More News

It does not take in-depth study of this week's football schedule to catch on to the theme: It's rivalry week.

Three games match teams generally considered to be one another's closest local rivals. Whitman travels less than 3 miles to Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Wheaton's stroll down Randolph Road to Kennedy is even shorter, and Magruder hops across Georgia Avenue for its always entertaining date with Sherwood.

Three other matchups Friday can also be classified as rivalries, because of history, geography or both.

Northwest and Quince Orchard's districts intertwine closely, and the consistent strength of their programs in recent years adds to the glamour. Springbrook and Blair are Silver Spring's two largest high schools. Then there is Seneca Valley-Damascus, and their 19 combined state titles.

Damascus (2-1) at Seneca Valley (1-2)

Something is always on the line when these two Al Thomas-stamped programs, the Screamings and the Swarmin's, collide. In this case, it could be a season.

Stranger things have happened already this fall, but it is difficult to envision the Screaming Eagles losing this game and still reaching the 3A West Region playoffs. A win would put them right back in the hunt, and at the expense of one of their rivals for a berth, no less.

Seneca's defense restored confidence with a shutout last week, while running back Brian Lucas' apparent return to full health while be a big boost for Damascus.

Northwest (1-2) at Quince Orchard (3-0)

Coming off its first win and a long week of practice, Northwest is clearly in its best mindset of the season. This is not the week to draw the Jaguars; then again, having the Cougars pop up on the schedule right when things are turning around is not great luck, either.

Both of these teams are wearing black helmet stickers commemorating Dek Miller this season; Quince Orchard coach Dave Mencarini and his players felt it was an important show of solidarity.

Paint Branch (2-1) at Wootton (1-2)

Decidedly not a local rivalry, but after last week, an interesting game. The Patriots' dreadful start got a whole lot sunnier with a close win over previously unbeaten Springbrook. Now they face the other Northeast Consortium team chasing a 4A West playoff berth, and the Panthers are smarting from a shutout loss to Sherwood.

If Wootton's offense is coming together under all of its new starters, its fans could be in for another late playoff run. Or Paint Branch could put an end to that and start its own bandwagon rolling again.

Magruder (2-1) at Sherwood (3-0)

In 2006, the Colonels tripped up a state final-bound Sherwood on the next-to-last week of the regular season. Since then, the Warriors have made them pay three times, including a 24-8 skunker in the first round of the '07 playoffs. Few of this year's Warriors were around in 2006, but the coaches would do well to remind them.

Whitman (2-1) at B-CC (0-3)

Like Sherwood over Magruder, Whitman has dominated this local rivalry on the football field. Like Sherwood, Whitman has to be careful not to look past this week; the Barons have played Paint Branch and Northwest tough in consecutive weeks.

Springbrook (2-1) at Blair (1-2)

Springbrook comes in off its first defeat, Blair off its first victory. These two teams each just missed out on the playoffs last season.

Wheaton (1-2) at Kennedy (1-2)

The Knights have scored just 6 points since their season-opening win over B-CC, whereas the Cavaliers gave no indication in their first two games that they were capable of last week's 22-18 win over Watkins Mill. This is a pick 'em.

Other picks

Northwood plays Blake in the egalitarian Montgomery 3A Division; Gladiators quarterback Jimmy Hessler has thrown 9 interceptions in two weeks. Georgetown Prep faces Gilman, by far the best two-loss team in the state (DeMatha and Good Counsel). Rockville (3-0) faces an intriguing test against long-suffering Crossland, a 3A program considered to be on the rise in Prince George's County.

Gazette reporters will cover and send real-time Twitter updates from the following football games this weekend:

Churchill at Richard Montgomery

* Damascus at Seneca Valley

Paint Branch at Wootton

Wheaton at Kennedy

Whitman at B-CC

In addition, we will receive and tweet periodic score reports from these games:

Magruder at Sherwood

Northwest at Quince Orchard

Springbrook at Blair

Follow along at twitter.com/Mont_Sports.

* VOLi Game of the Week