Albert Einstein High School

2009 Football Results

11/06/09
Einstein at Wheaton 6:30 p.m.

Titans Can't Stop the Run

  The Einstein Titans played catch-up, but couldn't slow down wily Wheaton running backs, ending their varsity football season with a 36-25 loss at Wheaton on Fri., Nov. 6. The Titans finished with a 5-5 record, similar to last year.
   In the opening minutes, underdog Wheaton controlled the ball on the ground while Einstein couldn't make a first down. Wheaton scored first, and with the two-point conversion, the Knights made it 8-0. Soon after, a solid punt by Einstein kicker John Hilderbrand put the ball on the 4-yard line, and the Titans scored a two-point safety. Einstein quarterback Bobby Stouffer nailed pass completions to receivers Tony Termini and Kwame Asante, then running back Karim Wills romped into the end zone on a long run to score a touchdown. The two-point conversion, on a Stouffer pass to Termini, put the Titans on top 10-8 just before the end of the first quarter.
   Wheaton, utilizing a wildcat offense to quickly move the ball among its running backs, was soon on the march. Midway into the second quarter, the Knights scored another touchdown, giving them a 14-10 lead. Einstein's next drive benefited from penalties against Wheaton, and with less than two minutes to go before the half, Stouffer shoved the ball into the end zone from 2 yards out to regain the lead. Hilderbrand's extra point kick made it 17-14.
   With less than a minute to go before the half, Wheaton shot down the field on a long run to score again, and were back in the lead 20-17.
   In the third quarter, Einstein's runners were stymied while Wheaton controlled the ball. The Knights had another big run for a touchdown, and scored a two-point converstion to post an 11-point lead, 28-17. Einstein responded early in the fourth quarter with big runs by Wills to get the ball into the end zone. With a two-point conversion pass complete to Termini, the Titans came within 3 to make it 28-25.
   But Wheaton couldn't be contained. The Knights quickly scored another touchdown, and added two points to up the score, 36-25. Einstein's passing game faltered, and Wheaton played out the clock to pull off the upset and celebrate its Senior Night.

10/30/09
Einstein vs Watkins Mill  6:30 p.m.

Titans Come Home For a Win

   The fleet feet of senior running back Karim Wills helped propel Einstein's varsity football team to a 26-13 victory over Watkins Mill on Fri., Oct. 30 at a home game featuring a senior recognition ceremony for members of the marching band, cheers, poms and the football team's 23 seniors. The win during Einstein's last home game of the season moves the Titans to a 5-4 record.
   Wills, a transfer to Einstein this year from Kennedy, was the game's work horse, racking up 221 yards in 30 carries for the night. Einstein also displayed tough defense, and senior kicker John Hilderbrand had one of his best games of the season, kicking a field goal and nailing three extra points.
   It took most of the first quarter for Einstein's offense to get in gear. Wills rumbled to the Watkins Mill seven-yard-line, then the Titans stalled. Hilderbrand's first field goal attempt from the nine-yard-line failed.
   But Watkins Mill couldn't make any headway, and Titan senior linebacker Aaron Pritchett blocked a punt to score a safety and put two points on the board shortly before the end of the first quarter.
  Einstein opened the second quarter with a strong drive by senior quarterback Bobby Stouffer, and Willis reached the end zone on an 11-yard run. With the extra point kick, the score was 9-0 Titans.
   Watkins Mill returned fire immediately, with an 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Einstein blocked the Wolverines' extra kick. While Einstein again got inside the Watkins Mill 20-yard-line, the Titans struggled to find the end zone. Just before halftime, Hilderbrand kicked a 29-yard field goal to push the score to 12-6.
   In the third quarter, Einstein senior defender Ryan Klein intercepted a Watkins Mill pass, and Stouffer took over. Willis reached the end zone before fumbling, but Titan junior Paul Ross recovered the ball for the touchdown. The extra point kick made it 19-6.
   Early in the fourth quarter, Titan sophomore Alante Rhoden recovered a Watkins Mill fumble deep in Wolverine territory to score a touchdown, and with the extra point, Einstein built its lead to 26-6.
   Watkins Mill responded with a 91-yard touchdown run from its own nine-yard-line, and the score was 26-13 with the extra point. An intercepted pass by Titan senior defender Hamzah Lodge and a quarterback sack by Pritchett helped keep the Wolverrines at bay.
   Einstein travels to neighborhood rival Wheaton for its final game of the season on Fri., Nov. 6.

