Oct. 27: Khalil Malloy, Reservoir

photo by tilak patel/gator productions

At some point during the game, Reservoir High football coach Matt Banta acknowledged, he will look up and see standout junior Khalil Malloy hunched over and trying to catch his breath.

“He’s just so valuable for us, he can’t come off the field,” Banta said. “Even when he’s sucking wind and needs a breather. He just does whatever we need for us to win.”

A junior who is in his third season starting on both offense and defense, Malloy continued to make the big plays this past Friday. On offense as the Gators try to find more ways to put the ball in his hands, Malloy rushed four times for 28 yards and one touchdown and caught eight passes for 98 yards and two more touchdowns. On defense, he made eight tackles with two tackles for loss. On special teams, he blocked two punts as Reservoir beat Mount Hebron, 28-6.

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

This latest effort was just another in a string of standout performances for Malloy, who has lined up all over the field. On offense, he usually plays wide receiver, though there is a package of plays for him to play quarterback. Defensively, he starts at safety, but often plays up near the line of scrimmage to give Reservoir an extra linebacker. Through eight games, he has rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns, caught 48 passes for 585 yards and six touchdowns, made 52 tackles, intercepted six passes and blocked three punts.

“He came in as a freshman and had a bunch of splash plays. That’s when we knew we had something special,” Banta said. “The kid just doesn’t come off the field. Kickoff team, punt team, whatever. He just contributes in all sorts of ways.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Severna Park WR/DB Charlie Cavanaugh caught four passes for 29 yards and one touchdown, made two tackles on defense and returned a punt 41 yards for a touchdown as the Falcons beat North County, 42-7.

DC
McKinley Tech DE Donte Bond Jr. made six tackles with two sacks and two tackles for loss, forced and recovered a fumble and blocked a punt as the Trainers beat Ron Brown, 7-0 in overtime.

FREDERICK
Linganore WR/DB Blake Meyer caught four passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns, on defense made five tackles and returned an interception 63 yards and averaged 15 yards on four punt returns as the Lancers beat Thomas Johnson, 49-20.

HOWARD
Wilde Lake RB/LB Jaydin Gore rushed 12 times for 60 yards and one touchdown, caught six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns and on defense made 10 tackles with four tackles for loss and two sacks as the Wildecats beat Hammond, 39-0.

LOUDOUN
Woodgrove QB Colton Dabkowski completed 16 of 20 passes for 281 yards and six touchdowns as the Wolverines beat Broad Run, 62-6.

MONTGOMERY
Churchill QB Hunter Humphries completed 14 of 23 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two more scores as the Bulldogs beat Wootton, 41-0.

NORTHERN REGION
Westfield RB PJ Sutherland rushed 21 times for 270 yards and five touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Centreville, 48-20.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Oxon Hill WR D’eor Ray caught six passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns as the Clippers beat Bladensburg, 56-0.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Patriot RB Ethan Clark caught a 55-yard touchdown pass and rushed 31 times for a career-high 215 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning, two-yard run in overtime as the Pioneers beat Independence, 39-38.

PRIVATE
Potomac School QB Carter Reynolds completed 19 of 27 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns as the Panthers beat KIPP College Prep, 35-12.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Great Mills QB Kian Bush completed 22 of 32 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns and rushed eight times for 42 yards and another score and on defense forced and recovered a fumble as the Hornets beat Lackey, 37-21.

STAFFORD
Colonial Forge QB Mason Fine completed 12 of 21 passes for 265 yards and four touchdowns as the Eagles beat Mountain View, 35-6.

WCAC
Gonzaga QB Jason Lindsay, a Dayton recruit, completed 13 of 26 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles beat Good Counsel, 21-3.

Oct. 20: Tristan Thomas, Calvert

Calvert High wide receiver and strong safety Tristan Thomas has great football sense.

“But a lot of kids have a high football IQ,” Calvert football coach Rick Sneade said. “Tristan also has great size. And what he does in a two-yard area, attacking the ball or going after someone with the ball, he just has that ‘it’ factor.”

It shows up on the field every Friday and shows up during the week as college coaches continue calling and visiting Prince Frederick to recruit the 6-foot-3, 192-pound Thomas.

