The 2015 DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank N.A. High School Player of the Week powered by Under Armour is announced each Wednesday, and featured throughout the week on ESPN 980.
Click on the names below for a summary and video of each award winner.
WEEK 14
JOE THOMPSON, QUARTERBACK, STONEBRIDGE
Joe Thompson missed six games during the regular season because of a badly sprained ankle, but the Stone Bridge quarterback sure is making up for the missed time.
This past Saturday, Thompson completed 11 of 15 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 18 times for 99 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Bulldogs to a 54-41 victory over previously undefeated Tuscarora in the Virginia 5A semifinals.
Stone Bridge (10-4) will play Highland Springs in the Virginia 5A final on Saturday in Charlottesville. The Bulldogs have advanced through the postseason largely because of their offense, averaging 47 points per game during the playoffs, with Thompson leading the way.
Others receiving Player of the Week consideration were:
MONTGOMERY
Damascus RB Jake Funk rushed 31 times for 271 yards and scored seven touchdowns as the Hornets completed an undefeated season with a 55-14 win over Dundalk in the Maryland 3A final.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
Wise RB C.J. Rainey rushed for four first-half touchdowns and finished with 153 yards and five touchdowns on 19 carries as the Pumas won their second state title in four years with a 55-6 win over previously undefeated Howard in the Maryland 4A final.
SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Patuxent WR-DB Greg Leonard had a 27-yard touchdown catch and made a key fourth-down tackle as the Panthers to a 21-20 win over Walkersville in the Maryland 2A final.
PRIVATE
Gonzaga WR-DB Luke McCaleb had two rushes for 50 yards and one touchdown on offense, made several big hits on defense and was named the game’s MVP as the Eagles beat H.D. Woodson, 45-6, in the DCSAA Class AA championship game.
FAIRFAX
Westfield RB Tim Beard rushed 23 times for a career-high 249 yards and one touchdown – his fourth consecutive game with at least 100 yards rushing – as the Bulldogs beat previously undefeated South County, 40-8, in a Virginia 6A semifinal.
WEEK 13
JOE THOMPSON, QUARTERBACK, STONEBRIDGE
It is a nostalgic time for Stone Bridge Coach Mickey Thompson. The youngest of his three sons is a high school senior and when football season ends, so will Thompson’s time coaching his boys. For now, though, Joe Thompson is doing all he can to give his father a few extra weeks on the field.
Thompson passed for 194 yards and one touchdown, rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns and scored the game-winning two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs rallied to beat previously undefeated Massaponax, 50-49, in a Virginia 5A North semifinal this past weekend.
“I don’t want [this time] to end,” said Mickey Thompson, whose older sons, twins Patrick and Zach, played at Wake Forest, and whose daughter, Amy, a high school sophomore, recently committed to play soccer at Tennessee. “You don’t get too many times to be out there with your kid. I’m thankful to be out there one more week. Hopefully we’ll get another week.”
Joe Thompson, who has committed to play for Charlotte, missed six games because of a high ankle sprain before returning in the regular season finale. He has sparked Stone Bridge’s postseason run. The Bulldogs play at Tuscarora on Friday night in the Virginia 5A North final.
“He’s the guy that runs our offense,” Mickey Thompson said. “He can throw it and he can run it.”
Others receiving Player of the Week consideration were:
DC
- Eastern QB Jarome Johnson completed 14 of 24 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 234 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-8 win over Bell in the DCIAA Gravy Bowl. He passed for 236 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-38 loss to Sidwell Friends in the DCSAA Class A title game.
- H.D. Woodson QB Khalil Wright threw five touchdown passes in the first half and finished 13 of 23 for 272 yards as the Warriors beat Wilson, 40-24, to win their third consecutive DCIAA Turkey Bowl.
HOWARD
- Howard QB Casey Crawford completed 21 of 24 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a touchdown in a 35-24 win over Broadneck in the Maryland 4A semifinals.
MONTGOMERY
- Damascus RB Jake Funk rushed for 303 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-7 win over Reservoir. He has rushed for a Maryland-record 50 touchdowns this season.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
- Wise WR-CB Myles Wolfolk caught two touchdown passes and intercepted a pass on defense in a 37-15 win over Northwest in the Maryland 4A semifinals.
FAIRFAX
- Westfield WR-QB Tyler Scanlon completed 7 of 7 passes for 54 yards and caught 10 passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-7 win over Lake Braddock in a Virginia 6A North semifinal.
LOUDOUN
- Tusacarora QB Daniel Smith completed 11 of 12 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 15 times for 237 yards and four touchdowns in a 63-49 win over North Stafford in a Virginia 5A North semifinal.
PRIVATE
- Sidwell Friends RB Mark Chichester rushed 30 times for 183 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-38 win over Eastern in the DCSAA Class A championship game.
WCAC
- Gonzaga RB Tyree Randolph rushed for 187 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 30-yard touchdown pass in a 52-31 win over Friendship Collegiate in a DCSAA Class AA semifinal.
WEEK 12
LORENZO HARRISON, RUNNING BACK, DeMATHA
DeMatha running back Lorenzo Harrison picked a good time for the best game of his career. Playing on the field he plans to call home in college, Harrison scored on touchdown runs of 19, 72 and 68 yards and finished with a career-high 243 yards rushing on 18 carries to lead the Stags to a 48-17 win over Good Counsel in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game at Byrd Stadium.
It was a standout performance for Harrison, who has committed to play for the University of Maryland, and helped DeMatha (11-1) capture its third consecutive WCAC title.
For his efforts, Harrison was named the DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank High School Football Player of the Week, powered by Under Armour.
