The Colts faced Suitland, Freedom (Woodbridge), Fort Hill and Friendship Collegiate in their first four games — the latter three opponents were defending champions in their respective leagues. And although that resulted in an 0-4 start, Nesbitt says it was exactly what his team needed.

“Those first couple of games, when watching film, they were able to see their mistakes and try to correct them each week,” Nesbitt said. “But later on, they’re starting to get better and hit their stride because the game has slowed down by playing at such a high speed. … Now we are on a faster level of football.”

Since starting league play last month, Coolidge has gone 4-0, outscoring their opponents 153-21. Players say their early bootcamp taught them valuable lessons as they gear up for another playoff run.

“I feel like building confidence is the main key,” junior running back Jacieon Robertson said. “Everybody knows their job, everybody knows what they’re doing at their position. … It teaches us that no matter how much you’re down by, keep fighting and progressing as a team.”

Friday at Ron Brown, Robertson ran for a 60-yard touchdown and quickly followed it with a 45-yard TD before the Monarchs forfeited at halftime to end the 48-6 rout.

Now, with a solid Anacostia squad standing between them and the postseason, the Colts feel battle-tested as they seek a Gravy Bowl repeat and ensuing promotion into the upper division of the DCIAA.

“We call each other the ‘Make History Team,’ because if we win this year, we advance to the Stars,” senior receiver Allante Stubbs said. “So that’s a big goal for me to leave as a senior and let my younger teammates move up and compete at a higher level.”

Big week for PSU-bound Harvey

In the closing moments of Friday’s game between Quince Orchard and Northwest, after it was clear the Cougars were going to win this rendition of the vaunted Montgomery County rivalry, Quince Orchard senior Jaylen Harvey was still flying around.

With under a minute left, the 6-foot-2, 250-pound defensive end hunted the Jaguars quarterback, chasing him down for a final sack as his teammates roared from the sideline.

It was a fitting end to an exciting week for Harvey, who made his college decision Monday and then helped his team to an impressive win Friday.

Harvey, the No. 13 ranked player in Maryland and No. 30 edge player in the nation, chose Penn State during a ceremony in front of teammates, family and friends. He picked the Nittany Lions over finalists Maryland and USC.

“It was a special moment for my family and I,” Harvey said. “We were able to celebrate a bit and there was just big love all day.”

The commitment ends a long recruitment process for Harvey, who got his first offers from Maryland and Boston College when he was a freshman.

“I just tried to stay humble and grateful for the attention,” Harvey said. “It was only stressful toward the end when it really came time to find a school.”

Harvey’s commitment maintains a strong connection between Quince Orchard and Penn State. Former Cougar Demeioun “Chop” Robinson is starring on the Penn State defense and is widely projected to be an early pick in the NFL draft. Harvey’s Quince Orchard teammate Xavier Gilliam, another dominant end who transferred to the Cougars from Wilde Lake before this season, is also committed to Penn State.

“It just felt like home for me,” Harvey said. “I could feel the love from the coaches and from the players.”

DaJuan Robinson, Calvert: On the final play of the game against Northern, the senior quarterback ran it in from six yards out to give his team a dramatic 19-17 win.

TK Davis, Archbishop Carroll: The sophomore running back tallied 226 yards on 17 carries, including a 79-yard touchdown run that lifted the Lions to a 13-3 win over Bishop O’Connell.

Obforbuike Aneke, DuVal: A stellar running game led by the senior’s 176 yards and three touchdowns helped the Tigers end a skid with a 42-0 win over High Point.

Avery Chow, Chantilly: The Chargers’ backfield workhorse racked up 304 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 37-14 win over Centreville. The senior is up to 1,291 rushing yards through eight games.

Mt. Hebron at Reservoir, Friday, 7 p.m.

Briar Woods at Stone Bridge, Friday, 7 p.m.

Eleanor Roosevelt at Bowie, Friday, 7 p.m.

Flint Hill at Maret, Friday, 7 p.m.

Herndon gets program-defining win

Last season was a milestone year for Herndon. The Hornets snapped a 28-game losing streak and finished with a winning record for the first time since 2008 as the program rode a 1,900-yard rushing season from Wake Forest baseball commit Liam Wilson.

With Wilson now graduated, many expected the program to revert back to its losing ways, Coach Bill Bachman said. The Hornets proved that isn’t the case Friday by beating Marshall, 31-28, to clinch their first seven-win regular season since 2003.

“It’s very rewarding for the kids who heard all winter ‘Well, you guys won six games last year because you had [Wilson],’ ” Bachman said. “The reality is, the kids took that to heart and said ‘We’re trying to build something here that’s lasting.’ ”

Bachman knew his team wouldn’t be able to replace Wilson with one player. Herndon (7-2) has done it by committee, using running backs Brady Calderwood and David Castillo. Calderwood finished with 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns Friday.

The Hornets enter their bye week before carrying their four-game winning streak into their regular season finale against Yorktown. Herndon will likely reach the postseason in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1996 and 1997.

“The kids here deserve 100 percent of the credit,” Bachman said. “We’re so happy for them to be rewarded with the success they’ve had so far.”

Mt. Zion Prep shows togetherness

“Family” is a buzzword for high school football coaches.

After a few years, most earn the right to describe their team in that manner. Those who take over unestablished programs usually don’t have that luxury. Locker room dynamics don’t form quickly. Individuality is tough to rid from a young program. And still, as has been the case since Mt. Zion Prep second-year coach Tyree Spinner first began coaching over a decade ago, Spinner gets to flatten the learning curve, with a staff that included his brothers, quarterbacks coach Bryson Spinner (a former first team All-Met) and defensive line coach Ronn Spinner Jr.

“It’s one of the driving forces as to why I still do it,” Spinner said. “In our house, my parents fostered that it’s family over everything.”

The family-style camaraderie of the second-year program, noted by seniors Asaad Brown Jr. and Bryce Gordon as the biggest driver of success thus far, has lifted the Eagles from a 1-3 start to a 4-4 record.

“The coaches are really genuine guys,” said Brown, a North Carolina State commit.

“Our chemistry is through the roof,” Gordon said. “I think we’re one of the most talented teams in the area, but that chemistry is what’s really helping us right now. … That’s why I lay my body on the line, for [my teammates and coaches].”

The staff, though, has done more than bring good vibes. They’ve also developed one of the deepest defensive backs rooms around — reminiscent of Spinner’s days at Wootton and Avalon, when he coached Trevon Diggs. Thus far, their length, athleticism and aggression has overwhelmed teams. And they’re only getting better: the team tracks every practice rep between cornerbacks and receivers. The defensive backs are up two days’ worth of snaps.

“Everybody takes their craft seriously,” said Brown.