Three weeks into the high school football season and one thing is clear: the Woodgrove Wolverines are a team to be reckoned with.

Coming into a Sept. 7 game against Potomac Falls, the Wolverines had outscored opponents 107-7. For the second consecutive week, Woodgrove put 60 points or more on the board in a 60-21 thumping of Potomac Falls in front of its home fans in Purcellville.

Junior running back Josh Sweet paced Woodgrove (1-0 in the Dulles District, 3-0 overall) against the Panthers. Sweet set single-game school rushing records in yardage gained and touchdowns, piling up 297 yards and six touchdowns on 32 carries.

“I thought my offensive line played a heck of a game,” Sweet said. “All five guys did a heck of a job, my wide receivers were blocking downfield and I just found the holes. It was a great win for our team, we got some work to do, but it was a heck of a game.”

In three games, Sweet has carried the ball 60 times for 543 yards, averaging 9.1 yards per carry with nine touchdowns.

The Wolverines are pleased to be playing well, but know there is room for improvement. With seven district games still to play, the Wolverines are not letting their strong start go to their head.

“Like we say, just one game at a time,” Atem Ntantang said. “It’s a grind. We practice hard.”

The Boston College bound defensive back has anchored a stingy defense that has only given up four scores in three games. Ntantang also contributed to the scoring on a 30-yard interception return.

“We were in double coverage; I just read the pass and took it in,” Ntantang said. “I started cramping up and couldn’t even celebrate with my teammates.”

Potomac Falls (0-1, 0-3) gave the Wolverines their toughest test to date. Panther quarterback Michael Fischetti completed 18 of 35 passing attempts for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Fischetti was picked twice by the Wolverines, both producing Woodgrove scores. Braedon Urie returned a pick 22 yards for a touchdown.

“Potomac Falls is very athletic; we knew they had some athletic advantages on us,” Woodgrove coach Mike Skinner said. “We felt like we had to control the ball on offense, which I think we did. I thought all in all our defense played well, being as young as they are.”

Woodgrove can match its win total from last season Sept. 14 at home against Park View. 

“It’s a tough game, they are a well-coached team and we are looking forward to the challenge,” Sweet said.

With Briar Woods, Loudoun County and Tuscarora among the remaining teams the Wolverines still have to face, the road will only get tougher.

The Wolverines take pride in being a blue-collar, old-school type team, playing with a solid line on both sides of the ball and applying a smash-mouth style of play.

“It’s a good feeling to know that everything in practice is working out,” Ntantang said, “Like I said, it’s one game at a time. I have no doubts in my mind we are going to go real far.”

Woodgrove 60, Potomac Falls 21

-First Quarter
W: Sweet 5 run (Warfel kick), 8:29
W: Sweet 63 run (Warfel kick), 5:02

-Second Quarter
W: Sweet 1 run (Warfel kick), 11:57
W: Coil 17 run (kick failed), 7:31
W: Sweet 5 run (2pt. failed), 8:29
PF: Watson 5 pass from Fischetti (Lumsden kick), 0:01

-Third Quarter
W: Ntangtang 23 interception return (conversion failed), 8:09
PF: Lane 52 pass from Fischetti (Lumsden kick), 5:54
PF: Birks 11 pass from Fischetti (Lumsden kick), 2:12
W: Sweet 19 run (Warfel kick), 1:12
W: Urie 22 interception return (Warfel kick), 0:26

-Fourth Quarter
W: Sweet 35 run (Warfel kick), 10:52

-See photos from Friday’s game here.

-Video: Moe Murphy interviews Woodgrove junior RB Josh Sweet.