Laurelgaz 082213 by The Gazette

NATIONAL CHRISTIAN PREPARES FOR ITS FIRST FOOTBALL SEASON, B-7

SPORTS

Bowie State football expects a winning season Offense’s improvement will be key for Bulldogs who are expected to be led by defense

KENT ZAKOUR STAFF WRITER

Since Damon Wilson became Bowie State University’s football coach four years ago, he says he has instilled a ﬁerce competitive drive amongst his players. And that mindset has carried over to his players’ dorm rooms — speciﬁcally their Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles. “I’m the best [NCAA 14] player hands down,” said senior quarterback Jared Johnston, who plays with Oregon because he “loves” the Ducks’ zone read option attack. “I mean, I may lose a few games, but I’m the best.” Redshirt junior running back and Suitland High School

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graduate Keith Brown has another take on the virtual competition. “I can’t say who is the best because that may get me in trouble, but I am versatile,” he said with a hearty laugh and smile. Brown, who thinks he would be rated 88 or 89 overall with 91 speed, 90 acceleration and 94 stiff arm ratings in the game, plays with Clemson and Oregon in NCAA and with Washington in Madden. “But I can give you the ﬁve best. I’m one of them along with [fellow Suitland graduate and starting linebacker] Antoine Young, Jared’s one, our all-conference defensive back Curtis Pumphrey and our new lineman [Henry A. Wise grad] Anthony [McDaniel]. “We compete on the ﬁeld and that transfers over to the dorm. Coach Wilson basically just imprinted that in our brain.” In the real-life football season this fall, Bowie State, which

See BOWIE, Page B-7

The

LAWRENCE JOHNSON/BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Suitland High School graduate (class of 2010) Keith Brown is expected to start at running back for Bowie State University this fall.

linebacker

PHOTO FROM UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK ATHLETICS

Charles H. Flowers High School graduate L.A. Goree is to scheduled to start at inside linebacker for the University of Maryland football team.

Flowers graduate returns to starting role with Maryland’s football team BY

DAN FELDMAN STAFF WRITER

L.A. Goree redshirted his ﬁrst year at the University of Maryland, College Park. Then, after becoming an honorable mention freshman All-American, he was right back on the sideline as a reserve last year. In other words, the former Charles H. Flowers High School star linebacker has been frustrated with his playing situation a majority of his time at college. “At ﬁrst, I just wanted to ball up and be to myself,” Goree said. “... I just needed something to turn to.”

Goree had a friend who meditated, but he gave it no thought. “I probably would have thought it was silly if you’d have asked me,” Goree said. “’What? Meditation? That don’t make any sense.’” Eventually, Goree tried meditating, and immediately, he knew it would help his outlook. “I’m not very religious, but I’m very spiritual,” Goree said. Goree writes poetry, thumbing verses into his phone as they come to him. He lost many of his poems when he switched phones, but he’s more careful about saving them now. He’s even considering speaking at open-microphone nights in Washington D.C. But taking his poetry public can wait. Right now, he’s busy

See LINEBACKER, Page B-7

Eleanor Roosevelt heavy favorites in county golf Raiders return three of top four players from county championship team n

TRAVIS MEWHIRTER STAFF WRITER

It’s about that time of year again to cue up the Eleanor Roosevelt High School win machine. And no, it’s not a discussion about the state championship basketball team. See, it actually lost a game during the regular season. The golf team did not. It hasn’t in quite some time now. “I knew what I wanted to do in the last 10 years,” Roosevelt coach Troy Bradbury said. “I wanted to be the premier school

for golf, and we are.” Last season, the Raiders, as far asteamcompetitionisconcerned, were essentially the only school for golf. They were the de facto victors at the district tournament since no other team had four players — the amount required to post a state qualifying score — complete a full round (if a player didn’t break 50 on the front nine, they were pulled off the course to keep play moving while their score was doubled in order to calculate an 18-hole score). But this isn’t to say therewon’tbethesameheatedindividual competition week in and week out. The usual suspects — Roosevelt’s Ishmail Jabbie and

See GOLF, Page B-7

BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE

Eleanor Roosevelt High School senior Bryan Morris hits a drive Tuesday at Glenn Dale Golf Course.

Largo girls, Bowie boys hope to build on 2012 success 2013 cross country: County hasn’t won a team state title since 2006 n

NICK CAMMAROTA STAFF WRITER

Largo High School cross country coach Daryl Hamilton sat in a chair overlooking his runners, taking mental notes during a Tuesday practice on the second day of school in Prince George’s County. With temperatures in the mid-80s, the Lions ran strength and conditioning drills on Largo’s glistening new rubberized track, which has quickly become one of the better surfaces in the county. In the background, four brand-new blue tennis courts had been freshly painted and the football team practiced in the distance under first-year coach Derron Thomas. “They’re fixing things up around Largo. They ﬁxed it up, so we better win,” Hamilton said with a hearty laugh. Seemingly always in good spirits, Hamilton is entering his 19th season leading a group of girls with lots of experience. He’s also never found himself in this spot before: defending county

BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE

Largo High School seniors Devonni Farrar (left) and Bria Jones stretch before Tuesday’s practice.

champs. Largo, surprisingly, according to Hamilton, won the Prince George’s County title in October, edging out Charles H. Flowers and Eleanor Roosevelt for the crown. “It was a big shock to us, but they did well,” Hamilton said. “When you’re county champions, it’s like a standard you’ve got to set. Especially with all

See LARGO, Page B-7