Football
DeMatha 2025 Football Preview
The DeMatha Stags are coming off a successful 2024 season, which culminated in a WCAC championship. Under the leadership of head coach Bill McGregor, they are expected to be a top contender again in the highly competitive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC). While the team lost some key players to graduation (see below), the program is known for its ability to “reload” rather than rebuild, and they are expected to have a deep and talented roster.
THE COACH
Bill McGregor is a legendary figure in high school football, with a long and distinguished career at DeMatha. His first tenure as head coach began in 1982, and he coached until 2010. After a few years away as an assistant coach at other schools, he returned to DeMatha in 2019. Throughout his career, McGregor has compiled a remarkable record, with a winning percentage of .855 and more than 300 career victories. He is one of only four coaches in Maryland high school football history to have reached the 300-win milestone. His teams have won 17 conference championships, and have also finished ranked No. 1 in The Washington Post’s annual football rankings seven times. In 2004, he received national recognition when he was named the NFL High School Football Coach of the Year, and has been recognized as the WCAC’s top coach 12 times.
THE 2025 SCHEDULE (*WCAC Game)
- August 30: at St. Joseph’s Prep (PA) Hawks
- September 5: vs. Imhotep Institute (PA) Panthers
- September 12: at Roman Catholic (PA) Cahillite
- September 19: at Mt. Zion Prep (MD) Warriors
- September 27: at St. Michael (VA) Warriors
- October 3: vs. Riverdale Baptist (MD) Crusaders
- October 10: at Good Counsel (MD) Falcons*
- October 18: at Bishop McNamara (MD) Mustangs*
- October 24: vs. St. John’s College HS (DC) Cadets*
- October 31: vs. Gonzaga (DC) Eagles*
PLAYERS TO WATCH
DeMatha has a history of producing college-level talent, and the 2025 team is no different. Several players are already on the radar of college recruiters, and many have already committed.
Class of 2026
- Zion Smith (OL): An interior offensive lineman who has committed to North Carolina.
- Darrell Carey (S): A safety who has committed to Penn State.
- LaVar Keys (WR): A wide receiver who has committed to Penn State.
- Elijah Lee (RB): A running back who holds several offers, including from Brown, Bucknell, Cornell, Dartmouth, and Georgetown. He has not yet committed.
- Joshua Parker (WR): A wide receiver who has not yet committed.
- Justin Booze (EDGE): An edge rusher who has not yet committed.
- Evan Jones (WR): A wide receiver who has not yet committed.
Class of 2027
- Jared Taylor (OL): An offensive lineman who is a top prospect for his class. He already has offers from schools like Florida, Georgia, and Maryland.
- James Pace (EDGE): A highly sought-after defensive end, Pace is a top-ranked player in Maryland and nationally. He holds offers from major programs like Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Here are some of the top recruits from DeMatha’s 2025 class and the colleges they are now playing for:
- Bud Coombs (RB): Maryland
- Denzel Gardner (QB): Southern Miss
- Jermaine Minnis (LB): Ohio
- Noah Chambers (LB): Navy
- Luke O’Hare (LS): Maryland
- Anthony Chuman (DL): Navy
- Jacob Wallace (S): Iowa
- Kade Sebastian (K/P): American
- Cole Bowser (QB): Furman
DeMatha Stags Football All-Time Records
DeMatha has a storied football history dating back to its first season in 1949.
- Bill McGregor’s Coaching Record: 278-40-3 in his first tenure (1982-2010), and over 300 total career wins.