10/23/09
Einstein at Blake 6:30 p.m.

Bengals Run Over Titans in Second Half

   A strong second quarter and eight-point lead for the Einstein varsity football team couldn't withstand a resurgent Blake offense in the second half, as Blake ran off with a 33-14 homecoming win at Bengal Field on Fri., Oct. 23.
   It was a scoreless first quarter, although Blake got as close as the Titans' 14-yard-line before fumbling the ball. When Einstein couldn't convert on fourth down deep in its own territory, Blake took advantage of prime field position to put six points up on the board early in the second quarter.
   Then the Titan offense kicked in, with a solid run by sophomore Keith Gaye, and a pass from quarterback Bobby Stouffer to receiver Tony Termini for a big fourth-down conversion to Blake's 19-yard-line. Senior running back Karim Wills took it from there, bulling his way through Bengal defenders to the end zone.
   On Einstein's next possession, Stouffer completed passes to Termini and senior receiver Kwame Asante to move the ball quickly, then found Termini in the end zone for another touchdown. Junior Joel Insilo caught the two-point conversion pass to make it a 14-6 lead for Einstein at the half.
   Einstein looked like it had another strong drive underway in the third quarter when a Blake defender intercepted Stouffer's pass and ran 50 yards for the touchdown. With the two-point conversion, it was 14 all.
   With that momentum shift, the Titan game unraveled. The Bengals' running offense dominated and scored another touchdown in the third quarter, making it 21-14.
   The Bengals controlled the fourth quarter, and on fourth down, the Blake quarterback found a receiver all alone for a touchdown pass up the middle. With less than 50 seconds to go, the Bengals scored again to make it 33-14.
   Einstein, now 4-4, returns to its home field on Fri., Oct. 30 to host Watkins Mill. The home game also will be Senior Recognition Night.

10/16/09
Einstein at Quince Orchard 6:30 p.m.

Quince Orchard Sails Past Titans

   Steady, cold rain didn't slow the undefeated Quince Orchard Cougars from trouncing the Einstein varsity football team 42-0 for an easy Cougar homecoming victory on Fri., Oct. 16.
   The Titans stumbled early and were backed up against their own end zone in the opening minutes. At the end of the first quarter, it was 21-0 in favor of the regionally ranked Cougars.
   Quince Orchard struck again early in the second quarter, and the score was 28-0. Einstein senior Karim Wills had a strong runback on the kick return and got the Titans to the Quince Orchard 32-yard line. Quarterback Bobby Stouffer found Wills for a pass, and a penalty against Quince Orchard moved the ball to the 15-yard line. The Titans got five yards closer, but Stouffer's passes to his end zone receiver bounced incomplete.
   The Titans soon had another chance, recovering a Quince Orchard fumble to put Einstein on the Cougar 10-yard line with a little over three minutes left in the quarter. Stouffer, repeatedly sacked and under pressure from swarming Cougar defenders, couldn't connect with his receivers, and Quince Orchard took over on its own 15-yard line with less than two minutes to go before the half. They made the most of the time on the clock, and marched downfield to make it 35-0 at halftime.
   The unwavering Cougar offense, and penalties against the Titans in the third quarter resulted in another Quince Orchard touchdown, and it was 42-0 before the quarter ended.
   In the fourth quarter, Stouffer completed passes to seniors Aaron Pritchett and Ryan Klein, and junior Sam Kaiser to move the ball in a series of first downs. Then in the final seconds, Quince Orchard intercepted a deep pass to the end zone, and the rainy night was over.
   Einstein, now 4-3, remains on the road, traveling to Blake High School on Fri., Oct. 23.

10/09/09
Einstein vs Northwood 6:30 p.m.

A Homecoming To Cheer About!

