For the first 20 minutes of last Friday's Annapolis Area Christian-St. Mary's game, it looked like it was going to be a long night for Josh McPhearson. The three-star AACS running back had fumbled twice in the first two quarters, allowing St. Mary's to grab a 13-0 lead.

But that's when McPhearson broke out of his funk.

"I was a little down early on, but I kept telling myself, 'I gotta keep playing my game and help my team get back in this,'" said the 5-foot-10, 182-pound McPhearson. "After the second fumble, I was determined not to let it happen again. In the second half, I just went all out and took it to another level."

That might be an understatement. McPhearson rushed for over 150 yards and three touchdowns in the second half alone, leading AACS to a 35-13 victory. On the night, the Eagles' running back totaled 237 rushing yards (a state high this week) and averaged over 13 yards per carry.

"My motto this year is I just want to play my game and everything is going to work out fine," McPhearson said. "[On Friday] it definitely did. My teammates did a great job blocking for me, and I was able to go out there and show everything I'm capable of."

McPhearson's first touchdown came right after halftime, giving AACS a lead they would not relinquish. He scored on a 1-yard plunge that came directly after a 48-yard jaunt.

"That [48-yard run] got me going. My speed, my versatility and my vision were all in synch on that one," McPhearson said. "Then I just followed my lead block on the next play and took it on for [the touchdown]."

Later in the game McPhearson busted out again for a 42-yard touchdown. This time he turned a simple lead-dive designed to pick up a few tough yards into a dash for daylight.

"My fullback led me right through the hole," McPhearson said. "I hit the open field, turned on the gas and it was off to the races - touchdown."

By that time, AACS had gone up 28-13 in the fourth quarter. But McPhearson had one more long run in him before the game ended. On a counter play, he broke left, caught two blocks from his receivers, burst into the secondary and motored 54 yards for his third score.

With that, McPhearson eclipsed the 200-yard mark for the night. He now has 728 yards (on 41 carries) and 10 touchdowns on the season.

"You know, it's definitely a blessing to get this opportunity," said McPhearson, who transferred from DeMatha by way of Riverdale Baptist before the season. "Everything has been great so far and hopefully me and my teammates can keep it up. I'm shooting for the stars."

Normally we don't name a defensive player of the week, but Donovan Riley's performance last Saturday was too good to ignore. The Poly three-star cornerback almost single-handedly led his team to a 12-0 victory over rival Edmondson.

Riley had three tackles, two pass breakups and three interceptions to go along with four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown on offense. Two of those three picks came with the Red Storm driving inside the Engineers' red zone. And the third? Riley took that one back to the house.

"I don't know if I can put on another performance like that," said the 6-foot, 190-pound Riley, who is committed to Virginia Tech. "You know how Michael Jordan used to say when he was in a zone the hoop looked as big as a swimming pool? Well, that's how I felt. Everything was just coming to me. Primetime players make primetime plays."

Riley's first primetime play came in the third quarter. After a scoreless first half, he spurred Poly by killing an Edmondson drive with a red-zone interception. He returned the ball 72 yards, setting up the offense for its first score. A few plays later, Riley hauled in a 29-yard touchdown catch for a 6-0 lead.

Edmondson had a chance to tie the game on their next possession. They drove all the way to the Poly 18-yard line before Riley struck again. This time he anticipated the pass, jumped the route, snared the pick and ran it back to around midfield.

"Those are the types of interceptions you dream about - back against the wall with the other team about to score," Riley said. "When Edmondson got down [inside the red zone] I was just asking them to come right at me. I wanted the opportunity to make a play. [Edmondson] threw in my direction and I came up big."

Even with the miscues the Red Storm still trailed by just one touchdown. They had the ball once again deep inside their own territory looking to mount yet another drive.

But that's when Riley iced the game with a 15-yard pick six.

"The quarterback rolled to my side, but instead of coming up on him I stayed disciplined in coverage," Riley said. "He tried to float a pass over my head, but I picked it off. Then I dodged left, dodged right and went to the end zone."

With his three-interception effort Riley now has five picks on the season. One year after being named to the All-State team, he said he's taken his game to another level in 2011.

"I'm becoming more than just a football player - I'm becoming a student of the game," Riley said. "I'm learning how to study film more effectively and use that to my advantage. This week I was able to read the quarterback, the receivers - everything. The game is really slowing down for me."