- WMAC & WCAC Championships: 17 titles under Coach McGregor alone, and a total of 223 conference championships across all sports since 1957.9
DeMatha Football Since 1982- 2023: 9-2, #5 Washington Post
- 2022: 10-2, #6 Washington Post
- 2021: 9-3, #3 Washington Post
- 2021: 7-3, #9 Washington Post
- 2020: 2-1, Season shortened due to COVID-19
- 2019: 7-4, #6 Washington Post
- 2018: 8-3, #3 Washington Post
- 2017: 6-5, #17 Washington Post
- 2016*: 12-0, #1 Washington Post, #4 USA Today
- 2015*: 11-1, #2 Washington Post, #12 USA Today
- 2014*: 9-3, #2 Washington Post
- 2013*: 11-1, #2 Washington Post, #20 USA Today
- 2012: 8-3, #7 Washington Post
- 2011: 6-4
- 2010: 9-3, #10 Washington Post
- 2009: 11-1, #3 Washington Post
- 2008*: 10-2, #4 Washington Post
- 2007*: 10-2, #5 Washington Post
- 2006*: 12-0, #1 Washington Post, #10 USA Today
- 2005*: 11-1, #2 Washington Post, #14 USA Today
- 2004*: 10-1, #1 Washington Post, #20 USA Today
- 2003*: 12-0, #3 Washington Post, #17 USA Today
- 2002: 7-3, #14 Washington Post
- 2001*: 11-0, #1 Washington Post, #23 USA Today
- 2000*: 11-1, #1 Washington Post
- 1999: 10-1-1, #13 Washington Post
- 1998*: 12-0, #2 Washington Post
- 1997: 11-1, #6 Washington Post
- 1996: 8-2, #9 Washington Post
- 1995*: 9-1, #1 Washington Post
- 1994*: 8-3, #3 Washington Post
- 1993*: 8-3, #3 Washington Post
- 1992*: 11-1, #1 Washington Post
- 1991*: 9-2, #2 Washington Post
- 1990: 9-1, #7 Washington Post
- 1989: 8-3, #6 Washington Post
- 1988: 7-2-1, #10 Washington Post
- 1987: 8-1-1, #7 Washington Post
- 1986*: 10-0 #1Washington Post, #6 USA Today
- 1985: 8-2, #8 Washington Post
- 1984*: 10-0, #2 Washington Post, #16 USA Today
- 1983: 8-2, #9 Washington Post
- 1982*: 10-1, #2 Washington Post
* Conference Champions
Famous DeMatha Football Alumni
DeMatha has a rich history of producing exceptional football talent that has gone on to successful careers in college and the NFL. Here are some of the most notable alumni, including information about their NFL earnings:
- Brian Westbrook: A standout running back at Villanova. In the NFL, he played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers. His career earnings totaled approximately $24.6 million.
- Chase Young: A dominant defensive end at Ohio State. In the NFL, he has played for the Washington Commanders, the San Francisco 49ers, and the New Orleans Saints. His career earnings through the 2024 season were approximately $47.5 million, with his current contract with the Saints having a total value of $51 million.
- Cameron Wake: A standout at Penn State. In the NFL, he played for the Miami Dolphins and the Tennessee Titans. His career earnings were approximately $60.6 million.
- Olu Oluwatimi: An outstanding offensive lineman who won both the Outland Trophy and the Rimington Trophy as the best interior lineman and center in college football while playing for the Michigan Wolverines. He currently plays for the Seattle Seahawks. His career earnings through the 2024 season are approximately $1.98 million, with his rookie contract running through 2026.
- Rodney McLeod: A long-time NFL safety who played college football at Virginia. He played for the St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Cleveland Browns. His career earnings are approximately $38.4 million.
- Anthony McFarland Jr.: A highly-touted running back who played at Maryland and has played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. His career earnings are approximately $2.8 million.
- Cyrus Kouandjio: An offensive lineman who was part of multiple national championship teams at Alabama. He was drafted into the NFL and played for the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos. His career earnings were approximately $4.06 million.
- Arie Kouandjio: An offensive lineman who also played at Alabama. He played for the Washington Redskins and was also part of the Baltimore Ravens practice squad. His career earnings were approximately $2.58 million.
- Ja’Whaun Bentley: A linebacker who was a four-year starter at Purdue and has spent his entire NFL career with the New England Patriots. His career earnings are approximately $17.9 million.
- MarShawn Lloyd: A highly-ranked running back who played at South Carolina and USC before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers. His career earnings through his rookie season in 2024 were approximately $1.75 million, with his rookie contract running through 2027 with a total value of over $5.8 million.
- James Brown: While not a player, he is one of the most famous alumni in football media, serving as the host of CBS’s The NFL Today and Fox Sports’ Fox NFL Sunday.
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