Everyone dreams of making it to the state championship game in basketball, but only a few ever get the chance. When that moment finally arrives, some rise to the occasion while others fall short. Blake rose. Blake captured the championship title with an impressive win over Whitman. The team played with relentless intensity, feeding off each other’s energy from start to finish. It was a true brotherhood on the court, and combined with great coaching, it kept the team locked in and focused when it mattered most. Every player played a vital role in the victory — whether it was knocking down huge three-pointers, creating momentum with big steals, or pushing the ball up the court in transition. These players understood what it took to win, and when the moment came, they delivered. This victory wasn’t just for the team. It was for the school, the families, the friends, and the fans who packed the gym with support. The energy was through the roof, and everyone shared the same goal — to watch their team bring home a state title.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcbsdxMEmso 🏀🏀 ROAD TO UMBC MPSSAA BOYS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 🆚 (3) Blake vs (4) Whitman 📍 UMBC, Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena 📝 Kmillz (MFVAllSportsNetwork) This year’s 4A Basketball Championship was dominated by two teams out of Montgomery County. One of these programs, either the Blake Bengals of Silver Spring or the Walt Whitman Vikings of Bethesda, would be crowned the 4A kings. The atmosphere was definitely set for a beautiful matchup. 1ST HALF - This half was about establishing dominance. I believe a lot of people were anticipating Blake’s Maryland commit, #10 BaBa Oladotun, to be the dominating force of the game, but in fact their Senior guard, #4 Tahj Martin, was making the noise. Walt Whitman did have a 7 point lead as the Bengals fought back to take the lead in the half, 28-22. 2ND HALF - This part of the game was about continuing what worked in the first. Bengals continued to expand upon their lead now finding their motivation to win. Walt Whitman did fight but couldn’t regain the momentum to take their lead back. In the end, the Blake Bengals were crowned as the MPSSAA Boys Class 4A State Champions winning 60-44. CONGRATULATIONS to the Bengals on such a monumental achievement. Proud of you guys and keep repping and shining for MoCo. Vikings, there is nothing to be ashamed. You put on your best performance and showed you have ballers. Much love to you. Thanks to all at MPSSAA and CSZSCores for making this opportunity possible. MFV MVP - Tahj Martin who had 14 points and 6 rebounds.
On Thursday evening, the 23-1 James H. Blake Bengals faced off against the 22-3 Walt Whitman Vikings in the 4A boys basketball Maryland high school state championship. In the semifinal round, Whitman knocked off top-seeded Charles H. Flowers 69-62, while their opponents also pulled off a second-round upset, defeating Meade 66-64. The two teams faced off in the Montgomery County championship game in late February, their only other meeting this season. Blake, without University of Maryland commit Baba Oladotun, took down the Vikings 67-55. After debuting in the semifinal game, Oladotun recognized the presence he has in the media, but explained that he tries to ignore it. “People talked a lot all season with me not playing and they make their own stories,” Oladotun said. “I’ve been with these guys for three years now and the chemistry has become bigger than basketball. It means more than basketball.” Coming into the match, Blake head coach Brandon Howell had an opportunity to win a state title in his first year leading the team. His team got off to a solid start, staying within two scores of Whitman in the first quarter. The Vikings had six different athletes find the net in the first eight minutes. On the other side, Oladotun dropped seven in the quarter off the bench, followed by five from senior Christian Kennard. The second quarter opened in the Vikings’ favor, with Rowan Conroy scoring four points inside of 30 seconds to put his team back ahead, but in the final four and a half minutes, junior guard Max Williams was the only one to score for the Columbia blue, getting just one point on a free throw. Meanwhile, the Bengals were led by Tahj Martin, who dropped seven points in the quarter’s final four minutes. Eli Konkler’s points before the end of the quarter put the Bengals ahead 28-22 going into the break. At halftime, Oladotun and Martin both had seven points, leading the blue and black, while Conroy’s seven points made him the leader for the Vikings. Blake’s lead continued to grow throughout the third quarter. After Whitman made one free throw in the first minute, the Bengals went on a ten-point run, led by four from Kennard, putting his team up by 15 with just over 11 minutes to play. Whitman head coach Chris Lun was forced to use two full timeouts inside of 75 seconds, trying to slow the Blake offense. To round out the third, Max Williams scored four while Will Shapiro scored five, and by the end of the third, Blake held a 12-point lead. The fourth quarter proved to be just as good for the Bengals. They had five separate athletes contribute to the scoreboard in a quarter that saw 16 points. Meanwhile, Whitman only managed 12, securing Blake’s first state championship in school history with a 60-44 final score. 14 Blake athletes saw time on the court in the title game, with four having double-digit point totals. They were led by Tahj Martin who scored 14 with six total rebounds. The state runner-up had 13 players record at least 30 seconds, led by junior Max Williams’s double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Despite the loss, Coach Lun was extremely proud of how his team’s season went. “We’re obviously disappointed with the result,” Coach Lun said in a post-game interview. “This is the third year we’ve gotten here, and obviously can’t get over that hump. Doesn’t take away from everything else we’ve done.” Max Williams, who will be returning to next year’s roster, also knows the role he will take on looking to get back to the title game. “I have full confidence in the group we have next year… we have to take the offseason seriously and I have to step up as a leader and we will make it back,” Williams said. Coach Howell, after winning the 4A title, was on cloud nine. “It still feels surreal, but it’s also a blessing,” he said. “From June in the hot sun running stairs and hills outside, we did things we’ve never done before to make sure we were in shape to play.” Senior Armani Fowlkes, who played almost 30 minutes in the championship contest, also recognized the significance of this marking the first title in school history. “It’s definitely a blessing… the three years before this we fell short in the same game. In our last year together, we had to come together and make a change. That’s what we did.”
