The Gaithersburg Trojans football team won their first game, setting off an exciting season for the school, the community, and wide receiver and outside line backer, senior Josh McCants.

In the season opener against Whitman, he scored the first Gaithersburg touchdown, caught five catches for fifty yards, and played a major role in the Trojan defense.

Despite this being McCants’ first official year with the Trojans, he seems to fit in perfectly. “He’s a well-rounded, good player who understands the game very well,” says five year defensive back coach, Adrian “Hot Dog” McDaniel. Opening up the season with a 21-7 win over the Whitman Vikings was a great way to prove just a small amount of McCants’ full potential.

A D.C. native, McCants has been playing football since he was in elementary school. He has big plans for his high school career, and with a scholarship already offered from Towson University, his accomplishments this season will lead him to a successful college football career.

McCants’ key strength on and off the field is to “stay focused,” and to make certain that he creates a positive impact on the team. “We’re going to states,” McCants says with complete confidence, and it looks like he’s not the only one who has faith that the team will get far in the playoffs. “We want to get better and better each game,” says Coach McDaniel.

 Even students who attended the game recognize McCants’ particular style of play. Senior Jasmine Coates believes he is a great player and that he has great execution.       

All of the hard work and optimism McCants has put in to prepare for the season has most definitely paid off. While most students who do not participate in fall sports were relaxing and finishing off the summer, McCants and the rest of the team were working hard to get ready for the season opener against Whitman. Workouts included weight lifting, conditioning and anything else necessary to get the team back in shape.

McCants says his favorite part of playing on the team is “to wear the blue and gold.” There’s no doubt Josh McCants is well on his way to help lead Gaithersburg’s football team to victory.