Thomas showed why he is in demand again this past Friday as he caught 10 passes for 277 yards and four touchdowns, made 10 tackles on defense and returned a punt 55 yards as the Cavaliers beat rival Northern, 34-30.

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

“Obviously he has these big-time stats on offense, but defensively he’s had some bone-chilling tackles and is disruptive around the ball,” Sneade said. “He’s being recruited as a defensive player. When you look at his offensive tape some of the things that should be highlighted showcase his physicality. He boocks and eliminates people. When he’s blocking on the edge, cornerbacks and safeties just get blown off of the screen.”

In seven games this season, Thomas has caught 38 passes for 704 yards and nine touchdowns, made 47 tackles and intercepted three passes, caused two fumbles and blocked a field goal attempt. His most recent scholarship offer came from Purdue, joining a list that includes Oregon, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Indiana, Maryland, Penn State, Florida and UCLA, among others.

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Annapolis OLB Rion Jackson, an Auburn recruit, made four tackles with two sacks and two tackles for loss and broke up two passes as the Panthers beat North County, 49-0. tackles for loss and broke up two passes as the Panthers beat North County, 49-0.

DC
McKinley Tech DE Caleb Dawson made 10 tackles with three tackles for loss and two sacks, forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles and broke up a pass as the Trainers beat Anacostia, 12-9.

FREDERICK
Oakdale QB/K Dylan Ohm completed 11 of 17 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown, rushed four times for 38 yards and kicked a 25-yard field goal with two minutes left as the unbeaten Bears beat Walkersville, 25-23.’

HOWARD
Howard RB/DB Jayson Allen rushed 18 times for 281 yards and five touchdowns and made 18 tackles on defense as the undefeated Lions beat Atholton, 40-0.

LOUDOUN
Loudoun Valley WR Ethan LaFollette rushed 13 times for 221 yards and three touchdowns and caught a 37-yard pass as the undefeated Vikings beat Broad Run, 51-7.

MONTGOMERY
Magruder RB/LB Caleb Smallwood rushed 33 times for 295 yards and three touchdowns and three two-point conversions and made three tackles and forced and recovered a fumble on defense as the Colonels beat Kennedy, 50-38.

NORTHERN REGION
Madison RB Will Smoot rushed 27 times for 271 yards and two touchdowns as the Warhawks beat Centreville, 28-21.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Douglass QB Merrell Lloyd completed 9 of 12 passes for 211 yards and six touchdowns as the Eagles beat Friendly, 56-0.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Battlefield WR/LB Noah Glover, a Miami recruit, caught three passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns, including the decisive 42-yard score with three minutes left as the Bobcats beat Gainesville, 21-20.

PRIVATE
Potomac School QB Carter Reynolds completed 16 of 33 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns as the Panthers beat St. James (Md.), 27-23.

STAFFORD
Brooke Point QB Antonio Guillen completed 14 of 15 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns as the Black-Hawks beat Hartwood, 42-7.

WCAC
St. John’s RB/LB King Antoine rushed six times for 60 yards and one touchdown and on defense made 12 tackles and returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown as the Cadets beat Good Counsel, 38-7.

photo by debbie mcintosh

Oct. 13: Collin Henriques, Oakton

photo by diego cerutti

Trailing by 17 points entering the fourth quarter in a matchup of undefeated teams, the Oakton Cougars had to dig deep. With their opponent stacking the box and trying to stop Oakton’s potent running game, it provided several opportunities for junior wide receiver Collin Henriques to make an impact.

Henriques got the comeback started with a trick play, throwing a 36-yard touchdown pass to star running back Deylen Jones. After another touchdown helped the Cougars draw closer, Henriques hauled in a 44-yard touchdown pass with two minutes left to give Oakton the lead.

Henriques wasn’t done, though. He made a terrific one-handed interception to thwart South Lakes’ final drive, allowing Oakton to escape with a thrilling 42-38 victory.

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

“I’m just lucky to coach a kid like him,” Oakton first-year coach Said Aziz said. “He kind of gets overshadowed by Deylen, who is pretty damn good, too.”

While Jones, a senior, has committed to play at Harvard next year, Henriques is just beginning to sift through the recruiting process. At 6 feet 2 and 185 pounds, the playmaker has generated plenty of interest from colleges and holds eight FBS scholarship offers, the first of which came from Maryland.

