Montgomery County Week 1 Preview
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It is game week. This will be the start of another exciting and competitive season. These are 16 players you need to be looking out for in the opening week. Dillon Dunathan MD #18 LB #3 HEIGHT 6'2" WEIGHT 230…
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Continue ReadingIt is game week. This will be the start of another exciting and competitive season. These are 16 players you need to be looking out for in the opening week.
Dunathan made a big impact on the week 1 game last season. As the season went on Dunathan got a bigger role on both offense and defense. Expect Damascus to try to use Dunathan’s power in the run game as he can break tackles. On defense expect him to make plenty of run stops and force Northwest to open the offense up.
Highlights
Berry is a player that made a ton of plays last season. This year he is expected to have a bigger workload and more touches. He is an explosive playmaker. Northwest will look to use their speed to exploit Damascus’s defense. Berry will get a ton of touches and his speed will be on display.
Walter Johnson is losing Will Gardner. This is a big loss to their pass-happy offense. Luckily they got a big transfer in Charlie Blessing. He has good touch on his throws. He has a ton of confidence and is willing to try to fit the ball in a tight window. He will fit best in a pass-happy spread offense. Expect Walter Johnson to air it out week 1.
Highlights
Cisco Ren
Cisco Ren
Ren is a defensive weapon. He has the ability to play both on the inside and the outside. He has a quick get off which gives offensive lineman fits. He also does a good job of fighting off blocks by using his hands. He also finishes off plays as he is a very good tackler in the backfield. Expect Ren to be used in a multitude of ways to try to slow down a dynamic Walter Johnson offense.
Mikey Shea
Mikey Shea
Shea is a true 3 down linebacker. He is very athletic and has the tools to do it all. He is a good rusher and blitzer off the edge. He also does a good job in his run fits and filling his gap and making run stops. He is also very good in coverage and is able to make plays in the passing game. Shea will be all over the place trying to stop the College style offense Richard Montgomery runs.
Anthony Dixon
Anthony Dixon
This is a big season for Dixon. He had moments last year where he looked like a very good quarterback. He also struggled at times last year specifically with taking care of the ball. He is willing to take hits and risks. He has a strong enough arm to push the ball downfield. He also has good touch and accuracy when he is able to set his feet. Urbana struggled at times last season against the vertical passing game. Expect Dixon and Richard Montgomery to look to exploit that.
Smith is going to have a monster game week 1. Wootton is a team that likes to run the ball. This fits perfectly for Smith as he is a very good in run support. He comes downfield hard and makes a ton of stops in the run game. He will be more athletic than most of Wootton’s team which will allow him to make some highlight plays. Expect a show.
Castelli is a true athlete. He can be play at the next level as a tight end or as a linebacker. He has good size and plays with strength and power. He is also athletic and has enough speed and explosiveness to make a ton of plays on both sides of the ball. He will be the focal point of Wootton’s defense especially in the run game. Expect Castelli to battle with Ituka all game.
Highlights
Ferguson is multifaceted edge defender. He is a very good run stopper as he does a great job of setting the edge and playing contain. He also is a good pass rusher and he plays with a good pad level and is able to bully blockers. Last season he made some plays in the backfield against Northwest. He will look for a repeat performance.
Highlights
Jeremiah Green
Jeremiah Green
Green is a traditional run stuffing interior lineman. He does a good job of plugging his gap and taking up space. However he is very good at disengaging blocks and making run stops. Damascus will look to pound the rock with Dunathan. Green will have a big role in stopping that run game.
Jones will be put up to a big test. Churchill has two very good receivers. Jones is a traditional outside cover corner. He plays with great technique which allows him to excel in press man coverage. In zone he does a good job of keeping the danger in front of him and then closing down and making a play. He will be tested a lot against Churchill and will have an opportunity to prove that he should join the rankings.
Calhoun is a very solid receiver. He creates separation as he is a very good route runner. He is able to read defensive coverages find the soft spot and get himself open. He always seems to get to his spots. He also has reliable hands and is a sure handed receiver. Jones will make Calhoun work for everything he gets. This will be a great challenge for Calhoun to prove his all-county status.
Riley Smith
Riley Smith
Smith is a slot receiver that can make plays at every level. He is more than an old school safety valve slot receiver. He does a good job of running vertical routes in the seam and getting behind the defense. He can also run routes towards the middle of the defense or towards the boundary. Urbana has a very pass happy spread offense so Smith will get plenty of opportunities to have a hot start to the season.
Teshaun Ryals-Wilson Teshaun Ryals-Wilson 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Richard Montgomery | 2024 State MD
Teshaun Ryals-Wilson Teshaun Ryals-Wilson 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Richard Montgomery | 2024 State MD
Ryals-Wilson is one of the most underrated transfers in the county. He is a receiver that is the most dangerous when the ball is in his hands. He is a threat after the catch. He is a home run threat and excels in the screen game. Richard Montgomery has a hole as they lost Marcus Pedone so expect Ryals-Wilson to fill that void.
Ituka has had the spotlight on him for years. He is a big bruising back that breaks tackles with ease. He runs hard and with a lot of power. He also has breakaway speed to finish off plays. Gaithersburg will feed him early and often and he will have an opportunity to put up big numbers in this game.
Highlights
Daniel Kim
Daniel Kim
Kim is a defensive player that can play at every position. He can play as a safety, linebacker, or even as a lineman. He has good size which allows him to play in the front 7. He also excels in pass coverage. He does a great job of reading quarterbacks jumping routes and coming down with interceptions. Kim will have an opportunity to create some more turnovers against Gaithersburg.