THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, August 28, 2013 o
Page B-5
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GEORGETOWN PREP
GAITHERSBURG Coach: Kreg Kephart Last year: 3-7 Returning starters: 18 of 24 2012 avg. PF/PA: 19.5/25.5 Last playoff appearance: 2011
OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
Coach:Dan Paro Last season’s record: 5-5 Returning starters: 14 of 24 2012 avg. PF/PA: 20.0/22.7 Last playoff appearance: 2003
Kreg Kephart says this year’s team is his most talented since the Trojans won the region title and advanced to the 2010 state semifinals. Star running back and Northwestern recruit Solomon Vault is one of the top players in Maryland. Classmate quarterback Nick DeCarlo also returns with senior speedy wide receiver Smit Solomon Vicco Bedell being a top target. Both will be assisted by a veteran 2013 Schedule offensive line led by seniors Avery Taylor (LT), Anthony Combs (LG) Sept. 7 Sherwood and Tinashe Gwashavanhu (RG) Sept. 12 at Watkins Mill and junior Blake Toomer (C). The offense should be able to score, Sept. 20 at Clarksburg but if the Trojans are going to Sept. 28 Northwest make the playoffs this year they must shore up their defense, Oct. 4 Wootton which allowed 25 points per game last fall. “You aren’t going Oct. 11 at Churchill to win games like that,” Kephart Oct. 18 at Magruder said. “The secondary will be the key.” Seniors Marc Smith and Oct. 25 Q. Orchard Jake Thomas are expected to start Nov. 1 at W. Johnson at safety with Xaviyer Mosley as the top cornerback. Junior KaNov. 9 Paint Branch monte Carter is also expected to start at tight end and weakside Gaithersburg’s home games linebacker. at R. Montgomery/WJ
Kelsey Boland
2013 Schedule Aug. 31
at Fork Union
Sept. 6
McNamara
Sept. 14
at Gonzaga
Sept. 20
McDonogh
Oct. 4
St. Albans
Oct. 11
Reg. Lewis
Oct. 19
at Anacostia
Oct. 25
Spalding
Nov. 2
at Landon
Nov. 8
Bullis
— KENT ZAKOUR
Coach: Bob Milloy Last season’s record: 11-1 Returning starters: 14 of 24 2012 avg. PF/PA: 29.3/10.7 Last playoff appearance: 2012
The year 2012 was the tale of two seasons for the Little Hoyas. The young squad started the season 0-5, with four losses coming during the final drive. Then Georgetown Prep found its groove and finished the season with a fivegame win streak. This year, more than half of the players who played important roles are back for 2013. The one who won’t be able to return to the field is standout tight end/defensive end Andrew Caskin, who suffered a knee injury while participating in a football camp in Ohio. Instead, he will serve as an unofficial assistant coach, hoping to bring along the talents of an all-senior offensive line including tackles Kelsey Boland and David Forney, guards Gus Basanes and Kyle Kadamian, center Pat Stewart and tight end Steven Johnson. Basanes, Kadamian, Boland and Stewart will also start on the defensive line. Senior quarterback Corey Howard is the team captain.
Leo Ekwoge
2013 Schedule Aug. 23
lost to Gilman
Aug. 30
at Immokalee
Sept. 6
St. Frances
Sept. 14 at Calvert Hall Sept. 20
Gonzaga
Sept. 27
at DeMatha
Oct. 5
at McNamara
Oct. 11
St. John’s
Oct. 18
Carroll
Oct. 26
O’Connell
— JOHN HARRIS III
WALTER JOHNSON Coach: Jon Kadi Last year: 3-7 Returning starters: 7 of 24 2012: avg. PF/PA:18.6/24.4 Last playoff appearance: N/A
Good Counsel remains one of the state’s top teams, but lost every major offensive skill-position player from last year’s squad to BCS-conference colleges. Add in DeMatha’s resurgence and that puts a couple streaks in jeopardy. Good Counsel has won the last four WCAC titles and 22 straight conference games. This year’s edition will be led by its lines, featuring Sam Mustipher (Notre Dame) and Sam Madaras offensively and Jesse Aniebonam and Jemal Averette defensively. Running back Leo Ekwoge (Western Michigan recruit) and quarterback Bryan Strittmatter rise from backups to starters. “He’s done well,” Milloy said of Strittmatter. “He’s young, and he’s got a long way to go, but we’re very happy.” Milloy also called fullback Chris Dawson “a very pleasant surprise.” Kobie Walker (Kentucky) and DaSharnte Thompson have impressed at linebacker. Milloy said his team “doesn’t have that real Stefon Diggs/Kendall Fuller star power. It doesn’t have that. But not too many people do.”