In addition to his talent on the field, Aziz said that it was quickly apparent how hard Henriques works off the field. Upon being hired at Oakton, Aziz began reviewing last season’s game films. As he introduced himself to the players, he immediately noticed that it seemed Henriques was always in the weight room.

“He’s a freak of nature,” Aziz said. “He’s got a 4.0 GPA, a 40-inch vertical jump and runs a 4.4 [second] 40 [yard dash]. Right away you look at him and you’re like, ‘This kid is a player.’ ”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Annapolis CB Dwain Gray made four tackles, broke up two passes, intercepted a pass and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown as the Panthers beat Meade 28-16.

DC
Anacostia QB Zephan Pittman completed 24 of 37 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns and rushed nine times for 63 yards as the Indians beat Phelps, 33-32.

FREDERICK
Oakdale TE/DE Graydon Beaver caught two passes for 95 yards and a touchdown and on defense made five tackles with three tackles for loss and one sack and broke up a pass as the Bears beat Linganore, 35-7, in a meeting of unbeaten teams.

HOWARD
Marriotts Ridge WR Emanjuel Williams caught 10 passes for a school-record 170 yards and three touchdowns as the Mustangs won their third consecutive game, 42-0 over Mount Hebron.

LOUDOUN
Loudoun Valley QB Zach Detweiler completed 11 of 15 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns, setting the school record with 3,605 career passing yards, as the undefeated Vikings beat Loudoun County, 23-20.

MONTGOMERY
Richard Montgomery QB Davis Bowen completed 18 of 24 passes for 394 yards and six touchdowns as the Rockets beat Wootton, 59-27.

NORTHERN REGION
Langley RB Aiden Mejia rushed eight times for 172 yards and three touchdowns and caught seven passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns as the Saxons beat Wakefield, 49-7.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Suitland RB/LB Anthony Coad rushed five times for 77 yards, two touchdowns and two two-point conversions and on defense made 11 tackles with three tackles for loss and two sacks as the Rams beat Bowie, 37-0.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Gar-Field RB Warren Freeman rushed 20 times for 108 yards and four touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass as the Red Wolves beat Potomac (Va.), 42-14.

PRIVATE
Potomac School QB Carter Reynolds completed 25 of 33 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers lost to Maret, 36-33.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Lackey QB/SS Cyrus Felton completed 5 of 10 passes for 75 yards and one touchdown, rushed 20 times for 180 yards and three touchdowns and on defense made 10 tackles with one sack and caused a fumble as the Chargers beat North Point, 27-25.

STAFFORD
Colonial Forge QB Mason Fine completed 5 of 16 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 21 times for 104 yards and four touchdowns, including a 10-yard score on the Eagles’ first play from scrimmage in overtime as they beat previously undefeated Brooke Point, 40-34.

WCAC
Gonzaga CB CJ Simms made four tackles, returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown and forced a fumble that he recovered and returned 86 yards for another score as the Eagles beat Bishop McNamara, 38-6.

Oct. 6: Alijah Bah, Paint Branch

photo by kevin tong

It’s not a secret that Alijah Bah is a difference maker and that the Paint Branch Panthers want to get him the ball as often as possible. He has scored 58 touchdowns over the past 2 ½ seasons, the last of which lifted the Panthers to a thrilling victory.

With Paint Branch trailing for the first time after allowing a touchdown with 1 minute 15 seconds remaining, the Panthers advanced to midfield. Then quarterback Leoul Solomon hit Bah in stride on a wheel route and he sprinted down the right sideline untouched, lifting Paint Branch to a 15-8 win over Bethesda-Chevy Chase this past Friday.

It was just one more big play on a night that was full of them for Bah. On offense, he rushed 21 times for 134 yards and the Panthers’ other touchdown. On defense, he made nine tackles, intercepted two passes (one in the end zone to thwart a drive) and then forced and recovered the game-clinching fumble. (His long punt return for a touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty away from the play.)

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

“It’s really awesome as a playcaller and exciting and lets you feel like you have a shot at all times,” Paint Branch Coach Mike Nesmith said. “Some of his scores over the last three years, we didn’t block anyone. He just broke this tackle, broke that tackle and outran everyone else. A lot of people underestimate his strength and power and think they’re just going to knock him down. I know I likely won’t have another player like him in my time, so I’m really enjoying it right now.”

