2016 Week 4. 5 undefeated teams left. Mencarini out at Urbana.

September is coming to a close and we're left with five of the thirty county teams to remain unbeaten at 3-0.

Montgomery Blair turned the world upside down with a shocker of a win at Northwest, 40-36. Northwest prior to the game had only lost three games all-time when scoring 28 points or more. A well-balanced offense and a gritty performance on both sides of the ball proved enough to top one of MoCo's best, ranked high on the Elite 6, Maryland Top 25, and the Washington Post's Top 20. Blair quarterback Desmond Colby was superb throwing for 411 yards and 5 touchdowns topping all quarterbacks in the state. Colby was named Player of the Week by the DC Touchdown Club. 3-0 Blair now ranked #4 in the Elite 6 (and #17 in the state!) is primed to have their best season ever in the State Championship era. They've now beaten one of the four teams they lost to in 2015. The only teams most likely to challenge Blair include Paint Branch, Sherwood, and a regular season closer against defending 3A champion Damascus. They have 0-3 Churchill tonight. Bulldogs' QB Michael Janis is nearing 1000 yards in passing.

Good Counsel is just adding toppings to Coach Bob Milloy's 400 wins now. They haven't had dominating wins; averaging four touchdowns a game in close contests. Mohamed Ibrahim is carrying this team, mostly on the ground hitting about 100 yards a game. They have WCAC rival St John's College on Saturday.

Damascus 108 points in two games since their close call versus Quince Orchard. Markus Vinson is solid on the ground and Elijah Atkins proved to be his Scottie Pippen against Watkins Mill. On the schedule tonight is 1-2 Poolesville coming off an upset win versus Winters Mill last week. The Falcons, together with the other Falcons in Good Counsel were the only two teams in MoCo to beat out-of-county opponents last week.

Sherwood hosts Springbrook (0-3) in what could be an ugly game. The Blue Devils have had eyebrow-raising defeats to Blake, Wootton, Northwood. Yes, all the aforementioned teams are improved but if they can score 40+ and hold Springbrook to under two scores, what will Sherwood and Boston College bound Travis Levy do with them at home?

Richard Montgomery looks to be playing in the Game of the Week versus Rockville rival, Wootton (2-1). The Rockets are knocking on the Elite-6 door starting the season scoring 40+ and winning a close one versus rival Rockville, 28-20. RM is balanced in its offensive attack with Ty Hebron on the ground while QB Spencer Silverstein and Zaire Mitchell-Paden go through the air. Wootton counters with their own offensive aerial attack with the Grant Saylor-to-Noelly Miller connection.

Elite-6 in Week 4

#1 Damascus (3-0) vs Poolesville (1-2)

#2 Quince Orchard (2-1) at Clarksburg (2-1)

#3 Sherwood (3-0) vs Springbrook (0-3)

#4 Blair (3-0) vs Churchill (0-3)

#5 Northwest (2-1) at Whitman (2-1)

#6 Seneca Valley (2-1) vs Rockville (1-2)

Teams to look out for:

Blake (2-1), 50 points against previously unbeaten Wheaton. Only defeat was versus Paint Branch in a close contest.

Paint Branch (2-1), has recovered well after jaw-dropper defeat to Whitman. They shutout Gaithersburg in Week 3.

Clarksburg (2-1), it might not be the Coyotes' night with Coach Hurd's alma mater coming into town (that's QO, people not from MoCo). Coach Hurd is nearing the century mark in wins. Tonight may not get him close to the milestone, but it is all too possible before the year ends.

Wheaton (2-1), yesteryear's playoff team has Russell Hoes leading this squad of Knights.

Einstein (1-2), The Coach Bonavia effect is obvious. Jason Clingman and Christian Greaves are silent assassins hiding behind a 1-2 record.

Watkins Mill (1-2), The ‘Rines have yet to win against a county opponent. They are capable of putting up a bunch of points with Markel Grant, and a healthy Daquan Wims.

Northwood (2-1), Gladiators are a fun team to include in “most improved” conversations. They look to be on their way to 3-1 before a rivalry game with Einstein looms in Week 5. A 3-1 record for the Glads would be their best record since winning four in 2011.

ICYMI: 

• Darian Holmes op-ed: Football, The First Amendment Rights...
• Dave Mencarini resigns from Urbana
• Week 4 Predictions