Week 13: Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland

photo courtesy maryland athletics

University of Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week for the second time this season after another strong performance cemented his place in the Big Ten Conference record books.

Tagovailoa completed 24 of 31 passes for a season-high 361 yards and three touchdowns to become the Big Ten’s all-time passing leader and also rushed for a score as the visiting Terrapins closed the regular season with a 42-24 win over Rutgers this past Saturday.

Tagovailoa is Maryland’s career record holder in passing yards (11,256), passing touchdowns (76), total touchdowns (87), completions (955), completion percentage (66.8), passing efficiency (145.9) and total offense (11,473).

"Have to also congratulate Taulia Tagovailoa for breaking the record today and leaving Maryland as the all-time leading passer in the history of the Big Ten, which is a huge feat when you think about the type of quarterbacks who play in this league,” Maryland Coach Michael Locksley said.” He'd be the first to tell you that he didn't do it alone; he's had a bunch of teammates along the way that have contributed. But for a guy who came here under the shadow of a huge last name to make his own mark not only at Maryland, but also in the Big Ten, I think that speaks volumes about the type of character he has. We're really proud about what he's done to help elevate this program."

Maryland (7-5), which has won at least seven games in three consecutive seasons for the first time in 20 years, will learn its postseason bowl destination this Sunday.

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

• Ohio RB Sieh Bangura (DeMatha Catholic) rushed 23 times for 121 yards and one touchdown as the Bobcats beat Akron, 25-14.

• Lafayette RB Jamar Curtis (St. John’s) rushed 29 times for 127 yards and three touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass as the Leopards built a three-touchdown lead before losing to Delaware, 36-34, in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

• Old Dominion LB Wayne Matthews III (C.H. Flowers) made a career-high 16 tackles with two tackles for loss as the Monarchs rallied for a 25-24 victory over Georgia State to become bowl eligible.

• Slippery Rock DB Josh Stokes (Huntingtown) made 10 tackles and broke up two passes as Slippery Rock beat Tiffin, 45-35, in an NCAA Division II second-round game.

Week 12: Jamar Curtis, Lafayette

photo courtest lafayette athletics

Lafayette College running back Jamar Curtis, who starred at St. John’s College High School in Northwest Washington, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week after another strong performance led the Leopards to a conference title and the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Curtis, who was the Touchdown Club’s Washington, D.C. High School Player of the Year after the 2021 season, rushed 27 times for 166 yards and scored a career-high three touchdowns as Lafayette beat rival Lehigh, 49-21, this past Saturday to claim a share of the Patriot League title.

It was Curtis’s seventh 100-yard game this season, including two 200-yard games. He was injured in Lafayette’s 35-25 win at Georgetown on Oct. 28 and sat out the Leopards’ 37-34 overtime loss against Colgate, their only loss against FCS opposition this season. Curtis, though, returned the following week and was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 204 yards against Fordham to become Lafayette’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2014.

This week, Lafayette trailed Lehigh at halftime, 21-14. Curtis helped take over the second half, scoring all of his touchdown after intermission. He has rushed for 1,332 yards this season, fourth in FCS.

“Get a guy like him, he closes out games for you,” Lafayette Coach John Troxell said after the win over Fordham. “What can you say about him? He’s a great player.”

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

• Ball State RB Marquez Cooper (Quince Orchard) rushed 25 times for 140 yards and one touchdown as the Cardinals beat Kent State, 34-3.

• Toledo LB Deshawn Holt (Westlake) made three tackles with two sacks as the Rockets won their 10th consecutive game, 32=31 over Bowling Green.

• Howard RB Jarett Hunter rushed 20 times for 108 yards and one touchdown as the Bison beat Morgan State, 14-7, to earn a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title.

• Old Dominion LB Wayne Matthews III (C.H. Flowers) made seven tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack as the Monarchs beat Georgia Southern, 20-17.

• Albany QB Reese Poffenbarger (Middletown) completed 19 of 29 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns as the Great Danes beat Monmouth, 41-0.

• Navy LB Colin Ramos recorded double figure tackles for the fourth consecutive game as he made 10 tackles with 1 ½ tackles for loss as the Midshipmen beat East Carolina, 10-0, for their third shutout this season.

