No. 2 Damascus and No. 10 Seneca Valley face off in matchup of Montgomery County unbeatens

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/no-2-damascus-and-no-10-seneca-valley-face-off-in-matchup-of-montgomery-county-unbeatens/2015/10/29/2efde122-7e3d-11e5-afce-2afd1d3eb896_story.html

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All season, Daquan Grimes has been itching for some competition. Not since Damascus’s Week 1 game — a 39-17 win over Quince Orchard — has a team come within striking distance. The Swarmin’ Hornets’ average victory margin is 42 points, and more often than not, the starters are sitting and the clock is running by the fourth quarter.

But Grimes could finally get the type of game he’s been craving when No. 2 Damascus travels to Germantown on Friday night to face No. 10 Seneca Valley . Playoff home-field advantage — and just as important, bragging rights — will be on the line in this matchup of Montgomery County’s last unbeatens.

“Every year it’s a big game,” said Grimes, a linebacker and fullback. “They have great coaches, good players, good athletes. Since they’re so close it just makes that game so much bigger.”

As good as Damascus (8-0) has been, Seneca Valley has been just as impressive. The Screaming Eagles (8-0) have seven blowout victories to along with their Week 2 win over then-No. 2 Northwest.

Seneca Valley has an explosive offense featuring the backfield tandem of Adrian Platt and Darius Golston, and an improved passing attack bolstered by Gaithersburg transfers Petey Gaskins (quarterback) and Cortez Chase-Ervin (wide receiver).

[WR Cortez Chase-Ervin does the little things for Seneca Valley]

To beat Damascus, the defense will have to find an answer for Jake Funk. The senior running back is having a historic season, rushing for 1,258 yards and 25 touchdowns in limited touches. The Swarmin’ Hornets are scoring at will thanks to the recent Maryland commit and the blockers in front of him.

“We gotta beat him up a little bit. We gotta wear him down,” Seneca Valley Coach Fred Kim said. “We can’t allow him to beat us down and take it to us. We gotta take it to him.”

Damascus has won the last three meetings against Seneca Valley, including last year’s game, in which it capitalized on multiple Screaming Eagles turnovers en route to a 46-13 victory. Seneca Valley will need to have a better showing this time around to get its seniors their first victory against their 3A West region rival.

“You step on the field, you look around, you see the fans in white or black, you hear them screaming, you hear the cowbells, the country music playing from the speakers. You get chills. It’s indescribable,” Seneca Valley senior linebacker Kendall Pinales said.

“[Getting a win] would definitely mean a lot. I have goals for this season and beating Damascus is definitely one of them. It’s a stepping stone on the way to the final goal.”