Others receiving Player of the Week consideration were:
DC
- Wilson QB Steve Williams completed 13 of 35 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winning five-yard touchdown in the final two minutes, and rushed for another touchdown in a 37-34 win over Ballou in the DCIAA semifinals.
ANNE ARUNDEL
- Broadneck LB Ryan Kennedy made four tackles for loss as Bruins beat an undefeated team for the second week in a row, edging Old Mill, 7-0, in the Maryland 4A East Region final.
HOWARD
- Howard RB Malik Anderson rushed for 87 yards and one touchdown and caught four passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-14 win over Sherwood in the Maryland 4A North Region final.
- Reservoir RB-K Josh Young rushed for 126 yards and one touchdown and kicked the decisive 31-yard field goal in a 10-7 win over Glenelg in the Maryland 3A East Region final.
MONTGOMERY
- Northwest QB Mark Pierce completed 9 of 15 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 37 yards and one touchdown as the Jaguars won their third consecutive Maryland 4A West Region title with a 50-40 win over Quince Orchard.
SMAC
- Patuxent QB Reese Crounse came off the bench and rushed for 98 yards and directed two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter as the Panthers rallied to beat Gwynn Park, 16-14, in the Maryland 2A South Region final.
FAIRFAX
- Robinson RB Sean Foncha rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns and caught a key 29-yard pass in the final minute as the Rams beat Chantilly, 31-24, in the Virginia 6A North quarterfinals.
LOUDOUN
- Tuscarora RB James Douglass rushed 42 times for 247 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-27 win over Atlee in a Virginia 5A North quarterfinal.
- Woodgrove QB Mike Kovich rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns and completed 13 of 22 passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-21 win over Sherando in the Virginia 4A West quarterfinals.
WEEK 11
JAKE FUNK, RUNNING BACK-LINEBACKER, DAMASCUS
As the high school football season enters its most important stretch, one of the region’s most productive players enjoyed a career-best outing.
Damascus running back Jake Funk, a senior who recently committed to play for the University of Maryland, rushed for 313 yards and six touchdowns this past Friday to lead the Swarmin’ Hornets to a 44-21 victory over Oakdale in the Maryland 3A West Region semifinals. For his efforts, Funk was named the DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank High School Football Player of the Week, powered by Under Armour. It was the second time this season and third time in two seasons that Funk earned the award.
Funk has rushed for more than 100 yards in every game this season as Damascus improved to 11-0. For the season, he has rushed for 2,114 yards and scored 41 touchdowns.
Others who received Player of the Week consideration were:
ANNE ARUNDEL
- Broadneck RB Chris Watts rushed 28 times for 188 yards and scored two touchdowns and caught a two-point conversion pass in the fourth quarter as the Bruins rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat previously undefeated North Point, 20-14, in a Maryland 4A East Region semifinal.
HOWARD
- Glenelg freshman Wande Owens, who on the JV all season, replaced an injured teammate and rushed 28 times for 206 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-13 win over Chesapeake in a Maryland 3A East Region semifinal.
MONTGOMERY
- Northwest QB Mark Pierce threw a 74-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage and completed 14 of 23 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 43 yards and two touchdowns as the Maryland 4A two-time defending champions beat Richard Montgomery, 33-21, in a Maryland 4A West Region semifinal.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
- Eleanor Roosevelt RB Karl Mofor rushed 30 times for 214 yards and three first-half touchdowns in a 26-12 win over DuVal in a Maryland 4A South Region semifinal.
FAIRFAX
- South County QB DeAndre Clayton completed 18 of 27 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 61 yards and one touchdown in a 35-21 win over Annandale in a Virginia 6A North first-round game.
- West Potomac RB Daiimon Cleveland rushed for 278 yards and four touchdowns in a 40-19 win over West Springfield in a Virginia 6A North first-round game.
LOUDOUN
- Potomac Falls DB-P Alex Nemer intercepted two passes and punted four times inside the opposing 20-yard line of a 21-6 win over Wakefield in a Virginia 5A North first-round game.
- Woodgrove RB Charlie Clewis rushed 33 times for 256 yards and four touchdowns in a 40-13 win over Heritage in a Virginia 4A West first-round game.
PRINCE WILLIAM
- Battlefield NG Brailyn Franklin had four sacks and forced a fumble that he also recovered in a 36-21 win over Hayfield in a Virginia 6A North first-round game.
- Hylton QB Donovan Williams rushed 20 times for 208 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 96 yards and one touchdown in a 28-14 win over Forest Park in a Virginia 6A South first-round game.
PRIVATE
- Bullis QB Dwayne Haskins Jr. completed 27 of 42 passes for 298 yards and one touchdown in the closing minutes of a 19-16 win over Georgetown Prep as the Bulldogs claimed a share of the Interstate Athletic Conference title with the Little Hoyas and Episcopal.
WCAC
- Good Counsel WR-DB Devin Judd, a Harvard recruit, caught a 66-yard touchdown pass, returned an interception 104 yards for a touchdown and made 6.5 tackles in a 35-12 win over Gonzaga in the WCAC semifinals.
WEEK 10
DANIEL SMITH, QUARTERBACK, TUSCARORA
Having lost 17 starters, including all but two on offense, from last year’s team that went 14-1 and lost in the Virginia 5A championship game, the outlook was not necessarily rosy for the Tuscarora Huskies. But as the Huskies have found out, there was no reason to worry with senior quarterback Daniel Smith back in the picture.