Victor Rivero
2013 Schedule Sept. 6
at Wootton
Sept. 12
at Churchill
Sept. 20
R. Mont.
Sept. 27 Oct. 4
Poolesville at Magruder
Oct. 11
Fort Hill
Oct. 17
at Northwood
Oct. 25
at Whitman
Nov. 1
Gaithersburg
Nov. 8
B-CC
— DAN FELDMAN
Walter Johnson’s 2012 football record was a bit deceiving. The Wildcats led at halftime in seven of their games and were easily within striking distance of a possible 7-3 campaign. Because of that, closing out games has been a major focus this fall, coach Jon Kadi said. Getting in that position to begin with might be a bit tougher this fall because of the loss of talent. Walter Johnson legitimately lost an entire team’s worth of players — 25 — to graduation. But fortunately for the Wildcats their few returning starters are skill-position players. Getting the ball to those guys’ hands will be crucial, Kadi said. Senior Victor Rivero will take over as quarterback. Six-foot, 2-inch returning junior Jacob Pitsenberger is a multifaceted player who can line up at both running back and slot receiver. Sophomore wide receiver Christian Campbell (6-3) also has the potential to be a playmaker. The Wildcats open the season against two playoff contenders so they’ll find out early if they can compete.
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
JOHN F. KENNEDY Coach: Carlos Smith Last season’s record: 3-7 Returning starters: 13 of 24 2012 avg. PF/PA: 13.3/25.2 Last playoff appearance: 2007
Greg Jackson
2013 Schedule Sept. 6
at Blair
Sept. 12
Poolesville
Sept. 20
Paint Branch
Sept. 27
at W. Wilson
Oct. 4
vs. Wheaton*
Oct. 11
Einstein
Oct. 18
at Blake
Oct. 26
Northwood
Nov. 1
at Springbrook
Nov. 8
Sherwood * at Blair
Senior quarterback Marvin Galdamez has the position to himself this fall after Roy Russell transferred to Albert Einstein during the summer. Junior Tavon Sanders is expected to be the Cavaliers’ best playmaker and do a “little bit of everything” for coach Carlos Smith as a slot receiver, running back, defensive back and return man. Senior Mike Scott is scheduled to start at free safety and is a “freakish athlete” that Smith says he’s counting on to make plays on both sides of the ball. Classmate Alonte Evans, who hasn’t played in two years and transferred in from James H. Blake according to Smith, should contribute at fullback and linebacker. Senior linemen Greg Jackson, who may also line up at linebacker, and Farah Shahid return after starting both ways last fall. “Inexperience and lack of depth makes us go game by game,” Smith said. “Hopefully we can build off our three wins.”
Options to go by air, or land
Northwest High School’s Josh Gills carries the ball against Sherwood during a scrimmage Friday at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda. Gills is expected to share the quarterback job and also play running back and receiver this year for the Jaguars, who are trying for their second straight playoff berth. TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
— KENT ZAKOUR
LANDON
COL. ZADOK MAGRUDER Coach: Kevin Bernot Last season’s record: 1-9 Returning starters: 10 of 24 2012 avg. PF/PA: 2.7/41.3 Last playoff appearance: 2007
Coach: Paul Padalino Last season’s record: 7-3 Returning starters: 10 of 24 2012 avg. PF/PA: 23.5/16.2 Last playoff appearance: 2012
Kyle Hartman
2013 Schedule Sept. 7
Boys Latin
Sept. 12 Mt. St. Joseph Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 5
at St. Paul’s at Annap. AC Episcopal
Oct. 11
at Woodberry
Oct. 19
at SS/SA
Oct. 26
Bullis
Nov. 2
Geo. Prep
Nov. 9
at St. Albans
The Bears return nearly half the starters from their 2012 Interstate Athletic Conference championship team for this season. Senior quarterback Kyle Hartman is back for his senior year, and will be joined by cornerback and receiver Dominique Seagears and guard Mike Lorallo. Junior running backs Jamal Francois and Johari Johnson also return. Unfortunately, tight end Austin Ritter along with fellow University of Virginia lacrosse recruit Jack Falk are likely to miss the entire season due to injuries incurred during the lacrosse season. The Bears do return three linemen, senior Andrew Mitchell, junior Kolby Williams and senior Jules Desroaches. Senior Brandon Johnson returns as a defensive back. “Our [junior varsity] team was very successful last year, they won the IAC as well,” Padalino said. “We’ve had a great camp so far, we’ve got 89 players in the entire program, so we have depth.”
