The Top Montgomery County Sports Stories of 2013

By Holden Wilen

This past year has been a crazy one.

For me personally, it was my first full year as a professional reporter working at the Montgomery Sentinel. I was fortunate enough to cover many of the major events in 2013. From covering the Boston Marathon bombings to Montgomery County raising the minimum wage—I saw it all.

In the world of sports, there was no shortage of stories either. Manti Te’o had a fake dead girlfriend, Lance Armstrong admitted to doping and Alex Rodriguez is involved in yet another steroid scandal. Alabama lost on a missed field goal returned for a touchdown, the Red Sox won their third world series since 2004 after going 86 years without winning one, and the Pittsburgh Pirates made the playoffs.

Yes, that’s right, the Pirates made the playoffs. What can I say, 2013 was a truly crazy year.

With all that said, this is the time where everyone is posting their “top ten lists” from the past year. I would only feel left out if I did not submit my own.

In honor of 2013 and my coverage of Montgomery County, MD, here are what I consider to be the top seven sports stories of the year.

7. Magruder football beats Walter Johnson 4-2
This game was an absolute shootout.
Last season the Magruder Colonels football team got outscored 413-21 on the way to going 1-9. The team is awful and miserable to watch.
This past season fans expected nothing less than the same.
When the Colonels faced Walter Johnson in week five, I actually predicted a win. Both teams came in winless and  my line of thinking was Magruder beat Walter Johnson the year before, and were actually better this season (though that was not saying much). I was right, but not in the way I thought I would be.
Magruder won 4-2 in a game that can either be described as an utter embarrassment or a game for the ages. Magruder led 4-0 after two safeties and gave up the Walter Johnson safety on a punt. Coach Kevin Bernot decided it would be better to intentionally give up a safety and put the responsibility on his defense rather than risk a blocked punt or give a short field to the Walter Johnson offense.
The decision worked out because Magruder won 4-2. I have never heard of a football game having that kind of final score, and I think many were there with me.
Yahoo! Sports actually had a post about the game. The game also received mention from a writer on ESPN.com who lives in Montgomery County.
This was a game that will be remembered for a long time, and for that it deserves recognition in the top seven sports stories of the year.

6. Good Counsel grad Jelani Jenkins is selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft

When the Miami Dolphins selected Jelani Jenkins with the seventh pick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft (104th overall), Jenkins became the first Good Counsel player drafted into the league.

Jenkins was a standout linebacker and fullback for the Falcons before graduating in 2009. He finished his high school career with 1,129 rushing yards, 42 touchdowns while also compiling 60 tackles, four sacks and an interception on the defensive side of the ball. 

After high school, Jenkins decided to go play for Urban Meyer at the University of Florida. He decided to forgo his senior year as a Gator to enter the draft. He finished his college career with 182 tackles in 182 tackles, six sacks, and three interceptions.

At Good Counsel Jenkins played for legendary coach Bob Milloy. When the Dolphins selected Jenkins, he became the second player Milloy coached to make it to the NFL, following former Seahawks and Redskins cornerback Shawn Springs.

In his rookie year, Jenkins did not see much playing time. He played in all sixteen games and finished with 17 tackles.

Jenkins’ career is only beginning and he is representing Good Counsel, Olney and the rest of Montgomery County well.

5. Churchill baseball makes it to the state semifinals

It was unexpected, but despite being unseeded in the playoffs Churchill High School’s baseball team made it to the Maryland state semifinals.

Churchill entered the playoffs with a 7-10 record. Few, including myself, expected them to go anywhere. Montgomery County did not have any dominant teams last season, but Sherwood, Gaithersburg, Quince Orchard, Whitman and Northwest were all better teams and seemed to have good shots to make a playoff run.

However, it was the boys from Potomac who came through during a Cinderella playoff run.

Churchill’s bats alive as the team won 11-0 against Kennedy and then upset Whitman 10-8, Churchill then beat Bethesda-Chevy Chase 5-4 in the regional semifinals and beat Wootton 10-5 in the regional finals to earn a trip to College Park to face Catonsville in the state semifinals.