This past Friday, for the fourth time this season, Smith led a game-winning drive on Tuscarora’s last possession, directing the Huskies the length of the field in the final two minutes for a 43-42 victory over Broad Run to cap an undefeated regular season. The game-winning drive came after Jack Speroni blocked a Broad Run field goal attempt that could have sealed the victory.
Smith finished 15 of 24 passing for 254 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 109 yards and one touchdown. For his efforts, Smith was named the DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank High School Football Player of the Week, powered by Under Armour.
“He’s ridiculous,” Tuscarora Coach Mike Burnett said. “I’ve been blessed to have [2015 DC Touchdown Club Virginia High School Player of the Year] Noah Reimers last year and Daniel this year. He’s so hard to defend. He is a legitimate dual-threat player.”
Smith, who has a 24-1 record as a starter and sports a 4.0 grade-point average, is being recruited by Ivy League schools, Burnett said.
Others who received Player of the Week consideration were:
D.C.
- Bell RB Charles Brooks rushed 18 times for 249 yards in a 52-0 win over Phelps.
- Eastern QB Jarome Johnson threw three touchdown passes and rushed for two more scores in a 40-0 win over Cardozo.
WCAC
- St. John’s freshman RB Joachim Bangda rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score in the final minute as the Cadets beat previously undefeated Gonzaga, 21-17.
PRIVATE
- Flint Hill freshman RB Jordan Houston rushed 29 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass as the Huskies beat Sidwell Friends, 49-34, to win the Mid-Atlantic Conference championship.
- Spalding QB Evan Fochtman completed 12 of 19 passes for 108 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-15 win over Mount St. Joseph.
ARUNDEL
- Arundel RB Larry Barnes rushed for 211 yards and four touchdowns in a 61-30 win over Severna Park.
- Old Mill QB David Marrocco completed 10 of 13 passes for 240 yards and rushed for 60 yards and one touchdown as the Patriots finished an undefeated regular season by beating Annapolis 45-12.
MONTGOMERY
- Churchill RB Andrew Zuckerman rushed 31 times for 346 yards and five touchdowns in a 40-7 win over Walter Johnson.
- Damascus RB Jake Funk rushed 17 times for 272 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-7 win over Blair.
- Magruder RB Bryan Juarez rushed 25 times for 173 yards and four touchdowns and returned an interception for a touchdown in a 55-27 win over Rockville.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
- Bowie QB Jason Epps completed 22 of 32 passes for 362 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for two touchdowns in a 47-18 win over Bladensburg to secure a Maryland 4A South Region playoff berth.
- Gwynn Park WR Andre Gray caught four passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-24 win over Friendly.
SMAC
- Patuxent RB Tyler Gross rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown and intercepted a pass in a 42-6 win over Westlake that clinched a playoff berth.
FAIRFAX
- Madison QB Jason Gastrock completed 13 of 27 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another score in a 53-20 win over Hayfield.
- South County RB DeMarcus Ramsey rushed 31 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 10-yard run in overtime for a 33-30 win over Lake Braddock in a meeting of unbeaten teams to decide the top seed in the Virginia 6A North playoffs.
PRINCE WILLIAM
- Brenstville RB DaShawn Denney rushed 33 times for 291 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers beat Culpeper, 28-19, to clinch their first playoff berth since 2006.
WEEK 9
CHARLES KELLY, WIDE RECEIVER/QUARTERBACK, BISHOP McNAMARA
Charles Kelly is a versatile athlete. He is normally a wide receiver on the Bishop McNamara football team and a point guard and shooting guard on the Forestville private school’s basketball team. The past few weeks, though, an injury to standout Ramar Williams has prompted Kelly to move to quarterback and he has delivered for the Mustangs.
This past Saturday, Kelly completed 22 of 33 passes for 295 yards and four touchdowns, leading McNamara to a 42-35 comeback victory over St. John’s, keeping the Mustangs in the hunt for the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference playoffs. For his efforts, Kelly is the DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank High School Football Player of the Week, powered by Under Armour.
“He came here as a quarterback, but to get on the field, he had to play wide receiver and he filled that role very well,” McNamara Coach Keith Goganious said.
But with starter Ramar Williams sidelined by a bruised collarbone, Kelly moved back to quarterback. Against St. John’s, Kelly’s favorite target was wide receiver Brian Thompson, who had nine catches for 121 yards and three touchdowns.
Kelly “is a very bright kid and knows what we’re doing offensively,” Goganious said. “The great thing about him having played wide receiver is he knows our schemes and what we want to do. He has the ability to scramble and the ability to throw the ball downfield as well. He didn’t panic when we were down 21. He kept believing in what we were doing and the guys rallied around him. It showed his poise and leadership.”
Williams was injured October 17 against Good Counsel, but has resumed throwing and Goganious is hopeful that Williams will play Saturday against O’Connell. McNamara needs a victory to have a chance to make the WCAC playoffs.
Others who received Player of the Week consideration were:
ANNE ARUNDEL
- Chesapeake RB Jason Sutton rushed 16 times for 212 yards and four touchdowns and returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown in a 49-19 win over Southern as the Cougars got closer to earning the first playoff berth in school history.
FREDERICK
- Linganore QB Nathan Musselman completed 12 of 13 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of a 52-6 win over Thomas Johnson.
HOWARD
- Oakland Mills QB Aaron Gibson completed 17 of 25 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for two more touchdowns in a 40-0 win over Atholton. In three games, the former JV quarterback has passed for more than 900 yards and three touchdowns.
MONTGOMERY
- Damascus WR-DB Markus Vinson caught a 41-yard touchdown pass, intercepted one pass and broke up another that a teammate intercepted in a 21-3 victory over Seneca Valley in a meeting of the last two unbeaten teams in Montgomery County.
