North Point looks to knock off Patuxent for first time; Northwestern’s Victor scoring at will

Game to watch: North Point (3-0) at No. 15 Patuxent (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

North Point has been the most dominant team in the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference, but the Eagles have never beaten Patuxent.

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Game of the week: Yorktown and Hayfield know the winner of this game usually wins the National District.

North Point is 29-3 in SMAC games since 2008, but Patuxent has won all three head-to-head meetings since North Point began varsity play in 2007, including a 24-10 win last year after a two-year hiatus in the series.

Heading into Friday’s game in Lusby, North Point and Patuxent are two of the four SMAC teams who remain undefeated this year, and both sides are aware of the history.

“Our kids know [Patuxent has] been a team that’s had our number,” North Point Coach Ken Lane said. “They also know a lot of people think Patuxent is the team to beat down here, so it’s as big a game as we’ve had so far.”

While a long touchdown catch, a fumble return for a touchdown and a long kick return swung last year’s game, Lane acknowledged his teams have historically struggled to adjust to Patuxent’s unconventional single-wing offense.

The Panthers have run their system with extreme efficiency so far this season — junior running back Rafiq Douglas has rushed for 396 yards and four touchdowns and dual-threat senior quarterback Trey Lee has rushed for 293 yards and four touchdowns and thrown for 174 yards and three touchdowns in three lopsided wins — and Coach Steve Crounse said his team is also working on stretching the field with its wide receivers to become even more dynamic.

“We used to be very diverse and throw half the time, and then we went through some dry years and focused on the single wing,” Crounse said. “It turned into a big-play offense based on our athletes, but now we’re trying to get more spread and we’re starting to grow our offense.”

North Point has traditionally built itself around a power-running game, but sophomore quarterback Brandon Battle has quickly shown he can handle a more two-dimensional scheme in his first year as the starter, and has taken some pressure off junior running back Marquel Dickerson (302 rushing yards) and senior running back Alijah Robinson (183 yards and three touchdowns).

These teams feature many of the best athletes in the SMAC, and regardless of the history, Friday’s game will provide some early clarity in a very competitive league.

“I think it’s a benchmark game for us,” Crounse said. “There are big games down the road, but for now this is the biggest game of the year.”

Around Prince George’s

When Northwestern senior running back Darius Victor dreams of Friday night’s game against No. 7 C.H. Flowers (3-0), it’s of him not scoring and his team still winning.

But when asked the likelihood of that dream coming to fruition, Victor, who has reached the end zone more often than all but one player in the D.C. area this season, grinned.

“I mean, it’s possible; we have the talent around me,” he said. “I’m ready to work, though. I’m ready to score.”

Following a junior campaign in which he tallied 1,039 yards and 17 touchdowns, Victor has recorded 463 yards and 10 touchdowns through three games this fall. He’s averaging just more than 10 yards per carry.