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

“We have a lot of work to do,” Springbrook Coach Adam Bahr said. “Although we want to run the ball well and we want to control the clock, we don’t want to be predictable and one-dimensional.”

Around Prince George’s

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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.

Freshman quarterback Devin Butler has been far from perfect in his first two starts for defending Maryland 2A runner-up Douglass, but after winning the job in fall camp, the youngster has made more than enough plays to keep Coach J.C. Pinkney’s confidence.

Butler will face his biggest challenge yet on Saturday afternoon with a trip to rival Gwynn Park, and Pinkney has spent the week getting the signal caller ready for the spotlight of the matchup. Both teams made the Maryland 2A South playoffs last season and have split four meetings over the past three seasons.

“Devin’s a competitor, and he’s going to be ready, but if he does get a little starry eyed, I’ve got some veteran guys I can lean on,” Pinkney said. “He knows his job is to protect the ball and make good decisions, and I’ve got some older guys who can do a lot of the leg work, if necessary.”

In two games, Butler has completed 11 of 22 passes for 264 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also rushed for 124 yards with 90 of those coming on one touchdown run late in the season-opening win over Spalding.

Douglass (2-0, 1-0 PG 3A/2A/1A) should benefit from the expected return of senior wide receiver/safety Paul Harris. Pinkney had Harris rest his sprained ankle last week against Largo, but the Tennessee recruit should be ready to go on Saturday.

During his youth league career, Butler never ran the option, and he’s still adjusting that part of the Eagles’ offense, but he’s got plenty of backfield options at his disposal, including junior fullback Avery Wood (173 rushing yards).

After a hard luck 8-6 loss to Friendly last week, Gwynn Park (1-1, 1-1) will be trying to avoid a losing streak. The Yellow Jackets shut out the Patriots for more than 59 minutes, but Friendly’s switch to a funky offensive formation paid off in a late touchdown and an improbable victory.

Gwynn Park will also be without a pair of defensive starters on Saturday, suspended for their roles in a fight during the loss.

While they struggled to score last week, the Yellow Jackets can put up points. They have their own capable passer in senior Jay Adams and a running game that piled up 176 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in a season-opening win over Potomac (Md.) behind the league's most experienced offensive line.

“It’s good football,” Gwynn Park Coach Danny Hayes said of the matchup. “We know what kind of rivalry it is, and they know what kind of rivalry it is. Now when the curtains open up on Saturday, we’ve just got to give the fans a good show.” . . .

Already off to a strong start, Friendly (2-0, 1-0) can cement its status as a Prince George’s 3A/2A/1A contender with a win at Potomac (Md.) (1-1, 0-1) on Saturday. The Patriots lost to the Wolverines, 35-0, last season but have already avenged a pair of early-season losses from 2011. Senior quarterback Thomas Corbett (217 passing yards) and junior running back Khaylen Rouse (145 rushing yards) lead Friendly’s no-huddle option attack.