Nesmith said that Bah’s strength and speed continue to make a difference and that the Panthers’ offseason program also made an impact against B-CC. He sensed that the players were calm as they pulled off the last-minute comeback.

“We run our real stuff during 7 on 7 – we’re not running touch football plays to win touch football games,” he said. “Normally he just runs a hitch when he goes out. But because the receiver on that side crossed underneath, the safety carried with him and that just left him open down the sideline.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Annapolis WR/CB Dwain Gray intercepted two passes, made two tackles, broke up two passes and caught a 55-yard touchdown pass as the Panthers beat Arundel, 29-7.

DC
Dunbar RB Darius Knight rushed 18 times for 205 yards and four touchdowns as the Crimson Tide beat Bell, 40-16.

FREDERICK

Walkersville RB Taylor Patten rushed 25 times for 294 yards and five touchdowns and caught one pass for 17 yards as the Lions beat Thomas Johnson, 58-19.

HOWARD
Guilford Park RB Tyler Lee rushed 11 times for 230 yards and four touchdowns and caught a 35-yard touchdown pass as the Panthers beat Atholton, 55-0.

LOUDOUN
Woodgrove QB Colton Dabkowski completed 15 of 18 passes for 222 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed twice for 64 yards as the Wolverines beat Park View, 55-0.

MONTGOMERY
Wheaton RB/LB Michael Tatso rushed 28 times for 205 yards and six touchdowns, had a sack and blocked a field goal attempt as the Knights beat Richard Montgomery, 49-20.

NORTHERN REGION
South County QB Dylan Miller completed 18 of 28 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns as the Stallions beat Fairfax, 33-7.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Northwestern QB/DB Ronald Gill Jr. completed 7 of 11 passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns, rushed 19 times for 132 yards and the game-winning touchdown in overtime and on defense made seven tackles as the Wildcats beat Bladensburg, 22-20.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Osbourn RB Tyree Summers rushed 23 times for 240 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles lost to Independence, 30-23.

PRIVATE
St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes QB Anthony Youngblood completed 21 of 30 passes for 352 yards and four touchdowns as the Saints beat Bishop Ireton, 28-21.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
St. Charles RB Christopher Quick, a Kent State recruit, rushed 15 times for 162 yards and one touchdown and caught five passes for 107 yards and another score as the undefeated Spartans beat Westlake, 28-14.

STAFFORD
Colonial Forge LB Darion Majeed made eight tackles, intercepted a pass and blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown as the Eagles beat previously undefeated Stafford, 45-7.

WCAC
St. John’s QB Nyeem Woods completed 11 of 14 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns and rushed seven times for 75 yards and two touchdowns as the Cadets beat Cornerstone Christian of San Antonio, 35-28.

Sept. 30: Brayden Dalton, Stafford

photo by andrew roberson/@andrewr_pics

As it became apparent during the offseason to Brayden Dalton that he was going to be the Stafford High starting quarterback this fall, he had one important questions for the Indians’ new coach.

“He wanted to make sure that I wasn’t going to take playing linebacker away from him,” Coach Brad Womack said. “I told him not to worry. I was excited about having a quarterback that plays like a linebacker, who is smart and a leader.”

It was less certain just how well Dalton would fare as a passer, but through the season’s first month he has answered any lingering questions.

This past Friday, Dalton completed 18 of 27 passes for a school-record 416 yards and three touchdowns and rushed five times for 20 yards. He also continued to be a force on defense, making 11 tackles and intercepting a pass as Stafford remained undefeated with a 37-7 win over Mountain View.

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

“His passing opportunities last year were limited and honestly, this year for our team they’ve been limited,” Womack said, noting that the Indians’ used their rushing game to spark victories against their previous two opponents.

But Dalton had shown something in the season opener, leading consecutive late scoring drives with his arm as the Indians ralled to beat Woodbridge, 16-15. So when Mountain View loaded the box with defenders and dared Stafford to throw, Womack had no reservations.

“They pretty much made Brayden throw and he was able to take advantage of those matchups,” Womack said. “He can throw the ball well and has shined through our first four games so far.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Crofton RB Dominic Jackson rushed nine times for 89 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 27-yard touchdown pass as the undefeated Cardinals beat Meade, 42-6.

