J. Adam Fenster/The Gazette Northwest football players Tim Hermanson (left) and Tony Nelson celebrate Friday's thrill-a-minute, 37-34 win over Germantown rival Seneca Valley. Nelson scored on a 65-yard run on the first play from scrimmage in the game. Both teams have qualified for the Class 3A state playoffs with 8-1 records.

When Northwest High School opened its doors in 1998 there were more than a few whispers about the dilution of athletic talent in Germantown. To whit, Seneca Valley would not be able to maintain its incredible standards on the football field; and Northwest, well ... the Jaguars would have problems building a competitive football program at all.

But the whispers were just that, and never came to fruition. Since 1998, Seneca Valley has won three state titles and made it to the playoffs four times. Northwest has made three playoff appearances. Apparently there's more than enough talent (not to mention superior coaching) to keep Germantown's two football programs in high cotton.

Friday night was the perfect example. In the first of what will assuredly be two meetings between the teams this year - the next should be in the first round of the 3A West Region playoffs next weekend ­ Northwest, on the road in front of approximately 5,500 spectators, pulled off a thrilling, 37-34 win that featured enough big plays and big playmakers to make even the casual fan's heart race.

"It's huge," said Northwest head coach Randy Trivers of the win. "There's a lot of people in Germantown who have grown to know and follow Seneca Valley football, because they've been so powerful and strong for so many years. We're the new program in Germantown and in order to establish our own tradition and success we have to win these head-to-head battles."

"We've been a part of a few games like that," said Seneca head coach Terry Changuris of the thrill-a-minute shootout. "It's great football. But it's always more fun when you're on the winning end."

The victory gives the Jaguars (8-1 overall, 5-0 in the county's 3A Division) a 3-2 series lead and they became the first visiting team to win. They'll probably have to do it again if they want to advance past the first round of the playoffs. Unless one of the teams loses this weekend ­ an unlikely scenario (Seneca plays winless Watkins Mill, Northwest hosts Wheaton) - they'll meet in the first round of the new expanded state playoffs the following weekend. According to the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic association's playoff-point average, which determines which teams make the playoffs and how those teams are seeded, Seneca (8-1 overall, 5-1 in the county's 3A Division) will likely be the No. 2 seed in the 3A West Region and Northwest the No. 3 seed. Northwest would have to go back to Seneca for the playoff game.

"There's no time for celebration," said Trivers. "We can enjoy it tonight, but there's no time for an extended celebration. We've got to get right back to work. We've got to play a good Wheaton team and then we'll probably see these guys again in the playoffs."

If there is a playoff game between Seneca and Northwest, it would have to be quite a contest to beat Friday's game for drama.

The Jaguars scored on the first play from scrimmage as junior running back Tony Nelson (13 carries, 97 yards) took a pitch around left end for a 65-yard touchdown. But it was the Screaming Eagles who had an edge in the first half, running the ball at will and dominating the line of scrimmage (227 rushing yards for the game). They took a 21-15 advantage into halftime.

The lead grew to 27-15 two minutes into the third quarter on a lovely 42-yard scoring pass from senior quarterback Anthony Ferrante (9 of 26 for 179 yards, 3 ints., 3 TDs) to senior wideout Jon Frazier.

The tide changed on Northwest's ensuing possession. The Jaguars drove 74 yards in seven plays, culminating in junior receiver Darren Brownlee's 10-yard touchdown from junior quarterback Ike Whitaker (7 of 14 for 80 yards, 3 ints., 2 TDs).

Two plays later, junior Salim Koroma picked off Ferrante and returned it 30 yards for a score. Whitaker added a two-point conversion run and in the span 50 seconds Northwest had taken a 30-27 lead.

"We hadn't been challenged with our schedule all year," said Changuris. "We were forced to play hard for four quarters, instead of two. I don't think we responded well to that."

Northwest kept it going early in the fourth quarter with Whitaker hooking up with Brownlee again ­ this time for a 17-yard score. Brownlee has caught a touchdown pass in all nine games this season. He has 10 for the year.

Seneca pulled back into the contest with a 17-yard scoring pass from Ferrante to Frazier cutting the deficit to 37-34 with 3:04 to play. The Eagles got two more possessions but were unable to move the ball.

And as the final seconds counted down it was time to celebrate ­ for players and fans alike on the Northwest side. There was a palpable feeling that the Jaguars had officially arrived.

"It was unbelievable," said Northwest senior Wes Fry. "We work so hard for moments like these. We got down by 12 points, but we just came together. We knew we'd win. I'm just so proud of my teammates and the program. And that's what we have here, a program."

That's what Germantown has: two programs.

Notes: Koroma returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter to account for Northwest's other score. Seneca's three first-half touchdowns were on a 7-yard run by senior Reggie Williams, a 1-yard run by Williams and a 29-yard pass from Ferrante to senior tight end Chris Morris. Williams has 12 rushing touchdowns on the season. ... The teams combined for almost 700 yards of offense.