Two quarters are finished at UMBC and the Blake Bengals (3) lead the Whitman Vikings (4) 28-22. The first quarter featured a ton of offense from both sides, with Blake's Baba Oladotun coming off the bench and dropping seven, with the quarter ending with the Bengals ahead 16-15. The second quarter was all Blake, as they outscored the Vikings 12-6. Oladotun's seven first quarter points lead his team, while Whitman senior Rowan Conroy also contributed seven in the half, making him the Vikings' leading contributor.
2025/2026 Regional Champions from MoCo
2025/2026 MCPS Division Champions
Great game last night for both Blake and Wootton last night as they battled it out after a close halftime score. In the first half Blake relied heavily on guard Chozen Lewis (#5). Lewis finished the game with a total of 18 points. While the score at half was close, 18-13, the Wootton Patriots were able to pull away in the third quarter and maintain their lead throughout the fourth. Significant playmakers for the Patriots were senior, Megan Lomotan (#5) and junior, Malia Bellamy (#23). Lomotan finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Bellamy finished with 9 points and 11 rebounds. The Patriots next game is Thursday, February 19th at Walter Johnson.
Entering February, Montgomery County teams have had no action for over a week, with most team’s last games dating back to January 21. With three weeks to go in the regular season, the county will enter February with twelve teams holding a winning record, including an undefeated Whitman squad and two others with just one loss, Magruder and Poolesville. In the season’s final three weeks before the postseason kicks off, here are the top storylines to watch for in Montgomery County Varsity Boys Basketball: 1. Four of Whitman’s (11-0) final games will come against teams with +.500 records, as the Vikings are set to play Sherwood and Richard Montgomery at home while they will travel to Walter Johnson and Damascus. Thus far, Whitman has only played three throughout the entire season, two of which were in the team’s first two games of the year. They took down now 8-4 Blair by 15, followed by an eight point win over 9-3 Kennedy, but competition has since slowed down. Most recent games included 27-point wins over both 0-13 Gaithersburg and 1-11 Clarksburg. Junior Max Williams and senior Bobby Zedak are both averaging 16.5 PPG for the Vikings, and will need to keep performing at a high level if the Vikings want to remain undefeated as they look to avenge two consecutive state championship losses. 2. The game of the season for Montgomery County teams is yet to take place, and it won’t come until the final day of the regular season. Magruder (12-1) is set to travel to Poolesville (11-1) in the last game of the season on February 20. Prior to that, both teams have high-stakes match ups, as the Colonels are also set to rematch the 8-4 Paint Branch Panthers at home on Friday. The Panthers handed Magruder their lone loss, coming in a 62-48 road defeat. So far, Magruder has six wins over +.500 teams. Poolesville (11-1) is riding a 10 game win streak but they have not played a +.500 team in over three weeks. Their most recent game against a team with a winning record was against the 8-4 Seneca Valley Raiders, where they won by 20 points. The Falcons are set to face Northwest (7-7) and Clarksburg (1-11) before a rematch on the road against the Raiders, which is set to tip off on Friday at 7:15. 3. Five teams, Seneca Valley, Damascus, Walter Johnson, Paint Branch, and Blair all currently sit at 8-4. Out of these five, Paint Branch has the hardest schedule, with five games scheduled against winning teams, including 9-3 Kennedy, 11-3 Blake, and 12-1 Magruder while Blake has the easiest with just three, those being 9-3 Richard Montgomery, 9-3 Kennedy, and 7-5 Sherwood. Damascus comes in second, followed by Seneca Valley and Walter Johnson. 4. The Gaithersburg Trojans, who are yet to capture their first win this season have several chances before the end of the season to avoid a totally winless campaign. After tomorrow’s game against 12-1 Magruder, they’re set to travel to Paint Branch to take on the 3-8 Panther on Wednesday. Following that game, they’ll host the 3-10 Springbrook Blue Devils on Friday, and then the 2-11 Northwood squad to wrap up their season on February 20. Both of Northwood’s wins came against 1-11 teams, as they took down Rockville at home by five points in Mid-December, and Einstein on the road by seven on January 14. 5. Four teams in the East are separated by just one game in league play, with Blake and Magruder at 4-1 while Sherwood and Paint Branch sit at 3-2. Each team will face two of the others by the end of this week with the final of the three before the season’s end. Apart from divisional games, Blake will have a three-game stretch where they play 0-13 Gaithersburg, 6-6 Bethesda-Chevy Chase, and 4-8 Wootton. Sherwood will play 3-10 Springbrook in their first game back from the week off, but they will finish their season against 11-0 Whitman, 8-4 Blair, and 8-4 Walter Johnson. Finally, Paint Branch will host 8-4 Damascus and will travel to face 9-4 Kennedy in two of their final three games of the regular season. A big shakeup could be coming in the East division before playoffs begin!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxuqwYivFOc 🏀🏀 MOCO GAME OF THE WEEK 🆚 Blake Bengals vs Northwest Jaguars 📍Germantown, MD (Northwest HS) 📝Zay Millz (MFVAllSportsNetwork) Today we headed to Germantown Md to see a matchup between (7-6) Northwest Jags and MoCo’s power house Blake Bengals (9-4) 1st quarter - Blake started off hot with scoring from Blake’s #11 and #1, dominating the broads and steals leading 14-4 to start off. Blake would continue the run leading 21-4 at the end of quarter 2nd quarter - Started off the same with Blake in the driver seat scoring all around playing as the more physical team. But Northwest #11 and #1 would score some buckets to push the score to a 12 point game. With 2 minutes left , a deep 3 by Jaguar’s #2, it would be a 8 point game under a minute to go. Northwest would have momentum going into the half down 23-31. 3rd quarter - Quarter would start off with Northwest on fire going on a 6-2 run with scoring from #11 before the Bengals would gain control mid 3rd and continue their momentum with a 49-37 lead going in to 4th quarter. 4th quarter - Northwest’s #1 would go crazy with constant steals and And 1 plays while Blake got control the lead at 12 mid-quarter. Blake’s #1 and #4 would get some excellent mid range shots and #11 from Blake would get a huge slam dunk to continue the lead as the game would conclude with two minutes to go. Number 1 would hit 2 night-closing 3s to close out the game and #55 from Blake would put the nail coffin as Blake would win 77-65 MFV Game mvps - Blake’s # 1 and #11 APOLOGIES as rosters were not available to me.