LOUDOUN
- Stone Bridge RB Joshua Breece rushed 24 times for 201 yards and one touchdown as the Bulldogs scored the final 20 points in a 20-17 win over Potomac Falls.
NORTHERN REGION
- South Lakes WR-DB Marvin Grunshie caught a touchdown pass and returned an interception 70 yards for a momentum-changing touchdown in a 35-14 win over Hayfield.
- West Springfield QB Peter Muskett completed 33 of 46 passes for 398 yards and one touchdown and rushed for another touchdown in a 42-35 overtime loss to W.T. Woodson.
- Westfield QB Tyler Scanlon completed 14 of 26 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass in a 48-17 win over Herndon.
PRINCE WILLIAM
- Hylton QB Donovan Williams completed 17 of 25 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs scored the final 17 points to rally for a 31-28 win over Riverbend.
WCAC
- Gonzaga RB Tyree Randolph rushed 12 times for 124 yards and caught three passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-19 win over Carroll.
PRIVATE
- Bullis WR-DB Damani Neal had 12 tackles and two interceptions on defense and caught four passes for 44 yards and one touchdown in a 34-20 win over St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes.
- Sidwell Friends WR Mark Chichester caught eight passes for 181 yards and four touchdowns in a 55-45 win over Saint James.
WEEK 8
ANDRE HALL, WIDE RECEIVER, POTOMAC (MD)
Andre Hall had already caught three touchdown passes this past Saturday. But with the clock running down and Potomac (Md.) facing the prospect of a tough defeat, Hall was supposed to run a crossing route, catch a pass, then lateral the ball to a teammate cutting back across the field and hopefully catch the defense by surprise.
The best laid plans, of course, often to go waste. So as Hall pulled in the pass, he dipped to the outside and reached the sideline, outracing the defense for a 75-yard touchdown with eight seconds left, lifting the Wolverines to a stunning 32-30 win over Douglass in a Prince George’s 3A/2A/1A game.
Hall, who caught five passes for 308 yards, also had touchdown catches of 77, 45 and 80 yards and is the DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank High School Football Player of the Year, powered by Under Armour.
Others who received Player of the Week consideration were:
WCAC
- Gonzaga RB Tyree Randolph rushed 28 times for 207 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles remained unbeaten with a 32-13 win over Good Counsel.
PRIVATE
- Sidwell Friends QB Ted Hefter completed 15 of 25 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns as the Quakers rallied from a 24-point fourth quarter deficit to beat Maret, 36-32.
FREDERICK
- Urbana QB Gage Dickens rushed 26 times for 155 yards and the game-winning touchdown in a 14-10 win over Middletown.
MONTGOMERY
- Richard Montgomery WR-DB Daniel Alexander caught a 15-yard touchdown pass and returned an interception 95 yards for another touchdown in a 20-13 win over Clarksburg. He has nine touchdown catches this season.
- Sherwood RB Travis Levy rushed 28 times for 180 yards and one touchdown and caught three passes for 56 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-21 win over previously unbeaten Paint Branch.
- Whitman QB Matt Clayton completed 9 of 14 passes for 98 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 17 times for 282 yards and one touchdown in a 40-7 win over Walter Johnson.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
- Wise RB C.J. Rainey rushed 34 times for 233 yards in a 44-7 win over Bowie.
SMAC
- Thomas Stone LB Hassan Marshall returned a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown, had nine tackles and one sack in a 28-7 win over Calvert.
LOUDOUN
- Tuscarora QB Daniel Smith completed 5 of 7 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 10 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-19 win over Stone Bridge.
NORTHERN REGION
- Hayfield RB Myles Ross rushed 37 times for 286 yards in a 21-14 win over Yorktown.
- South Lakes QB Devin Miles completed 29 of 37 passes for 493 yards and six touchdowns in a 48-42 win over Langley, capped by 99-yard drive in the final two minutes.
PRINCE WILLIAM
- Forest Park WR Eric Kumah caught nine passes for 225 yards and one touchdown in a 30-28 win over Freedom-Woodbridge.
WEEK 7
CHARLES BROOKS, RUNNING BACK/ QUARTERBACK, BELL
Charles Brooks has run wild for most of the past 1 ½ seasons, often rushing for more than 100 yards and setting a career-high with 353 yards and six touchdowns two weeks ago. This past Friday, though, the Bell Multicultural High School senior used his arm to propel the Griffins to their fourth consecutive victory.
With Bell’s regular quarterback sidelined by a concussion, the team turned to Brooks operating out of a wildcat formation. Brooks rushed for 196 yards and two touchdowns and he also passed for 180 yards and two more touchdowns, including the game-winning 12-yard touchdown pass to Dewonn Brown on the game’s final play, lifting the Griffins to a 28-26 victory over Eastern in a rematch of last year’s DCIAA Stripes Division Gravy Bowl championship.
For his efforts, the 5-foot-7, 155-pound Brooks was named the DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank High School Football Player of the Week, powered by UnderArmour.
It was quite a performance by Brooks, who last season threw a touchdown pass on a halfback-option play. This time, though, Brooks was forced into action at quarterback for the entire game and he delivered. After rushing for 2,213 yards last season, Brooks leads the area with 1,326 yards rushing.
Others who received Player of the Week consideration were:
DC
- Wilson WR Sean Savoy caught eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-18 win over H.D. Woodson.
WCAC
- Good Counsel LB Keandre Jones, a Maryland recruit, blocked a punt with 20 seconds left in regulation that teammate Tremayne Stott recovered in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown in a 27-21 win over Bishop McNamara. Jones also had 9 ½ tackles and one sack.