DC
Digital Pioneers RB Laroy Williams rushed eight times for 207 yards and four touchdowns and caught a 23-yard pass as the Pythons beat Paul VI Catholic, 50-7. Williams had touchdown runs of 53, 55, 53 and 14 yards.

FREDERICK
Oakdale LB Nick Russell made 14 tackles as the Bears beat Damascus, 30-3.

HOWARD
River Hill RB Logan Shatzer rushed 19 times for 150 yards and four touchdowns, his fourth 100-yard game this season, as the Hawks beat Long Reach, 35-7.

LOUDOUN
Heritage LB Lucas Olszewski rushed 24 times for 170 yards and three touchdowns and caught two passes for 26 yards as the Pride beat Broad Run, 30-23.

MONTGOMERY
Paint Branch RB Alijah Bah rushed 28 times for 181 yards and three touchdowns, caught three passes for 64 yards and on defense made three tackles, forced a fumble and broke up a pass as the Panthers beat Northwest, 28-14.

NORTHERN REGION
Lake Braddock RB Sam Rhye rushed 25 times for 241 yards and four touchdowns as the Bruins beat Robinson, 35-21. Rhye’s 51-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1 with two minutes left sealed the win.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Oxon Hill RB/LB Graham Cleveland rushed for a touchdown and on defense made 14 tackles and recovered a fumble as the Clippers beat Potomac (Md.), 28-26.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Gainesville RB Jayden Taylor rushed 11 times for 181 yards and four touchdowns as the Cardinals beat Osbourn Park, 35-0.

PRIVATE
St. Albans QB Brett Paukstis completed 5 of 8 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown and rushed 20 times for 154 yards and four touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat McKinley Tech, 46-0.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Huntingtown TE/LB Spencer O’Callaghan made 24 tackles and broke up two passes as the undefeated Hurricanes beat Lackey, 10-6.

STAFFORD
Brooke Point WR/DB Aviance Young Jr. caught two touchdown passes, including the decisive score in the third overtime, and on defense made 12 tackles with four tackles for loss as the undefeated Black-Hawks beat Riverbend, 35-28.

WCAC
DeMatha Catholic DB Logan Brown made five tackles, broke up two passes and made his fourth interception of the season as the Stags beat Riverdale Baptist, 28-12.

Sept. 23: Jayson Allen, Howard

photo courtesy howard football

There are times when it might appear that Jayson Allen is moving at less than full speed on the football field. It is a figment of the imagination, Howard High football coach Ross Hannon can assure you.

“He’s a step ahead and just playing a little faster than the rest of the kids,” Hannon said. “He’s 6 feet 2 with long arms, and so it doesn’t look like he’s moving that fast because he’s so long and he’s a strider. But he’s moving. He’s a physical player.”

Howard’s opponents can vouch for Allen, too. This past week, against Marriotts Ridge, the senior was all over the field. Starting at running back this season, he rushed 24 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He’s probably more impactful from his inside linebacker spot on defense, where Allen made 13 tackles with four tackles for loss and forced two fumbles, recovering one of them, as the Lions beat Marriotts Ridge, 28-0.

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

“He is so rangy,” Hannon said. “We noticed in 7 on 7 this summer that he just covers a lot of ground and he can get in the air and get into passing lanes. He’s going to be a good college football player. He’s bigger and heavier than he looks.”

With only 28 players on the roster, including a handful of newcomers playing the sport for the first time, Hannon has stressed the need for the Lions’ defense to force turnovers and get off the field whenever they have a chance. Allen followed through early on against Marriotts Ridge, making a critical sack after the Mustangs had driven deep into Howard territory. Later, after a teammate made the initial hit on a wide receiver, Allen followed by stripping the ball. His play has helped Howard to a 3-0 start and three consecutive shutouts to start the season for the first time since 1974.

“He doesn’t run to the ball carrier, he’s running through people,” Hannon said. “He looks like a three-year ballplayer who has stepped his game up and is ready to move onto the next level.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Annapolis MLB Roman Stramanak made 10 tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack, broke up two passes and blocked a punt as the undefeated Panthers beat Glen Burnie, 28-27.

DC
Theodore Roosevelt WR/DE Isaiah McVea caught two passes for 30 yards and one touchdown and on defense had seven sacks and forced two fumbles as the Roughriders beat McKinley Tech, 30-7.