Photo courtesy of @e.goody.photos (Instagram). After falling by two points to Magruder and putting an end to its unbeaten start to the campaign, Blake — the presumptive state title frontrunners — needed a response. The opportunity in front of it came in the form of then-undefeated Paint Branch. The Bengals pounced on it, ultimately taking the Panthers in a four-quarter, comprehensive showdown, 79-65. It was Eli Konkler who got the Bengals started, hitting a midrange jumper and a 3-pointer in response to Kahlil Fountain’s deep-range shots. Konkler was Blake’s engine during the first frame, helping his team open up a four-point lead through his lane-driving acrobatics and physicality. The Bengals interior size and leaping ability allowed them to garner an advantage on the offensive glass — Abder Ouattara found room for a layup early while being hounded by two Paint Branch defenders. But that added emphasis in the paint only created more opportunities for Blake outside the arc — and the likes of Konkler and Christian Kennard didn’t miss much. Once Blake got some buckets on the fast break in the second period of play, the Bengals increased their lead even further. A Konkler fast-break layup with seven minutes until half put Blake up 26-17. Paint Branch had virtually no answers for the remainder of the half, as a Konkler 3-pointer on Blake’s next offensive possession began to demoralize the Panthers’ efforts. A layup from the guard minutes later — once again on a fast break — put the Bengals up by 12, forcing Paint Branch to call timeout. From there, Blake went on a 13-10 run to end the half, putting it up 45-30 with 16 minutes still to play. But those 16 minutes didn’t end up working in Paint Branch’s favor, as it was hardly able to make inroads or cut into Blake’s deficit with any substantial run. Ryan Bobb, who hit a three with time expiring in the first half, was able to get off and sink some really quick-release downtown shots. But his efforts still couldn’t make a dent in Blake’s advantage. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Bengals led by 17, and the contest was essentially all but over. A deep Bobb 3-pointer with 4:30 remaining cut Blake’s lead down to nine points, but that was as close as the Panthers found themselves late Friday night. Next up on the docket, Blake is set to take on Westtown on Dec. 29.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLG7EKKOYiY
Ten Maryland student-athletes officially signed to play for the University of Maryland last week. The men’s basketball, men’s lacrosse, women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse teams each announced new players who will join their respective squads next year. Men’s Basketball: Baba Oladotun signed later than the other players listed and boasted the most closely followed commitment of a Maryland athlete this cycle. He had narrowed his selection to four possible schools, deciding between Arkansas, Georgetown, Kentucky and Maryland. The James Hubert Blake High School senior posted a strong season last year with 22.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. The Bengals won 21 of their 23 games, including the playoffs, and beat every school outside of Sherwood High School, which gave them their lone regular-season loss and playoff loss. Oladotun’s commitment made it three straight years where the University of Maryland landed a five-star recruit in men’s basketball, following Derik Queen and Darius Adams. He will try to power James Hubert Blake past Sherwood this winter. Women’s Soccer: Morgan Shannon, a senior at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, finished her high school career with a Maryland All-State first team selection this season. The Falcons made the WCAC championship but lost to St. John’s College High School. Shannon will be one of two Maryland natives to play in the All-American game in December. Greyson Tischer, a midfielder for Notre Dame Prep, will join Shannon on the 2025 East All-American Team. The Blazers lost in the semifinals to 12-2 Mercy High School, but the senior captain enjoyed another strong season for the 6-3-1 squad. A hat trick against Calvert Hall High School highlighted her senior campaign. Daryn Barnes, a senior at the Friends School of Baltimore, saw her season end early after an ACL tear, according to her Instagram page. She