Papadopoulos Leads Patriots Past Wolverines, 36-17

It was arguably the lowest point in the season for the Wootton Patriots. Their starting quarterback was taken out of the game, only to re-enter later and by the time they scored their first point against the BCC Barons, they were already down by four touchdowns. The end result was the worst loss for Wootton since an early season loss to Damascus. 

But Wootton coach Eddie Tolliver was determined to put last week — and his team's worst offensive performance — behind him. With the Watkins Mill Wolverines coming to town, the second-year Wootton coach said his team spent the past week focused on the details. 

In a must-win game for the Patriots, Wootton responded with its highest scoring effort of the year as senior Chris Papadopoulos threw for three touchdowns and 293 yards to lift the Patriots to a 36-17 win in front of a packed homecoming crowd Friday night.

"It was a huge win, because we can’t afford to lose another game this season," Papadopoulos said. "After losing to B-CC last week, we knew we had to win out the rest of the season if we want any shot to make the playoffs. Tonight was a big win, but now we need to focus on Churchill and get ready for our biggest game of the year."

It was the most points the Wootton Patriots have scored in a game all year and it was the most points Watkins Mill has surrendered so far this season. Tolliver credits his team's ability to keep Watkins Mill off-balance by mixing up the pass game and the run game as the reason why his team was able to take advantage of a solid defensive team.

"The run game really came alive today," Tolliver said. "That helped. As soon as they began to load the box, we were able to go to the outside and exploit some things."

After trailing 3-0 early, thanks to a Watkins Mill field goal, Wootton took the lead in the second quarter on a 10-yard Daivon Adams rushing score and after a Constantine Magginas field goal, Wootton led 9-3 midway through the second quarter. It looked as though that might be the score at the break but Papadopoulos had other plans.

After forcing a Watkins Mill punt late in the half, the senior went to work and marched his team down field with a minute to go and on the last play of the half, with no time left on the clock, he found Miles Green from 10 yards out to give the Patriots a 15-3 halftime advantage.

But Watkins Mill refused to go away. Quinton Littlejohn took the opening kickoff back 97 yards for a score to keep the Wolverines in the game. But once again Papadopoulos stepped up and connected with Joe Kelly from 55 yards out midway through the third then found Curt Brooks from 10 yards out with 1:08 to go in the quarter to put the Patriots up 29-10 with one quarter to play.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Watkins Mill quarterback Patrick Schlosser scored on a 74-yard run but an interception return for a touchdown by Mark Chang with 6:18 left in the game sealed it for Wootton. 

Schlosser finished with 112 yards rushing and 72 yards passing before being injured in the game's final quarter. Adams finished with 76 yards rushing for the Patriots while Brooks caught eight passes for 112 yards while Green and Kelly each caught four passes apiece.

For Papadopoulos, the game was particularly satisfying coming off last week's loss to BCC. 

"Last week was probably the worst game of my career," he said. "I just put it behind me and refocused for this week."

Now, Wootton's work continues when it hosts 6-1 Churchill in the team's final home game of the year on Friday. Tolliver said he will enjoy this victory through the weekend and then it's back to work Monday. 

"By no means did we play a perfect game, but we finally put four solid quarters together," Tolliver said. "We need to get back to work this week and make sure we stay in that rhythm moving forward."

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Montgomery Village editor Sebastian Montes roams the sideline with more photos of the game.