• Penn State DB Kevin Winston Jr. intercepted a pass and make six tackles as the Nittany Lions beat Rutgers, 27-6.

Week 11: Tarheeb Still, Maryland

photo courtesy maryland athletics

University of Maryland defensive back Tarheeb Still has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after helping the Terrapins beat Nebraska, 13-10, this past Saturday to become bowl eligible for the third consecutive season.

Still, a senior who has made 37 career starts, made a team-high seven tackles and intercepted a pair of passes, including one in the end zone with the game tied late in the fourth quarter that ended a Nebraska drive deep into Maryland territory. The Terrapins subsequently drove for the game-winning field goal as time expired.

It was the second time this season that Still intercepted two passes in a game and part of a defensive effort that forced five turnovers and limited Nebraska to 10 points.

Still also was named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

“I can’t give enough credit to our defense,” Maryland Coach Michael Locksley said. “They created a bunch of turnovers. They kept playing with their back against the wall. When we needed to get the ball back, they got us the ball back.”

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

• Lafayette RB Jamar Curtis (St. John’s) rushed 31 times for 204 yards and one touchdown as the Leopards beat Fordham, 24-16.

• Frostburg State QB Myles Fulton (Old Mill) completed 16 of 26 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns and rushed five times for 42 yards and another score as the Bobcats beat Fairmont State, 50-20.

• Georgetown WR Jimmy Kibble (Loudoun County) caught eight passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-tying 25-yard score late in regulation, as the Hoyas beat Bucknell, 50-47 in overtime.

• Auburn LB Jalen McLeod (Friendship Collegiate) made nine tackles with four tackles for loss and three sacks as the Tigers beat Arkansas, 48-10.

• Yale RB Joshua Pitsenberger (Avalon) rushed 28 times for 131 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Princeton, 36-28 in double overtime.

• Navy LB Collin Ramos made 12 tackles with a sack and broke up a pass as the Midshipmen beat UAB, 31-6.

• Morehead State WR Ryan Upp (Tuscarora, Va.) caught five passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles beat Davidson, 47-17.

• Howard QB Quinton Williams (Wise) completed 23 of 33 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another score as the Bison beat North Carolina Central, 50-20.

Week 10: Olu Fashanu, Penn State

Penn State University offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, who starred at Gonzaga College High School in Northwest Washington, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after leading the Nittany Lions to a 51-15 victory over Maryland this past Saturday.

Fashanu, who is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, helped Penn State reach the 50-point mark for the third time this season. Fashanu, who is 6 feet 6 and 317 pounds, often led the way as the Nittany Lions averaged 5.3 yards per play and had only two offensive plays go for negative yardage.

“With how we played today and everyone executing their jobs, it was a complete game, complementary football,” Fashanu said. “We just have to build on it.”

Fashanu, who is from Waldorf, said that there were a few fleeting moments during pregame warmups when he started to get excited about playing a game close to home in front of friends and family. But as kickoff neared, Fashanu said he focused squarely on the task at hand.

It was another stellar performance for Fashanu, who was recently named a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy given to the nation’s top student-athlete and a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top offensive lineman.

“For me and a lot of the guys, this was somewhat of a homecoming game,” he said. “So for us to go out and perform the way we did in this environment, on the road, a Big Ten matchup, what more could you want?”

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

• Salisbury LB Casey Counts (Madison) made seven tackles with two tackles for loss, forced a fumble and blocked a punt that led to a short touchdown drive as the Sea Gulls beat McDaniel, 59-20.

• Akron WR Daniel George (Oxon Hill) caught nine passes for 104 yards and one touchdown as the Zips beat Kent State, 31-27.

• James Madison DE Jamree Kromah (C.H. Flowers) made four tackles with 3 ½ tackles for loss and one sack as the Dukes beat Georgia Southern, 41-13.

• Catholic QB Madden Lowe completed 40 of 47 passes for 352 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers as the Cardinals beat Wilkes, 40-35.

• Towson RB Devin Matthews (Justice) rushed 17 times for 98 yards and three touchdowns as the Tigers beat North Carolina A&T, 42-32.

• UCF DE Tre’Mon Morris-Brash (St. John’s) made five tackles with 2 ½ sacks as the Golden Knights beat Cincinnati, 28-26, for their first Big 12 Conference win.