explained that the University of Maryland stuck out during her commitment process. “I chose Maryland because it's my home. The moment I stepped onto campus: The energy, competition, and commitment to be better everyday was everything that I was looking for,” Barnes said. Men’s Lacrosse: Brady Mollot, an attacker at Archbishop Spalding High School, will continue a family legacy at the University of Maryland. His father, Mike Mollott, played for the team from 2000-2003. The Cavaliers had an 11-1 regular season record last season and Mollot will look to take the team further in the playoffs this spring. Bryce Barrett, a long stick midfielder at Boys' Latin School of Maryland, lost to Mollot’s Cavaliers in the playoffs last season, but he earned an All-State honorable mention of his own. The three-star recruit, according to Inside Lacrosse, stood out as a Crabs Lacrosse Club player, which is where he played for the past seven years. Reid Powell, a goalie for Loyola Blakefield, saw his team’s season end in a 9-5 loss to Barrett and the Lakers last May. His defense propelled the Dons forward all year, holding opposing teams to single-digit scores in seven of ten regular-season games. Loyola Blakefield won all of those matchups and will hope for more elite work from Powell in his senior season. Drew Demarinis, a midfielder at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, helped the Falcons post a 13-4 record last season. In a July 22 scouting report, Inside Lacrosse described what differentiates him from other players. “Gains separation in open field like few others, and he wills his way to get that special shot unleashed in creative and tough ways,” they said. Women’s Lacrosse: Cayden Reese, an attacker at Maryvale Preparatory School, already has a close relationship with the University of Maryland. Her mother, Cathy Reese, is the team’s head coach and has the most wins in program history. The younger Reese is the number one player on Inside Lacrosse’s class of 2026 rankings. She will play for back-to-back championships this spring. Kit Laake, a defender at the McDonogh School, is the top-ranked player in the class of 2026 at her position, according to Inside Lacrosse. The five-star recruit earned a spot on the Baltimore Sun’s All-Metro team for her role in the Eagles’ 9-1 record last season. She will be one of four team captains next spring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpSpyJDVQoI 🏈🏈 ROAD TO ANNAPOLIS 🆚 Laurel vs Blake MPSSAA 4A NORTH ROUND 1 PLAYOFFS 📍 Silver Spring , Maryland (James Hubert Blake HS) Walking down the hill to the football field (which they refer to as “the jungle”) at James Hubert Blake High School, the setting was absolutely perfect for playoff football. I could see the Bengals players going through their pregame drills. One, they were trying to stay war. Two, they seemed to be preparing for battle. The weather: COLD, but absolutely perfect conditions for MPSSAA playoff football. Soon, the Bengals exited to prepare for entering in during game time. The Laurel Spartans bus pulled up and I greeted some of the staff, and it looked like Laurel was ready for battle. The smell of playoff football was in the air. Let see how this went down GAME RECAP Laurel received the kickoff in the first half after winning the coin toss. Their goal appeared to be control the time of possession, go down the field and put points on the board. First drive was unsuccessful and they ended up punting to the Bengals. Blake was also unsuccessful on their attempt to score. The momentum shift came when Blake blocked a punt by Laurel and walked it in to the end zone. This put Laurel in a position to now play catch up. The Bengals went on to add 7 more points in the second quarter, which furthered Laurel’s chances for a comeback. However, there was plenty of game left to play. The Spartans were able to put 6 points on the board with touchdown pass to their wide receiver. Although the field goal attempt was halted, Spartans felt they had a game now to conquer. Coming out in the second half, third quarter shifted to Laurel. After getting a safety, they took advantage and let their receivers make some big plays which gave the Spartans the lead. Things were heating up but this is the essence of playoff football. With the looming 4th quarter coming, both teams were seeking