In the fourth quarter of Saturday afternoon’s game against KIPP D.C. Legacy College Prep in Southeast, junior quarterback Amaan Lewis II put those concerns to rest by weaving past four defenders for a 15-yard touchdown, his second go-ahead touchdown and third fourth-down score of the day, to help secure a 20-16 win over the Bulldogs (2-3-1).
“We’ve got a never-give-up policy,” Lewis said. “I can’t be the one that hangs my head.”
That policy has served the Fort Washington program well. Amid all the exterior issues, McDonald said he has had one thing working in his favor: the right guys in the locker room.
“I would like to take credit and say I planned it like this, but I really didn’t,” he said. “They’re all very respectful. … It’s a breath of fresh air compared to what you get from many teenagers now. … I was honestly surprised, bringing in all these kids from different areas [and] thinking we may have some conflicts, but it’s actually been the opposite.”
On Saturday, the Eagles (3-3) took the field with that assured demeanor. Pregame chants, even with the small roster, reverberated across the field. An assistant coach promised to check the video to ensure no one jogged on the opening kickoff return. Early on, the Eagles celebrated without digging into their opponents; if someone quarreled, McDonald pulled him for a handful of plays.
There were growing pains, as anticipated for any young program. The Eagles committed three consecutive penalties late in the first half and saw a potential halftime lead turn into an 8-6 deficit following a KIPP touchdown pass and two-point conversion with 17 seconds left. After the game, an assistant chided the players for conceding 150 yards in penalties.
But there were bright spots. The Eagles stretched and smiled at halftime, then took a six-point lead on Lewis’s 40-yard touchdown pass to junior Nazir Fell. Even as the Eagles fell behind 16-14 following a touchdown and a fourth-quarter safety, Lewis’s late touchdown and senior Tyre Drumgold’s interception in the end zone with two minutes left clinched the victory.
“Three wins is great for a team with a whole lot of first-year players,” Fell said. “I think we’re going in the right direction.”