Schools

Wolverines' Gridiron Hopes are Rising

New faces abound this year for Watkins Mill football, starting with Kevin Watson's return as head coach.

Turnover in the coaching staff, the graduation of two college-caliber standouts, question marks at the quarterback position, the expectations that come with their best season in a decade: Watkins Mill football faces a season of transition this fall, but not one without the real prospect of taking a giant leap forward.

Watkins Mill posted a 5-5 record last year, a season that stoked the school’s spirit and brought some long-sought swagger back to the gridiron. With more than a month left before the official start of practice, the Wolverines’ sights are fixed firmly on an 8-2 record they expect to need if they’re going to make their first post-season appearance in more than a decade.

"That eight-win range lets you sniff the playoffs," said Coach Kevin Watson, who is taking over the head-coaching duties following the departure of Joe Rydzewski. "Which is definitely going to be tough this year because you’ve got Urbana, who moved down in our region, and Linganore is still out there. And we still have Damascus and Seneca Valley. The 3A West is tough—it’s real tough. If you don’t win eight games, you’re not going to make it."

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If measured in sweat and the clang of iron, the program has already taken big strides this summer. More than 40 players are showing up for the daily strength-and-conditioning sessions, bringing a focus and sense of urgency to the pre-season workouts too little seen since Watkins Mill fell more than a decade ago from its perch among the county’s football elite.

"I think they understand that it’s just got to happen," Watson said.

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And they’ve fared well at a pair of 7-on-7 tournaments in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Watkins Mill hit the road rather than stay for the usual Seneca Valley camps, looking to face off against unfamiliar competition from across the East Coast—at the University of Virginia last month, followed by Juniata College on Saturday.

Size will be an issue when they finally take to the gridiron for the real thing in September. Though undersized, the defense should be swarming and the offensive will have plenty of get-up-and-go. Watkins Mill boasts a bevy of dynamic players that can be plugged into the backfield, starting with running backs Mike Offut and Justin Meade.

Watson’s first big decision will come at quarterback: Patrick Schlosser, Deontray George and Aziz Baby are all looking for time as the signal caller. But whoever lines up under center, Watson expects the Wolverines to give their opponents all they can handle.

"Speed-wise we’re going to have a lot of depth," he said. "We are going to be bigger. And we’re definitely going to be stronger than we have been in the past."

Official practice starts Aug. 13. The season opens with a home game against Poolesville and closes out with crucial home games against Magruder and Seneca Valley.

Away games: Damascus, Clarksburg, Rockville, Northwood and Wootton.

Home games: Poolesville, Blake, Einstein, Magruder and Seneca Valley.


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