For me personally, I was shocked. I watched Churchill twice, and both times the team did not look good at all, including a 10-0 loss to Gaithersburg. 

Against Catonsville, Churchill ran out of magic but the team did not go down without a fight before falling 4-3. Churchill actually had its chances, but the team left nine men on base and had three guys tagged out at home.

Coach Scott Blackwood did a remarkable job with this team, and with so many young players coming back next season—the team only graduates two seniors—Churchill looks like it will be a team to keep on the radar.

4. John Harvill dies

On Dec. 27 Montgomery County lost a football coaching legend.

Former Gaithersburg head coach John Harvill died at the age of 88 after losing a battle to a bacterial infection.

During his coaching career—which spanned more than four decades—Harvill won two state championships at Gaithersburg, led the team to four undefeated seasons, and retired as the state’s winningest coach with 312 victories to his name. He retired in 2000.

His coaching tree is a long one, which includes former Sherwood coach Al Thomas, Quince Orchard coach Dave Mencarini, and Northwest coach Mike Neubeiser who just led his team to a state title.

Harvill also coached several players who would later make it to the NFL including Tony Greene and Tom McHale.

In reading all the stories written about Harvill since he passed away last Friday, it is clear to me the effect he had on the lives of those he touched. Every quote speaks to the leadership he provided, the emphasis he put on educating young men and how he was a father figure to so many.

Harvill enjoyed lots of success on the field, but it is obvious how much he meant off of it as well. He will be missed and my prayers go out to all those mourning his death.

3. Magruder loses to Eleanor Roosevelt 61-56 in state finals

For the third time in 12 years Magruder High School’s basketball team faced off against Eleanor Roosevelt in the state championship game.

The first two times the Colonels came out on top, winning championships in 2001 and 2012. This time however, things did not go the Colonels’ way.

All night long Magruder struggled to hit shots, despite leading the state in three-point shooting. Eleanor Roosevelt capitalized on its size advantage over Magruder, dominating in points in the paint.

Magruder, led by its senior trio of point guard J.J. Epps, shooting guard Nick Griffin, and forward Justin Whitmer, showed heart and made a comeback in the fourth quarter. Magruder trailed by eight in the period but after a Whitmer three, trailed by only four points at 55-51.

It was not enough, as Eleanor Roosevelt hit its free throws down the stretch to win the game.

Despite losing out on its chance for back-to-back titles, Magruder fans had no reason to be disappointed. Joe Hugley, a freshman forward/center for Magruder showed flashes of brilliance in the game, scoring nine points and grabbing ten rebounds. Also, what the three Colonels seniors accomplished in their careers cannot be diminished.

Coach Dan Harwood, one of the greatest in state history, never skipped an opportunity to talk about how much he respected his seniors and how much they meant to him. Whenever I spoke with Harwood it was always clear to me how much he sincerely cared about those young men.

Epps, Griffin and Whitmer gave the Magruder community something to believe in when times were tough.

In 2011, three Magruder students tragically lost their lives in a drunk-driving car accident. As a Magruder alum myself, I was heartbroken, and I know my feelings were shared by others.

My brother knew these students and I knew the young man driving the vehicle. I have known his older brother since elementary school and my sister used to be friends with him.

The whole situation was devastating.

At the same time, Magruder basketball was in a place it had not been in a while—struggling. However in 2011 the three aforementioned players started to make an impact on the program. The team began to wear “Who Datt” shirts in honor of their fallen brother. Then the team went on to win the 2012 championship, losing only one game all season.

These three men played a role in bringing hope back to the community and giving the people of Magruder something to smile about. It would have been great if they could have finished their careers out with a second straight championship, but I, and the rest of the Magruder family will always be grateful for everything they gave to the program and the memories they provided us.

2. Montrose Christian head coach Stu Vetter resigns

One of the most shocking moments in Montgomery County sports this year came when basketball coach Stu Vetter resigned after 14 years leading the helm at Montrose Christian.

Under Vetter, Montrose Christian achieved high levels of success and national recognition. Vetter led the team to 321 wins and graduated every single one of his players. Montrose Christian became one of THE private schools for basketball plaers

Some of Vetters’ players have had success in the NBA including Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant, Toronto Raptors and former Maryland Terrapins point guard Greivis Vasquez, and former Raptors and Denver Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza.

