Prince George’s football notebook: Suitland gets its ‘pieces in the right places;’ Potomac bounces back

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/prince-georges-football-notebook-suitland-gets-its-pieces-in-the-right-places-potomac-bounces-back/2015/10/19/57110282-7674-11e5-b9c1-f03c48c96ac2_story.html

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Suitland senior Tevin Singleton liked playing quarterback. He enjoyed throwing to teammate Manasseh Bailey, usually his partner at wide receiver, because that’s what the Rams needed to start the season. But he was a wide receiver playing quarterback, and both Singleton and Coach Ed Shields understood this might only be a temporary solution.

They also knew two plans had been put in place when Suitland lost presumed starting quarterback Mike McCoy, a Parkdale transfer, to a season-ending knee injury in the final preseason game in August. First, Shields told Singleton, his star receiver, a few days before Suitland’s season-opening win over Gwynn Park, that he would be moving to quarterback. Shields also noticed in practice one of his tight ends, sophomore Donta Anthony, could throw the ball pretty well and moved him under center.

Two months later, Anthony is slated to start at quarterback in the Rams’ biggest home game of the season against DuVal Saturday, a gamble Singleton believes can impact the competitive Prince George’s County 4A standings.

“Now,” he said, “we’ve got all our pieces in the right places.”

Anthony will be making his third start in a row for Suitland (6-1, 5-1 Prince George’s 4A), and he first saw action in mop-up duty when the Rams defeated Northwestern, 30-7, on Oct. 5. Over three games, he has completed 17 of his 32 passes for 463 yards and four touchdowns, including a 171-yard effort in Saturday’s 20-7 win over C.H. Flowers.

Teams now have to account for both Singleton and Bailey in the secondary, and though Anthony’s numbers aren’t eye-popping and the play-calling has been more basic, that’s all the Rams might need from him. Tailback Rakeem Darden is currently tied with injured DuVal All-Met Antoine Brooks as the leading rusher in Prince George’s County with 1,127 yards.

“While that’s hurt us offensively in what we’re able to do, he’s growing in it,” Shields said of Anthony. “The way we feel, Tevin is one of the best, if not the best, wide receiver in the league. So for us, it’s a plus.”

A 22-21 loss to Bowie back on Sep. 19, in which the Rams were shut out in the second half, helped accelerate Anthony’s path to the field.

Suitland is packed within a group of five Prince George’s 4A teams battling for four region playoff spots. No. 7 Wise (7-0, 5-0) remains atop the standings, while Suitland, Bowie, DuVal and Eleanor Roosevelt all have one league loss. The Rams face Roosevelt and Wise in their final two games before the postseason. Someone will be left out.

That’s why Singleton agreed to play quarterback in the first place.

“It’s just whatever I can do to contribute to the team. It really didn’t matter to me,” he said. “I did what I had to do to get the team some Ws. ”

The Potomac (Md.) defensive backs heard about the Hail Mary all last week. From teammates. From classmates. From teachers. From administrators. From everyone. They could not escape the last-ditch touchdown pass that gave Gwynn Park a 16-13 win over the Wolverines on Oct. 10.

“Some people got picked on,” wide receiver Andre Hall said. “But I think that was motivation, too.”

Potomac (Md.) put its pent-up emotions to good use in Saturday’s 42-6 win over Laurel, a bounce-back effort that sets the stage for a matchup against Douglass (5-2) that carries plenty of postseason implications for both teams. The defending 2A state champion Eagles have reeled off five-straight wins since opening the year with losses to Wise and Riverdale Baptist, but there are currently four 2A South teams ahead of them in the loss column.

Potomac Coach Ronnie Crump would like home-field advantage throughout the region playoffs, if only because the Wolverines will be hosting their first true home game of the fall Saturday. Though a new grass field and track had been in place since the preseason, Prince George’s County did not finish installing new bleachers at Potomac’s stadium until recently.

Potomac (5-2) must beat out Northern (5-2) in the 3A South race. The Wolverines’ only other loss came to Wise, and the players hope unveiling a new home will put an end to the jokes.

“It’s frustrating but all the frustration and anger is over now. It’s going to be a good show to come see this weekend,” cornerback Tyler Tobias said. “First game versus Douglass in a new stadium, I think we’re all excited about that.”