   When the Titans finally came alive in their Oct. 9 homecoming game against Northwood, it was late in the fourth quarter, following a series of failed drives against a team that had been considered the underdog.
   But a fumble recovery and feisty play by senior receiver Karim Wills helped rejuvenate the Einstein offense as the Titans stoked a come-from-behind, 14-6 win to the delight of a capacity home crowd at Titan Field.
   The game marks Einstein's second consecutive homecoming win. The Titans also hosted Northwood last year, and delivered a 22-18 victory that was Einstein's first homecoming win since 2004.
   It didn't look like Einstein would repeat that success for much of Friday's game, played on a balmy, breezy evening that featured the crowning of homecoming king Hamzah Lodge and queen Cynthia Rodriguez. The Northwood Gladiators controlled the ball from the opening kickoff, utilizing a running offense that moved the ball to Einstein's seven-yard-line before sophomore Alante Rhoden intercepted a goal line pass and tacked on a 30-yard runback.
   Titan senior quarterback Bobby Stouffer struggled to establish a passing game, and the first quarter ended with neither team on the scoreboard.
   In the second quarter, sophomore running back Keith Gaye found little open ground to move the ball. Northwood blocked an Einstein punt and ran the ball in for a touchdown to make it 6-0.
   Just before the half, an energized Northwood threatened again, but senior Titan defender Kwame Asante picked off a Gladiator pass inside the 10-yard-line.
   In the second half, the Einstein offense continued to sputter, and things went from bad to worse. The Titans failed to convert on fourth down and less than a yard to to at midfield early in the fourth quarter. Then, on a Northwood drive, Titan Rhoden went down with an injury and was taken off the field in an ambulance wtih 6:20 left in the game. It was first and ten for Northwood on Einstein's 12-yard-line when the Galdiators fumbled, and Einstein came up with the ball.
   With 4:52 left on the clock, Stouffer began connecting with Asante and senior receiver Tony Termini for first downs. A pass to Asante moved the ball to the Northwood 27-yard-line wtih a little over two minutes left. On third-and-three, Stouffer passed to Willis in the end zone to tie the game 6-6. Senior kicker John Hilderbrand arced the ball high and straight between the uprights to put the Titans ahead 7-6.
   Northwood answered with passes deep into Einstein territory. But Wills stripped the ball from a Northwood receiver at the goal line and ran it the length of the field to add another Einstein touchdown with 56 seconds left. Hilderbrand again added an extra point to make it 14-6.
   Northwood had the ball with 38 seconds left and marched downfield. The Gladiators were nearing the Titan end zone when Wills made his final big play of the game, intercepting a last-gasp Northwood pass as time expired.
   The Titans, now 4-2, next go on the road to face undefeated 3A Division leader Quince Orchard on Fri., Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m.

10/02/09
Einstein vs Clarksburg 6:30 p.m.

Coyotes Take Down the Titans

   The Titans varsity football team quickly abandoned any hopes of tripping up the undefeated Clarksburg Coyotes, and stumbled through a 40-0 loss at Titan Field on Fri., Oct. 2.
   Clarksburg, 5-0 and already looking like a formidable playoff contender in the 3A Division, quickly dominated the Titans, scoring a touchdown and extra point less than five minutes into the game. Einstein's offense couldn't find an opening, and things fell apart, with Clarksburg easily scoring two more touchdowns to lead 20-0 at the end of the first quarter.
   Clarksburg stifled attempts by sophomore running back Keith Gaye to find open ground, and intercepted a pass by quarterback Bobby Stouffer to set up another touchdown in the second quarter to make it 27-0. With just seconds left before the half, Clarksburg threatened again, but senior defensive back Karim Wills intercepted a pass to thwart the Coyote drive.
   Clarksburg received the ball to start the third quarter and methodically marched down the field for another touchdown to increase its lead to 33-0. In the fourth quarter, the Titans began moving the ball, but Stouffer's effort to put points on the scoreboard with an end zone pass was intercepted. The Coyotes added another touchdown and extra point to make it 40-0 as rain started to fall and the clock was allowed to run out to end  the match.
   The Titans, now 3-2 at the season's halfway mark, will host Northwood for its Oct. 9 Homecoming game at Titan Field at 6:30 p.m.

9/25/09
Einstein at Poolesville 6:30 p.m.

Titans Win Handily at Poolesville

   Einstein's varsity football team caged the hapless Poolesville Falcons with a 29-0 victory Friday night in Poolesville, bouncing back from last week's loss to Seneca Valley to improve the Titan record to 3-1.
   The Titans scored in all four quarters, while Poolesville struggled throughout the game to break free from Einstein defenders for a first down. Einstein left even more scoring opportunities on the field while collecting a bucketful of penalties from the referees. Both teams' quarterbacks were intercepted repeatedly, but Einstein quarterback Bobby Stouffer also connected with his receivers for 13 of 22 passes and 181 yards. Sophomore running back Keith Gaye piled up yardage -- 25 carries for 174 yards -- and scored two touchdowns.
   Stouffer was the first Titan in the end zone on a short-yardage keeper to cap an offensive drive in the first quarter, with senior kicker John Hilderbrand adding the extra point. In the second quarter, Stouffer found senior receiver Tony Termini to ignite a series that finished with Gaye scoring, and Hilderbrand again nailed the extra point.
   In the third quarter, Stouffer got a pass to senior receiver Kwame Asante in the corner of the end zone for another score. Einstein was cuffed with a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, but even with extra yardage tacked on, Stouffer rifled the ball to Termini for a two-point conversion, and it was 22-0.
   Early in the fourth quarter, Gaye outran his defenders to add another Titan touchdown, and Hilderbrand put the ball between the goal posts to make it 29-0.
   The varsity game followed a match between the schools' JV teams on Thurs., Sept. 24, with the Titan JV team drubbing Poolesville 42-6.
   Next up, Einstein faces undefeated Division 3A powerhouse Clarksburg at Titan Field on Fri., Oct. 2, at 6:30 p.m.