FREDERICK
Oakdale WR/DB Charlie Alt caught five passes for 104 yards and one touchdown, made seven tackles with wo tackles for loss and intercepted two passes as the Bears beat Middletown, 35-7.

HOWARD
Wilde Lake WR/DB Jaydin Gore caught four passes for 68 yards and one touchdown, returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown, returned another punt 49 yards and on defense made 15 tackles with three tackles for loss as the Wildecats beat Glenelg, 26-21.

LOUDOUN
Broad Run QB Paul Layne completed 10 of 14 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns and rushed three times for 78 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-clinching 23-yard score on fourth-and-goal, as the Spartans rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat Colgan, 36-27.

MONTGOMERY
Damascus RB MJ Sullivan rushed 14 times for 217 yards and six touchdowns as the Swarmin’ Hornets beat Clarksburg, 42-14.

NORTHERN REGION
West Springfield RB Dillan Wickham rushed 23 times for 200 yards and one touchdown as the Spartans beat Robinson, 55-19.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Laurel QB/LB Demerius Custis completed 3 of 5 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns, rushed three times for 125 yards and three touchdowns and made four solo tackles with one sack as the Spartans beat Northwestern, 67-6.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Manassas Park WR Ethan Casey caught 10 passes for 205 yards and one touchdown as the Cougars lost to Jefferson, 14-12.

PRIVATE
Maret QB Trysten Johnson, a Citadel recruit, completed 10 of 18 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns and rushed 22 times for 181 yards and two touchdowns as the Frogs beat Bell, 43-30.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
North Point LB Lawtrell Bowlding made 21 tackles with four tackles for loss and two sacks and forced a fumble as the Eagles beat Northern, 14-6.

STAFFORD
Brooke Point RB Anthony Robinson Jr. rushed 23 times for 172 yards and two touchdowns as the Black-Hawks beat Spotsylvania, 32-14.

WCAC
Gonzaga WR Lincoln Shelton caught two passes for 63 yards, ran for a 46-yard touchdown and returned a punt 53 yards for a touchdown as the Eagles beat Carroll, 47-27.

Sept. 16: Joshua-Benjamin Dagbe, South Lakes

photo by pj ross/@rossvisualzz

Even before he had a driver’s license, Joshua-Benjamin Dagbe was a leader on the high school football field.

“He couldn’t drive a car,” South Lakes Coach Jason Hescock said jokingly, “but he could drive a team.”

Indeed, Dagbe has proven wise far beyond his years – and he’s still only 16 years old. A three-sport athlete and now a junior at South Lakes, Dagbe is in his second season as a football team captain. In basketball, he plays guard and also is a team captain. He runs track in the spring.

Now, though, it is football season and Dagbe is making an impact all over the field. He plays wide receiver on offense, cornerback on defense and is the Seahawks’ kick returner. This past week, Dagbe caught nine passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns and returned an interception 48 yards for another score as undefeated South Lakes beat Battlefield, 34-12.

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

“He’s definitely opening up some eyes right now,” Hescock said.

Dagbe played on the freshman team in ninth grade, though his season was cut short by a broken collarbone. It was during a practice last preseason when Dagbe – then a sophomore yet to play in a varsity game – caught the coach’s attention.

“There was something about our tempo that he didn’t like and he’s saying to the other players, ‘You can’t do that at the level we play football!’ ” Hescock said. “We didn’t even have captains picked out yet and he’s teaching the other players. I was like, ‘Who is this guy?’ It was like having another coach on the field.”

Needless to say, Dagbe was selected as a captain last season and again this year.

“We believe in a player-led team and he has no problem letting people know if they aren’t meeting our standard,” Hescock said. “He doesn’t get caught up in all the nonsense. He’s very business-like on the field.”

Against Battlefield, Dagbe’s interception return for a touchdown – his second in two weeks – came in the first quarter. In the second quarter, he had touchdown catches of 46 and 42 yards. Whether Dagbe is better on offense or defense is tough to measure, Hescock said.

“That’s like trying to pick your favorite child,” he said. “We’re so dangerous and have so many guys we can get the ball to on offense. He’s valuable on offense but we have so many weapons. On defense, we don’t have many corners who can just go shut down the opponent’s best kid every week.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Crofton RB/OLB Dominic Jackson rushed 16 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns, caught two passes for 54 yards, scored two two-point conversions and on defense made five tackles as the Cardinals beat Old Mill, 16-15.

