DC Touchdown Club Players of the Week
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As the Churchill High football team hit the field for practice Monday afternoon, Coach Joe Rydzewski found himself facing his usual weekly conundrum: How to prepare the team while also looking out for senior running back and middle linebacker Noah Zhang and trying to keep the team’s most important player fresh.
Zhang, the Bulldogs’ leading rusher and top tackler, had another strong performance this past Friday, rushing 26 timrs for a career-high 230 yards and three touchdowns and making eight tackles on defense as Churchill beat Richard Montgomery, 35-17, in a Maryland 4A second-round game.
For his efforts, Zhang was named the Military Bowl Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week.
With their sixth consecutive victory, the Bulldogs (10-1) advanced to this week’s Maryland 4A quarterfinals against Blair. And the weekly challenge of how to ensure that their standout senior – perhaps generously listed at 5 feet 9 and 165 pounds – would be in prime condition for the next game.
“He’s so tough, but it’s usually not until Wednesday of the following week [after a game] before he feels normal,” Rydzewski said, adding that the coaching staff has tried to move Zhang to outside linebacker but always winds up leading him at middle linebacker because of his relentless play. “He was out there practicing full, but our major contact stuff we try to pull him on Mondays and Tuesdays.”
Churchill needed Zhang against Richard Montgomery. The Bulldogs trailed 14-0 early and 17-14 at halftime. Zhang’s touchdown run early in the third quarter gave Churchill its first lead and his 50-yard touchdown run sealed the victory in the fourth quarter.
This week’s DC Touchdown Club Honor Roll:
ANNE ARUNDEL
Glen Burnie RB Noah Mitchell rushed 19 times for 196 yards and two touchdowns and returned a punt 74 yards for the game-winning score late in the fourth quarter as the Gophers beat Meade, 41-35, in a Maryland 4A second-round game.
Glen Burnie RB Noah Mitchell rushed 19 times for 196 yards and two touchdowns and returned a punt 74 yards for the game-winning score late in the fourth quarter as the Gophers beat Meade, 41-35, in a Maryland 4A second-round game.
DC
Digital Pioneers RB Laroy Williams rushed 12 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns as the Pythons beat Kipp DC Legacy Prep, 26-21, in a DCSAA Class A quarterfinal game.
Digital Pioneers RB Laroy Williams rushed 12 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns as the Pythons beat Kipp DC Legacy Prep, 26-21, in a DCSAA Class A quarterfinal game.
FREDERICK
Linganore WR/CB Chase Perry caught two passes for 40 yards and on defense intercepted three passes as the Lancers beat North Hagerstown, 42-0, in a Maryland 3A second-round game.
Linganore WR/CB Chase Perry caught two passes for 40 yards and on defense intercepted three passes as the Lancers beat North Hagerstown, 42-0, in a Maryland 3A second-round game.
HOWARD
Guilford Park WR/CB Antonio Griffin caught touchdown passes of 34 and 18 yards, had a 64-yard kickoff return and on defense made seven solo tackles and intercepted a pass as the Panthers beat Stephen Decatur, 28-14, in a Maryland 3A second-round game.
Guilford Park WR/CB Antonio Griffin caught touchdown passes of 34 and 18 yards, had a 64-yard kickoff return and on defense made seven solo tackles and intercepted a pass as the Panthers beat Stephen Decatur, 28-14, in a Maryland 3A second-round game.
LOUDOUN
Potomac Falls QB AJ Pawlowski completed 12 of 17 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 13 times for 86 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers beat Lightridge, 37-22, in a Virginia 5A first-round game.
Potomac Falls QB AJ Pawlowski completed 12 of 17 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 13 times for 86 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers beat Lightridge, 37-22, in a Virginia 5A first-round game.
MONTGOMERY
Sherwood DL Jefferson Serkfem, a Richmond recruit, made three tackles with two tackles for loss, returned one fumble 68 yards for a touchdown and recovered another fumble in the end zone – all in the first half — as the Warriors beat Kennedy, 49-6 in a Maryland 4A/3A second-round game.
Sherwood DL Jefferson Serkfem, a Richmond recruit, made three tackles with two tackles for loss, returned one fumble 68 yards for a touchdown and recovered another fumble in the end zone – all in the first half — as the Warriors beat Kennedy, 49-6 in a Maryland 4A/3A second-round game.
NORTHERN REGION
Lake Braddock QB Ty Jackson, a Norfolk State recruit, completed 9 of 19 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown and rushed 11 times for 150 yards and three touchdowns as the Bruins beat Mount Vernon, 34-13, in a Virginia 6A first-round game.