to lock in and secure victory. It is ourselves at times that can get in our own way. I think the coaches on the Spartans would agree with me, this was the shifter of the 4th quarter. Costly errors, which happens with all of us, the Bengals took advantage which led them to end the game with a 33-15 win over their opponent Laurel. TO THE SPARTANS, lessons learned and SUPER PROUD of the success you achieved this season. You improved, and SHINED out there. KEEP GRINDING like you guys always do. Love y’all and wish you the best. Always encouraged by your honesty and integrity you guys possess. You represent PG County well, you should be proud. TO THE BENGALS, Congratulations on the victory. SO HAPPY, you received a playoff victory but I know your coaches will have you focused now on the next challenge ahead. KEEP THAT FOCUS and LOCK IN. Absolutely love your energy; got DAWGS on your squad. Keep your foot on the gas and WORK HARD. Definitely look forward to more coverage of you guys. MUCH SUCCESS. BOTH of you guys are well coached teams. Stay on your grind. This MoCo vs PG competition needs to happen more often. LOVE IT, and the respect runs deep. MORE HEIGHTS TO REACH for y’all. MUCH SUCCESS TO YOU BOTH MFV MFVAllSportsNetwork
Photo courtesy of AEHS Soccer Instagram. For No. 7-seed Einstein boys’ soccer, the road to the North II Final was daunting. It passed its early test, capturing an 8-7 shootout victory over fellow Montgomery County foe Springbrook, before turning its attention to another familiar county opponent in Blake — the No. 1-seed in its regional bracket. Einstein’s familiarity with Blake was opportune; it had the Bengals’ number after a 5-1 victory earlier in the season. The four-point loss was just one of three defeats Blake suffered all season, and the only one it lost by more than a goal. The Titans channeled that success against Blake once more Friday, demolishing the Bengals, 4-1. Einstein made inroads in the first 10 minutes of action, peppering the net with a few chances that weren’t quite close or powerful enough to be true threats. In fact, it was Blake that had the first premier scoring opportunity of the afternoon, rotating the ball around the edge of the box until an open shot from the right side of the cage opened itself up — the shot crossed the net and outstretched arms of Einstein’s keeper before pinging off the post. Just minutes later, a point blank cross to the center of Blake’s box failed to truly connect with the boot of a Titan attacker, whose shot was scooped up by the Bengals’ diving goalkeeper. The momentum was palpable, though, and on Einstein’s side. That became even more clear over the ensuing minutes. Two close-range free kicks and roughly 15 minutes later, the Titans hit paydirt for their first of four scores of the game. This one came on a free kick from 20 yards out, sneaking around the close side of the defensive wall and fooling Blake’s goalkeeper, who was late on the dive. Blake was able to answer back just before the half. Alhaji B. Koroma took a perfect touch to the center of the field off a throw in. With defenders on all sides, he swung a rope from the top of the box into the bottom right corner, knotting things before the half. The Titans had to keep a few of the Bengals’ shots at bay before the second half, but once they did, the floodgates opened. Around halfway through the second half, Einstein struck again. This time, an intercepted pass on Blake’s back line gave the Titans’ attacker free room to close in on net. A contested shot bounced past Blake’s goalkeeper, who believed it was heading wide of the net. Instead, it hit the back of the net, giving Einstein a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. Just two minutes later, a free kick from all the way on Einstein’s half of the field was pelted deep by its goalkeeper, reaching Blake’s box. Though it was initially punched by Blake’s keeper, the ensuing rebound was promptly put home by the Titans’ swarming attackers. Einstein added extra insurance on a score with 13 minutes left. An Einstein wing flanked the edge of the box, heavily guarded by a Blake defender, but still managed to flick the ball over the keeper on the near side of the net and secure the win. Einstein will take on Richard Montgomery in Round Three next; it previously lost to the Rockets 1-0 on Sept. 29.
