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Every week, across several sports, players around the DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) shine in individual performance. Every Monday, I’d like to take a minute to highlight some of those performances, including what I view as the best performance and name that athlete the “DMV Star of the Week.”
This week’s DMV Star of the Week is Maryland football Wide Receiver Tai Felton.
For the first time since 2001, the Maryland football team is off to a 5-0 start, thanks to their latest dominant performance, this time against Indiana in the Terps Big 10 home opener.
Receiver Tai Felton is a big reason why Maryland dominated the Hoosiers from start to finish on Saturday and had the Terps starters out of the game by the time the game reached the 4th quarter, with Maryland leading 37-3.
In the 44-17 victory, Felton caught 7 passes for 134 yards and 3 touchdowns. His scores all came in the first half, including in both the opening and final minute of the first half of the game.
Those touchdowns were Felton’s first of the season. Entering the game, he had 0 touchdowns, 165 yards, and 11 receptions in 4 games.
Saturday was not only just his first career 100+ yard receiving game, Felton brought in career highs in yards, catches, and touchdowns, having previously recorded zero multi-touchdown games in his career, let alone 3 in a game.
In Sunday’s newly released AP Poll, Maryland came in just outside the Top 25 rankings.
This week, they’ll go to #4 Ohio State for their biggest test yet by far. We’ll get a much better idea of just how real this Maryland team is going to be and if they can get over the hump and beat one of the ‘big dogs’ of the Big 10.
The DMV saw seven teams in action this past week, including the Washington Commanders, Washington Nationals, D.C. United, Washington Spirit, Maryland and Howard football teams, and the Washington Capitals in preseason.
Here are some honorable mention performances for DMV Star of the Week:
Howard football RB Ian Wheeler had a 88 yard kick return for a touchdown in Saturday’s 35-10 win over Robert Morris. Wheeler also led the team in receiving with 45 yards on 2 receptions and led the team in rushing with 81 yards and a touchdown on 4 carries
D.C. United Striker Christian Benteke scored his 14th goal of the season in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Vancouver, moving to 4th on the 2023 season goal leaders list.
Maryland football QB Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 352 yards and 5 touchdowns on 24/34 passing while rushing for another score in Saturday’s 44-17 win over Indiana, doing so in just three quarters of play.
Washington Spirit Forward Trinity Rodman scored the game-winning goal for the Spirit in the 91st minute to defeat KC 2-1 on Saturday at Audi Field.
Commanders QB Sam Howell threw for 290 yards on 29/41 passing and his long touchdown through the air came on the final play of regulation to tie the game, before ultimately falling in OT, 34-31.
The Washington Nationals scored 3 runs in the 9th inning on Sunday to beat Atlanta 10-9 in what was the final game of the regular season for the Nats.
Here’s what’s coming up this week in DMV Sports:
Washington Commanders (2-2 overall, 0-1, T-3rd in NFC East)
10/5 vs. Chicago (Thursday Night Football)
Washington Capitals (0-0, T-1st in Metropolitan Division)
10/3 @ Boston (NHL Preseason)
10/5 @ Columbus (NHL Preseason)
10/7 vs. Columbus (NHL Preseason - Finale)
Maryland Terrapins Football (5-0 overall, 2-0, T-2nd in Big 10 East)
10/7 @ #4 Ohio State
Howard Bison Football (2-2 overall, 0-0, T-2nd in MEAC)
10/7 @ Northwestern
D.C. United: (9-10-13, 37 points, 10th in Eastern Conference)
10/4 @ Austin
10/7 vs. New York City FC (Regular Season Finale)
Washington Spirit: (7-8-5, 29 points, 5th in NWSL)
10/6 @ OL Reign
*Denotes games I will be covering in-person