The Countdown Continues: A Deep Dive into 4A North’s MoCo Contenders
By Damon D. Anderson, Senior High School Football Analyst
We’ve made it another week closer to kickoff, and the long wait for fall Fridays under the lights is starting to feel manageable. The offseason weight-room grind is in full swing, the 7-on-7s are heating up, and rosters across the state are beginning to take shape. This week, our attention turns to the 4A North—a region where the expectations are rising, the rivalries are real, and five Montgomery County teams are fighting for more than just a playoff berth. They’re fighting to prove they belong among the state’s elite.
The region’s composition remains largely intact from last year, with one notable swap: Walter Johnson out, Blake in. Joining them are three PG County programs that round out the region but, if recent trends hold, won’t factor heavily into the postseason picture. So let’s break down where things stand heading into a critical 2025 campaign.
Bethesda-Chevy Chase (8-4 in 2024)
Head Coach:
Matt Schwartzback (2nd season)
Key Game:
Week 1 at Churchill
Record Prediction:
5-4
Few programs have risen in esteem across the region quite like the Barons have over the past two seasons. Under the tactical brain trust first laid by Coach Minturn and now maintained by Schwartzback, B-CC has developed an identity as a team that plays bigger than its name might suggest. They don’t flinch against the heavyweights—and with top rusher/lockdown CB Gabe Eisler back, alongside a physical core in the trenches, don’t expect that to change.
But the 2025 schedule is not doing them any favors. With Northwest, Churchill, and WJ all in the mix early, BCC might find themselves tested often—and early. Still, no one wants to draw this squad in November.
Blair (7-4 in 2024)
Head Coach:
Sam Nosoff (7th season)
Key Game:
Week 2 at B-CC
Record Prediction:
3-6
There are plenty of reasons to respect what Blair has built. A decade ago, winning seven games against a schedule like theirs would’ve seemed like a fantasy. But now, it’s just the standard. The question in 2025 is whether the Blazers can sustain that standard after losing their heartbeat in Junior Rodriguez—now at Blake—and breaking in a new quarterback.
Nosoff is as steady as they come and knows how to get the most out of his group. But the path this year looks rockier. In a region where depth, consistency, and program identity matter more than ever, Blair enters as a team that could swing wildly in either direction.
Blake (9-3 in 2024)
Head Coach:
Bryon Marshall (4th season)
Key Game:
Week 4 at Sherwood
Record Prediction:
6-3
If you’re looking for a program trending sharply upward, look no further than Cloverly. Blake is now among the most consistent winners in the county, and the addition of Junior Rodriguez gives them a legitimate MoCo star on both sides of the ball. Add in 6’6″ Monmouth-bound OT Benji Wilson anchoring the line, and the Bengals bring as much physicality as anyone.
The move up to 4A is the real storyline. For all their recent success, Blake hasn’t had to face a Quince Orchard or a Wise. But now, they’ll have no choice but to earn respect the hard way. Early-season games against Northwest and Sherwood will be revealing. Blake believes they belong. Now it’s time to prove it.
Paint Branch (9-2 in 2024)
Head Coach:
Mike Nesmith (19th season)
Key Game:
Week 1 vs. Quince Orchard
Record Prediction:
8-1
The Panthers are back—and maybe better than ever. Last season marked a return to the Paint Branch standard: fast, physical, and fearless. And in 2025, there’s every reason to believe they’re ready to make another leap. Star RB Alijah Bah returns after a breakout sophomore campaign, joined by QB Vincent Do and WR Joshua Biando in what might be the county’s most complete returning skill trio.
Replacing defensive stalwarts like Yvan Kemajou is no small task, but Nesmith has always fielded elite defenses. Their opener vs. QO is a chance to announce themselves on the state stage. If they hold their own in that one, look out—PB is coming for a state semifinal berth.
Wheaton (3-7 in 2024)
Head Coach:
Jermaine Howell (2nd season)
Key Game:
Week 2 vs. Springbrook
Record Prediction:
4-5
The Knights might just be on the verge of a breakthrough. While last season’s record didn’t draw much attention, the flashes were there—both on film and on the JV level, where the wins started to pile up. With a soft divisional slate and some positive carryover from last year, Wheaton could sneak up on people.
If they take care of business against the county’s bottom tier, don’t be surprised if they enter the playoffs with a deceptively strong seed. They may not be a juggernaut, but Howell’s squad is trending the right direction.
The PG County Trio: Laurel, Northwestern, High Point
There’s not much to analyze here, unfortunately. Laurel has occasionally flirted with competence and Northwestern is in survival mode. The bar is low, and if one of them pulls off an upset, it’ll be treated as a seismic event. High Point will not field a team for the second year in a row, a stunning low for Maryland’s largest-enrolled school.
Region Outlook:
Paint Branch enters as the prohibitive favorite to earn the region’s top seed, and if their offense clicks early, they could run the table. Blake, BCC, and Blair are jockeying for the all-important second and third seeds to avoid a potential PB rematch in Round 1. Each has high variance, but each also brings unique strengths.
And then there’s Wheaton, who could steal a top-four seed by quietly stacking wins. This region feels ripe for chaos after the top dog, and how the head-to-head matchups shake out will determine not just who gets in—but who avoids Paint Branch come November.
The season draws near, and the 4A North is shaping up to be one of the most volatile, compelling regions in Maryland. Buckle up. Week 1 is coming fast.