09/17/09
Einstein vs Seneca Valley 6:30 p.m.

Titans Falls to Seneca Valley

   A determined Seneca Valley wore through the Titans defense and choked Einstein's drive to clinch Seneca's first victory of the football season Thurs., Sept. 17 at Titan Field with a score of 26-0.
   The Titans, coming off wins against Richard Montgomery and Kennedy, were hoping to trip up the Screaming Eagles, one of the most storied teams in Maryland high school football with a host of state championships to its credit. Though Seneca Valley stumbled early this season wtih losses to Clarksburg and Churchill, the Screaming Eagles found they could overpower the Titans, and in the second half they controlled the game.
   It looked like an even match at the start, with the Titans defense shutting down Seneca Valley's drives and keeping the Eagles from scoring in the first quarter.
   In the second quarter, Titans quarterback Bobby Stouffer led an offensive drive starting at the Einstein two-yard line that got the ball to the Eagles' 26 before a pair of incomplete passes ended the effort. After taking over the ball, Seneca Valley broke through Einstein defenders and scored on a 44-yard play that put them up 6-0 with about five minutes left in the second quarter.
   Einstein's running backs, bottled up by Seneca defenders, couldn't gain traction, and the Eagles took over. With two minutes left before the half, Seneca Valley scored again with a 45-yard run and two-point conversion to make it 14-0.
   In the third quarter, sloppy play by the increasingly frustrated Titans helped Seneca Valley move down the field with penalties, and the Eagles found the Einstein end zone to make it 20-0. A bad kick return by the Titans helped position Seneca Valley to score once more at the end of the third quarter, making it 26-0.
   The Titans held off a threatening Seneca Valley in the fourth quarter, but Einstein's offense never ignited.

09/11/09
Einstein at Kennedy 6:30 p.m.

Titans Make 2-0 Look Easy With 27-8 Win

   The Titans dominated the penalty-prone Kennedy Cavaliers, scoring in all four quarters on a rainy Sept. 11 evening to bring home  a 27-8 win and post a 2-0 record for the first time in years.
   Einstein's defense stymied Kennedy's star player Bisi Ezekoye, and Titan sophomore running back Keith Gaye continued to rack up impressive numbers in his second varsity game, rushing 19 times for 151 yards and scoring two touchdowns.  It was a productive night as well for Einstein senior quarterback Bobby Stouffer, who muscled the ball into the end zone on short yardage, and who completed five of nine passes for 81 yards.
   Einstein got on the scoreboard with a short run by Gaye to lead 6-0 in the first quarter. With two minutes left in the second quarter, Gaye again found the end zone, and with the two-point conversion, the Titan lead was 14-0 at the half.
  In the third quarter, Einstein kept the drive alive on the ground, then Stouffer lofted a pass to senior receiver Tony Termini in the end zone to make the score 20-0.
  Midway into the fourth quarter, Stouffer shoved the ball into the end zone for a touchdown, and the extra point kick by senior John Hilderbrand made it 27-0.
  With 1:36 left in the game, Kennedy finally got on the scoreboard with a touchdown and two-point conversion. Einstein controlled the ball as the clock ran out.
  The varsity win followed a strong showing by the JV football squad, which rolled to a 36-6 win over Kennedy on Thurs., Sept. 10. Game highlights for the JV Titans included a 22-point second-quarter surge that featured a 50-yard pass play for a touchdown, and an interception returned for a touchdown. The JV defense also kept Kennedy from scoring from the 9-yard line on four straight plays.
   The Titans return home to face longtime foe Seneca Valley, which is 0-2 after losing its first two games to Clarksburg and Churchill. Make sure you're in the stands to cheer on the varsity Titans on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
   The Titan JV team plays Seneca Valley on Tues., Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m.

