is how do you beat Sherwood? At this point nobody knows. Their defense is the stingiest in the county, giving up only 20 points through six games; that’s crazy. At the same time, only Quince Orchard has scored more points. So Sherwood gets you on both sides of the ball. Damascus is going to need a healthy Brian Lucas and an on-target Connor Frazier in order to have a chance. They will need to control the ball and the clock, and hope that Cyrus Britt and company have an off night. So far this season, that has not happened. Don’t expect it now. My pick: Sherwood
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Churchill High School
Wootton at Churchill (3): This is a must game for Churchill, not because, like last year, they need it to get into the playoffs, but because they want to stay right with Sherwood, whom they meet next weekend. Churchill was somewhat lucky to escape last week against Magruder, but good teams find a way to win. Wootton inexplicably did not score against Whitman, not a good sign heading into this game. Churchill’s versatility in the passing and running game bodes well in what should be, if the weather forecasters are correct, a sloppy game. Wootton’s pass first, second and third offense is not built for nasty weather. My pick: Churchill.
Springbrook High School
Magruder (10) at Springbrook: Please do not sell Magruder short because of their 3-3 record. This is a good team that’s come out on the losing end of some very tough games against Sherwood and Churchill. While the playoffs may be out of reach, a clear spoiler role, and a solid season, is well within reach. Springbrook has clearly righted themselves after a head-scratching loss to Wootton earlier this year, and with Devon Pestano in the groove, they should win this to stay close in the playoff points standings heading towards a showdown with Paint Branch next week. My pick: Springbrook.
Whitman (4) at Gaithersburg: This is not as easy as it seems on paper. Whitman’s offense stalled against Wootton last weekend, and while Miles Davis ran for 160 yards, the Vikings will need more production from Henry Kuhn and his receivers to keep Gaithersburg from stacking up the run. This is a difficult game for Whitman, who can’t afford to be looking ahead to Springbrook next weekend. Whitman
Kennedy at Clarksburg (5): Do not expect a let down on the part of Clarksburg. Andrew Veith is having a player-of-the year type season, and his leadership is critical to the team. Kennedy is just hoping to hang on the rest of the season. Clarksburg
Paint Branch (6) at Richard Montgomery: Tracy Martin, Ivan Tagoe and Bene’t Willis are way too much for the RM defense. On the other side of the ball, the Paint Branch defense is way too much for the RM offense. Paint Branch
Blake at Seneca Valley (7): Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, wants to play Seneca Valley right now. They are streaking in a big way, evidenced by their dismantling of Northwest last weekend. Coach Fred Kim will have them focused and ready to go, and allow his team to get past this game so they can focus their attention on the big one next weekend at Quince Orchard. Seneca Valley
Rockville (9) at Northern: Crusoe Gongbay and Robbie Parker lead Coach Bernot’s squad in yardage and versatility, respectively as they plow their way in 2A. Rockville
Wheaton at Northwood: Northwood still hasn’t found the magic touch that they had very early in the season. Wheaton is up and down. This is mostly a pick-em game. Let’s say Northwood gets some of the magic back for one night. Northwood
Poolesville at Watkins Mill: Poolesville has one thing Watkins Mill does not: a win. Watkins Mill should even up that score. Watkins Mill
Northwest at Walter Johnson: WJ could easily have two or more wins, but they can’t figure out when to play their best game at the right time. Northwest is in a difficult position, looking as the possibility of being under .500 for the season. Northwest should have just enough firepower in Jarrett Butler and Hassan Dixon, to get past a WJ squad with firepower of their own in Cole Ahnell and Ryan Davis. Northwood
B-CC at Blair: B-CC has one of the top QB’s in the county in Casey Fitzgerald, and should be able to put up enough points to hold back Blair. B-CC.
- Ben Sasu, Quince Orchard, 839 yd’s, 13 td’s
- Crusoe Gongbay, Rockville, 820 yd’s, 12 td’s
- Devon Pestano, Springbrook, 780 yd’s, 13 td’s
- Keith Gaye, Einstein, 757 yd’s, 6 td’s
- Ryan Quinn, Churchill, 750 yd’s, 5 td’s
- Jimmy Hessler, Northwood, 1131 yd’s, 2 td’s
- Casey Fitzgerald, B-CC, 1031 yd’s, 5 td’s
- Cole Ahnell, Walter Johnson, 906 yd’s, 6 td’s
- Tracy Martin, Paint Branch, 742 yd’s, 10 td’s
- Gary Vaughn, Northwood, 33 receptions
- Ryan Davis, Walter Johnson, 30 receptions
- Ivan Tagoe, Paint Branch, 25 receptions
- Michael Flack, Whitman, 22 receptions
- Anatoly Moschkin, Northwood, 17 receptions
