ALL DMV Top 50 by The Ricardo Report’s Josh Ilori (20-11)

DMV Top 50 Teams 20 – 11

20 – Stone Bridge Bulldogs (2016 Record: 12 – 3) Head Coach: Mickey Thompson, Conference: Virginia 5A

After making a trip to the state finals last season Coach Thompson is hoping his squad continues to contend in Conference 5A. Junior QB Mason Tatum will lead an offense who posted an impressive 33.8 points a night in 2016. On the other side of the ball Senior Des Jack Kosko and Kellis Martin will terrorize signal-callers in NoVa while CBs Senior Tyrese Johnson and Junior Ajani Gillis patrol the secondary.

19 – Highland Springs Springers (2016 Record: 14 – 1) Head Coach: Loren Johnson, Conference: Virginia 5A

The defending Virginia 5A Champions finished 2016 as the top squad in the state according to MaxPreps after finishing the season on a 9-game win streak. With the graduation of QB Juwan ‘Pootie’ Carter (Norfolk State) Coach Johnson will have a lot of production to replace from an offense that averaged 41.4 points per contest. It appears that Sophomore David Laney will be the signal-caller for the Springers in 2017. Laney will have a help to adjust to starting with Senior WRs Billy Kemp, Robert Jones III and Junior RB Rayquan ‘Rabbit’ Smith. On the other end of the ball Juniors DE Keeron Henderson and Sophomore FS A.J. Wells will try and shutdown opponents in Southern Virginia again.

18 – Oscar Smith Tigers (2016 Record: 13 – 2) Head Coach: Scott Johnson, Conference: Virginia 6A

Year in and year out the Tigers have been one of the best programs in Southern Virginia. Under previous Head Coach, Bill Dee, the squad went to consecutive Virginia 6A finals. With QB Shon Mitchell at William and Mary, Oscar Smith will rely on a defense that had 4 shutouts in 2016 to make a third state title game in as many years. Leading this unit are Seniors LB Keshon Artis, DE Kyle Thomas and Junior CB Cam’Ron Kelly. On offense projected starting QB Sophomore DiMadre Engram will be surrounded by several veterans including Senior RBs Deangelo White and Keyon Watson along with Junior WRs Jarius Howard and Kenny Etheridge.

17 – Blacksburg Bruins (2016 Record: 10 – 5) Head Coach: Thad Wells, Conference: Virginia 4A

After going .500 during the regular season the Bruins closed out 2016 on a 6-game winning streak to become Virginia 4A champions. Senior RB Coleton Beck along with Juniors SB Tiquest Terry and WR Cole Epperley are returning to an offensive unit that averaged 37.1 points each contest last season. On defense, the Bruins have Senior Safeties Josh Van Gilder, Noah Ramsey and Junior DE Chase Orndorff returning among others.

16 – Damascus Hornets (2016 Record: 14 – 0) Head Coach: Eric Wallich, Conference: Maryland Class 3A

The Hornets have been one of the models of consistency with their 28-game winning streak. The rising seniors have only lost 1 game in their careers and if Coach Wallich gets his wish they’ll graduate with that record intact. Sophomore DE Bryan Bresee and Senior LB Ben Lokos will lead a defense that allowed an average of 12.4 points a night in 2016. Last season Damascus averaged 42.9 points an outing thanks to a dominate rushing attack. With the graduation of last season’s leading rusher Markus Vinson (Richmond) retuning players like Seniors T Michael Jurgens, TE Jordan Funk and Junior RB TD Ayo-Durojaiye should keep the Hornets’ offense moving on schedule.

15 – HD Woodson Warriors (2016 Record: 11 – 3) Head Coach: Greg Fuller, Conference: DCIAA

After winning the DCIAA title and making their third straight appearance in the DCSAA AA finals the Warriors

have made it clear that they’rethe standard of public school football in our nation’s capital.  Coach Fuller will place his offense in the capable hands of Seniors USC commit RB Mychale Salahuddin, WR Edward Hendrix and QB Kahlil Wright after they put up 31.7 points per game in 2016. On the defensive side Senior Maryland commit CBs Noah Boykin and Vincent Flythe should lockdown wideouts in the District again.

14 – Our Lady of Good Counsel Falcons (2016 Record: 6-5) Head Coach: Andrew Stefenilli, Conference: WCAC

With legendary Coach Bob Milloy retiring the Falcons had over the program to longtime assistant Coach Stefenilli. While there will be a steep learning curve in the WCAC, Coach Stefenili has one of the DMVs most talented defenses suiting up forhim. The unit which allowed 19.7 points per game in 2016 brings back several starters. Notably Maryland commit LB Tyler Baylor, fellow Seniors SS Tremayn Stott CB Micah McNeil and Junior LB Julio Ayamel. The offense has been turned over to QB Kam Snell who’ll have fellow Junior WR Cam Hart and Senior SB Jonathan Donnelly to help him keep pace with the heavy hitters of the region.

13 – Dinwiddie Generals (2016 Record: 14 – 1) Head Coach: Billy Mills, Conference: Virginia 4A

2016 was a dream season for Coach Mills until the Generals met Salem in the state finals. Despite the graduation of QB Bryce Witt (Chowan University), Dinwiddie appears to be in position to contend in Virginia 4A in 2017. Junior Kymon Pope appears to be the projected starter for an offense which averaged an astonishing 46.7 points each Friday night. He’ll have help from Sophomore WR Jasiah Williams with Seniors WR/LB K’Vaughan Pope and RB Zyan Sturdivant.  K’Vaughn will play a significant role on defense along with Junior CB Daquon Blow and Seniors SS Joseph Tyree and DT Omar Tyson as the Generals attempt to make another long playoff run.

12 – Salem Spartans (2016 Record: 13 – 1) Head Coach: Steve Magenbauer, Conference: Virginia 4A)

After dropping their first game of 2016 the Spartans won 13 in a row and a state title. Coach Magenbauer will have to defend the title without last year’s starting QB, now graduated Noah Beckley (James Madison). It will come to Seniors WR Viante Tucker, RBs Avante Robinson and Luke Owen to lead an offense that averaged 44.3 points an outing a year ago. Senior FS Nick Wade and Junior LB Van Richardson will have the task of leading a unit which held opponents to 14 or less 7 times a year ago.

11. Friendship Collegiate  (2016 Record: 11 – 2) Head Coach: Mike Hunter, Conference: DC Charter Schools

The defending District of Columbia State Champions will have a challenge repeating in 2017. Several contributors from a defense which allowed 8.7 points per game graduated, notably DE Vaughn Taylor Jr (Kansas)., CBs Nykeim Johnson (Syracuse) and Christian Braswell (Temple). Coach Hunter will look to his Senior DBs Chauncey Moore, Christopher Ferguson Jr, and DionDre Mosley to lockdown wideouts in the nation’s capital. On offense the Knights will look to their big play target, Maryland commit WR Dontay Demus Jr and Senior RB Josiah Crute to keep the offense scoring on schedule.