9/4/09
Titans Win Season Opener in Three-Hour Thriller!

Varsity Titans Defeat Richard Montgomery in Four Overtimes

   The Einstein Titans hung on through an adrenaline-charged overtime period to outrun Richard Montgomery and pull out a 32-26 win in the season opener on Fri., Sept. 4 before packed home stands.
  The Einstein crowd was on its feet chanting as the three-hour tug-of-war between the two teams became a scoring shoot-out when regulation play ended with the score tied at 12-12. Earlier in the game, Einstein led at halftime, 6-0, but Richard Montgomery scored on a rambling run in the first play of the third quarter. Then Richard Montgomery took the lead with a touchdown three minutes into the fourth quarter to make it 12-6.

   Einstein, relying on hard-charging sophomore running back Keith Gaye, came back with a touchdown to tie it with more than eight minutes left on the clock. Though Richard Montgomery threatened again late minutes later, an intercepted pass in the end zone by senior Devante Wilson kept the Rockets from scoring.
  When the game went into overtime, each team had a series of four downs in which to try to score from the 10-yard line. Richard Montgomery won the coin toss and scored first, adding a two-point conversion to make it 20-12. Einstein quarterback Bobby Stouffer quickly connected on a pass to senior receiver Tony Termini to make the score 20-18. Under pressure, Stouffer got off a two-point conversion pass that was bobbled and tipped by defenders. Einstein tight end Ryan Klein made a game-saving grab in the end zone to tie the score at 20 all.
  In the second overtime, senior fullback Desmon Ellis caught a Stouffer pass to make it 26-20 in Einstein's favor, but Richard Montgomery scored a touchdown in return.
  In the third overtime, with the score tied at 26 all, Einstein's attempt at a field goal by senior kicker John Hildebrand was wide left.
  In the fourth overtime, Richard Montgomery got the ball inside the one-yard line, but Einstein defenders kept Rockets runners from the end zone. Stouffer then connected on a pass to Ellis to move the ball a few yards, and a costly penalty against Richard Montgomery placed the ball at the three-yard-line on third down. On the hand-off, Gaye ran the ball into the end zone, to the shouts of a jubilant crowd that rushed onto the field.
  For the game, Gaye had 29 carries and gained 180 yards, scoring three touchdowns. Stouffer completed 9 of 17 passes for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns.

  The following morning, on Sept. 5, the JV Titans took the field and defeated Richard Montgomery's JV team 14-6. The Titan teams were off to a pair of 1-0 starts!

2008-2009 Football Season

11/07/08
Einstein vs Seneca Valley 6:30 p.m.

Screaming Eagles Attack Titans

   The varsity Titans football team took a drubbing from state champion contender Seneca Valley in the season finale at Titan Field on Nov. 7, falling 49-0 in a lopsided contest.
   The undefeated Screaming Eagles, holder of 12 state championship titles, were expected to win handily against the rebuilding Titan team, and they did just that. In the first five minutes of the game, Seneca Valley scored twice to lead 14-0. Then the Eagles intercepted a Titan pass, and it soon was 21-0 with slightly over two minutes left in the first quarter.
   Titan running backs Terrence Love, a senior, and sophomore Malcolm Crockett could make little headway against the fabled Eagles defense. In the second quarter, Seneca Valley scored twice more to take a 35-0 lead at halftime.
   In the second half, the Titans defense toughened up, but the Eagles got another pair of touchdowns as the clock ran down, pushing the final score to 49-0.
   The loss capped what otherwise was an upbeat season for the Titans, who compiled a 5-5 record, the team's best since 2000. Crockett finished the season as the county's leading rusher, amassing 1,506 yards in 181 carries, and scoring 15 touchdowns.

10/31/08
Einstein vs BCC 6:30 p.m.