Blake goal by Yumiko Lobaugh.
On September 12, the Einstein titans played the Blake Bengals at home in a 5-1 domination victory. The game kicked off with an intercepted black ball and almost scoring within 10 seconds into the game from a through pass, but fortunately saved by Einstein goalkeeper #1 Jacob Wexler. Both Einstein and Blake played with intense pressure, as Einstein knew Blake were real contenders from last week's 5-2 win over state Champions Blair. The Titans were given a massive chance, with a blake pass mistake giving #1 Davi Da silva had the chance to score but shot straight to Blake's goal keeper. Blake would put the first points on the board, with a goal from #10 Sebastian Sandgorda Flores after Einstein goal keeper, #1 Jacob Wexler, under cleared his pass and went straight to Flores. With 22 minutes left in the first, Einstein made sure to respond with a #11 Nathan Ramirez finesse shot goal, dribbling through two defenders and shooting with his right foot, catching the goalkeeper off guard and tying the game 1-1. Pressuring was a major pattern within the first half, as the Titans were having a slight advantage but kept recording offsides, crossing the line 4 times. Einstein also received two yellows to players #12 Anthony Guevara and #6 Orlando Lopez, demonstrating strong signs of aggressiveness. Blake matched that aggressive energy, receiving its first yellow card to #23 Edwin Ruiz. Einstein was given one last opportunity in the first with #3 Isiah Pistone got an open volley but shot it wide left. The first half ended with a 1-1 score, with Einstein having 9 total shots compared to Blake’s 3 total shots. The 2nd half of the game started with Blake momentum until possession was lost. Einstein picked up the momentum after the loss possession and scored a goal from #9 Sergio Rodas, completing a simple finish with his left foot and an assist from #11 Ramirez. Einstein took its first lead of the game at 2-1 with 32 minutes left. A third yellow card was recorded by Einstein from #20 Ariel Benitez, due to punching the ball. Einstein goalkeeper, Jacob Wexler, seemed to be taking back from the earlier mistake, recording two important saves by coming up. A strong cross was passed to #12 Anthony Gueverra into the box, with the goal keeper not able to catch the save and allowed Gueverra to tap the goal in with his chest. Einstein’s leads got comfortable with a score of 3-1. The yellow card collection continued piling up for the Titans, with Gueverra receiving a yellow and giving Blake a free kick near the box. This chance for Blake was crushed as it was blocked from Einstein’s wall. Twin Chemistry was set in place for Einstein, as #12 Anthony Guevara set a cross towards his twin, #27 Johnathan Guevara, for a magical header into the opposite side of the goal, bringing the lead to 4-1 with 15 minutes remaining. Blake’s problems continued to worsen, as the first red card was issued to #19 Ivan Romero. Only 10 men would be playing for Blake with 10 minutes left. Einstein set the dagger with a deep end free kick miles from the box, scored by #6 Orlando Lopez, having the ball hit cross bins over the goalkeepers head. Time eventually ran out as Einstein came out with a 5-1 victory. Einstein moves up to 2-0 and will face Rockville on the road while Blake drops to 1-1 and will face Gaithersburg at home.
