Prince George’s Gazette High School Football Pick ‘Em — Week 4

Surrattsville has never made the playoffs in football, and while it’s still early, it seems the Clinton school’s luck is going to change this fall. Helping the Hornets’ cause is the fact that they don’t face defending state 3A champion Friendly this season. Their game against Forestville this weekend should be a good test, and then come October dates on the road against Douglass and Gwynn Park. Those two games should be entertaining as the Hornets chase a 1A South Region playoff spot.

McNamara sputtered in the second half, but held off O’Connell (Va.) last week, 33-28. The Mustangs are 3-1 as they head into Saturday’s home game against Good Counsel, one of the long-standing football powers in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. Good Counsel is also 3-1 and is coming off a 14-11 loss to St. John’s (D.C.). It may be McNamara’s time to have a statement game.

Elsewhere in the county, the controversy swirling around the Eleanor Roosevelt football program hasn’t impacted the Raiders on the field. Roosevelt notched its third shutout in as many games this season, beating Parkdale, 25-0. It was Roosevelt’s 11th shutout in the last 13 games dating back to last season. The streak may very well continue on Saturday as the Raiders face a High Point team that has scored 14 points in three games this fall and is coming off a shutout loss to Bowie. Meanwhile, Roosevelt is still planning to appeal the one-year suspensions against head coach Rick Houchens and assistant Roman Morris for allegedly recruiting a player from outside of Roosevelt’s school boundaries.

The shutout loss left Parkdale winless in three games — and a tough three games it’s been. The Panthers started the season against defending state 4A champ Suitland, then faced perennial powers Charles H. Flowers and Roosevelt. Parkdale should have a good chance to turn things around the next two weeks with dates against Bladensburg on Saturday and Laurel on Oct. 5.

Got any thoughts on the season? Drop me an e-mail at selkin@gazette.net.

Prince George’s Gazette Sports Staff High School Football Pick ‘Em standings

Ted Black 44-6
Derek Toney 43-7
Seth Elkin 42-8
Terron Hampton 41-9
Adam Rubenstein 40-10