Football roundup: Mount Vernon improves to 3-0, West Potomac falls to Madison

September 9, 2017 Sports
Players celebrating

Mount Vernon players celebrate after their 34-16 win against Falls Church. (Benjamin Machado photo)

Mount Vernon faced its toughest challenge so far this season Friday night against Falls Church and came away with a 34-16 home win to improve to 3-0.

Senior slotback Darrien Newton had another huge game for the Majors, hauling in three receiving touchdowns. Newton finished with 10 catches for 257 yards, a new school record according to Mount Vernon coach Monty Fritts.

One touchdown came courtesy of a “skip pass,” where senior quarterback Timmy Heltzel bounced the ball to Kofi Kwarteng, who then found Newton for the TD.

Falls Church (1-2) trailed much of the game, but closed the gap to 24-16 in the third quarter. Moments later Newton broke the game open with a 73-yard touchdown reception from Heltzel. 

Heltzel finished with two TD passes also scored a rushing touchdown for the Majors. Samuel Renzi added two field goals for Mount Vernon and was 4-4 on extra points.

It’s the second year in a row that Mount Vernon has started 3-0 after the program combined for just two wins in 2014 and 2015.

Next week the Majors travel to Arlington where they’ll take on 0-2 Washington-Lee in a non-district game.

West Potomac suffers first loss

West Potomac dropped their first game of the year Friday night, losing to unbeaten Madison 38-16 at home. 

The Wolverines trailed only 10-8 at halftime, but could not stop the Warhawks in the second half as Madison ran out to a 31-8 lead by the end of the third quarter.

Senior quarterback Tanner Jones threw for two touchdowns for the Wolverines, with Nigel Okunubi and De Andre Webb on the receiving end of the two long TDs.

The 22-point loss is the biggest margin of defeat for the Wolverines since a 42-9 loss to South County in the 2015 playoffs. 

Next week West Potomac travels to Chantilly to take on the 0-3 Chargers in a non-district matchup.

Read a report from the game on WashingtonPost.com.

This article has been updated to correct the name of Mount Vernon kicker Samuel Renzi.