Paint Branch-Quince Orchard and Eleanor Roosevelt-Wise highlight big weekend in Maryland

Senior defensive tackle Raymond Washington is one of the players Parrish lauded for taking advantage of additional opportunities. In fact, Parrish said of the 6-foot, 225-pound Washington, “we don’t know where we’d be without him right now.”

Where the Pumas are is in prime position to avenge last season’s 23-22 loss at Roosevelt. In the final minute of that game – after Wise had erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit – Roosevelt marched down the field and kicked a 25-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired. Parrish is hoping his defense proves sturdier this time around, particularly given the elevated play thus far this season of senior linebacker D’Angelo Niler and senior defensive end Myles Humphrey.

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Host B.J. Koubaroulis runs through the top plays from the first two full weeks of games in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia high school football seasons.

Roosevelt is 2-0, as well, though its path has been less stable. The Raiders struggled to hold off Bowie, 22-21, last Saturday, and Roosevelt Coach Tom Green said “if we play as poorly [against Wise] as we did last week, we might get blown out of the park.”

Parrish said his team almost is on schedule for where he’d like it to be in the third week of the season, but thus far even the defense has not met his exacting standards.

“We’re stopping people, but we need to strip the ball more,” Parrish said. “Last game we had three interceptions, but that was the result of pressure put on the quarterback, not a situation where we’re actually stepping in front of the interception. I would like for the defense to make more plays.”

Around Montgomery

No. 17 Damascus has been Montgomery County’s most dominant team through two weeks, outscoring its opponents, 76-6. Senior Zach Bradshaw, a Virginia recruit, has already scored on offense, defense and special teams. The Swarmin’ Hornets (2-0) will try to keep that momentum going in a Friday nonleague matchup at Wootton (2-0). Under first-year Coach Tyree Spinner, the Patriots already have half as many wins as they managed all of last season. . . .

Magruder starting wide receiver and defensive back Damien Green is out for the season after breaking his fibula against Paint Branch. After exclusively running the shotgun offense in the season opener, first-year Colonels Coach Kevin Bernot is in the process of trying to install more I-formation to jump-start the running game, which registered just six positive yards last week in a 42-0 loss to Paint Branch. He’s also trying to get the most out of his best athlete, 5-foot-11 190-pound Tyrii Jackson, who is starting at linebacker currently but could see snaps at slot receiver and fullback Friday night against Northwest (1-1). Jackson is also the backup quarterback for Magruder (1-1). . . .

Sherwood kicker Jake Ryder has kicked off eight times this season, with all eight resulting in touchbacks. Ryder has also converted five-of-six extra points. Warriors Coach Mike Bonavia said that safety Rich DiPietro III is drawing interest from William and Mary. Sherwood is 1-1 and travels to Gaithersburg (1-1) on Saturday.

Despite Terrence Caudle’s 129 yards and three touchdowns rushing last week in a 20-7 win over Gaithersburg, Springbrook (2-0) will try to establish the passing game more this weekend against Walter Johnson (1-1), after accumulating just 16 passing yards last week.