• Bowie State QB Jordan Morse (Northwest) completed 19 of 28 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 13 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Lincoln, 46-39.

• Gallaudet LB Zefan Nathanson made 10 tackles with two tackles for loss and blocked a punt as the Bison beat Dean, 38-16.

Week 9: Eugene Asante, Auburn

photo courtesy auburn athletics

Auburn University linebacker Eugene Asante, who starred at Westfield High School in Chantilly, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after leading the Tigers to a key Southeastern Conference victory this past Saturday.

Asante made a team-high nine tackles with eight solo tackles and one tackle for loss and had two quarterback hurries as Auburn snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Mississippi State, 27-13, for its first SEC victory this season.

"Hustling to the ball anytime I can," Asante told reporters after the game. "Grateful for the opportunity to be on the field. I never take that for granted."

Asante played three seasons at North Carolina before transferring prior to the 2022 season. He played in only four games last season but has burst out this season. He leads the Tigers in tackles (62) and quarterback hurries (5) and is second on the team with 6 ½ tackles for loss and 3 ½ sacks. Earlier this season, he was named the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after posting 12 tackles with a sack in a 14-10 win over Cal.

Playing football runs in Asante’s family. His older brother Larry played at Nebraska and played five seasons in the NFL.

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

• Virginia State QB Jordan Davis (Hylton) completed 13 of 20 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another score as the Trojans beat Lincoln, 75-25.

• Bucknell WR Josh Gary (St. John’s) caught nine passes for 139 yards and one touchdown as the Bison beat Colgate, 49-34.

• James Madison DL Jalen Green (Good Counsel) made nine tackles with three tackles for loss and 2 ½ sacks as the Dukes beat Old Dominion, 30-27.

• Shenandoah QB Steven Hugney (Robinson) 26 of 39 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns as the Hornets beat Averett, 49-35.

• Georgetown WR Jimmy Kibble (Loudoun County) caught six passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns as the Hoyas lost to Lafayette, 35-25.

• Villanova WR Rayjuon Pringle (Hayfield) caught five passes for 196 yards and one touchdown as the Wildcats beat Stony Brook, 48-13.

• Southern Cal QB Caleb Williams (Gonzaga) completed 23 of 40 passes for 369 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two more scores as the Trojans beat Cal, 50-49.

• Bowie State DB Devin Williams (Westlake) made four tackles, intercepted a pass and broke up four more passes as the Bulldogs beat Elizabeth City State, 19-7.

Week 8: Jalen Green, James Madison

photo courtesy jmu athletics

James Madison University defensive end Jalen Green, who starred at Good Counsel High School in Olney, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after yet another sensational performance this past Thursday night.

Green, who in his first four years of college played three seasons as a reserve and missed another because of injury, tallied five sacks as the Dukes did not allow an offensive score and improved to 7-0 with a 20-9 win at Marshall.

“Jalen Green was unbelievable. The whole defense was, too,” James Madison Coach Curt Cignetti said during a postgame interview. “They continue to amaze and impress.”

Leading that list is Green, who entered this season with one career start and five career sacks. But this fall has been different – Green leads the nation with 13 sacks and is closing in on the school single-season record of 16 ½.

“I just feel really comfortable,” Green said during a postgame interview. “I’m really confident and I’m feeling really good. I think it’s simple as that. Working hard week in and week out, just keeping it going.”

Part of the success, Green said, comes from his ability to continue playing hard, no matter what takes place on the field.

“It’s his quickness off the ball and his tenacity,” Cignetti said. “He is putting together a great year. I’m so proud of him, I can’t say enough. Those guys just feed off each other and he’s hard to block.

Green said there was an expectation that he could have a big night at Marshall.

“Doing our research, we knew they had given up 21 sacks on the season so we knew there would be opportunities out there for us,” he said. “We just had to contain the quarterback. That was a huge point of emphasis for us – to contain him, keep him in the pocket and get home.”

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

• Ball State RB Marquez Cooper (Quince Orchard) rushed 26 times for 162 yards and one touchdown as the Cardinals beat Central Michigan, 24-17.

