Sports
Richard Montgomery Takes Control, Tops Magruder
Rockets advance to 4-4 on the season, while Magruder slips to 1-7.
The Richard Montgomery football team started off slowly Friday night, but had a strong second half to beat Magruder 14-3.
Coming off of , Richard Montgomery made a few mistakes early in the game. They were shut out in the first half, largely due to two fumbles recovered by Magruder. A Magruder field goal late in the half gave the Colonels the lead at halftime.
“We didn't have much to say at halftime,” RM head coach Neal Owens said. “We just wanted them to go out and play like we knew they could.”
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Offensively, quarterback Steven Burchett took control in the second half. Running the option, the Rockets started to move the ball, and on the first possession of the second half Burchett faked a handoff and kept the ball, running in from 10 yards out to put RM on top.
Burchett continued running the ball well, including a 40-yard run later in the third quarter. Late in the fourth quarter, he ran a perfect option, pitching the ball at the last possible second for the game-sealing touchdown.
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“That's what he is, he's very poised,” Owens said. “We need him to keep leading, and he did what we were looking for.”
Owens was also quick to praise his defense, who shut down a team that Owens said is much better than their 1-7 record indicates.
“[Magruder] have played every team they've played tough, and they've played a lot of very good teams,” Owens said. “It was another great job by our defense to keep us in this game. ... Other than last week [against Quince Orchard] our defense has played great every game.”
The Rockets, now 4-4, still have their goal of reaching the playoffs in the back of their minds.
“We said that this was our first playoff game,” Owens said. “All our remaining games are basically playoff games for us, and next week we have a huge game with Rockville. They've beaten us at least six times in a row, so we'll have a tough one.”
Richard Montgomery travels across town to face Rockville at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Magruder faces Watkins Mill at 6:30 p.m. on Friday in Montgomery Village.