Titans Slam B-CC in 54-30 Win

   Einstein scored early and often in a romp over Bethesda-Chevy Chase on Friday that had the Titans scoring their highest point total in a single game in a decade.
   The game, played on a clear, cool Halloween night before a small crowd, showcased the talents of running backs Terrence Love, a senior, and sophomore Malcolm Crockett. Together, the two rushed for nearly 300 yards and scored 7 touchdowns. Two of Crockett's touchdowns came on a 63-yard punt return and a 75-yard kickoff return. Love had two interceptions playing on defense.
   The win moves Einstein to a 5-4 record, the first time in eight years that the Titans have posted five wins in a season.
   The Titans celebrated their team's Senior Night by scoring on their first possession of the game, as Crockett broke through Baron defenders to hit the end zone after a 45-yard run. The kick by senior Joel Prudencio made it 7-0.
   Those numbers didn't last long, though, as runs by Crockett and Love pushed the Titan lead to 19-0 in the first quarter. A series of pass plays by B-CC helped get the Barons into the end zone to make it 19-7 late in the first quarter.
   More of the same continued in the second quarter, with the Barons struggling to contain the swift Titans. Alternating between quarterbacks Chris Benitez, a senior, and Bobby Stouffer, a junior, the Titans got into the end zone twice more to lead 33-15 at the half.
   Crockett's 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown came on the first play of the third quarter, and a two-point conversion made it 41-15. A pass interception by Love led to another touchdown, ratcheting up the score to 47-15 at the end of the third.
   In the fourth quarter, the Barons scored twice more, but they couldn't close the gap. With a little over five minutes left in the game, Einstein scored on a short scamper by Stouffer to make it 54-30, the game's final tally.
   The Titans now prepare to face undefeated, Division 3A powerhouse Seneca Valley in the last game of the season on Nov. 7 at Titan Field. Be there to cheer on the Titans! 

10/24/08
Einstein at Clarksburg 6:30 p.m.

Titans Have Nowhere To Run Against Clarksburg

The undefeated Clarksburg Coyotes powered up their running game while shutting down the Titans to dominate their homecoming contest with a 34-6 win.
   The Titan offense was stymied, with gifted sophomore running back Malcolm Crockett facing a pack of Coyote defenders every time he carried the ball. Crockett, who racked up more than 300 yards in each of two previous games, was held to just 39 yards in 24 carries.
   The two teams were scoreless in the first quarter, but a solid offensive drive gave Clarksburg a 7-0 lead early in the second. A few minutes later, the disciplined Clarksburg offense repeated the performance to take a 13-0 lead at halftime.
   Frustrations continued for Einstein in the second half, as the Coyotes adjusted to Titan efforts to have senior running back Terrence Love throw quickly to Crockett. A Clarksburg receiver returned a Titan punt on a 70-yard romp to make it 21-0 late in the third quarter. On the next Titan possession, a Clarksburg defender tipped a lateral pass from senior quarterback Chris Benitez, scooped it up, and ran into the end zone to make it 27-0.
   Clarksburg wasn't done yet running over the Titans, and in the fourth quarter made another touchdown and point-after kick for a score of 34-0.
   With the clock running down and Crockett out with an injury, Titan junior quarterback Bobby Stouffer handed off the ball to junior running back Malik Mahdi. Mahdi ran for 54 yards into the end zone with 15 seconds left to make the score 34-6 and prevent a shutout.

10/17/08
Einstein at Watkins Mill 6:30 p.m.

Einstein Hangs Tough In Double Overtime Against Watkins Mill

10/11/08
Einstein JV vs. Northwood 10 a.m.

Einstein JV Downs Northwood With Strong Second Half

   The Titans JV football team held onto a late, two-point lead over neighborhood rival Northwood to celebrate Einstein's Homecoming weekend wtih a 14-12 win on Saturday.
   Northwood scored in the opening minutes to make the score 6-0, then the two teams skirmished for the remainder of the half, with neither reaching the end zone.
   Midway through the third quarter, the Titans had a touchdown run to tie the game 6-6. Northwood's offense came alive and had a follow-up touchdown run to regain the lead 12-6.
   At the start of the fourth quarter, Einstein ran for a second touchdown and two-point conversion to get back on top 14-12. Northwood threatened, but Einstein defenders toughened up, repeatedly breaking through the line to pull down the ball carrier for a loss as the fourth quarter wound down.
   JV Coach Jermaine Howell praised the play of running backs Keith Gaye, a freshman, and sophomore Joel Insilo, saying the two gained a total of 250 yards rushing with the help of solid second half blocking from the offensive line. On defense, coaches cited big plays by sophomore Darius Richardson and freshman Tristan Robinson.
   "I like the way you came back," Howell told his joyous players in the post-game gathering beneath the goal posts. "You played as a family, and the results showed. Let's continue this."
   The JV team, with a 2-3 record, travels to Watkins Mill on Thurs., Oct. 16, for a 5:30 p.m. game.

10/10/08
Einstein vs. Northwood 6:30 p.m.