Donovan Riley, ATH, Poly: about 200 total yards, 2 TDs

Shane Cockerille, QB, Gilman: 236 total yards, 4 TDs

Cyrus Jones, ATH, Gilman: about 165 total yards, 2 TDs

DJ Kee, RB, Decatur: 172 yards, 3 TDs

Kevin Jones, RB, Bullis: 160 yards, 2 TDs

Chase Hutcherson, RB, Wilde Lake: 107 yards, TD

DeAnre Lane, RB, Catonsville: 165 yards

Nick Schaffer, RB, Century: 166 yards, TD

Dom Frank, QB, Manchester Valley: 202 yards, 2 TDs; 50 rushing yards, TD

Romie Cheese, QB, Westminster: 181 total yards, 2 TDs

DJ Smith, RB, Spalding: 151 yards

Joel Jorgensen, QB, McDonogh: over 100 yards, 2 TDs

Kenny Thomas, RB, Atholton: 120 yards

Connor Cox, QB, South River: 134 yards, 3 TDs

Lavon Chaney, RB, South River: 124 yards, 2 TDs

Cooper Hibbs, QB, Arundel: 191 yards, TD

Gary Cropper, ATH, Arundel: 180 total yards, 2 TDs

Michael Pritts, QB, Middletown: 109 yards, TD

Mike Spahr, QB, Urbana: 161 yards, TD

Brady Policelli, QB, Walkersville: 171 yards, 2 TDs

Joe Riddle, RB, Linganore: 105 yards, 2 TDs

Kyle Jennings, QB, Linganore: 106 yards

Abu Kiawu, ATH, Tuscarora: 205 rushing yards, 3 TDs; TD catch

Steve Sheridan, QB, Tuscarora: 105 yards, 2 TDs

Ian Fisher, QB, Brunswick: 407 yards, 2 TDs; 46 rushing yards, TD

Jake Struss, WR, Brunswick: 9 receptions, 142 yards, TD

Blaine Price, WR, Brunswick: 10 receptions, 107 yards, TD

Nick Peifer, QB, St. John's: 109 yards, TD

Brandon Berney, RB, Thomas Johnson: over 100 total yards, 3 TDs

Mark Green, RB, Quince Orchard: 208 yards, 4 TDs

James Jones-Williams, RB, Seneca Valley: 192 yards, TD

Zach Bradshaw, WR, Damascus: 168 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 34 receiving yards

