Player of the Week
Ian Fisher insists the local paper had it wrong. A day after setting a new career high in passing yards and touchdown passes, the big 6-foot-6 Brunswick quarterback opened up a copy of the Frederick News Post and read that he completed 26 passes for 399 yards and five total touchdowns in a 67-14 Roaders win over North Carroll.
But Fisher had already broken down the game film with his coach Pat Foster. Turns out the FNP sold him short by about 39 yards and two completions.
"Yeah, it was just a little off," said Fisher, chuckling. "I mean, 399 is good, but I actually completed 28 of 40 passes and threw for 438 yards."
Either way, it wasn't a bad night for the senior Fisher, who committed to James Madison in the offseason. The 438 yards were a career high and set a new MVAL record, eclipsing the previous mark of 397 set by Westminster's Kevin Clancy in 2007.
"It was just a special night - one of those games where everything came together and we could do whatever we wanted offensively," said Fisher, who is coming off a 3,000-yard season. "My receivers and I were just clicking. Everyone was on the same page."
The game was especially satisfying for Fisher, who struggled two weeks ago in a loss to Middletown. Fisher threw nine interceptions all of last season, but he had five against the Knights alone. Needless to say, he and his teammates wanted to send a message this week.
"Last week really, really hurt," Fisher said. "All week long we couldn't wait to get back on the field and get our offense going again. So we came into this game on a mission. And to be able to bounce back like we did, that just did a ton for our confidence as a whole."
Although no one predicted Fisher would eclipse 400 yards, the stage was certainly set for a standout performance. While breaking down film during the week, the quarterback and his teammates noticed certain tendencies in the North Carroll defense. The Roaders believed their wide-open spread attack featuring four- and five-receiver sets would eat up a North Carroll secondary that didn't have the personnel to defend all the weapons.
"It was a pick your poison kind of deal - there was no way [North Carroll] was going to be able to defend everybody," said Fisher, who spread the ball around to seven different receivers. "They tried to cover Jake [Struss] in the first half, so I went to Blaine [Pierce]. Then in the second half they doubled Blaine, so I went to Jake. They couldn't do anything about it."
The one thing North Carroll's defense did do was take away the running game. The normally fleet-footed Fisher only picked up 50 yards (and two touchdowns) on the ground.
"North Carroll opted to take away the run and give us the pass," said Fisher, who, along with his 50 rushing yards, had 488 total yards. "That was fine by me. It worked out OK (laughs)."
Most of Fisher's completions were of the short to intermediate variety, but he had a few downfield bombs as well. His favorite play came right before halftime after he had thrown three straight incompletions. On fourth down from his own 40, Fisher, who doubles as the punter, dropped back to kick the ball away. But instead of sending it downfield with his foot, Fisher opted to use his arm.
"I faked the punt and threw it right up the middle between three dudes and hit my guy in stride," Fisher said. "Sixty-five yards - touchdown."
The rest of the game followed a similar pattern with Fisher, Struss, Price, Tyler Dabbs, Nate Coates and the rest of the Roaders putting on an aerial display that resembled the Greatest Show on Turf.
But after the game, amid the praise and accolades, Fisher inevitably heard from the cynics and critics. After all, they said, it was only a class 1A game against North Carroll.
"Well, if it was just a little 1A game and it was so easy to put up yards, why has this never happened before? Why hasn't anyone ever thrown for 400 yards in county and MVAL history?" Fisher said. "It's just an exciting accomplishment, and it shows what this offense is capable of."
So what exactly is the potential of the Brunswick offense? Is 500 passing yards possible?
"You now, when I was watching the film I noticed some mistakes I made," Fisher said. "So if I can correct those little things I think we can put up even more yards. With how our offense is designed and the amount of stress we put on the passing game, don't be surprised if there are more games like this."
