This story is part of The Washington Sun’s All-DMV coverage. All-DMV is a new collaboration between The Sun, Fox5 DC, NBC4 Washington and WTOP News, aimed at covering the D.C. area’s best high school athletes. Every week, we’ll have a volleyball players of the week story on Wednesday, and boys and girls soccer selections Friday. You can find past players of the week and more information about All-DMV here.
While Week 6 of the high school football season in the DMV was complicated by inclement weather, these standout athletes still found a way to shine despite the rain. Here’s who earned Washington Sun Player of the Week honors this week:
Alijah Bah, Senior, Athlete, Paint Branch
Paint Branch coach Mike Nesmith likes to call Bah an “old-school” high school football player. He’s the Panthers’ bellcow running back on offense and doubles as a dangerous defensive back on defense. He also returns kicks and punts — Bah rarely gets a play off on Friday nights.
Trending
Friday against Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Bah was everywhere. He totaled 184 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on offense, including the go-ahead score in an eventual 15-8 win. He also nabbed two interceptions on defense and recovered the game-sealing fumble late in the fourth quarter.
“He truly is one of the best players I’ve ever had the privilege of coaching, and a great competitor,” Nesmith said. “He’s really coming into his own as a leader, and I just couldn’t be more proud of him and his development.”
Darius Knight, Senior, Running Back, Dunbar
Last season, Knight was one of several explosive running backs that shared a talented Dunbar backfield. After several teammates graduated, he’s now the go-to ball carrier for the Crimson Tide. Thursday against Bell, Knight carried the ball 18 times for 205 yards and four touchdowns in a 40-16 win. Knight has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in each of his starts this season.
“Everybody’s going to game plan for him,” Coach Maurice Vaughn said. “I’m glad he’s got red and black on.”
Braden Nyce, Junior, Quarterback, Bullis
The Bulldogs rebounded from last week’s 11-point loss to Loyola Blakefield with a dominant showing against DCIAA contender Theodore Roosevelt. Nyce scored four touchdowns — three through the air and one on the ground — in just the first half of an eventual 40-6 win.
Two of his touchdown throws were delivered to standout wide receiver Kaleb McGhee Rivero, one of several playmakers in an explosive Bullis offense.
Theo Riley, Senior, Athlete, Wise
Riley excelled in all three phases for Wise, which blew out DuVal 71-6 Friday to move to 4-0. The senior ran for 92 yards and a touchdown on offense at running back and registered a sack at linebacker on defense. He also ran back a kickoff 64 yards for a second score on special teams.
Coach Steve Rapp’s team, always a Prince George’s County heavyweight, is averaging 50 points per game on offense through the first month of the season.
Jamal Sullivan, Senior, Athlete, Washington-Liberty
Under coach Josh Shapiro, Washington-Liberty typically runs a pass-happy “air-raid” offense. But due to rainy conditions Friday night in Virginia, the Generals needed to pivot to the run game against local rival Wakefield. Shapiro turned to Sullivan, who rewarded his coach’s trust with 113 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns as Washington-Liberty earned a 30-0 shutout victory.
The highlight of Sullivan’s night came in the first half when he streaked up the sideline for an 88-yard score to give his team an early advantage they wouldn’t look back from.
Author
