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OLNEY — Talk to anyone inside the DeMatha football organization, and they’ll say this year’s group is built different. Sure, it’s the same program that’s produced Hall of Fame worthy running back Brian Westbrook and ample NFL and Division I players. But, again, this DeMatha football team — the first undefeated Stags unit after the end of the regular season I’m seven years — is different than past championship teams in their own unique way.
“These guys, they truly play for each other,” Brooks said. “We’ve had some talented teams come through here, but these guys, their grit is unmatched. They’re a joy to coach.”
Based off both teams performances as off late — No. 1 DeMatha and No. 14 Good Counsel — many speculated the Stags winning by three or more touchdowns. After two quarters on Friday night, DeMatha found themselves face-to-face with adversity once again when they nursed a 7-0 lead going into halftime. But, like the previous nine games, the Stags found a way as they used a suffocating defense and three rushing touchdowns by Air Force commit Beau English to grind out a 21-7 win over host Good Counsel.
“We’re built to go through some tough times and work through them,” Brooks said. “Our guys are mentally tough.”
The win on Friday night capped a perfect 10-0 end to the regular season, the first time Brooks has reached the unblemished mark since taking over the Stags four years ago. It also put themselves in prime position to reach the WCAC championship game for the fourth straight year as the Stags will face the Falcons for the second week and row next week in the first round of the playoffs.
“We play a lot of great teams, we know we’re going to be in some battles on the field,” English said. “This team never quits and never gets down on themselves. We just kept pushing through adversity.”
English, the DeMatha senior quarterback, provided the lone offensive points all night. His first score came on a 6-yard bootleg with 1:09 remaining in the first quarter to cap a tedious 20-play, 80-yard drive spanning over 10 minutes. His last two came on lunges at the goal-line at the 10:47 mark in the third quarter and then with under three minutes to go in the fourth.
Kyle McFadden on Twitter
Beau English scampers in from 6 yds out. No. 1 DeMatha leads No. 14 Good Counsel, 7-0. That’s a 20-PLAY, 80 yard drive. https://t.co/RM2p0SY8kC
The only Good Counsel score came when Jalen Lea returned a DeMatha fumble 33 yards midway through the third quarter. Outside of that, the DeMatha defense led by Ohio State commit Chase Young, shut down virtually every opportunity Good Counsel presented.
“We all love each other,” Young said of his defense. “We all are willing to put it on the line for our brothers.”
Young finished the night with two sacks and is an essential piece in the DeMatha defense who have held opponents to 13 points or less in eight of the 10 regular season games.
“Just grind,” Young said. “I think we’re the hardest working team in the country.”
Good Counsel, meanwhile, seemingly wasted every opportunity. On DeMatha’s opening offensive drive, an encroachment penalty on 4th-and-8 at the Good Counsel 41-yard line set up a seven-yard run on 4th-and-3. Five plays later, and English scampered in for his first touchdown of the night.
At the end of the first quarter, an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was negated for a block in the back.
And, deep into the third quarter, the Falcons fumbled the ball away in the red zone.
Friday night’s game is only a prelude to the big dance, however, that will take place next week. The winner between the DeMatha-Good Counsel playoff rematch will play in the WCAC championship on November 19 in College Park.
“This next week is what we do it for,” Brooks said. “This is what the season comes down to. Hopefully, we have another win left in us.”
Kyle McFadden on Twitter
A simple, but meaningful postgame speech from @DMCoachBrooks. He moves to 10-0 for first time in Stags career https://t.co/OXgdKTNVXj
NOTE: University of Maryland commit, offensive lineman Marcus Minor, was carried off on a stretcher with two minutes remaining in the game due to a leg injury.
Box score
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| No. 1 DM (10-0) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| No. 14 GC (6-4) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
