Game of the Week: Previewing DeMatha vs. Good Counsel

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Good Counsel and DeMatha face-off in the game of the week tonight. This game will debatably be the game of the year in Maryland, and it will certainly be the WCAC game of the year, as both teams possess dominant 8-1 records. The winner of this game will secure the #1 seed in the WCAC playoffs, and they will also win the WCAC regular season championship outright. To say that there is a lot riding on this game is an understatement, and there's zero doubt in my mind that we will see the highest quality of high school football being played in the nation in Maryland tomorrow night. The game kicks off @7PM Eastern time in Landover, MD as the WCAC's best square-off for the regular season championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DeMatha</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The DeMatha Stags are coming off of a dominant win against Clarkson North (AK), where they were victorious 23-3. The Stags' defense continued their streak of dominance this season, and that's evident in the fact that they've allowed only 32 total points all season combined including that contest. Elite performances from DeMatha's defensive stars, such as [player_tooltip player_id='146209' first='Dante' last='Lovett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='273347' first='Cortez' last='Harris'], will be the key to success for the Stags in this upcoming bout against Good Counsel. Stopping the run at all costs is of paramount importance, because Good Counsel has the best backfield in the state, but top run stopping recruits [player_tooltip player_id='90642' first='Jason' last='Moore'] and [player_tooltip player_id='249993' first='Emmett' last='Laws'] will absolutely have their best in store for Friday night's game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offensively, DeMatha's wide receiver Kristian Tate is having a breakout year, and he delivered an immaculate 55 yard punt return touchdown in the Stags' previous contest against Clarkson North (AK). Tate must get involved early for the Stags. It is also important for DeMatha that star quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='250315' first='Denzel' last='Gardner'] have at least a solid performance against a very elite Good Counsel defense. DeMatha's defense will, most likely, hold Good Counsel to under 30 points, therefore, if Gardner can find a way to lead the offense to at least 8 points per quarter then I believe that DeMatha can win the game. The Stags' backfield consisting of [player_tooltip player_id='90681' first='Brendon' last='Wyatt'], [player_tooltip player_id='371280' first='Tovani' last='Mizell'], and Bud Coombs clearly has a lot of depth, and they must use that depth to their advantage Friday night and spread the ball around in the run game if they're going to defeat Good Counsel.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Good Counsel</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like DeMatha, Good Counsel currently holds a dominant 8-1 record, and this game for them means winning the WCAC regular season or not. The key to success for Good Counsel will quite simply be getting the run game involved early, because they have the best player on the field, [player_tooltip player_id='249102' first='Dilin' last='Jones'], who can absolutely barrel through defenses for the Falcons as he has done all season. Good Counsel must test DeMatha's defense early, and they must see if there's anyone for the Stags who can stop [player_tooltip player_id='249102' first='Dilin' last='Jones']. If there isn't, then this game will be decided early, and the Falcons will most likely win in dominant fashion. Good Counsel offensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='321749' first='KJ' last='Brooks'] and Quincy Howard will also play key roles in jump starting this Falcon backfield, and if the O-line can create big gaps for Jones early then, again, this game will be over before it even starts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Good Counsel is also on a hot streak right now, and they've only allowed 14 total points combined in their last four games. [player_tooltip player_id='265641' first='Judah' last='Jenkins'] recovered a fumble for the Falcons in their last WCAC win against St. John's, and it will be play making like this that will win the game for Good Counsel. Defensive players [player_tooltip player_id='260126' first='Dylan' last='Gooden'], [player_tooltip player_id='172218' first='Aaron' last='Chiles'], and Antonio Avery will also have to put forth dominant efforts in this game if the Falcons are to achieve victory. There's no doubt in my mind that a lot of points will be scored in this game, so the end result will come down to which defense can make a big play in the 4th quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DeMatha vs. Good Counsel kicks-off on 11/4 @7PM Eastern time in Landover, MD at PG Sports Complex for the outright WCAC regular season title and the #1 seed in the WCAC playoff.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->