Lake Braddock QB Ty Jackson, a Norfolk State recruit, completed 9 of 19 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown and rushed 11 times for 150 yards and three touchdowns as the Bruins beat Mount Vernon, 34-13, in a Virginia 6A first-round game.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
Oxon Hill WR D’eor Ray caught six passes for 98 yards and four touchdowns as the Clippers beat Potomac, 34-18, in a Maryland 4A/3A second-round game. It was the second week in a row that Ray scored four touchdowns.
Oxon Hill WR D’eor Ray caught six passes for 98 yards and four touchdowns as the Clippers beat Potomac, 34-18, in a Maryland 4A/3A second-round game. It was the second week in a row that Ray scored four touchdowns.
PRINCE WILLIAM
Woodbridge WR James Shaw returned a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown and caught two touchdown passes as the Vikings beat Patriot, 41-21, in a Virginia 6A first-round game.
Woodbridge WR James Shaw returned a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown and caught two touchdown passes as the Vikings beat Patriot, 41-21, in a Virginia 6A first-round game.
PRIVATE
Spalding RB Antonio Ledbetter rushed 26 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns as the Cavaliers rallied to beat McDonogh, 30-22, to win their fourth consecutive MIAA A Conference championship.
Spalding RB Antonio Ledbetter rushed 26 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns as the Cavaliers rallied to beat McDonogh, 30-22, to win their fourth consecutive MIAA A Conference championship.
SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Patuxent QB Brayden Watson completed 19 of 22 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns and rushed five times for 28 yards and another score as the Panthers beat Washington, 48-0, in a Maryland 1A game.
Patuxent QB Brayden Watson completed 19 of 22 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns and rushed five times for 28 yards and another score as the Panthers beat Washington, 48-0, in a Maryland 1A game.
WCAC
Gonzaga QB Jason Lindsay bounced back from throwing an interception on the first play of the game and completed 13 of 19 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score as the Eagles beat Good Counsel, 31-28.
Gonzaga QB Jason Lindsay bounced back from throwing an interception on the first play of the game and completed 13 of 19 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score as the Eagles beat Good Counsel, 31-28.
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Monmouth University quarterback Frankie Weaver, who starred at Good Counsel High School in Olney, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after the best performance of his collegiate career helped the Hawks stay on track for a berth in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
Weaver, a redshirt freshman making just his fourth start, completed 19 of 27 passes for 428 yards and tied the school record with six touchdown passes as the visiting Hawks improved to 9-2 with a 63-19 win over North Carolina A&T.
A 2024 Good Counsel graduate, Weaver was a member of the scout team last season at Monmouth and did not play in any games. He began this year as a back and did not play in the Hawks’ first five games. But when starting quarterback Derek Robertson suffered a broken hand in the second half of a 49-21 win over Stony Brook on Oct. 18, Weaver stepped into the lineup and has proven he was ready.
“Each and every week, he’s becoming a little more comfortable,” Monmouth Coach Kevin Callahan said. “When he first went in, he was kind of flying by the seat of his pants. Each game that he has played, he’s become more comfortable and there are things he has done better than he has improved on.”
Similarly, Callahan said, the Monmouth coaching staff has learned about their new quarterback – what he likes and does well, as well as what he doesn’t do as well. The Hawks are now 9-2 entering Saturday’s regular season finale against Albany.
“That’s where the difference is, when you’re playing a different quarterback,” Callahan said. “I was really happy for him to have the day he had. He was right on the money all day long, had a high completion percentage and was able to hit some big plays. His ball placement was very good and his decision making – in terms of getting into and out of specific plays – was very good.”
This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:
- Marshall LB Jibreel Al-Amin (Freedom-Woodbridge) made 10 tackles with 1 ½ tackles for loss and forced a fumble as the Thundering Herd beat Georgia State, 30-18.
- Georgetown LB Cooper Blomstrom made six tackles with 4 ½ sacks and forced two fumbles as the Hoyas beat Fordham, 14-0, to improve to 6-5, their most wins in a single season since 2011.
- LSU CB Mansoor Delane (Spalding) made four tackles, broke up two passes and intercepted a pass in the end zone as the Tigers beat Arkansas, 23-22.
- Morgan State LB Erick Hunter (Westlake) made a team-high 12 tackles with one sack as the Bears beat Norfolk State, 35-28.
- Navy K Nathan Kirkwood made field goals of 44 and 31 yards and made all five of his point-after kicks as the Midshipmen beat No. 24 South Florida, 41-38. Kirkwood has made 9 of 10 field goal attempts this season.
- Rhode Island RB Antwain Littleton Jr. (St. John’s) rushed 21 times for a career-high 202 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams beat Maine, 45-13.
- Monmouth WR TJ Speight (Meade) caught five passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns as the Hawks beat North Carolina A&T, 63-19.
- Kent State LB Mason Woods (Gar-Field) made a career-high 13 tackles with one sack as the Golden Flashes beat Akron, 42-35 in overtime.
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