Stat Leaders (Offense):
Thomas Stuart, QB, Calvert Hall: 232 yards, 3 TDs
Romie Cheese, QB, Westminster: 413 yards, 5 TDs
Garrett Bean, WR, Westminster: 6 receptions, 114 yards, 3 TDs
Darius Clifton, WR, Westminster: 5 receptions, 118 yards
Joe Riddle, RB, Linganore: 199 yards, TD
Brian McMahon, QB, Atholton: 185 passing yards, TD; 78 rushing yards
Dequan Ellison, WR, Atholton: 8 catches, 108 yards, TD
Rachid Ibrahim, RB, Avalon: 223 yards, 3 TDs; 50 yards receiving, TD
Jacquille Veii, RB, Avalon, 105 yards, 2 TDs
Nick Peifer, QB, St. John's: 218 yards, 3 TDs
Grier Wilson, WR, St. John's: eight receptions, 132 yards, TD
Ian Fisher, QB, Brunswick: 438 yards, 3 TDs; 50 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Tyler Dabbs, WR, Brunswick: 110 yards, TD
Jake Struss, WR, Brunswick: 103 yards, 2 TDs
Dan Gebhart, RB, North Carroll: 105 yards
Heath Dahlgren, QB, Thomas Johnson: 248 yards, 3 TDs
Richie Anderson, ATH, Thomas Johnson: over 100 total yards, 2 TDs
Cooper Hibbs, QB, Arundel: 312 yards, 3 TDs
Dillon Tighe, WR, Arundel: 8 receptions, 182 yards, 2 TDs
Joel Jorgensen, QB, McDonogh: over 100 yards, 2 TDs
Jamal Chappell, ATH, Poly: 131 yards, TD
Lavon Chaney, RB, South River: 250 total yards, TD
Connor Cox, QB, South River: 121 yards, 2 TDs
Ian Thomas, WR, Franklin: 256 total yards, TD
Reggie Ellis, ATH, Franklin: over 100 total yards, TD
Ron Darby, RB, Potomac: 143 yards, 2 TDs
Antonio Washington, QB, Potomac: 176 yards, 2 TDs
Kevin Jones, RB, Bullis: 319 yards, 3 TDs
Steve Sheridan, QB, Tuscarora: 102 yards
Tyree Turner, QB, Meade: 232 Yards
Calvinaugh Jones, RB, Meade: 158 Yards 2 TD, 96 return yards
Eric Sharpe, WR, Meade: 7 receptions, 97 Yards
Malik Morris, RB, MSD: 126 yards, TD
Derek Frank, RB, MSD: 165 yards, TD
Mike Spahr, QB, Urbana: 196 yards, 3 TDs
Trey Lee, QB, Patuxent: 185 total yards, 4 TDs; int. return for TD
Josh McPhearson, RB, AACS: 220 yards, 2 TDs
Chris Chick, QB, AACS: 123 yards, TD
Zach Bradshaw, WR, Damascus: 150 total yards, 2 TDs
Trevor Patton, RB, Damascus: 213 yards, 2 TDs
Ben Ohwiler, RB, Catoctin: 101 yards
Brady Policelli, QB, Walkersville: 167 yards, TD
TJ Gamble, WR, Walkersville: 4 receptions, 104 yards, TD
Zach Welch, RB, Middletown: 133 yards, 3 TDs
Crosby Winters, QB, North Hagerstown: 202 yards, TD
Ayinde Warren, RB, Wheaton: 172 yards, 4 TDs
Wes Brown, RB, Good Counsel: 147 yards, 3 TDs
Brendan Marshall, QB, Good Counsel: 172 yards, TD
Stefon Diggs, WR, Good Counsel: over 100 total yards, 2 TDs
Fernando Smith, RB, Sherwood: 129 yards, 3 TDs
Michael Flack, ATH, Whitman: 128 yards, TD
Val Djidotor, ATH, Whitman: 180 total yards, TD
Solomon Vault, RB, Gaithersburg: 118 yards, TD
Chris Papadopoulos, QB, Wootton: 247 yards, 2 TDs
Mike Sheehan, QB, Clarksburg: 236 yard, 3 TDs
Stefan Houston, WR, Clarksburg: 5 receptions, 109 yards
Lincon Reyes, QB, Gaithersburg: 192 yards, 2 TDs
Simba Gwashavamhu, WR, Gaithersburg 3 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TDs
Matty Callahan, QB, Northwest: 158 yards, 3 TDs
Lansana Keita, QB, Churchill: 149 yards, 2 TDs
Curtis Kamara, RB, Churchill: 112 yards, TD
Peter Gondor, ATH, Blair: 150 total yards, TD
Sean Loftus, QB, Einstein: 107 yards, 2 TDs
Kirby Carmack, QB, Poolesville: over 100 yards, TD
Jamil Lee, RB, Joppatowne: 113 yards, 3 TDs
Ryan Umpleby, ATH, Fallston: 200 total yards, 4 TDs
John Hetterman, QB, Fallston: over 100 yards, 2 TDs
Lavell McCullers, QB, Havre de Grace: over 150 yards, 2 TDs
James Smith, RB, Havre de Grace: over 100 total yards, 2 TDs
Marquel Lee, QB, Westlake: 120 yards
Dontea Ayres, RB, Wicomico: 156 yards, 3 TDs
Gunner Whipp, RB, Boonsboro: 100 yards
Brandon Hess, QB, South Hagerstown: over 100 yards, 2 TDs
