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.

2026 High School Player of the Week

Sept. 30: Brayden Dalton, Stafford

DC Touchdown Club