• Lafayette RB Jamar Curtis (St. John’s) rushed 30 times for 229 yards and two touchdowns as the Leopards beat Holy Cross, 38-35, to end the Crusaders’ 18-game Patriot League winning streak.

• Georgetown WR Nicholas Dunneman caught 15 passes for 205 yards and one touchdown in the Hoyas’ 28-18 loss to Colgate.

• Christopher Newport WR Colin Hart (Stone Bridge) caught seven passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns as the Captains beat Kean, 34-10.

• Gallaudet RB Dre’Vaughn Mackall (Calvert) rushed 26 times for 184 yards and three touchdowns as the Bison beat Alfred State, 38-24.

• Albany QB Reese Poffenbarger (Middletown) completed 15 of 27 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns as the Great Danes beat Rhode Island, 35-10.

• Stevenson DB Justin Rutkowski (Briar Woods) intercepted two passes, returning one for a 65-yard touchdown, as the Mustangs beat Misericordia, 33-21.

• Bowie State DB Mychale Salahuddin (H.D. Woodson) made seven tackles with two tackles for loss, broke up a pass and had two quarterback hurries as the Bulldogs beat Bluefield State, 41-10.

Week 7: Mason Cunningham, Hampden-Sydney

steve davies photo

Hampden-Sydney College wide receiver Mason Cunningham, who starred at Yorktown High School in Arlington, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week.

Cunningham, a sophomore, caught 10 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Tigers to a 31-28 win at Averett this past Saturday.

“He’s just a great athlete,” Hampden-Sydney Coach Marty Favret said, noting that Cunningham played basketball and soccer at Yorktown and that his mother played soccer at William & Mary, where his aunt is in her sixth year as the women’s soccer coach. “That probably explains his footwork.”

In six games this season, Cunningham has 45 catches for 565 yards and five touchdowns, picking up where he left off last season after earning Old Dominion Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year honors and being named second-team All-ODAC.

Favret, who is very familiar with the Washington area after several seasons as an assistant at Gonzaga High and Catholic University, said that Cunningham first showed glimpses of what was to come prior to his freshman year. During training camp, he went up and took a long pass away from safety Will Pickren, the Tigers’ defensive star who would go on to earn Division III All-American honors last season.

“Everyone was like, ‘Wow, where did that come from!’ “ Favret said. “He made a play against the alpha male on our defense and you could tell this kid was pretty special.

“He’s really hard to cover because he runs great routes and he’s much faster than you think. I think he’s feared now around our league. The plays he made the other night are indicative of how explosive he can be.”

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

• Florida Atlantic LB Jackson Ambush (Linganore) made nine tackles with 1 ½ tackles for loss as the Owls beat USF, 56-14.

• Christopher Newport DL Jordan Cokley (Alexandria City) made five tackles with 3 ½ tackles for loss and one sack and forced a fumble as the Captains beat Rowan, 21-18.

• Bowling Green DB Davon Ferguson (Pallotti) intercepted two passes and made five tackles with one tackle for loss as the Falcons beat Buffalo, 28-14.

• Gallaudet LB Jacob Hartman made 11 tackles with one tackle for loss as the Bison rallied from a 20-point deficit in the final 11 minutes to beat Vermont State University Castleton, 24-23.

• Georgetown QB Tyler Knoop completed 26 of 32 passes for a career-high 332 yards and one touchdown as the Hoyas beat Lehigh, 17-7.

• Navy P Riley Riethman averaged 46.3 yards over 11 punts, including a 59-yarder, and had four punts downed inside the 20-yard line, as the Midshipmen beat Charlotte, 14-0.

• James Madison DB Jacob Thomas (Stone Bridge) made eight tackles and broke up two passes as the Dukes beat Georgia Southern, 41-13.

• Pitt QB Christian Veilleux (Bullis), making his first collegiate start, completed 12 of 26 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers beat previously undefeated No. 14 Louisville, 38-21.

Week 6: Luke Pirris, Navy

photo courtesy naval academy athletic association

United States Naval Academy sophomore Luke Pirris has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week after making the most out of his first collegiate start.

Pirris, a sophomore from Ponte Verda Beach, Fla., stepped into the lineup after a teammate’s injury and made a career-high nine tackles with one sack and forced one fumble and recovered another fumble as the Midshipmen beat North Texas, 27-24.