Phillip Butler, RB, North Hagerstown: 131 yards, 5 TDs
Dom Frank, QB, Manchester Valley: 237 yards, TD ; 46 rushing yards, TD
Thomas Smith, ATH, Smithsburg: over 120 total yards, TD
Zach Krall, RB, Smithsburg: 100 yards, TD
Darnell Solomon, WR, Broadneck: 6 receptions, 104 yards, TD
Brady George, QB, Broadneck: 203 yards, 2 TDs; rushing TD
Deon McDaniel, RB, Chesapeake-AA: 155 yards, 4 TDs
Howard Sye, RB, Chesapeake-AA: 100 yards, TD
Malik Branch, RB, Southern: 119 yards, TD
DeNiko Carter, WR, Catonsville: over 100 total yards, 2 TDs
Aaron Jones, QB, Catonsville: over 100 yards, 2 TDs
Rahamn Kamara, WR, Bladensurg: over 100 total yards, TD
Dan Strietbeck, QB, Mountain Ridge: 150 yards, 3 TDs
Anthony Spataro, RB, Mountain Ridge: 105 yards, TD; 2 receiving TDs
Jarrod Harper, RB, Mountain Ridge: about 300 total yards, 2 TDs
Madison Wolford, RB, Allegany: 123 yards
Alex Baker, RB, Northern-Garrett: 123 yards, TD
Kurt Gangler, QB, Southern-Garrett: 295 yards, 2 TDs
Darius Victor, RB, Northwestern-PG: 176 yards, 2 TDs
Christian DiPaola, QB, Maryland Christian: over 150 yards, 3 TDs
D.J. Smith, RB, Spalding: 167 yards
Hakeem Holland, RB, Forest Park: 133 yards, 2 TDs
Jay Adams, QB, Gwynn Park: 117 yards
Bene't Willis, RB, Paint Branch: 132 total yards, TD
Mark Green, RB, Quince Orchard: 127 yards, TD
Marcel Joly, RB, Forestville: 132 yards, TD
Jameel Kirkland, QB, Forestville: 62 passing yards; 80 rushing yards, TD
Tamlin Antoine, ATH, Roosevelt: 103 total yards
Myles Allen, RB, Landon: 126 yards, 3 TDs
Charlie Schnider, QB, Landon: 164 yards, TD
Joe McDonald, WR, Landon: 6 receptions, 111 yards
Dominick Mullin, QB, Lansdowne: 100 total yards, TD
Edwin Walker, RB, Flowers: 168 yards, 2 TDs
Jon Holland, QB, Flowers: 130 yards, TD
Taitor Reynolds, QB, Douglass-PG: 109 yards
Milan Collins, QB, McNamara: 268 total yards, 3 TDs
Adam Gillis, RB, McNamara: 110 yards, TD
Jamil Gilbert, RB, Bowie: 110 yards
Jarvis McClam, QB, Laurel: 168 yards, 2 TDs
Daniel Williams, QB, Surrattsville: 114 yards, 2 TDs; rushing TD
Shaquile Guyton-Jackson, RB, Surrattsville: 190 yards, TD
AJ Bright, RB, Pallotti: 199 yards TD; TD pass
Trey Walters, RB, Bishop Walsh: about 100 yards, 2 TDs
Greg Hendershot, QB, Bishop Walsh: 201 yards, TD
Garrett Clay, RB, Fort Hill: 222 yards, 3 TDs
Ryan Briner, RB, Fort Hill: 128 yards, 3 TDs
DJ Kee, RB, Decatur: 146 yards, TD
Ben Goodrich, QB, Kent Island: 173 yards
Gavin Jones, QB, Kent County: 195 yards, TD
Tyler Cornelius, RB, Kent County: 129 yards, TD
Shacori Riddick, RB, Washington: 115 yards, TD
Tay Tay Brooks, RB, Snow Hill: 185 yards, 5 TDs
John Nunes, RB, Baltimore Lutheran: 103 yards, TD
Nate Lewnes, RB, St. Mary's: 310 yards, 2 TDs
Devon Paye, RB, Hammond: 131 yards, TD
Dionte Jones, RB, Hammond: 102 yards, 3 TDs; 63 receiving yards, TD
Mike DeBaugh, QB, Perry Hall: 110 yards, 4 TDs
Pat Clemons, RB, Perry Hall: over 100 total yards, 3 TDs
DJ Funderburk, RB, Northwood: 112 yards
James Jones-Williams, RB, Seneca Valley: 151 yards, 3 TDs
Juwan Singletary, RB, Bel Air: over 100 yards, TD
Davonte Fletcher, RB, Huntingtown: 219 yards, 2 TDs
Cody Douglas, QB, Chopticon: 220 yards
JW Smith, WR, Chopticon: 5 receptions, 141 yards
Stephen Stewart, RB, Leonardtown: 154 yards, 2 TDs
Anthony Squire, RB, Suitland: 149 yards, 2 TDs
Taivon Jacobs, WR, Suitland: over 120 total yards, 2 TDs
Nyema Washington, QB, Suitland: 143 yards, TD
Sterling Parks, RB, Riverdale Baptist: 216 total yards, 2 TDs
Allen Cross, RB, Long Reach: 150 yards, 3 TDs
*Note: It is possible, with hundreds and hundreds of names flying across the wire, that some offensive standout was overlooked. Also, defensive statistics are not included since a) some teams do not keep them and b) they aren't always reliable.