The DC Touchdown Club and WTOP are partnering all high school football season-long to honor a Player of the Week and help choose a DMV Game of the Week. Read about this week’s Player of the Week, and vote in the poll at the bottom of the article for the DMV Game of the Week.
WASHINGTON — Jeremiah Richardson enrolled at Bell Multicultural High School this past summer and tried out for the football team. Coach Daniel Tyson and his staff had the 5-foot-8, 185-pound senior practice on the scout team defensive line.
“You expect the first team to dominate the scout team,” Tyson said. “But no, he dominated the line of scrimmage so we moved him to defensive tackle. We had no idea he could do what he did.”
Richardson, who had never previously played high school football, was happy to have the chance to get on the field. “I just wanted to play football,” he said. “Whatever I could do, I was going to do it.”
A few weeks into the season, Tyson learned that Richardson had played quarterback as a youngster. “And we needed a backup quarterback,” Tyson said. So the team put in a package of plays in case they needed Richardson under center.
That package was unveiled this past Saturday, when the undefeated Griffins were struggling offensively in the biggest game of the year. Enter Richardson. He took over at quarterback and rushed for 115 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 90 yards and another score as Bell beat Kingsman Academy, 32-22, in the DC State Athletic Association Class A championship game.
Richardson also was stellar on defense, registering three sacks and returning a fumble 65 yards for Bell’s other touchdown. For his efforts, Richardson was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week.
“He’s a very quiet kid,” Tyson said. “He does not say much at all. You sit down with him and have a conversation and it’s, ‘Gosh, dude, do you talk at all?’ But he packs a mean punch on the field. He’s become my favorite players because of his demeanor.”
Others considered for Player of the Week honors were:
FREDERICK
Oakdale QB Collin Schlee threw three touchdown passes as the Bears beat Elkton, 38-0, in a Maryland 2A semifinal.
HOWARD
Glenelg WR-LB Michael Doughty caught a 19-yard touchdown pass and recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown as the Gladiators beat New Town, 35-0, in a Maryland 2A semifinal, advancing to their first-ever state championship game.
LOUDOUN
Woodgrove QB Graham Walker rushed 19 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns and completed 10 of 15 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns as the Wolverines beat Sherando, 27-3, in the Virginia 4A Region C final.
MONTGOMERY
Quince Orchard QB Brian Plummer completed 7 of 10 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown as the Cougars beat Wise, 31-6, in a Maryland 4A semifinal.
NORTHERN REGION
Westfield RB Eugene Asante rushed 17 times for 114 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Madison, 17-7, in the Virginia 6A Region D championship game for their 37th consecutive win.
PRINCE GEORGE’S
Douglass RB Geo-di Tolbert scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 66-yard run midway through the fourth quarter — his first carry of the day — as the Eagles beat Dunbar-Baltimore, 20-6, in a Maryland 1A semifinal, ending the Poets’ winning streak at 23 games.
PRINCE WILLIAM
Freedom-Woodbridge WR Umari Hatcher caught a 36-yard touchdown pass in the final minute to lift the Eagles to a 21-16 win over W.T. Woodson in the Virginia 6A Region C championship game.
SOUTHERN MARYLAND
North Point QB Asa Williams threw one touchdown pass and rushed for two more scores as the Eagles beat Mervo, 23-13, in a Maryland 4A semifinal.
VOTE FOR THE GAME OF THE WEEK
We’ll see you in the District Saturday! Note: Friendship Collegiate vs. H.D. Woodson has been moved to Eastern HS at 3 p.m. Saturday.