PRIVATE
- Episcopal WR-DB Patrick Rene, a Rutgers recruit, caught five passes for 164 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-12 win over Bullis, the Bulldogs’ first IAC loss since 2012.
- Maret QB Garrison Burnett rushed 18 times for 217 yards and four touchdowns and completed 7 of 9 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown in a 41-6 win over St. Andrew’s (Del.).
- St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes LB Sam Dyson returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown, recovered another fumble in the end zone for a touchdown and was credited with a pair of safeties in a 31-0 win over Landon.
ANNE ARUNDEL
- Arundel QB Donte Thompson completed 22 of 30 passes for 369 yards and six touchdowns in a 67-30 win over Meade.
FREDERICK
- Oakdale WR-DB Ben Simonica had five carries for 73 yards and one touchdown, caught six passes for 95 yards and returned a punt 50 yards for another touchdown in a 34-13 win over Walkersville.
MONTGOMERY
- B-CC QB Ryan Dimmick completed 22 of 31 passes for 357 yards and six touchdowns in a 48-28 win over Churchill. Bulldogs RB Andrew Zuckerman rushed for 348 yards and three touchdowns in the loss, including scoring runs of 91 and 99 yards.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
- Largo DB Derrick Harris made two interceptions as the Lions beat Oxon Hill, 14-6, to improve to 7-0 – the team’s most wins in any season since 2000.
FAIRFAX
- Hayfield RB Myles Ross rushed 24 times for 272 yards and four touchdowns and returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown in a 39-21 win over Langley.
- Yorktown QB Stephen Giagola completed 23 of 39 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns in a 21-20 win over McLean.
LOUDOUN
- Stone Bridge RB Joshua Breece rushed 40 times for 171 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-13 win over rival Broad Run.
PRINCE WILLIAM
- Woodbridge RB-DB J.J. Burrus returned an interception for a touchdown and recovered a fumble in an 18-15 win over Forest Park.
WEEK 6
WADE STIEREN, WIDE RECEIVER/DEFENSIVE BACK, LINGANORE
Linganore wide receiver and defensive back Wade Stieren was all over the field this past Friday in what was billed as the Game of the Year in Frederick County. Stieren made 15 tackles and intercepted a pass on defense and caught four passes on offense. Stieren’s last catch was on a simple out route for the game-winning two-point conversion with 26 seconds remaining as the Lancers edged Oakdale, 21-20, in a meeting of previously unbeaten teams.
For his efforts, Stieren was named the DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank High School Football Player of the Week, powered by Under Armour.
Stieren has been a versatile athlete throughout his high school career, earning first-team All-Area honors from the Frederick News-Post in football and lacrosse as a junior. He is being recruited as a lacrosse midfielder after scoring 17 goals with nine assists this past spring and several Ivy League football teams have expressed interest as well, Linganore Coach Rick Conner said, noting that Stieren carries a weighted grade-point average of 4.1.
Others who received Player of the Week consideration were:
WCAC
- Bishop McNamara QB Ramar Williams completed 24 of 38 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns with three interceptions and rushed 12 times for 93 yards and three touchdowns in a 52-47 loss to DeMatha.
PRIVATE
- Maret QB/DB Garrison Burnette rushed 26 times for 258 yards and two touchdowns and completed 9 of 15 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns. He also intercepted a pass on defense as the Frogs beat Saint James, 44-7.
- Sidwell Friends RB Terrance Horne rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-17 win over Potomac School.
- Spalding QB Evan Fochtman passed for 276 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for two more scores in a 42-7 win over Calvert Hall.
FAIRFAX
- Annandale QB Tucker Mack rushed for three touchdowns and threw two touchdown passes in a 41-20 win over Mount Vernon.
- George Mason RB D’Montae Noble rushed 15 times for 321 yards in a 60-37 win over Riverside.
- West Springfield CB Jeremiah Pickell intercepted three passes in a 28-9 win over West Potomac.
LOUDOUN
- Broad Run RB Meech Hembry rushed 17 times for 336 yards and four touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in a 51-3 win over Yorktown.
- Tuscarora WR Nic Speroni caught six passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and the game-winning 42-yard touchdown pass with 28 seconds left in a 21-20 win over Potomac Falls.
PRINCE WILLIAM
- Battlefield WR Zac Kerxton threw a 39-yard touchdown pass, scored on a seven-yard touchdown run and caught an 11-yard touchdown pass in a 31-14 win at Osbourn Park.
- Osbourn WR Desmond Woodson caught eight passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-28 win over Stonewall Jackson.
MONTGOMERY
- Blair QB Desmond Colby passed for 383 yards and four touchdowns, including a 99-yarder to Chris Green in a 38-20 win over Springbrook.
- Clarksburg’s Ian Krishnan caught a 58-yard touchdown pass and kicked a 45-yard field goal in a 9-6 win over Urbana.
- Damascus RB Jake Funk rushed 13 times for 194 yards and three touchdowns and returned a blocked field goal 77 yards for another score in a 56-20 win over Blake.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
- Eleanor Roosevelt RB-LB Karl Mofor rushed 32 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns and returned aninterception 16 yards for another score in a 33-24 win over previously undefeated Bowie.
SOUTHERN MARYLAND
- Calvert WR-DB Levi Buck caught a 26-yard touchdown pass, intercepted a pass and recovered an onside kick as the Cavaliers knocked off previously undefeated Patuxent, 21-7.
