'Big Heart' Pumps Up Douglass

While watching Douglass quarterback Richard Barber slink to the sideline to get yelled at by a pair of big, burly coaches, one had to wonder how the 5-foot-6, 150-pound sophomore would respond. But while Barber is only 14 years old, he has a calm confidence that endears him to Coach J.C. Pinkney, who believed the first-year starter could handle the criticism.

Soon enough, Barber had shown why he became the team's quarterback late in the preseason. In his finest game yet, Barber threw two touchdown passes and ran for two two-point conversions, leading the Eagles to a 36-24 victory yesterday over No. 19 Surrattsville in a Prince George's 3A/2A/1A game in Upper Marlboro.

Barber finished with career highs of 95 yards passing and 66 yards rushing. Junior running back Trey Massey rushed for two touchdowns and Christian Clark had a touchdown catch and a touchdown run as Douglass (4-2, 4-1) remained in playoff contention and handed Surrattsville its first loss of the season.

While Surrattsville (5-1, 3-1) had yet to trail this season, Douglass was coming off a 40-0 loss to No. 1 Friendly. In that game, though, Barber was the Eagles' best player, according to Pinkney. Barber entered the season believing he would play wide receiver, only to switch positions just before the first game. Pinkney said he worried about Barber's lack of size.

"He was going to be our backup," Pinkney said. "We felt physically he was a little on the small side. But he had a big heart. Richard is not a complainer. He comes to work every day and makes good decisions. He is a rock."

When a fumbled handoff was returned 52 yards for a touchdown by Surrattsville's Thomas Jackson, Barber got an earful as he walked back to the bench. No worries, though. Douglass scored on three of its next four possessions, capped by Barber's 32-yard touchdown pass to Clark, who was running down the right seam. That made it 22-18 just before halftime, and the Eagles never trailed again with Barber quietly gaining confidence.

"I knew it was early in the game, that anything can happen," Barber said of the fumble. "It was a mistake I had to own up to. I had to put it behind me and play good the whole game, all four quarters."

Douglass 36, No. 19 Surrattsville 24

Tough Running: Maryland recruit Davin Meggett rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns for Surrattsville and quarterback Andre Johnson added 118 yards on 18 carries.

Comforting Thought: While Surrattsville suffered its first loss, the Hornets remained on track for a berth in the Maryland 1A South Region playoffs, which would be their first-ever trip to the postseason.