Pirris, who plays Navy’s raider position which is a combination of defensive end and outside linebacker, made perhaps the game’s biggest play. Midway through the fourth quarter, North Texas had first down on its own 39-yard line trailing by just three points. Pirris sacked quarterback Chandler Rogers for an 18-yard loss and forced a fumble that teammate Colin Ramos recovered. On the following play, Alex Tecza’s 21-yard touchdown run gave Navy a 27-17 lead.

“That was a critical situation in the game and the defense found a way to get the ball back to our offense,” Navy Coach Brian Newberry said. “That was probably the critical play of the game right there.”

It was a big day for the Navy defense, which finished with a team-record seven sacks, forced two fumbles and had a goal-line stand.

Pirris was in the middle of the action on several occasions. He switched positions this past offseason, from striker (a safety/linebacker hybrid) to raider and said he continues try to bulk up and get stronger to take on bigger opponents.

Coming from a family of athletes – his father wrestled at Notre Dame and two older brother played football at Mercer – Pirris also was a standout basketball player. And it was his high school basketball coach – former Navy basketball player Kevin Whirity – who helped steer him to Annapolis.

“He is probably the reason I am here,” Pirris said. “He’s someone I always looked up to.”

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

• Florida Atlantic LB Jackson Ambush (Linganore) made eight tackles with one sack as the Owls beat Tulsa, 20-17.

• Salisbury DB Charles Barley (St. Mary’s Ryken) made four tackles, intercepted a pass and forced a fumble as the Sea Gulls beat William Paterson, 36-19.

• Hampden-Sydney WR Mason Cunningham (Yorktown) caught eight passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers beat Ferrum, 48-10.

• Oklahoma WR Jalil Farooq (Wise) caught five passes for 130 yards as the Sooners rallied to beat Texas, 34-30.

• Virginia QB Tony Muskett (West Springfield) completed 17 of 26 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score as the Cavaliers got their first win of the season, 27-13 over William & Mary.

• Albany QB Reese Poffenbarger (Middletown) completed 18 of 25 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score as the Great Danes beat Towson, 24-17.

• Gallaudet QB Brandon Washington rushed 13 times for 124 yards and three touchdowns as the Bison beat Hilbert, 34-20, for the first win this season.

• USC QB Caleb Williams (Gonzaga) completed 14 of 25 passes for 219 yards, rushed for three touchdowns and ran in the game-winning two-point conversion in the third overtime as the Trojans edged Arizona, 43-31.

Week 5: Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland

photo courtesy maryland athletics

University of Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after yet another sensational performance this past Saturday for the undefeated Terrapins.

Tagovailoa completed 24 of 34 passes for 352 yards and a career-high five touchdowns and rushed for another score as Maryland routed Indiana, 44-17.

“He’s a talented player and he played really well today, played mistake-free football for the most part,” Maryland Coach Michael Locksley said. “How he goes, we go. When he is in rhythm – and today we got him in rhythm starting early with the big play down the sideline to Jeshaun [Jones], he’s that type of guy.

Tagovailoa threw three touchdown passes to Tai Felton as he added to several school records he already holds: passing yardage (9,343), passing touchdowns (64), total touchdowns (75), completions (776), completion percentage (67.0), 300-yard passing games (14), passing efficiency (146.8) and total offense (9,599).

For the season, Tagovailoa has completed 111 of 169 passes for 1,464 yards and 13 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He also has rushed for three touchdowns.

The 5-0 Terrapins face their biggest test yet this season on Saturday, when they travel to Ohio State.

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

• Maryland WR Tai Felton (Stone Bridge) caught seven passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns as the Terrapins beat Indiana, 44-17.

• James Madison DL Jalen Green (Good Counsel) made four tackles with 3 ½ tackles for loss and 2 ½ sacks and returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown as the Dukes improved to 5-0 by beating South Alabama, 31-23.

• Delaware State DB Romell Harris-Freeman (Freedom-Woodbridge) had his first two interceptions of the season and returned one for a touchdown as the Hornets beat Virginia Lynchburg, 48-10.