DC
McKinley Tech RB/DB Jayden West rushed four times for 23 yards, caught nine passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for three two-point conversions and on defense made 12 tackles with one tackle for loss as the Trainers lost to Bishop Ireton, 40-30.

FREDERICK
Walkersville RB Taylor Patten rushed 23 times for 263 yards and four touchdowns as the Lions beat South Carroll, 50-18.

HOWARD
Mount Hebron RB Cam Douglas rushed 12 times for 139 and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns as the Vikings beat Centennial, 34-6.

LOUDOUN
Independence RB/OLB Jeremiah Yao rushed 16 times for 215 yards and five touchdowns and made five tackles on defense as the Tigers beat Briar Woods, 43-20. Yao was filling in for last week’s Touchdown Club Player of the Week Robert Kellen, who sustained a serious knee injury earlier in the game.

MONTGOMERY
Sherwood LB London Hardy made seven tackles, intercepted two passes, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble as the Warriors beat Seneca Valley, 21-6.

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Wise RB Les Williams rushed 11 times for 116 yards and four touchdowns and caught two passes for 30 yards as the Pumas beat Laurel, 53-6.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Patriot K Parker Kim made a 31-yard field goal with one second left to lift the Pioneers to a 38-35 win over Mountain View.

PRIVATE
Spalding QB Brian Snowden completed 16 of 21 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns and rushed five times for 20 yards and three touchdowns as the Cavaliers beat Good Counsel, 45-21.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Calvert WR/SS Tristan Thomas caught five passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns, returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown and on defense made 11 tackles for with one tackle for loss and broke up a pass as the Cavaliers beat McDonough, 35-15.

STAFFORD
Colonial Forge LB Mason Cachola made 9 ½ tackles with one sack, forced a fumble and blocked a potential game-winning 27-yard field goal in the final minute as the Eagles beat Gainesville, 14-13.

WCAC
Gonzaga LB Jago Woodards, an Army recruit, made seven tackles, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble as the Eagles shut out Eastern, 18-0.

Sept. 9: Robert Kellen, Independence

photo by james torrenzano

Robert Kellen burst onto the Loudoun County high school football scene as a freshman in Independence High, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the regular season finale.

Kellen, whose two older brothers also shined on the football team at Independence, returned midway through last season, but Coach RJ Windows could sense some apprehension as Kellen tried to dodge the defenders. Kellen rushed for 527 yards in six games, but Windows knew it was going to take some time for Kellen to return to form.

After a full “offseason” that included going 35-15 on the wrestling mat as well as winning a rugby state championship and going on an international tour, Kellen was more than ready for this football season. This past Friday, he rushed 19 times for 345 yards and four touchdowns and on defense made four tackles and also had a 51-yard punt as the Tigers beat Potomac Falls, 40-21.

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

Perhaps the most notable measure of Kellen’s recovery, Windows said, is that in addition to stiff-arming defenders or running through their tackles, the junior now has the speed to just outrace would-be tacklers.

“He didn’t used to have the pull-away speed,” Windows said, noting that Kellen had touchdown runs of 80, 65 and 60 yards against Potomac Falls. “He used to bust through guys and plow them over. Now he has the pull-away speed on top of it.

“When we scrimmaged Westfield [last month] he was running well. Last year, coming back, I felt he was a little timid. Now, I said, ‘Freshman Robert is back.’ “

In addition to excelling on the football field, Kellen is a standout wrestler and rugby player. He placed fourth in the Virginia 6A Region B wrestling tournament last year. This past summer, his rugby team competed in Spain, France and Ireland. 

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Honor Roll:

ANNE ARUNDEL
Broadneck DE Grayson Whitney, who missed last season while recovering from brain surgery after falling off a golf cart, blocked a potential game-winning field goal in the closing seconds as the Bruins beat St. Mary’s-Annapolis, 29-28. 

DC
Theodore Roosevelt QB David Anderson completed 12 of 15 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for a touchdown and two two-point conversions as the Rough Riders beat KIPP DC Legacy, 40-15. 

FREDERICK
Linganore QB David Doy completed 13 of 22 passes for 105 yards and three touchdowns and rushed seven times for 47 yards as the Lancers edged Mervo, 29-28, in a meeting of teams that won state titles last season. 