WEEK 5
KEITH SIMMS, LINEBACKER/TIGHT END, LANDON
An All-Conference player last season, Landon senior tight end and linebacker Keith Simms has taken his play to another level this fall. His impact was felt in every phase of the game again this past weekend as Simms was named the DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank High School Player of the Week, powered by Under Armour.
Simms blocked two punts, recovering one for a touchdown. He blocked a point-after kick. On defense, he forced two fumbles, including one that was returned for a touchdown, made three tackles for loss and broke up two passes, one of which was intercepted by a teammate to lead Landon to a 30-14 victory over neighboring Bethesda-Chevy Chase.
“He’s a big-time player,” Bears Coach Paul Padalino said. “He’s really become a leader. He has always been talented, but he is really bringing it this year.”
Simms, who is 6 feet 3 and 225 pounds, holds several scholarship offers but has yet to make his college choice. A three-year starter, he also starts for the Landon basketball team.
Others who received Player of the Week consideration were:
DC
- Bell RB Charles Brooks rushed 28 times for 353 yards in a 50-8 win over Cardozo. It was his fourth game this season with more than 180 yards.
- H.D. Woodson junior WR-DB Charles Peeler caught two touchdown passes and returned an interception 43 yards for another touchdown in a 35-0 win over Dunbar.
WCAC
- DeMatha DB Tino Ellis intercepted two passes and blocked a punt in a 40-0 win over St. John’s.
PRIVATE
- Georgetown Prep RB Owen Wright rushed 38 times for 185 yards and one touchdowns in a 21-7 win over Riverdale Baptist.
FAIRFAX
- Madison RB Wiley Counts rushed 17 times for 213 yards and three touchdowns in a 47-21 win over Yorktown.
PRINCE WILLIAM
- Battlefield WR Zac Kerxton scored on a 43-yard run on a fake punt and caught a 30-yard touchdown pass in a 17-7 win over Potomac (Va.).
ANNE ARUNDEL
- Miles Gaither returned a fumble 41 yards for a touchdown and caught a 35-yard touchdown pass to lead Old Mill to a 30-6 win over Chesapeake.
FREDERICK
- Linganore NG Ben Iwanski made 17 tackles (7 for loss) and forced three fumbles in a 7-6 overtime win over Walkersville.
HOWARD
- Howard senior RB Malik Anderson rushed for 102 of his 181 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and scored the game-winning touchdown in a 29-22 win over Oakland Mills in a meeting of previously undefeated teams.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
- Bowie WR Marcus Haynes had seven catches for 107 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs improved to 5-0 with a 44-6 win over Laurel.
WEEK 4
DeANDRE CLAYTON, QUARTERBACK, SOUTH COUNTY
It would be difficult to fathom a player getting off to a hotter start than South County quarterback DeAndre Clayton did this past Friday night. Clayton threw six touchdown passes in the first halfas the Stallions built a big lead and held on for their lives in a 42-40 victory over previously undefeated West Springfield.
Clayton completed 22 of 29 passes for 301 yards and also rushed for 126 yards and is the DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank High School Player of the Week, powered by Under Armour.
It was yet another terrific game for Clayton, who has led South County to a 4-0 start. He threw three touchdown passes to his favorite target, sophomore wide receiver Dillon Spalding, who has 27 catches for 668 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
Others who received Player of the Week consideration were:
DC
- Eastern QB Jerome Johnson completed 20 of 28 passes for 256 yards and four touchdowns in a 25-0 win over McKinley.
- Wilson WR Sean Savoy caught six passes for 136 yards and three touchdowns in a 53-20 win over Anacostia.
WCAC
St. John’s DE Terrell Hall blocked a kick, recovered two fumbles and had one sack in a 29-23 triple-overtime victory over Good Counsel. He recovered a fumble and had a fourth-down sack to stop Good Counsel’s last two possessions in overtime.
FAIRFAX
- Hayfield RB Myles Ross rushed 15 times for 270 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-16 win over Washington-Lee.
LOUDOUN
- Tuscarora QB Daniel Smith threw three touchdown passes and rushed for three more touchdowns in a 49-42 victory over Centreville.
PRINCE WILLIAM
- Hylton RB Ricky Slade rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries in a 41-7 win over Woodbridge. Slade had touchdown runs of 62 and 80 yards in the second half as Hylton rallied from a 7-6 halftime deficit.
ANNE ARUNDEL
- Old Mill RB Pete Boone rushed 28 times for 208 yards and two touchdowns in a 29-13 win over previously undefeated Arundel.
- Broadneck’s Riley McNulty returned an interception for a touchdown, kicked a 33-yard field goal and made all four of his extra-point attempts in a 31-13 win over North County.
FREDERICK
- Linganore RB Dante Butler carried 25 times for 190 yards and four touchdowns as Linganore rallied to beat South Hagerstown 38-20.
HOWARD
- Howard QB Casey Crawford rushed for 189 yards and completed 8 of 15 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown in a 35-0 win over Mount Hebron.
MONTGOMERY
- Blair QB Desmond Colby completed 27 of 44 passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-0 win over Churchill.
- Gaithersburg RB Marqel Simpkins rushed 18 times for 233 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-35 win over Walter Johnson.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
- Douglass QB Devin Butler rushed for 206 yards and four touchdowns and kicked a 33-yard field goal in a 37-8 win over Gwynn Park.
WEEK 3
DWAYNE HASKINS Jr., QUARTERBACK, BULLIS
Dwayne Haskins Jr. entered the season among the highest-profile players in the Washington area. Through two games, the Bullis senior standout quarterback and Maryland recruit has delivered and is this week’s DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank High School Player of the Week, powered by Under Armour.