Brion Robinson, RB, Springbrook:138 yards, TD

Lansana Keita, QB, Churchill: 153 yards

Sean Loftus, QB, Einstein: 249 yards, 3 TDs

Shane Wigmore, WR, Einstein: 7 receptions, 147 yards, 3 TDs

Brion Robinson, QB, Springbrook: 138 rushing yards, TD

Mike Sheehan, QB, Clarksburg: 107 yards

David Smith, QB, Paint Branch: 175 yards, 3 TDs

Rachid Ibrahim, RB, Avalon: 119 yards, TD

Billy Brown, WR, Gaithersburg: over 100 total yards, TD

Lincon Reyes, QB, Gaithersburg:167 yards, TD

Matty Callahan, QB, Northwest: 281 yards, 3 TDs

Chris Papadopoulos, QB, Wootton 225 yards, TD

Joe Kelly, WR, Wootton: 5 receptions, 135 yards, TD

Zeke Turner, RB, Glen Burnie: 99 yards, 2 TDs

Brady George, QB, Broadneck: 128 yards

Rob Chesson, RB, Old Mill: 215 yards, 4 TDs

Tavon Spears, RB, North County: 153 yards, TD

Keith Collins, RB, Annapolis: 101 yards, TD

Calvin Green, RB, Severna Park: 220 yards, 3 TDs

Austin Stein, QB, Severna Park: 120 yards, 2 TDs

Calvinaugh Jones, RB, Meade: 135 yards, TD

Isiah Alston, WR, Meade: 12 receptions, 117 yards

Tyree Turner, QB, Meade: 157 yards

Josh McPhearson, RB, AACS: 237 yards, 3 TDs

Phillip Butler, RB, North Hagerstown: 131 yards, 3 TDs

JT Root, QB, North Hagerstown: over 100 total yards, 3 TDs

Heath Dahlgren, QB, Thomas Johnson: 222 yards, 2 TDs

TJ Hess, QB, South Hagerstown: 175 yards

Jarrod Harper, RB, Mountain Ridge: 136 yards, 4 TDs

Anthony Spataro, RB, Mountain Ridge: 104 yards, 2 TDs; punt return TD

Josh Vaughn, RB, Mountain Ridge: 100 yards

Josh Mason, RB, Northern Garrett: 120 yards, 2 TDs

Chris Murdock, QB, Northern Garrett: 123 rushing yards

Kenny Faulcon, QB, Aberdeen: 160 yards, 4 TDs

Ryan Black, RB, Loyola: over 100 yards, 3 TDs

Jake Clise, QB, Loyola: over 100 total yards, 2 TDs

Nick Crabill, RB, Glenelg: over 100 yards, 3 TDs

Avery Williams, RB, Curley: 173 yards

Nate Lewnes, RB, St. Mary's: 185 yards, 3 TDs

Walter Fletcher, RB, Centennial: 195 yards

Tyler Morris, QB, Centennial: 103 yards, TD

Malik Gilmore, QB, Mt. Hebron: 105 yards, TD

David Jones, RB, McDonough: 150 yards, TD

Zach Piazza, QB, Huntingtown: 157 yards, 2 TDs

Connor Young, QB, North Point: 115 yards

Tre Lee, QB, Patuxent: 194 total yards, 2 TDs

Dakota Edwards, ATH, Patuxent: 100 total yards, 2 TDs

EJ Montgomery, QB, Reservoir: 107 yards, TD; 39 rushing yards

John Houston, RB, Ryken: 150 yards

KaDarius Campbell, RB, Ryken: 100 total yards, TD

Ben Priddy, QB, Severn: 151 yards, 4 TDs

James Steingieser, QB, MSD: 96 yards, 2 TDs

Brendan Marshall, QB, Good Counsel: 132 yards, 2 TDs

Stefon Diggs, WR, Good Counsel: 6 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TDs; rushing TD

Antonio Washington, QB, Potomac: 190 yards, 2 TDs; rushing TD

Dondre Echols, WR, Potomac: 5 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TDs

Taitor Reynolds, QB, Douglass--PG: 101 yards, 2 TDs

Josef Hinnant, RB, Douglass-PG: 141 yards; receiving TD

Phil Pena, QB, Landon: 128 yards, 3 TDs

Myles Allen, RB, Landon: 126 yards, TD

Chase Powell, RB, Wise: 131 yards, 2 TDs

Dequan Boatwright, QB, Bladensburg: 159 yards, 2 TDs

Robert Moore, WR, Crossland: 9 receptions, 244 yards, 2 TDs

Quinton Green, QB, Crossland: 241 yards, 2 TDs

Shamik Perry, RB, DuVal: 139 yards, 2 TDs

Dewayne Staten, RB, Gwynn Park: 102 yards, TD

Jay Adams, QB, Gwynn Park: 102 yards, 2 TDs

Ronald Giddings, RB, Parkdale: 148 yards, TD

Clement Ojie, QB ,Parkdale: 176 yards, 2 TDs

Stephan Freeman, WR, Parkdale: 7 receptions, 176 yards, 2 TDs

Andre Dalton, RB, Forestville: 158 yards, 3 TDs

Jameel Kirkland, QB, Forestville: 139 yards, TD; 2 rushing TDs

Jovante Seard, QB, Northwestern-PG: 189 yards, 2 TDs

Tamlin Antoine, QB, Roosevelt: 175 yards, 3 TDs

Shaquile Guyton-Jackson, RB, Surrattsville: 131 yards, 2 TDs

Danny Williams, QB, Surrattsville: over 100 total yards, 3 TDs

Collin Schildt, RB, Catoctin: 119 yards

Garrett Clay, RB, Fort Hill: 121 yards, 2 TDs

Troy Taylor, RB, Snow Hill: 141 yards, TD

Marlon Jones, RB, Easton: 140 yards

Dontea Ayres, RB, Wicomico: 111 yards, 4 TDs

Keagan Rosario, RB, Cambridge: 108 yards

Sonny Scrivner, RB, North Caroline: 120 yards, TD

Troy Barton, RB, Parkside: 139 yards, TD

Kevin Berry, QB, Overlea: over 100 total yards, TD

Aaron Armes, QB, Baltimore Lutheran: 216 yards, 6 TDs

Jordan Smith, WR, Baltimore Lutheran: 4 receptions, 107 yards, 3 TDs

Dave Dooley, WR, Baltimore Lutheran: 4 receptions, 93 yards, 4 TDs

John Nunes, RB, Baltimore Lutheran: 104

Nyema Washington, QB, Suitland: 213 yards, 2 TDs

Anthony Squire, RB, Suitland: 216 yards, 3 TDs

Marc Badger, RB, Fallston: 171 yards, TD

John Hetterman, QB, Fallston: 103 yards, TD

Ryan Patrick, RB, South Carroll: 131 yards, 2 TDs

Patrick Clemons, RB, Perry Hall: 116 yards, TD

Eric Latham, RB, Perry Hall: 113 yards, TD

Mike Jones, WR, Milford Mill: 6 receptions, 96 yards

Kyle McEachern, QB, Milford Mill: 234 yards

Joe Peaker, RB, Perryville: over 100 yards, 2 TDs

Joey Clark, ATH, Queen Anne's: over 150 total yards, 2 TDs

Mike Layton, RB, Queen Anne's: 109 yards, 2 TDs