More News

At the start of each season, most teams throw out the same ultimate goal:

Win a state championship.

Watkins Mill football would like nothing more than to bring home the state title. But right now it is focused on achieving smaller goals that it hopes will eventually get it back on the county football map.

"Realistically, we just want to bring respect back to Watkins Mill football," Wolverines coach Joe Rydzewski said. "I went to Gaithersburg in the 1990s and Watkins Mill was always a tough team to play. [The program] has a state championship and multiple playoff appearances. Whenever you played Watkins Mill you knew you were in for a tough game."

Everything starts with the basics. So why complicate things?

With players returning at 22 positions, Ryzewdski has a lot to work with. It would be easy to get carried away with his playbook. But the Wolverines are going to keep it simple this fall.

"I was the offensive coordinator at Watkins Mill for two years and we were doing all this spread offense stuff, the quarterback throwing it all around," Rydzewski said. "We feel like defense is the strength of our team. We want to cut down on any possible mistakes. We want to let our defense win games and have our offense keep us in the game."

The Wolverines gave up an average of 27 points per game last fall and only scored 11. But they will look to benefit from increased size and strength up front this season.

Six-foot-3, 245-pound Alex Sofela and Kevin Burns (6-1, 280) will anchor the line. Three-year starting linebacker Melvin Clark leads the defense.

Junior Darnell Henson will helm the Wolverines' attack from under center, alongside wide receiver/defensive back Fola Akinnibi and tight end Kyle Lyons-Burke. Burke also doubles as a linebacker. Akinnibi is sifting through college offers and appears likely commit to Cornell (N.Y.) University soon.

"We have these young linemen who played as sophomores and juniors and got their tails kicked a little bit," Rydzewski said. "We are hoping they did not like getting their tails kicked. We had a great offseason in the weight room. We are hoping to use our size to run the ball."

Watkins Mill

Head coach: Joe Rydzewski, 2nd year (2-8)

League: Montgomery 3A

Last year's record: 2-8

Last playoff appearance: 1999 (3rd)

Last state title: 1993 (1st)

Players to watch: WR/DB Fola Akinnibi, QB Darnell Henson, TE/LB Kyle Lyons-Burke, LB/FB Melvin Clark, OL Alex Sofela, OL Kevin Burns

2008 results

Sept. 5 — Seneca Valley (L), 36-0

Sept. 12 — Magruder (L), 14-12

Sept. 19 — Wheaton (W), 17-14

Sept. 26 — B-CC (W), 20-6

Oct. 3 — Damascus (L), 41-14

Oct. 10 — Kennedy (L), 14-8

Oct. 17 — Einstein (L), 44-42

Oct. 24 — Gaithersburg (L), 33-0

Nov. 1 — Paint Branch (L), 36-6

Nov. 9 — Clarksburg (L), 33-0

2009 schedule

Sept. 4 — Northwood, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 11 — at Blake, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 17 — Kennedy, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 — at Clarksburg, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 2 — at Magruder, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 9 — Damascus, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 16 — Poolesville, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 23 — at BCC, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 30 — at Einstein, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 6 — Seneca Valley, 6:30 p.m.