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After starting 5-1 in 2008, the Churchill football team seemed poised to qualify for the state playoffs. But a 1-3 finish, including losses to a 4-6 Magruder squad and arch-rival Wootton in the season finale, left the Bulldogs at home in mid-November.

The turmoil did not end there. Less than a week after the season, former Bulldogs head coach Greg Neuendorf unexpectedly resigned and moved to North Carolina with his wife.

Enter Joe Allen. The former Bethesda-Chevy Chase boss was hired to build on the foundation his predecessor lay.

"The guys are adapting pretty well," said Allen. "The whole adjustment process took a couple months of the offseason. But then they started getting used to how we want to do things and they responded."

Allen, who favored a pass-happy spread offense with the Barons last year, has adapted his philosophy to ease the transition for his players. He left the Bulldogs' "gun triple option" attack alone.

"I threw in a couple wrinkles," Allen said. "But basically it's the same thing they ran last year, a spread triple option out of shotgun. We may throw a little bit more because we have some physical receivers who can run. We want to take advantage of that."

Despite the departure of the reliable Danny Holzman (21.5 yards per catch), the receiving corps may be deeper. Matt Cole and 6-foot-3 Brandon Swepson, who Allen says runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, could create matchup problems.

However, the Bulldogs' bread and butter is still their ground attack. Workhorse running back Ryan Quinn, who carried a county-high 233 times for 1,073 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, returns for his senior campaign. Fellow senior Alex Kantor, who has also played running back, takes the reins under center as a dual threat.

"Ryan is a really special kid," Allen said. "He's a hard-nosed, downhill, tough and durable runner. [Kantor] is a threat to take it all the way with his feet or arm. We are really looking forward to the advantages they bring with their legs."

But with a relatively young offensive line, Quinn and Kantor might not be able to find much room to run early on. Veterans Kaijai Zheng, Bobby Hirsch and Danial Dadkhoo will be counted on to mesh with several younger players in the trenches.

"The line is gelling well with a good rotation," said Allen. "The [junior varsity] O-line was the best in the county last year. They have worked hard in the offseason and aren't learning any new system. It's just a matter of them getting used to the speed of the varsity game."

The kicking game is set with Bryan Crutchfield (17 of 19 extra points, 4 of 6 field goals), who has shown 50-yard range. Defensively, senior linebacker Matt Risk, who has verbally committed to Lehigh (Pa.) University, will lead a young unit.

"The coaches have done a great job of transition from Neuendorf to them," Risk said. "Everything is the same from last year. We haven't had to learn much."

Added Quinn: "Every position is good. They are all playmakers, so I don't see why we can't win every game."

Churchill

Head coach: Joe Allen, 1st year (3rd overall, 4-16)

League: Montgomery 4A West

Last year's record: 6-4

Last playoff appearance: 2004

Last state title: 1977 (2nd)

Players to watch: RB Ryan Quinn, QB Alex Kantor, LB Matt Risk, WR Brandon Swepson

2008 results

Sept. 5 — Richard Montgomery (W), 34-0

Sept. 12 — Quince Orchard (L), 25-6

Sept. 20 — Walter Johnson (W), 39-19

Sept. 26 — Gaithersburg (W), 20-13

Oct. 3 — Blake (W), 33-14

Oct. 10 — Northwest (W), 49-27

Oct. 17 — Magruder (L), 10-7

Oct. 24 — Whitman (W), 18-6

Oct. 31 — Seneca Valley (L), 32-21

Nov. 7 — Wootton (L), 37-27

2009 schedule

Sept. 4 — Gaithersburg, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 11 — at Seneca Valley, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 17 — Walter Johnson, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 — at Richard Montgomery, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 2 — Northwest, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 9. — at Magruder, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 16 — Wootton, 2 p.m.

Oct. 23 — at Sherwood, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 30 — at B-CC, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 6 — Whitman, 6:30 p.m.