Boys win 19-44 Girls win 26-33
Back to school commercials are starting to show up which means it’s only a matter of time before hallways and classrooms are filled with students again. But it also means Friday Night Lights aren’t far out! The cornerstone of high school sports, football brings entire communities together cheering on their respective schools, filling them with a sense of pride that only the people around them can understand. Here in Maryland, and in Montgomery County, that is no exception. From getting polls on a few coaches across the county, I have compiled a Way-Too-Early rankings of the top 10 teams in MCPS. 1. Quince Orchard (13-0) - QO has been Montgomery County’s power for the longest time, and that doesn’t seem to end anytime soon. Coming off a 13-0 season in which it scored 39.7 ppg and allowed 6.7 ppg, the Cougars won its sixth state title in school history and its third in four years. Although they do lose their top rusher in Iverson Howard, they return senior WR Mason Mizzer so he’ll be a reliable target for whoever takes QB’s TJ Jackson’s role. The defense loses a few guys but does return DLs Kacey Gilliam and Jahiem Bond. It should be another fun and exciting season for HC John Kelly and the Cougars, who have averaged 11 wins during his 11 seasons at the helm. A week 2 matchup at Paint Branch will set the tone early. Speaking of Paint Branch… 2. Paint Branch (9-2) - The Panthers will look to continue their success of last season in which they had an unbeaten regular season, but had an abrupt end to their year in the first round of states. Rising junior RB Alijah Bah (1,299 yards, 21 TDs) will lead the offensive charge, and top two receivers Michael Boateng and Joshua Biando return. On defense, Kaden Chapman returns on a unit that allowed 11.4 ppg, but does lose a few key players. They open their season at home against Quince Orchard and later in September face Northwest, who they beat for the first time in school history last year. 3. Sherwood (10-3) - QB Matthew Larsen threw for 1,612 yards and a 17-9 TD-INT ratio as a sophomore last year, leading the Warriors to the state semifinals. They fell to defeat three times, but they were to the top teams in the state. Leading rusher Ryan Johnson is back for his senior season, and although they lose their top three receivers, Preston Hamrick – who averaged 11.6 yards per catch as a sophomore – will be a reliable option for Larsen. On defense, the losses Michael Robles (7 sacks, 13 TFLs), Jaden Nix (6 ints), and Khalil Wilson (5 ints) will hurt, but senior Jefferson Serkfem (64 tackles and 17 TFLs) will no doubt be up to the task of leading this unit. Mark your calendars for September 26, as the Warriors will play host to rival Blake, an always exciting matchup. Last time they hosted the Bengals, they suffered their first defeat to them since 2019. It should be a raucous environment. 4. Northwest (9-3) - Rising senior QB Jayden Vongprachahn-Nelson (1,355/13-2 td-int) will look to lead the Jaguars to another successful campaign and perhaps lead his team to its first state title since 2014. It won’t be an easy task as they lose their top rusher and top two receivers from last year. Which skill players step up this season will be interesting to watch. Nearly everyone on defense departs, but they do return junior Eric Odina (2 sacks in 1 game) and Corky Lynch (2 ints). Do it all athlete Aaron “Tank” Rivers will surely have an expanded role this year. They host Paint Branch in late September and travel to Quince Orchard in October. 5. Bethesda-Chevy Chase (8-4) - Coming off its best season in years, the Barons will look to continue their success under second year head coach Matt Schwartzback. They return top rusher Gabe Eisler (766 yards/5.6 avg/9 tds) and two of last year’s top four receivers in Andre Ekani and Nathan David who both will look to step up and be a reliable passing option for whoever starts at QB. The defense saw three players record double-digit TFLs last season, and now all three of them depart. Deandre Blakeney was productive as a sophomore (4.5 TFLs) and Eisner was impactful as a DB (3 INTs). How B-CC continues to build with a boatload of seniors departing will be fascinating to watch. 6. Blake (9-3) - The big question will be at QB, as Kirby Matson departs after starting the past three seasons as the leader of the offense. Receivers Kai Cooper, Zaire Richardson, and Joey Faunteroy also graduated so it will be a very different offense this fall. The defense held opponents to 11 ppg and they return three starters from last year who received All-Division recognition. The defense figures to be the strength this year as the Bengals and head coach Bryon Marshall will determine who takes over at QB. Watch for WR/CB Tatum Bell. 7. Blair (8-4) - The Blazers bounced back after a 3 win campaign in 2023. RB Junior Rodriguez was their top offensive contributor as he tallied 695 yards on the ground with 13 tds. He returns. Jayden Parker is also back for his senior season as the WR had 266 yards (9.9 avg) with 4 tds. Jacob Zirin seems like the player to replace Dylan Rinaldi at the QB position. The defense loses four players who made All-Division a year ago so it will be interesting to monitor who steps up this year. An early matchup at B-CC will be something to watch out for (the Barons knocked the Blazers out of the regionals). 8. Seneca Valley (7-4) - The Screamin’ Eagles had an impressive season and will look to continue that and go even further after losing in the regionals to Northwest. 9. Damascus (7-4) - Much like Seneca Valley, Damascus is one of the more storied programs in Maryland that seems to have consistent success year in and year out. They will look to have better success in the postseason after losing early in the regionals. 10. Churchill (7-5) - The Bulldogs struggled early (1-3) but were able to regroup and finished their season winning 4 out of their last 5 games. Losing QB Vasi Hallas will be tough, for fortunately RB Noah Zhang is back (491 yards/5.6 avg) to carry some of the load. The majority of their receiving corps is gone as well, so it will be an opportunity for many to take advantage. On defense, David Skopec was a force as a sophomore last year (3 TFLs/3 sacks). Zhang was also a factor on the defense (2 sacks). The Bulldogs will look to carry their momentum from the end of last year into this fall.
