Nov. 19: Noah Zhang, Churchill

photo by elijah goodman

As the Churchill High football team hit the field for practice Monday afternoon, Coach Joe Rydzewski found himself facing his usual weekly conundrum: How to prepare the team while also looking out for senior running back and middle linebacker Noah Zhang and trying to keep the team’s most important player fresh.

Zhang, the Bulldogs’ leading rusher and top tackler, had another strong performance this past Friday, rushing 26 timrs for a career-high 230 yards and three touchdowns and making eight tackles on defense as Churchill beat Richard Montgomery, 35-17, in a Maryland 4A second-round game.

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

With their sixth consecutive victory, the Bulldogs (10-1) advanced to this week’s Maryland 4A quarterfinals against Blair. And the weekly challenge of how to ensure that their standout senior – perhaps generously listed at 5 feet 9 and 165 pounds – would be in prime condition for the next game.

“He’s so tough, but it’s usually not until Wednesday of the following week [after a game] before he feels normal,” Rydzewski said, adding that the coaching staff has tried to move Zhang to outside linebacker but always winds up leading him at middle linebacker because of his relentless play. “He was out there practicing full, but our major contact stuff we try to pull him on Mondays and Tuesdays.”

Churchill needed Zhang against Richard Montgomery. The Bulldogs trailed 14-0 early and 17-14 at halftime. Zhang’s touchdown run early in the third quarter gave Churchill its first lead and his 50-yard touchdown run sealed the victory in the fourth quarter.

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Glen Burnie RB Noah Mitchell rushed 19 times for 196 yards and two touchdowns and returned a punt 74 yards for the game-winning score late in the fourth quarter as the Gophers beat Meade, 41-35, in a Maryland 4A second-round game.

DC
Digital Pioneers RB Laroy Williams rushed 12 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns as the Pythons beat Kipp DC Legacy Prep, 26-21, in a DCSAA Class A quarterfinal game.

FREDERICK
Linganore WR/CB Chase Perry caught two passes for 40 yards and on defense intercepted three passes as the Lancers beat North Hagerstown, 42-0, in a Maryland 3A second-round game.

HOWARD
Guilford Park WR/CB Antonio Griffin caught touchdown passes of 34 and 18 yards, had a 64-yard kickoff return and on defense made seven solo tackles and intercepted a pass as the Panthers beat Stephen Decatur, 28-14, in a Maryland 3A second-round game.

LOUDOUN
Potomac Falls QB AJ Pawlowski completed 12 of 17 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 13 times for 86 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers beat Lightridge, 37-22, in a Virginia 5A first-round game.

MONTGOMERY
Sherwood DL Jefferson Serkfem, a Richmond recruit, made three tackles with two tackles for loss, returned one fumble 68 yards for a touchdown and recovered another fumble in the end zone – all in the first half -- as the Warriors beat Kennedy, 49-6 in a Maryland 4A/3A second-round game.

NORTHERN REGION
Lake Braddock QB Ty Jackson, a Norfolk State recruit, completed 9 of 19 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown and rushed 11 times for 150 yards and three touchdowns as the Bruins beat Mount Vernon, 34-13, in a Virginia 6A first-round game.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Oxon Hill WR D’eor Ray caught six passes for 98 yards and four touchdowns as the Clippers beat Potomac, 34-18, in a Maryland 4A/3A second-round game. It was the second week in a row that Ray scored four touchdowns.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Woodbridge WR James Shaw returned a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown and caught two touchdown passes as the Vikings beat Patriot, 41-21, in a Virginia 6A first-round game.

PRIVATE
Spalding RB Antonio Ledbetter rushed 26 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns as the Cavaliers rallied to beat McDonogh, 30-22, to win their fourth consecutive MIAA A Conference championship.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Patuxent QB Brayden Watson completed 19 of 22 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns and rushed five times for 28 yards and another score as the Panthers beat Washington, 48-0, in a Maryland 1A game.

WCAC
Gonzaga QB Jason Lindsay bounced back from throwing an interception on the first play of the game and completed 13 of 19 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score as the Eagles beat Good Counsel, 31-28.