It's A Homecoming Win For Einstein!

Titans' Crockett Carries It Home Against Northwood

  Fleet sophomore running back Malcolm Crockett racked up more than 300 yards in three trips to the end zone to give Einstein a 22-18 victory over Northwood High School before a capacity Homecoming crowd at Titan Field Friday night.
   It was a fourth quarter, come-from-behind surge that gave Einstein its first Homecoming victory since 2004. Northwood, which had beaten Einstein last year, appeared poised to trip up the penalty-prone Titans and improve its 1-4 record. Instead, Einstein's record now stands at 3-3, its best mid-season showing in nearly a decade. Crockett has emerged as one of the county's leading rushers.
   The contest was close from the start. The Einstein offense capitalized on an early turnover and got the ball to Northwood's two-yard line before a false start penalty stalled the Titans' drive. Then after Northwood punted away the ball, Crockett burst through the middle for a 72-yard run to the end zone. A point-after kick made it 7-0 in Einstein's favor with 47 seconds left in the first quarter.
   Northwood ignited its passing game, and soon was in the end zone to make it 7-6. Northwood continued to play strong in the second quarter and ran for another touchdown to take the lead 12-7. Einstein senior quarterback Chris Benitez went out with an ankle injury, and junior Bobby Stouffer took over.
   Einstein struggled to move the ball, but a punt by senior Ikram Kham landed the ball on Northwood's 3-yard line. Einstein defenders brought down the Northwood quarterback in his own end zone and scored a 2-point safety, nudging the score to 12-9 at halftime.
   The third quarter became a defensive see-saw between the two teams. Crockett dashed into the end zone late in the third quarter, but a clipping penalty against Einstein called the touchdown back.
   In the fourth quarter, Northwood's quarterback connected with his receiver in the end zone on a fourth down play, and the score was 18-9 with a little over 9 minutes left in the game.
   It wasn't long before Crockett had the ball and was scampering downfield for a touchdown. With a good point-after kick, the score was 18-16.
   Strong defensive play by the Titans thwarted Northwood's passing game, and Einstein got the ball with 7:21 remaining. Crockett, who had a total of 32 carries and 302 yards for the night, methodically moved the ball downfield, and plunged into the end zone from the 4-yard line as Einstein regained the lead. The Titans' two-point conversion failed, and the score stood at 22-18.
   Senior Einstein defender Andre Scott intercepted a long Northwood pass from midfield with 2:57 left on the clock. Then it became a waiting game, with Stouffer moving the ball forward for Einstein to keep possession as the seconds ticked down.

10/3/08
Einstein at Paint Branch 6:30 p.m.

The Upset That Got Away

   The improving Titan football team kept stalking the Paint Branch Panthers in last Friday's game, and grabbed the lead before Paint Branch mounted a last-ditch offensive to  win 29-24 in the final seconds.
   Paint Branch was heavily favored in the match-up on its home field, and Einstein was missing strong junior running back Terrence Love, sidelined with a foot injury. Paint Branch scored first with a 58-yard punt return and point-after kick. Then Titan sophomore running back Malcolm Crockett got to work, and punched in a touchdown on a 13-yard run to make it 7-6. Paint Branch struck back immediately with an 84-yard kickoff return, and the score was 14-6 as the first quarter ended.
   In the second quarter, Titan defenders blocked a punt to put Einstein well inside Panther territory. Senior quarterback Chris Benitez kept the ball moving, and ran the ball for a first down to the Paint Branch six-yard line. Benitez connected on a pass to junior receiver Bobby Stouffer in the end zone for a touchdown. Einstein's two-point conversion failed, and at the half it was 14-12.
   Early in the third quarter, the Panthers marched the ball down the field for a touchdown and point-after kick to make it 21-12. Crockett grabbed the ball on kick-off and ran 86 yards for a touchdown. Once again, Einstein failed in its two-point conversion effort, and the score was 21-18.
   In the first minutes of the fourth quarter, both teams struggled offensively, and a penalty forced Einstein to punt as it readied for a fourth down play. Paint Branch bobbled the punt return, and Einstein recovered the ball on the Panther five-yard line. It took four downs, but the Titans finally got Crockett shoved into the end zone to take the lead 24-21 with just over five minutes left in the game.
   Strong play by Titan defender Desmon Ellis forced Paint Branch to give up the ball, and Einstein took over as the clock continued to wind down. Deep in its own territory, Einstein played a stalling game, and let Paint Branch get a two-point safety to make the score 24-23 with a minute and a half left. After a solid kick by Einstein, Paint Branch had the ball with 1:25 left.
   Connecting on a series of passes, Paint Branch got into the end zone with 39 seconds left to make it 29-24. Einstein got the ball back and made it to the Paint Branch 20-yard line as time ran out.
   Make sure you're at Titan Field this Fri., Oct 10, at 6:30 p.m. for Einstein's Homecoming game against Northwood High School. Go Titans!