For the past five seasons, Desmin Wade roamed the sidelines at James Hubert Blake High School, being the head coach for the varsity basketball team. During his time there, Blake had a record of 91-35, winning four division championships, one county championship, and making five regional championship appearances. This current April, coach Wade made the difficult decision to step down as the head man, leaving a vacant position at Blake for the first time since the 2019 offseason. However, athletic director Jared Fribush was able to quickly transition, hiring assistant coach Brandon Howell. Howell has been on the staff since 2022, working as an assistant. Howell played at Bethesda Chevy Chase, graduating in 2001; three years after Blake’s grand opening. He explains his desire to coach started when he was at BCC and how he wanted to help his players get to the next level, something that wasn’t seen when he was playing despite the talent around him. This also isn’t the first head coaching position he’s had either. During the summertime, he’s a head coach for Inspire Elite, an AAU organization located in the DMV area. And interestingly enough, coach Wade was his assistant. The two have a very good relationship, and Brandon Howell gave his friend high praise for what he has done the past few years at Blake. “Just his passion for the game, to be able to lead and see the way that he directed the young core that we had from ninth grade all the way up to this point has been nothing less of amazing,” Coach Howell started. “To be able to turn the program around has been miraculous in a sense turning Blake from winning 15 to 16 games to now winning 23. It just shows you the amount of work that he put in there and then having the kids all buy in.” Now shifting back to this past year, when Blake had a record of 23-2, coach Howell looks to build on that success built by coach Wade: and that starts with discipline and team cohesion. “I think when you face a team that is close-knit together, that loves playing for one another, playing together, it's hard to beat that team no matter what type of talent level that they have.” And they certainly have talent, with the No.1 player in the entire country in Baba Oladotun back for his junior season. The 6-foot-9, 175 pound (according to 247sports) forward has a skillset that gets compared to future NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Durant, one of the greatest scorers in league history. Funny enough, Oladotun is a part of the DMV native’s program in Team Durant. Oladotun has 40 offers, including from Maryland, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, and Gonzaga. It’s not just his abilities on the court that stand out either. “He’s probably the most selfless basketball players that I've seen play and been able to coach,” coach Howell said. “He’s all about winning, he will do whatever it takes in order to win.” He emphasizes discipline and accountability from all of his players and explains that they weren’t the most disciplined team last year, but hopes that he’ll be able to get the most out of them not just skill wise, but also mature wise. “Whoever your brother is out there, I make sure that all the kids on the team have an accountability partner. So, whoever your brother is, he’s got to hold himself accountable in the classroom. And then on top of that, while we're in practice and on the floor competing against other teams, we just want to play the right way: play together. We want to play selfless basketball.” Moving forward into this upcoming winter and beyond, coach Howell has goals and aspirations that include not only regional championships, but also state titles. But it’s going to come by doing the little things right, being disciplined, working hard, and playing selfless basketball; the pillars of his philosophy. He wants Blake to turn into a powerhouse where recruits/transfers want to head to. “I want us to be the school that produces not only just college educated individuals, but also good young men for the community and basketball players who want to play on the next level.” That, combined with his philosophy and familiarity with the team can leave Bengal fans excited not only for this season, but for future seasons as well.
1. Churchill 2. Wootton 3. Northwest 4. Paint Branch 5. Seneca Valley 6. Einstein 7. Whitman 8. Walter Johnson 9. Clarksburg 10. Blake