Haskins enjoyed one of the finest games in state history this past Friday, completing 29 of 44 passes for 442 yards and seven touchdowns, while also rushing 12 times for 74 yards and one touchdown. Bullis lost to Woodberry Forest, 66-65, but Haskins did all he could.
In two games this season, Haskins has passed for 793 yards and nine touchdowns. He has accepted an invitation to play in the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 2 in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Others who received Player of the Week consideration were:
D.C.
- Wilson QB Steven Williams completed 13 of 24 for 307 yards and six touchdowns in the first half of a 38-0 win over Eastern.
ANNE ARUNDEL
- Broadneck RB Chris Watts rushed four times for 84 yards and two touchdowns and caught five passes for 117 yards and one touchdown in a 41-16 win over Annapolis.
FREDERICK
- Oakdale WR Ben Simonica returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown and caught a 53-yard touchdown pass in a 48-12 win over Cape Henlopen.
HOWARD
- Howard RB Malik Anderson rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-17 win over River Hill.
MONTGOMERY
- Richard Montgomery QB Spencer Silverstein completed 17 of 22 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns in a 54-26 win over Rockville.
- Springbrook QB Lawrence Cadet completed 11 of 13 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns in a 58-16 win over Northwood.
- Walter Johnson QB Peyton Ahnell completed 8 of 12 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns and kicked a game-winning 34-yard field in a 22-19 win over Kennedy.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
- Bowie QB Jason Epps passed for 215 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for another score and threw the game-winning two-point conversion pass as Bowie beat Suitland for the first time in 14 years, 22-21.
- DuVal RB Antoine Brooks carried six times for 205 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 57-yard touchdown pass in a 68-14 win over Parkdale.
SMAC
- Patuxent QB Jaelen Gross completed 7 of 16 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns in a 43-0 win over Great Mills.
LOUDOUN
- Broad Run RB Meech Hembry rushed 11 times for 253 yards and five touchdowns and made his fourth interception of the season in a 56-21 win at Centreville.
- Champe QB Zach Burdick completed 11 of 16 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for two more touchdowns in a 40-13 win over Loudoun Valley.
PRINCE WILLIAM
- Osbourn QB Anthony Pearson completed 13 of 21 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for a fifth score in a 60-30 win over Gar-Field.
- Woodbridge QB Brandon Pitt completed 10 of 17 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for two more scores in a 49-7 win over Patriot.
- Forest Park QB Guy Myers completed 19 of 32 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns in a 50-20 win over Stonewall Jackson.
PRIVATE
- Spalding QB Evan Fochtman rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns and completed 8 of 13 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns in a 47-7 win over Riverdale Baptist.
WEEK 2
DAVID COOPER, KICKER, BISHOP IRETON
David Cooper has lived all over the world. Born in North Carolina, he has lived in Germany, Texas, Maryland, Kansas, South Korea, Florida, Maryland (again) and South Korea (again). With his father’s latest transfer in the army, though, Cooper has found a home on football field in Alexandria.
This past Saturday, Cooper made field goals of 46, 49 and 51 yards, the longest one coming in the final minute and lifting Bishop Ireton to a 23-21 victory over O’Connell. For his performance, Cooper was selected the DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank High School Player of the Week, powered by Under Armour.
Cooper has made 5 of 6 field goal attempts this season, helping the Cardinals to a 2-0 start entering this Friday’s game against St. Albans.
Others who received Player of the Week consideration were:
DC
- Eastern QB Jalen Young completed 16 of 27 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns in a 54-0 win over Richard Wright PCS.
PRIVATE
- Georgetown Prep RB Owen Wright rushed 17 times for 157 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-0 win over Fork Union.
- Maret RB Garrison Burnette rushed 20 times for 291 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-0 win over Theodore Roosevelt.
WCAC
- Carroll RB Keon Singleton rushed for 222 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-16 victory over Ballou.
- Good Counsel RB Mohamed Ibrahim rushed 22 times for 201 yards in a 42-28 win over DePaul.
FAIRFAX
- South County WR Dillon Spalding caught nine passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-19 victory over Westfield.
- Robinson RB Sean Foncha rushed 13 times for 247 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-0 win over W.T. Woodson.
LOUDOUN
- Heritage QB Alex Carlin completed 13 of 19 passes for 256 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 78 yards and another touchdown in a 41-35 win over Loudoun Valley.
- Potomac Falls QB Brady Williams passed for 248 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another score in a 62-14 win over Falls Church.
PRINCE WILLIAM
- Hylton RB Ricky Slade rushed for 214 yards and four second-half touchdowns in a 32-10 win over Patriot.
MONTGOMERY
- Seneca Valley RB Darius Golston rushed for 108 yards and caught a 33-yard touchdown pass in a 14-7 win over Northwest.
- Blair QB Desmond Colby completed 16 of 23 passes for 366 yards and five touchdowns in a 57-21 win over B-CC.
- Paint Branch QB Armani Ceballos rushed eight times for 67 yards and completed 19 of 33 passes for 313 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 54-20 win over Blake.
- Churchill RB Andrew Zuckerman rushed 36 times for 276 yards and three second-half touchdowns in a 30-24 win over Einstein.
FREDERICK
- Thomas Johnson RB Nick Bishop rushed for three touchdowns and added an 85-yard touchdown catch in a 24-20 win over Forestville.
- Walkersville’s Jacob Wetzel rushed four times for 46 yards and caught two passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-6 win over Liberty.
HOWARD
- Howard QB Casey Crawford completed 8 of 11 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-0 win over Wilde Lake.
