DeMatha has national championship aspirations with a bevy of returning talent, including (top row, left to right) Mark Allen, John Lovett, Brock Ruble and (bottom row) Cam Phillips.
Photo by Ken Inness
Winners of 19 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) titles,
DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) has an extensive and proud football history.
However, it has been four years since the Stags have captured the WCAC title, as archrival Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) has risen to prominence.
With 16 returning starters and an impressive cast of young players eager to step in, this is the year that DeMatha faithful believe the team can return to the winner's circle, and consequently, a spot in the national rankings at season's end.
Linebacker JaWhaun Bentley
Photo by Ken Inness
Quarterback
John Lovett will commandeer the team's offense.
Brock Ruble, a 6-foot-9 behemoth on the offensive line, is back up front.
The team's strength on offense, without question, is its talent at skill positions. Running backs
Taiwan Deal and
Mark Allen, a Penn State commit, make a potent one-two punch. Sophomore
Lorenzo Harrison will also see action again after looking good as a freshman.
See the entire Preseason Xcellent 25Chris Jones and
Cam Phillips provide weapons on the outside.
Darryl Turner is another option for Lovett.
Defensively, DeMatha will be outstanding.
Deonte Holden, a 6-foot-5 defensive end, brings speed off the edge while massive tackle
Jonathan Sackey-Addo will be a force in the middle. Sophomore defensive end
Shane Simmons, who is already fielding major Division I offers, will also see action.
JaWhaun Bentley and
Spencer Kleinrichert are two of the top linebackers in the area. The team's secondary is similarly loaded.
Local look: "The loads of young talent that DeMatha possessed last year stands to become proven talent in an upcoming season surrounded by high expectations. Running back Taiwan Deal, offensive lineman Brock Ruble and linebacker JaWhaun Bentley lead the heavy dose of athletic skill on both sides of the ball for the Stags, who hope to end Good Counsel's four-year reign as Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champs."
- Brandon Parker, Washington Post (@brandoncparker)