• Rhode Island QB Kasim Hill (St. John’s) completed 19 of 33 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for a score as the Rams beat Bryant, 49-26.

• Georgetown QB Tyler Knoop completed 24 of 35 passes for 216 and three touchdowns, including the decisive score in the final minute as the Hoyas beat Fordham, 28-24.

• Howard RB Ian Wheeler rushed four times for 81 yards and one touchdown, caught two passes for 45 yards and returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown as the Bison beat Robert Morris, 35-10.

• Southern Cal QB Caleb Williams (Gonzaga) completed 30 of 40 passes for 403 yards and six touchdowns as the Trojans beat Colorado, 48-41.

Week 4: Trey Smack III, Florida

photo by gabriella whisler

University of Florida kicker Trey Smack III, who played at Severna Park High School outside Annapolis, was named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after making all five of his field goal attempts and booting all seven of his kickoffs for touchbacks as the Gators beat Charlotte, 22-7, this past Saturday.

Smack, a sophomore who was making his first start as Florida’s field goal kicker, was successful on field goal attempts of 27, 23, 54, 36 and 23 yards, making him 6 of 6 this season. He took over first-string duties after a teammate missed a field goal attempt and had a point-after kick blocked the previous week.

“Hats off to Trey Smack for stepping up and making all five of those,” Florida Coach Billy Napier said.

Smack, who also played lacrosse during his first two seasons at Severna Park, burst onto the kicking scene as a sophomore. He tried out for the Falcons’ junior varsity team but soon found himself as the varsity kicker.

At Florida, as a freshman last season, Smack saw action in five games as the Gators’ kickoff specialist. He began the season in that role but has added placekicks to his duties as well.

“Obviously I was nervous [entering the game], but it was a good nervous,” Smack said. “I was excited too. I was more excited than I was doubtful nervous. It was good.”

Smack also has been a weapon for field position, with 22 touchbacks in 24 kickoffs this season. After Saturday’s victory, he acknowledged that his right leg was pretty tired.

“My leg is really sore right now,” he said. “That last kickoff, I was pretty lucky that it got into the end zone.”

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

• Maryland S Beau Brade (River Hill) made a team-high 10 tackles and intercepted a pass as the Terrapins improved to 4-0 by beating Michigan State, 31-9.

• Lafayette RB Jamar Curtis (St. John’s) had his third 100-yard game this season as he rushed 28 times for 143 yards as the Leopards beat Monmouth, 28-20.

• James Madison DL Jalen Green (Good Counsel) made seven tackles with three tackles for loss and 1 ½ sacks as the Dukes beat Utah State, 45-38.

• Elon RB Jalen Hampton (Georgetown Prep) rushed 33 times for 169 yards and four touchdowns as the Phoenix beat Campbell, 28-24.

• Oregon DB Khyree Jackson (Wise) made four tackles and broke up three passes as the Ducks beat Colorado, 42-6.

• Southern Cal RB MarShawn Lloyd (DeMatha) rushed 14 times for 154 yards as the Trojans beat Arizona State, 42-28.

• Southern Cal QB Caleb Williams (Gonzaga) completed 20 of 31 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns as the Trojans beat Arizona State, 42-28.

Week 3: Jalen Coker, Holy Cross

mark seliger photo

College of the Holy Cross wide receiver Jalen Coker, who starred at Potomac Falls High School in Sterling, was named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after catching nine passes for 124 yards and three touchdowns as the Crusaders beat Yale, 49-24, this past Saturday.

Coker, a senior, has led Holy Cross in receiving each of the past two seasons, earning a number of accolades, including first-team All-Patriot League, as he teamed with quarterback Matthew Sluka to form one of the most productive tandem’s in the Football Championship Subdivision.

“This is my guy,” Coker said, while doing a postgame interview with Sluka on Saturday. “My job is to go get the ball. Wherever he puts it, my job is to catch it.”

Coker has delivered spectacular plays throughout his career at Holy Cross. Last year, he caught a 46-yard touchdown pass on the game’s final play as the Crusaders beat Buffalo, 37-31. In 2021, Coker caught a 35-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds left as the Crusaders beat Sacred Heart, 13-10, for their first-ever FCS playoff win.