9/24/08
Einstein vs Kennedy 6:30 p.m.

Einstein Charges Over Kennedy

   On a rainy Friday game night, Einstein's offense came to life to score repeatedly against the Kennedy Cavaliers and secure a 22-12 win at Titan Field.
   In a game played before a gathering of Einstein athletic alumni who are members of the school's Hall of Fame, the Titans allowed Kennedy to get on the scoreboard first. Kennedy's surprise run on what was expected to be a fourth down punt had the Cavaliers scampering into the end zone to make it 6-0 early in the first quarter.
   Einstein's offense quickly answered, propelled by the strong legs of sophomore running back Malcolm Crockett. Crockett repeatedly carried the ball and had a 45-yard run to make it 6-6 before the end of the first quarter.
   In the second quarter, the Titans turned to junior running back Terrence Love to move the Titans down the field. He scored on a running play, and the Titans got the two-point conversion to make it 14-6 with four minutes left before half time.
   In the third quarter the Titans came out strong, with junior linebacker Desmon Ellis recovering a loose ball in Kennedy territory and launching another offenseive drive by the Titans. But then it was Einstein's turn to fumble the ball as they neared Kennedy's 15-yard line.
   After that, an 80-yard run by the Kennedy quarterback into the end zone made the score 14-12 early in the third quarter.
   Crockett responded with a big run on the kickoff return that took the Titans to Kennedy's 20-yard line. A couple of plays later, senior receiver Andre Scott was all alone in the end zone to catch the pass from senior quarterback Chris Benitez. Love got the two-point conversion to make it 22-12 midway through the third quarter.
   Though the Titans later threatened again, neither team scored as the rain showers turned to a downpour in the fourth quarter.

9/19/08
Einstein vs Rockville 6:30 p.m.

Rockville Picks Off Einstein

   Einstein's shaky offense dropped passes and gave up interceptions as the Rockville Rams settled old scores and took home a 19-2 win from Titan Field Friday in the first home game of the season.
   After an early touchdown by Rockville following an interception, the Titan defense kicked in and kept the Rams scoreless the rest of the first half. The Einstein defense also forced a safety, making the score 6-2. Einstein threatened near the goal line in the first half, but couldn't reach the end zone with a weak passing attack and a stalled running game.
   The defensive contest continued in the second half, as Rockville looked for a way to defeat the Titans, after losing to Einstein two years in a row on the Rams' home field. Rockville saw its chance late in the third quarter with a big pass play, setting up a Rams touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter. Another intercepted pass by Rockville late in the fourth quarter, and the resulting touchdown sealed the game.

9/12/08
Einstein at Damascus 6:30 p.m.

Hornets Swarm Over Einstein

    The Damascus High School Hornets, last year's 3A Division state champions, easily handled the Einstein Titans Friday in a 40-7 win before a hometown football crowd in Damascus.
    Though the two teams were scoreless in the first quarter, Damascus' superior size, brickhouse defense and strong running game dominated the second quarter, enabling the Hornets to score repeatedly. Einstein's sophomore running back Malcolm Crockett had a deep run into Hornets territory, and the Titans benefited from a pass interference call. But the Titans failed to connect on a pass to the end zone as the quarter ended and at halftgime, the Hornets had a 21-0 lead.
    In the third quarter, Damascus wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard again, with the offense marching down the field after receiving the kickoff and upping the score to 27-0. After Damascus kicked off, junior running back Terrence Love had a solid run across midfield. The Titans were moving the ball until they fumbled on a turnover that Damascus quickly converted to another touchdown, making the score 33-0.
    Titan running backs Crockett and Love got the offense moving in the fourth quarter, and Love reached the end zone on a 19-yard run. An extra point kick by Love made the score 33-7. Damascus shot back with a swift touchdown, making it 40-7 for the final score of the game.
    Despite Einstein's scanty point total, Crockett was the game's rushing leader, with 128 yards in 13 carries.

9/5/2008
Einstein at Wheaton 6:30pm