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In an impressive display of power running, the DeMatha High School back rushed for a school-record 392 yards and five touchdowns, leading the Stags to a 56-35 victory over the Greyhounds in the annual matchup of two of the state's top private programs. It was the ninth consecutive victory for DeMatha dating back to last season, and it avenged a 21-14 loss the Stags suffered against Gilman last season.

Michael Meriwether added 130 yards and a touchdown for DeMatha (2-0), ranked No. 1 in a poll of statewide reporters. Daniel Tapscott had a 59-yard scoring pass to senior Michael Coley. Darius Jennings ran for 227 yards and threw for three scores for Gilman (2-1), ranked fourth in the state.

After rushing for 173 yards in last week's season opener against Riverdale Baptist, Coker, who has verbally committed to the University of Iowa, followed up with arguably best performance of the young season, including scoring bursts of 80 and 78 yards. The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder had 268 yards in the second half.

"The line did a great job and the scout team really prepared them this week in practice," said Coker. "I knew I was going to come out and give my hardest and everyone else would do their part."

"I've never seen a back have the game he had," said DeMatha coach Bill McGregor. "That's a lot of yardage for a ballgame. It was a pretty good effort all the way through."

The defining moment of Coker's performance came in the second quarter. After Gilman forged ahead 14-7 with two long scoring drives, DeMatha ran an off-tackle play and Coker was met by Gilman defensive lineman Walter Saunders. Coker carried Saunders for a couple of yards before breaking free down the sideline for an 80-yard score with 2 minutes, 7 seconds remaining before halftime.

The Stags took the second-half kickoff, and Tapscott found Coley, who slipped out of a pair of would-be Gilman tackles, and sprinted to the end zone, giving the Hyattsville school the lead for good. After getting pinned at their own 3-yard line, the Stags went 97 yards in seven plays with Coker carrying three consecutive plays for 46 yards, followed by Meriwether runs of 29 and 20 yards, the latter extending DeMatha's lead to 28-14.

Coker went off left tackle again for a 78-yard score in the third quarter, answering a Gilman 80-yard touchdown play. He nearly broke clear for another score on his final carry, instead settling for a 9-yard gain. Coker also had a pair of 3-yard touchdown runs and a 2-yard score.

"I expected them to be there, but I didn't expect them to be that big," said Coker of his success running to the left against Gilman's defense. The Stags finished with 655 total yards.

"This was football 101, they did nothing fancy," said Gilman coach Biff Poggi, whose team fell to 6-4 against the Stags in an annual series that began in 2000. "They just crushed us."