— JOHN HARRIS III
Bryan Juarez
2013 Schedule Sept. 6
Northwest
Sept. 12
vs. Wheaton*
Sept. 20
Blake
Sept. 27
at Q. Orchard
Oct. 4
W. Johnson
Oct. 11
at Sherwood
Oct. 18
Gaithersburg
Oct. 25
Rockville
Nov. 1
at Clarksburg
Nov. 9 at Randallstown * at Blair
RICHARD MONTGOMERY Coach: Josh Klotz Last season’s record: 6-4 Returning starters: 5 of 24 2012: avg. PF/PA: 22.3/21.3 Last playoff appearance: 2005
Last fall could not have gone any worse for the Colonels, who put up one of the worst statistical seasons in county history. They were shut out six times and failed to score more than nine points in a single game. They surrendered more than 31 points nine times and 41 or more on eight occasions. But there is optimism in Magruder’s camp under second-year coach Kevin Bernot. “We all were very concerned and depressed about our output offensively and defensively,” he said. “We played a lot of young guys, but it will start paying off.” Magruder has simplified its 5-2 base defense and multiple formation offense. Sophomore wide receiver/ defensive back Bryan Juarez should be one of the team’s best playmakers along with senior transfer all-purpose player Shawon Nunes. Senior defensive end/left guard Kurtland Elliott and junior wing back/linebacker Brent Martin are also expected to make significant contributions.
— KENT ZAKOUR
Renzo Farfan
2013 Schedule Sept. 6 Sept. 12
Rockville at Northwest
Sept. 20 at W. Johnson Sept. 27
Sherwood
Oct. 4
at Whitman
Oct. 11
at Poolesville
Oct. 18
Churchill
Oct. 25
at Wootton
Nov. 1
B-CC
Nov. 8
Clarksburg
The Richard Montgomery High School football team is in new hands as it looks to build on last year’s first winning season in recent history. A former member of the two-time defending state finalist Quince Orchard coaching staff, Josh Klotz certainly has seen what it takes to get to the top of state football. It starts, he said, with adopting the mentality of a champion, expecting to dominate whenever the team is on the field. Additionally, he added, a strong ground game and the ability to stop the run is imperative at the high school level. And that is what Richard Montgomery is built around this year. Klotz said he hopes they’ll be competitive this season. Alex Fehlinger and Liam Duffy are expected to lead the way at running back for the Rockets this year. Klotz said opposing defenses will have to pay attention to a slew of talented senior receivers. Junior quarterback Renzo Farfan has proven he can hit his targets, which include seniors Phil Osborn and Marcus Foster.
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
NORTHWEST Coach: Mike Neubeiser Last season’s record: 8-4 Returning starters: 7 of 24 2012 avg. PF/PA: 29.7/19.4 Last playoff appearance: 2012
Josh Gills
2013 Schedule Sept. 6
at Magruder
Sept. 12 R. Montgomery Sept. 20
Seneca
Sept. 28 at Gaithersburg Oct. 4
Blake
Oct. 11 at Paint Branch Oct. 18
Wootton
Oct. 25
Clarksburg
Nov. 1
at Q. Orchard
Nov. 8
at Springbrook
The Jaguars’ high-powered offense from last season was hit hard by graduation, as was the defensive unit. However, Northwest is banking on a new group of athletic players to help them stay among the county’s elite. Josh Gills is the favorite to take over the reigns at quarterback. The senior will also more than likely play some wide receiver to allow for sophomore Mark Pierce to take some snaps as well. Coach Mike Neubeiser is also high on speedy junior running back E.J. Lee, and classmate Brandon Williams, a big wide receiver who received plenty of playing time last season on defense, and enjoyed a productive spring in varsity passing leagues. Other key seniors include lineman Brandon Hungerford and defensive backs Luke Pierce and Rodney Snider. Luke Pierce is a three-year starter at the position. “Our strength this season is speed. Our weakness is inexperience,” Neubeiser said.
— JOHN HARRIS III