SMAC
- Patuxent QB Jaelen Gross completed 20 of 33 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-14 win over Northern.
WEEK 1
JAKE FUNK, RUNNING BACK-LINEBACKER, DAMASCUS
Jake Funk admitted he was nervous before this past Friday’s season opener against a top rival. However, it took only a few plays for the Damascus standout running back and linebacker to show he was in top form once again. For his performance, Funk was selected the DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank High School Player of the Week, powered by Under Armour.
Funk rushed for a career-high 276 yards and four touchdowns and made 11 tackles on defense, with two for loss and one sack, leading the Swarmin’ Hornets to a 39-17 victory over Quince Orchard in a meeting of northern Montgomery County rivals with lofty expectations. Both teams ranked in The Washington Post’s top 10.
Funk, who is being recruited by some college coaches to play offense and others to play defense, scored of runs of 1, 6, 39 and 37 yards as Damascus started the season with a resounding victory. The Hornets were undefeated until falling in last season’s Maryland 3A championship game, while Quince Orchard has high hopes after reaching the Maryland 4A West Region final last year.
Other players who received Player of the Week consideration were:
FAIRFAX
- West Springfield QB Peter Muskett completed 8 of 15 passes for 266 yards and 4 touchdowns and rushed for 143 yards on 13 carries, including the game-winning 55-yard touchdown run with one minute left in a 35-28 win over Robinson.
- South County WR Dillon Spalding caught nine passes for 269 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 47-28 win over Briar Woods.
- Oakton QB Sal Tutone did not start because of a knee injury but came off the bench to complete 16 of 21 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-25 win over Madison.
- West Potomac QB Mark Ellis completed 22 of 29 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-28 win over Langley.
LOUDOUN
- Stone Bridge QB Joe Thompson completed 7 of 15 passes for 201 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 42-6 win over McLean.
PRINCE WILLIAM
- After missing the season opener with a back injury, Hylton QB Donovan Williams (a Connecticut recruit) rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns and completed 9 of 18 passes for 87 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-13 win over Osbourn.
HOWARD
- Wilde Lake RB Ques Bradley rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-13 victory over River Hill.
MONTGOMERY
- Blair WR-DB Clifford Carter returned the season’s opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdowns and later in the first quarter returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown in a 48-3 win over Northwood.
- Springbrook RB Shawn Cazeau rushed 27 times for 228 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-22 win over Blake.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
- Suitland QB Tevin Singleton, who switched positions to become the Rams’ starter after a teammate tore his ACL in the final preseason scrimmage, completed 8 of 10 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns (all to Manasseh Bailey) and rushed for 47 yards in a 26-13 win over Gwynn Park.
SMAC
- Patuxent QB Jaelen Gross completed 11 of 16 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns in a 39-6 win over Huntingtown.
WCAC
- Carroll RB Christian Melgar returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown, caught a 27-yard touchdown pass and had a 60-yard touchdown run in a 44-12 win over Surrattsville.
- St. John’s QB Talik Mann completed 11 of 16 passes for 258 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 51-37 win over Spalding.
WEEK 0
BEAU ENGLISH, QUARTERBACK, DEMATHA
The first DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank N.A. High School Football Player of the Week, powered by Under Armour, is DeMatha quarterback Beau English, who guided the Stags to a 38-14 rout of Miami Central in a season-opening matchup of nationally-ranked teams broadcast on ESPN.
English, a junior in his second season as a starter, helped the Stags prevail despite a grisly injury to one of his top targets. Wide receiver Darryl Turner Jr., a Maryland recruit, fractured his fibula late in the first quarter and will miss the rest of the season. With Turner out of the lineup, English stayed focused on what he does best: Making good decisions in a timely manner. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns and rushed five times for 48 yards and two touchdowns.
“The number one thing that stands out about Beau is his ability to lead,” DeMatha Coach Elijah Brooks said. “He has all the respect and commands the offense out there on the field. He’s a 4.0 student, so he’s extremely bright. He knows what his strengths are and he maximizes it every time he gets on the field.”
DeMatha will look to make it back-to-back victories over high-profile Florida teams on Saturday night, when it plays at Florida 5A defending champion American Heritage of Plantation, Fla. DeMatha moved up to No. 3 in USA Today’s national rankings, while American Heritage is No. 15. Miami Central was No. 2 before losing to DeMatha last week.
Other players who were considered this week:
D.C.
- RB Jamal Speaks, Ballou: The freshman rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-18 victory over Eastern.
- QB Khalil Wright, H.D. Woodson: Threw three touchdown passes, including the game-winning 59-yarder in the fourth quarter as the Warriors rallied for a 26-24 victory over West Virginia’s AAA third-ranked Martinsburg.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
- RB Patrick Hines, St. Mary’s-Annapolis: Rushed 21 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-12 victory over Annapolis Area Christian.
- QB Ramar Williams, McNamara: Completed 20 of 38 passes for 278 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-22 victory over Riverdale Baptist.
LOUDOUN
- QB Daniel Smith, Tuscarora: Scored on a quarterback sneak with less than three minutes left for a 22-16 victory over Briar Woods. It was his second rushing touchdown and he also passed for a third score.
- RB Eric Vivian, Rock Ridge: Rushed for 275 yards and four touchdowns and added the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime as the Phoenix beat Riverside, 29-28, in the first varsity game for Loudoun County’s two newest schools.
PRINCE WILLIAM
- WR-DB Eric Kuman, Forest Park: The Virginia Tech recruit intercepted a pass and caught a 45-yard touchdown pass in a 38-25 victory over Osbourn Park.
