Countdown to Kickoff: Northwest Jaguars

GERMANTOWN, Md. (DC News Now) — The Northwest Jaguars are entering year two under head coach Bucky Clipper, hoping to build on a big playoff win from last season.

In the second round of the MPSSAA 4A state playoffs, Northwest beat its arch rival Quince Orchard, 29-26, ending the Cougars’ historic 39-game multi-year long win streak.

“We can beat anybody, when the game starts, it doesn’t matter who we’re going against,” Northwest senior outside linebacker and tight end Ryan Hall said. “If we don’t beat ourselves, we can be the best team on the field, every time we step on the field.”

Despite the big win, the following week, Northwest lost to eventual state runner-up Broadneck in the state quarterfinals.

“To beat a program like Quince Orchard and not be able to finish the season with a state championship was disappointing,” Clipper said. “But I think that’s the life lesson that we gave the kids is that – finish everything you do.”

For the Jaguars this year, the key will be to “finish.”

“Just finish. Finish a rep, finish the last rep, finish the last play,” Northwest senior quarterback David Davis said. “Coming off from last year it was just finish. That was also last year. Made that a big thing this year coming out, so that’s just us right now.”

In the Maryland 4A, Northwest is still considered a state title contender year in and year out. Though the last championship wins for the Jaguars came in 2013 and 2014.

“My brother went here, he was the class of 2016, he won two rings,” Hall said. “It would be great to get at least one for sure.”

Northwest will open its season on September 6 hosting Watkins Mill, before heading to Damascus the following week.

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