The Richard Montgomery Rockets football team is looking up from a previously difficult year. Improvement was a continuous thought during the offseason after a 2-8 record for the 2024-25 season. This year, the Rockets have a strengthened team featuring more experienced players and a positive mindset.
Last year’s team wasn’t short on talent, with a Division III quarterback leading the way; however, they struggled with protecting the quarterback. This year, the team put in work to “focus on our O-Line to help him and help our quarterbacks,” senior running back Tristan Trebules said.
The Rockets have a new quarterback behind center, senior Dylan Webster. Webster has played a few snaps in his high school career after sitting behind last year’s starter. His first varsity start came in the Rockets’ loss to Damascus on Sept. 5.
“I think we started very well, we competed. Towards the end, towards the second half, we kind of lost hope a little bit, but I think if we can keep momentum up, we can definitely win games,” senior running back Tristan Trebules said about the game against the Hornets.
Senior kicker Jarrett Roth is also optimistic about the rest of the season. “I feel good. We made some changes, and the team looks much improved from last year,” he said.
The changes that Roth mentioned were initiated over the summer and offseason. “As a team, everyone has gotten stronger and smarter, and the biggest thing we have is experience, as last year we had a team with only two returning starters, but this year we are returning almost all of our offense and defense with a year of experience under our belts,” senior defensive lineman Henry Lo said.
With a returning, seasoned offense and defense, the Rockets needed to find a quarterback to make plays and jumpstart their touchdown production. “We focused heavily on our quarterbacks. Last year, we struggled in that position, and we really put a lot of attention on that,” Trebules said.
“I have hopeful views for this season, but mainly focusing on the present, going game by game, and letting god take care of the rest as the season goes on,” Lo said.
The Tide’s Prediction:
Week one: Loss to Damascus
Their Week 1 matchup is away at Damascus; this game will be a good one, with RM testing out a new quarterback and a refined offensive line going up against a school with a rich football history. However, there will be growing pains for the RM offense and defense, so the Tide predicts a loss in week one.
Week two: Win against Kennedy
Their week two game is the home opener; the Rockets host Kennedy with the hopes of winning their first game. This game feels like it’s leaning one way; the RM offense will click, and the defense will hold strong. With that in mind, the Tide predicts a week two win.
Week three: Win against Magruder
After a game that will boost the Rockets’ confidence in week two, the offense will come out hot. The much-improved throwing game will shine through, and the stronger defense will hold strong. The Tide predicts a week three win against MAgruder.
Week four: Win against Clarksburg
The team travels to Clarksburg for the third game of the season. The game will be close, a back-and-forth battle with not a lot of offense. The Tide predicts a low-scoring RM upset win.
Week five: Win against Wheaton
RM hosts Wheaton in week four, the homecoming game. The Rockets will come out hype, they will come out fired up and ready to play. With that in mind, the Wheaton football program hasn’t been successful in recent years; for that reason, the Tide predicts a blowout win for the Rockets.
Week six: Loss to Wootton
From the Tide predictions, RM will be on a three-game win streak heading into an away game at Wootton. The Wootton team has had recent success against RM, and that doesn’t seem to be changing soon. RM will put up a fight, but not enough. Tide predicts a loss in week six to Wootton.
Week seven: Loss to Gaithersburg
In week six, RM hosts Gaithersburg, a team that has beaten them in the past. The Gaithersburg offense isn’t as good as it’s been in years past, but they should not be taken lightly. This game promises to be a close contest between two evenly matched teams. The Tide predicts a week seven loss to Gaithersburg.
Week eight: Win against Rockville
The Rockets roll into a heated rivalry on a losing streak. But they are fired up, every year, the game between Rockville and RM is heated and action-packed. Both teams are going to come out firing; it’s going to be an offensive explosion. The Tide predicts and RM wins in a heated, high-scoring game.
Week nine: Loss to Sherwood
Week seven of the season, the final week, holds RM’s toughest challenge, Sherwood. The team is stacked top to bottom and will be tough to beat. RM will play them tough, but in the end, it won’t be enough to stop their offense. The Tide predicts a loss to Sherwood.
Final record prediction: 5-4