HOWARD
Howard RB/DB Jayson Allen rushed nine times for 131 yards and two touchdowns, caught a 10-yard touchdown pass and on defense made six tackles with two tackles for loss and intercepted a pass as the Lions beat Mount Hebron, 43-0. 

LOUDOUN
Broad Run SS Cooper Fox made eight tackles with two tackles for loss and intercepted three passes as the Spartans beat Riverside, 26-15. 

MONTGOMERY
Northwest QB Eric Odina completed 6 of 10 passes for 102 yards and rushed 14 times for 161 yards and four touchdowns as the Jaguars beat Blake, 29-14. 

NORTHERN REGION
West Springfield TE/LB Brennan Telfer caught a 55-yard touchdown pass and on defense made 22 tackles (17 solo) with three tackles for loss and one sack as the Spartans beat Chantilly, 41-7. 

PRINCE GEORGE’S
Oxon Hill LB Matthew Gbllah made 10 tackles with three tackles for loss as the Clippers beat Largo, 21-20. 

PRINCE WILLIAM
Osbourn QB Jonah Howells completed 7 of 9 passes for 82 yards and rushed 15 times for 112 yards and four touchdowns as the Eagles beat Hartwood, 32-26 in overtime. 

PRIVATE
Bullis LB Kevin Ouedraogo made nine tackles with four tackles for loss as the Bulldogs beat Gilman, 29-23. 

SMAC
Patuxent RB Antoine Wilkins rushed 27 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 51 yards as the Panthers beat Westlake, 12-6. 

STAFFORD
Stafford DE KJ Hitt made five tackles with 3 ½ tackles for loss and broke up a pass as the Indians held Unity Reed to minus-21 yards rushing in a 70-0 win.

WCAC
DeMatha DB Logan Brown made five tackles and intercepted two passes, including one on the game’s final play in the end zone, as the Stags set a school record with their 23rd consecutive win, beating Imhotep Charter, 21-20.

Sept. 2: Berry Johnson, KIPP DC Legacy

photo by amare parker/@digmyvision

After emerging as one of KIPP DC Legacy’s top players last season, Berry Johnson dedicated himself throughout the offseason. That hard work, combined with a timely growth spurt, has the fourth-year varsity player intent on showing how talented he is.

Johnson, who plays wide receiver and safety, was repeatedly in the spotlight during the Bulldogs’ season opener this past Friday. He caught five passes for 95 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown for the game’s only score and on defense delivered several big plays, with seven tackles that included three tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble as KIPP Legacy beat McKinley Tech, 6-0.

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

“He dominated the game,” Bulldogs Coach Andrew Isaacs said. “He was flying all over the field, making big hits right and left, making plays on special teams.”

Isaacs said that Johnson started earning playing time as an undersized 5-foot-5 sophomore and began to shine last season, leading the team in receiving and earning DCSAA All-State honors as a returner. He has grown to 5 feet 9 and 165 pounds while retaining all of the intangibles that helped him stand out.

“He just has a knack for being around the ball,” Isaacs said. “He plays really fast, has great ball skills and his play recognition is amazing. And now he’s had a bit of a growth spurt and is starting to fill out his body more.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Honor Roll:

LOUDOUN
Loudoun Valley RB/LB Ethan Lafollette rushed 25 times for 214 yards and four touchdowns and on defense made nine tackles as the Vikings beat Millbrook, 39-37.

NORTHERN REGION
Washington-Liberty QB Tyler Flint-Steinig completed 22 of 30 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns as the Generals beat O’Connell, 35-21.

PRINCE WILLIAM
Colgan DB Gabe Huber set a school record with three interceptions as the Sharks beat Osbourn, 17-14.

PRIVATE
Bullis QB Braden Nyce completed 14 of 21 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns and had a 31-yard run as the Bulldogs beat Bishop Ireton, 49-14.

STAFFORD
Brooke Point WR/DB Aviance Young returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, caught four passes for 78 yards and one touchdown, returned one of his two interceptions 25 yards for a touchdown and made seven tackles with two tackles for loss as the Black-Hawks beat King George, 60-0.

WCAC
DeMatha RB TJ Grant, a Maryland recruit, rushed 18 times for 136 yards and three touchdowns as the Stags beat Spalding, 35-14.