“He is one of the most competitive athletes I’ve ever been around,” Potomac Falls Coach Paul Barnes said, noting that Coker still holds school record for most interceptions in a season (10) and career (12). He said that while most college coaches recruited Coker as a defensive back, he chose Holy Cross in part because the Crusaders wanted him to play wide receiver. “I can’t tell you how many times we threw a fade to him and he came down with it, it didn’t matter if they were double-teaming him.”

In addition to his on-field success, Coker also has been busy off the field throughout college. He is heavily involved with the Love Like Adam Foundation that was created in honor of a childhood friend and also with Working for Worcester.

“He’s not only a very good player, but one heck of a human being, too,” Barnes said.

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

• Christopher Newport QB Connor Barry (Madison), making his first collegiate start, completed 14 of 20 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a score as the Captains beat Gettysburg, 49-17.

• Ball State RB Marquez Cooper (Quince Orchard) rushed 22 times for 177 yards and one touchdown as the Cardinals beat Indiana State, 45-7.

• Lafayette RB Jamar Curtis (St. John’s) rushed 20 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns as the Leopards beat Columbia, 24-3.

• Merrimack RB Tyvon Edmonds Jr. (Bishop McNamara) rushed 30 times for 213 yards and one touchdown as the Warriors beat Virginia Lynchburg, 44-0.

• Oklahoma WR Jalil Farooq (Wise) caught six passes for 126 yards and one touchdown and averaged 35 yards on three kickoff returns, including a 62-yarder, as the Sooners beat Tulsa, 66-17.

• Catholic WR Preston Jeffrey caught 10 passes for 93 yards and three touchdowns as the Cardinals beat SUNY-Morrisville, 31-20.

• Wake Forest WR Taylor Morin (Westfield) caught six passes for 112 yards and two second-half touchdowns as the Demon Deacons rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to beat Old Dominion, 27-24.

• Maryland CB Tarheeb Still made five tackles and intercepted two passes, both in the fourth quarter, as the Terrapins pulled away for a 42-14 win over Virginia.

Week 2: Grant Wilson, Old Dominion

photo by bob bradlee

Old Dominion University quarterback Grant Wilson, who starred at Yorktown High in Arlington, is the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after completing 13 of 19 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns as the Monarchs beat Louisiana, 38-31, for their first win of the season.

“I loved how Grant stayed within the system,” Old Dominion Coach Ricky Rahne told reporters after the game. “He didn’t try to force things downfield. He didn’t throw the deep ball when he should have gone short. He really played within the system. And I thought our wideouts stepped up. It’s nice to be able to throw the ball to whoever is open.”

Wilson’s performance was a few years in the making. He attended Fordham University for his first three years of college, but saw little action on the football field, completing just 10 of 13 passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns as a backup.

But former Fordham offensive coordinator Kevin Decker was hired for the same position at Old Dominion following last season and a few days later, Wilson announced his intention to transfer and continue playing for Wilson.

Wilson, a two-time Liberty District Offensive Player of the Year at Yorktown, earned the starting job during the preseason. His first college start was on the road before a frenzied crowd at Virginia Tech – a far cry from playing with Fordham in the Patriot League – and he settled down this past week in his home debut. In addition to becoming the first Old Dominion quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in a game in five years, he also rushed for a fifth touchdown.

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

• Wake Forest DB Caelen Carson (North Point) made a career-high 10 tackles and broke up a pass as the Demon Deacons beat Vanderbilt, 36-20.

• Navy DT Clay Cromwell made a career-high eight tackles as the Midshipmen blanked Wagner, 24-0, for their first shutout in 15 seasons.

• Millersville LB Hez Faison (DeMatha) made 10 tackles with 4 ½ tackles for loss and one sack as the Marauders beat Gannon, 28-21.

• Maryland RB Roman Hemby rushed 20 times for 162 yards and one touchdown and caught four passes for 55 yards as the Terrapins beat Charlotte, 38-20.

• Michigan State QB Noah Kim (Westfield) completed 18 of 22 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns as the Spartans beat Richmond, 45-14.

• James Madison DL Jamree Kromah (C.H. Flowers) made a career-high six tackles with three tackles for loss and two sacks as the Dukes beat Virginia, 36-35.

