The Wait Is Almost Over: A 2025 Montgomery County Football Preseason Primer
By Damon D. Anderson, High School Football Analyst
The dark days are almost behind us. The sun’s setting a little earlier, the pads are coming out of the storage bins, and footballs are starting to fly through humid summer air. It won’t be long now—conditioning, then scrimmages, and then, before you know it, September 5th will roll around and with it the glorious return of MoCo football.
Across Montgomery County, the storylines are slowly writing themselves. For the most part, it’s been a calm offseason. Only two head coaching changes across the entire county means that continuity reigns, and for many programs, that’s exactly what they need. Some are looking to rebuild, others are eyeing the playoffs, and a select few are staring up at the summit—state championship or bust.
Of course, that summit was conquered last December by the Cougars of Quince Orchard, who delivered MoCo its 55th state title. As usual, the bullseye is squarely on their back. But in 2025, more teams are hoping to break through. We’re starting to see a philosophical shift: contenders scheduling strong out-of-county opponents to sharpen their edges, while others chase wins—and confidence—against similarly rebuilding programs. The playoff picture could be murky, but every game matters, and the building blocks for November will start stacking as early as Week 1.
This month, we’re taking a region-by-region tour of the county, starting with the marquee division: 4A West. Home of the reigning state champions, this region has long been QO’s domain. Thirteen straight years as the top seed. A dynastic grip. But beneath the shadow of the Cougars, the field is swelling with ambition. Can anyone force a shakeup? Let’s take a look at each program, alphabetically.
Churchill Bulldogs
Head Coach: Joe Rydzewski (6th season)
2024 Record: 6-5
The question entering 2025: Is Churchill ready to move from plucky upstart to permanent resident among the county’s Elite 6? The departure of QB Vasi Hallas leaves a massive hole—he accounted for nearly 75% of the Bulldogs’ total offense in 2024. But help may have arrived via transfer: junior QB Hunter Humphries, formerly of Wootton, brings a live arm and big-game experience. He’ll be supported by the return of RB Noah Zheng (5.6 yards per carry), providing the opportunity for balance.
Defensively and out wide, though, the cupboard isn’t fully stocked. New names will need to emerge. With few gimme games on the schedule, a slow start is possible—but don’t expect this staff to panic. They’ve proven they can turn things around.
Key Game: Week 3 @ Walter Johnson
Prediction: 6-3
Clarksburg Coyotes
Head Coach: Brandon Martin (2nd season)
2024 Record: 4-6
Clarksburg is trending up, quietly. A year after beginning the turnaround under Coach Martin, the Coyotes bring a new swagger to the field. Their 2025 squad is a mix of experienced returners and talented call-ups from a promising JV team, and while some key seniors are gone, the program has depth for the first time in a while.
The schedule is manageable—only QO and Sherwood appear out of reach. If they can steal a win from Seneca Valley or Damascus, the buzz will get loud fast. This is a team on the edge of relevance again.
Key Game: Week 1 vs. Seneca Valley
Prediction: 5-4
Gaithersburg Trojans
Head Coach: Shawn Prather (3rd season)
2024 Record: 3-7
The post-Gideon Ituka era has not been kind to Gaithersburg. The offense has struggled to find an identity without its former workhorse. But the pieces are in place for a rebuild—Coach Prather is entering Year 3, and last year’s JV squad flashed some talent.
The schedule is a true mixed bag: QO and Northwest feel like uphill battles, but there’s opportunity to stack wins elsewhere. If the Trojans can score points consistently, a return to playoff contention isn’t out of the question.
Key Game: Week 7 @ Richard Montgomery
Prediction: 4-5
Walter Johnson Wildcats
Head Coach: Aaron Fiddler (3rd season)
2024 Record: 5-6
The rise of WJ has been one of the great stories of the 2020s in MoCo football. But with rising success comes rising expectations—and rivals that are catching up fast. After a record-breaking 2023, the Wildcats stumbled in 2024, and 2025 feels like a make-or-break year for their place among the elite.
QB Jake Forburger is a legitimate star, maybe the best signal-caller in the county. But he’ll need help. For WJ to take the next step, they must regain their edge in the trenches and on defense. This is a team with a high ceiling—but a low floor if things don’t click.
Key Game: Week 3 vs. Churchill
Prediction: 5-4
Richard Montgomery Rockets
Head Coach: Nicholas Coates (3rd season)
2024 Record: 2-8
Gone are the days of RM being a consistent playoff threat. Under Coach Coates, the Rockets are still trying to find a foothold in a competitive region. Their schedule is forgiving, and their division alignment gives them a shot to hang around .500—but this is still a team with major questions on both sides of the ball.
There’s talent in the pipeline, and the opportunity is there to steal some wins and play spoiler. But as of now, RM looks to be rebuilding more than reloading.
Key Game: Week 4 @ Clarksburg
Prediction: 3-6
Northwest Jaguars
Head Coach: David Riggio (interim, 1st season)
2024 Record: 9-3
The sudden departure of Bucky Clipper has thrown a curveball at a program that was already in transition. Still, don’t count out the Jags. The coaching staff remains largely intact, and the new interim head coach, David Riggio, is a young, energetic alum with something to prove.
QB Jayden Vongprachanh-Nelson returns and will be the centerpiece. The skill talent is always there at Northwest, and their mentality—“us against the world”—is more than just talk. Expect a team that plays fast, plays angry, and plays to win. Even in flux, the Jags are a problem.
Key Game: Week 4 vs. Paint Branch
Prediction: 7-2
Quince Orchard Cougars
Head Coach: John Kelley (12th season)
2024 Record: 13-0
The dynasty rolls on. The Iverson Howard era may be over, but the standards in Gaithersburg haven’t changed. QO will again field one of the deepest, most physical, and most disciplined teams in the state.
All eyes are on transfer QB Will Drakeford to steer the ship offensively, but it’s the defense that will dictate how far this team goes early on. With a loaded D-line and playmakers in the secondary like Rico Jackson, this unit might be the best in the Kelley era.
The goal is clear: win a fourth title in five years and cement the dynasty. Anything less will feel like failure.
Key Game: Week 3 vs. Stone Bridge (VA)
Prediction: 8-1
Seneca Valley Screaming Eagles
Head Coach: Quinton Cosby (3rd season)
2024 Record: 7-4
Seneca Valley remains a puzzle. They’ve shown flashes of returning to prominence, but every time they seem poised to take that next step, something stalls. Talent tends to leak to Northwest, and that has hampered depth.
Still, this is a proud program with tradition, and Coach Cosby has them competing. The schedule isn’t easy, but they’ve pulled off surprises before. If things break right, SV could find themselves in the thick of things come playoff time.
Key Game: Week 5 @ Walter Johnson
Prediction: 6-3
Final Thought
The winds of change may be gentle, but they’re blowing through MoCo. QO remains the measuring stick, but the middle of the pack is swelling with contenders. The 4A West feels deeper than it’s been in a while, and while the Cougars sit on the throne, the rest are sharpening swords.
One month out, the picture is fuzzy—but not for long. The pads will start popping soon. And when they do, every team in the county has the same chance: one Friday night at a time.
Next week: We shift our spotlight north and take a look at the 4A North region, where Paint Branch, Blake, Blair and company are making noise of their own.
