Are You Ready for MoCo Football?
Head Coach Mike Nesmith of Paint Branch High School
Photo: Jonathan Bruck / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
Head Coach Pat Cilento, 1st year varsity head coach at Sherwood High School.
Photo: Jonathan Bruck / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
Head Coach Larry Hurd of Clarksburg High School
Photo: Jonathan Bruck / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
BETHESDA, MD - GamedayMD's 1st annual Media Day for Montgomery County high school football was held Monday, August 3rd at Caddie's in Bethesda. Streaming live on the internet, thirteen coaches from the area spoke about their teams and answered questions from the media in a press conference format. If you missed it, tune in to GamedayTV to view the press conference. Here is a recap of the day:
Paint Branch High School
Head Coach: Mike Nesmith
After tough last game against Damascus last season, the Panthers are ready to come back and play competitive football. Heading to play 4A, the Panthers will look to Tracy Martin, Torian, Henderson, Ivan Tagoe and Courtney Wallerson to lead the team.
Blake High School
Head Coach: Tony Nazzaro
Blake had a young squad last year finishing 2-8. After a long talk about hard work and commitment with the team at the end of last year, this squad has a new attitude. Having had a solid off-season, the Bengals are excited about the opening season. Front runners for the quarterback position this year are: Brandon Simms and Nich Sigwalt.
Sherwood High School
Head Coach: Pat Cilento
This is Coach Cilento's first year as the head varsity football coach at Sherwood. He has tough shoes to fill as he follows a legacy in coaching, Al Thomas. Having lost 26 of its returning players, Sherwood returns only three players on defense and two on offense. In the next couple of weeks, there will be a lot of getting to know the players. Vying for the quarterback position are three young men: A.J. Pignone, Patrick Garland and a transfer from GA with varsity experience.
Northwood High School
Head Coach: Dennis Harris
The Gladiators had a young team last year with only nine seniors. This year they are more experienced with Jimmy Hessler at the helm returning as quarterback. Others for Northwood include Ian Leach, Malik Sapp, Martin Onley, Isaiah Glover, Calvin Kane and Anatoly Moschkin.
Clarksburg High School
Head Coach: Larry Hurd
Aware of the challenges that lie ahead, the Coyotes move up to 3A this year returning a lot of players. Both the coaching staff and players are excited as they enter into the 2009 football season. Key leaders for Clarksburg start this year with the wide receivers and defensive backs with everyone returning.
John F. Kennedy High School
Head Coach: Randolph Warren
Coach Warren has brought changes to the 2-8 Cavaliers from last season. He is looking for his veterans to lead by example, enforcing a team concept and instilling off-season conditioning, these new changes been nothing but positive for the players. Bisi Ezekoye, as the team's best athlete, will play some quarterback and defensive back this year.
Quince Orchard High School
Head Coach: Dave Mencarini
Coach Mencarini enters his 6th year at QO looking forward to a successful 2009 season. 14 out of 22 starters from last year return. As the staff looks to build an expectation of hard work, the Cougars have two young men trying to win the starting quarterback position; rising junior Drew Murphy and rising sophomore Billy Plante.
Walter Johnson High School
Head Coach: Jon Kadi
The Wildcats had a tough 2008 season ending the year with a 1-9 record. Playing all its games on the road, the Wildcats are eager to be back at home on their own turf for the 09 season.
The staff plans to bring some changes offensively and defensively to the team this year.
Blair High School
Assistant Coach: Bryan Nance
Coach Nance recognizes the challenges of playing 4A football and mentions we "try to be as competitive we can". Blair is a running team and plans to remain with that game plan. Andrew Gondor, who rushed for 230 yards last season returns and will be the key player for Blair.
Georgetown Preparatory School
Head Coach: Dan Paro
Coach Paro enters his 13th season as the varsity head coach at Prep. Posting a 7-3 record last year, 28 players return for the 2009 season. With a challenging season ahead and a returning quarterback, Prep looks to continue its successful tradition.
Watkins Mill High School
Head Coach: Joe Rydzewski
Finishing 2-8 last year, there is a change of attitude among the Wolverines this season. As a second year coach, expectations have been changed and increased during the off-season. Eight starters return both on offense and defense for the 2009 season. Two wide receivers, Kyle Lyons-Burke and Fola Akinnibi, who excel in the classroom as well as on the field, are two players to watch this season.
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
Assistant Coach: Brandon Milloy
Coach Milloy is starting his 4th season at Good Counsel. Six athletes return on offense and eight on defense for the Falcons. A few transfers should promise to be some top newcomers in the program, while a new quarterback for the Falcons this year means things will be a bit simpler with the passing game.
Springbrook High School
Offensive Coordinator: Adam Bahr
Springbrook went 6-4 last year. There will be competition at many of the skill positions during the pre-season. The role of quarterback will either be rising junior Brandon Washington or Eric Freniere who played at Paint Branch last season.
