MaxPreps 2013 Preseason Xcellent 25 Football preview: No. 20 DeMatha

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.

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.



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Chris 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){PAGEBREAK}

Size: Washington Catholic Athletic Conference member (DeMatha does not participate in Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association)




Enrollment: 1,000 (all boys)


2012 finish: 9-3


Head coach: Elijah Brooks


Years at school: 7 (two as head coach)


Career record: 15-7


Notable players coached:
OL Arie Kouandjio (Alabama)



OL Cyrus Kouandjio (Alabama)

DL Michael Moore (Virginia){PAGEBREAK} No. of returning starters: 6 (offense), 10 (defense)

Key losses:
DB Brian Charles

DL DaeSean Timmons

OL Matt Priest


Key returners:
QB John Lovett

LB JaWhaun Bentley



RB Mark Allen

WR Cam Phillips

DL Deonte Holden

LB Spencer Kleinrichert


Key newcomers:
DL Shane Simmons

WR Tino Ellis



OL/LB Jordan Edwards{PAGEBREAK} Toughest game: As usual, the team's biggest challenge will come against Our Lady of Good Counsel. However, it opens with an impressive gauntlet that features Phoebus, Godby and St. Joseph Regional.

Question mark: Will all the talent gel? There's a tremendous amount of highly-skilled players on DeMatha's roster. Yet in high school football, talent and scholarship offers are not synonymous with victories.

Local outlook: In addition to Good Counsel, Gonzaga will also be tough in the WCAC. In Northern Virginia, Woodbridge will feature the nation's No. 1 recruit, Da'Shawn Hand.

Overall outlook: Expectations are high for DeMatha this year. With the amount of returning starters it boasts, coupled with younger classes teeming with talent, this team should be able to capture a WCAC crown. If it falls short, it will likely mean a five-peat (and several more) for rival Good Counsel.

Coach quote: "It’s a great thing. That’s why people choose to come to DeMatha. They love the challenge. They love the me-against-the-world mentality and it’s something that we embrace."
- Elijah Brooks on his team's high expectations, to Gazette.Net{PAGEBREAK}