• Slippery Rock DB Josh Stokes (Huntingtown) made six tackles and intercepted two passes in a 49-24 win over West Chester.

• Southern Cal QB Caleb Williams (Gonzaga) completed 19 of 21 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for a 21-yard touchdown as the Trojans beat Stanford, 56-10. Through three games, Williams has completed 55 of 70 passes for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns without an interception.

Week 1: Noah Kim, Michigan State

courtesy michigan state athletic communications

Michigan State University quarterback Noah Kim, who starred at Westfield High in Chantilly, is the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week after leading the Spartans to victory in his first collegiate start.

Kim, a redshirt junior who played sparingly in his first three seasons at Michigan State, started slowly but got things going after halftime, leading the Spartans on three consecutive touchdown drives. He completed 18 of 31 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions as the Spartans pulled away to beat Central Michigan, 31-7.

“Obviously he's in his fourth season with us, so he knows us, we know him very well, and we feel like he can go in there and play winning football for us and he's a really talented young man,” Michigan State Coach Mel Tucker said. “He throws a really nice ball, he's got a nice arm, he can run, he's smart and so I thought it was a good start for him.”

Kim had patiently waited for this opportunity. He was the DC Touchdown Club Virginia High School Player of the Year following his senior season in 2019, but did not play in a game in either of his first two seasons at Michigan State. Last season, he played a total of 38 snaps over four games.

But Kim, who was 41-2 as a starter at Westfield, won the starting nod in a preseason competition, and was ready this past Saturday.

“I haven't been hit in so long so getting hit again was a fun thing, you know,” Kim said. “Just football, you're playing football again, you know, that's what you want to do. It's a child's game so, at the end of the day, we're going out there to have fun and so being hit again was, it was a good thing to feel I guess. I don't know, but yeah it was cool.”

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

• Lafayette RB Jamar Curtis (St. John’s) rushed 19 times 171 yards and one touchdown as the Leopards beat Sacred Heart, 19-14.

• Wake Forest QB Mitch Griffis (Broad Run) completed 19 of 30 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns as the Demon Deacons beat Elon, 37-17.

• Rhode Island QB Kasim Hill (St. John’s) completed 24 of 40 passes for 408 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another score as the Rams lost to Georgia State, 42-35.

• Morgan State LB Erick Hunter (Westlake) made 11 tackles, had 1 ½ sacks and forced a fumble that set up the decisive score as the Bears beat Richmond, 17-10.

• Catholic WR Preston Jeffrey caught five passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals beat McDaniel, 34-7.

• Bowie State LB Uvel Paul Jr. (Meade) made four tackles for loss, including three sacks, as the Bulldogs beat Delaware State, 22-11.

• Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa completed 22 of 33 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns and rushed another score as the Terrapins beat Towson, 38-6.

• Southern Cal QB Caleb Williams (Gonzaga) completed 18 of 24 passes for 319 yards and five touchdowns as the Trojans beat Nevada, 66-14.

Week 0: Caleb Williams, Southern Cal

University of Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams, who last season became the first player ever from the Washington area to win the Heisman Trophy, is the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week after leading the sixth-ranked Trojans to a season-opening 56-28 win over San Jose State this past Saturday.

Williams, a junior who starred at Gonzaga College High School in Northwest Washington, completed 18 of 25 passes for 278 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. It was a strong start to the season for Williams, who last season passed for 42 touchdowns with just five interceptions.

Williams’ 76-yard touchdown pass to Tahj Washington in the second quarter was the longest of his college career. He threw touchdown passes to four different receivers, but afterwards clearly felt there is plenty of room for improvement.

“Whether it’s me pushing the guys, whether it’s tempo in practice, whether it’s getting more reps in the film room, whatever the case may be,” Williams said. “I think it all comes from leading in consistency, because I’d say we were a bit inconsistent tonight. Especially in the first half, a key sense of frustration was inconsistency, I would say, whether it was dropped balls, whether it was me fumbling snaps, whether it was the offensive line missing the defensive line read cues and things like that. Whatever it leads into, I’d say just consistency is the most important part.”

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

• Albany QB Reese Poffenbarger (Middletown) completed 23 of 40 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns and rushed eight times for 47 yards as the Great Danes beat Fordham, 34-13.