I was blown away by his decision to retire, but at the same time I can understand why Vetters wants to take some time away to be with his family. I believe he will get back into coaching again one day, and when he does other schools better watch out.

1. Northwest wins the state championship

This year’s number one county sports story is obvious to me. How could it not be the Northwest Jaguars winning the state championship?

Northwest was one of the teams I was assigned to cover for the Sentinel’s 2013 football preview. I knew the team had talent, and in talking to coach Mike Neubeiser, I could tell he was a confident man. However, confidence does not always translate to wins. In this case it did.

Northwest began the year 3-0, including a 20-13 win over Germantown rival Seneca Valley for the King’s Trophy, but few people at the time considered the team a contender for the state title. The next week Northwest got pummeled by undefeated Gaithersburg 26-6.

The Jaguars recovered from the loss to win its next three games, including handing Paint Branch its first and only regular season loss 31-28 in overtime on the road. However, the team stumbled again, losing to Clarksburg 14-13.

After the loss, skeptics said Northwest had no chance at winning the state title, and that county rival Quince Orchard would easily run the table and go to the championship game.

The week after losing to Clarksburg, Northwest beat those Quince Orchard Cougars 35-21 on the road.

The Jaguars found their secret weapon in that game—taking advantage of track star Matt Watson’s speed as a wide receiver.

I covered multiple Northwest games this season, including the wins over Seneca and Paint Branch. Personally, I always thought the team was a contender. I thought their star, athlete Josh Gills, was a tremendous talent. Gills accounted for 25 total touchdowns during the season passing, rushing, receiving, defensively and returning kickoffs.

In addition to Gills, sophomore quarter Mark Pierce showed signs of wisdom beyond his years. He had a confidence to make plays during important moments of games, and he always knew where to go with the ball.

Northwest also had a tremendous defense—one that could stop the run, rush the quarterback and force lots of turnovers. Rasheed Gillis was tremendous at rushing off the edge, and the defense always seemed to be attacking. The corners were physical and rarely allowed opposing receivers get separation.

 When the team added Watson to the mix, it changed the dynamic of the offense and the team as a whole.

Watson provided a new dimension to the offense because of his ability to take a short pass and break it for a long touchdown. He gave Pierce another weapon to go to in the passing game, and he also opened up plays for Gills. With the offense playing so well, it became easier for the defense to attack and play aggressively.

Quince Orchard had no answer for Watson, as he scored three touchdowns.

When the playoffs rolled around, Northwest was 8-2 and hosted Gaithersburg in a rematch. Northwest dominated and won the game 36-7 as Watson and Pierce both tore apart the defense.

The Trojans could also not get anything going at all against the Jaguars’ defense.

The next week, Northwest faced off in the regional finals against Quince Orchard in a rematch, again on the road.

I predicted Northwest to win the game. I told my coworkers, including our main sports writer, that I believed Northwest could win. Everyone laughed at me. Quince Orchard only had one loss, people told me, and they would be angry seeking revenge for that one loss.

Well, it all got settled on the field. Northwest won 28-20 and earned a trip to the state semifinals.

In the state semis, Northwest played yet another rematch, taking on Paint Branch. Again people doubted Northwest saying that Paint Branch and its vaunted spread offense led by quarterback and likely Player of the Year Gaston Cooper would win the game.

Northwest destroyed Paint Branch, winning 55-36.

In the state championship Northwest faced undefeated Suitland High School. Wouldn’t you know it but again most people gave Northwest little chance to win.

It all came together for the Jaguars as they again dominated the competition and won 33-16 to earn the school’s second state title. Pierce finished the game with 261 passing yards and two touchdowns, including a 77-yard strike to—you guessed it—Matt Watson. Josh Gills scored a touchdown, and cornerback Rodney Snider came up big with an interception and several deflected passes.

With the win, Northwest became the first Montgomery County team to win the state championship since Sherwood in 2008. But hush—don’t tell Neubeiser and his young men they deserve it.