The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Barons scored 21 first-quarter points and beat the Wheaton Knights 35-0 in their homecoming game Friday, Sept. 25.

B-CC improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in region play with the win, sitting first in the region standings according to MaxPreps. The Barons gained 247 rushing yards and 64 passing yards.

Five touchdowns came from four players. Aiah Mbayo opened the scoring with a long rushing touchdown. Max Randazzo and Jack Conley each found the end zone in the first quarter after Jonah Moran recovered a Wheaton fumble and B-CC recovered an onside kick. MJ Joinvil scored in the third quarter, and Conley added his second rushing touchdown 15 seconds into the fourth. JP Ciavola recovered a late fumble to seal the game.

The defense pitched the shutout. Wheaton's best chance came on a fourth-and-goal in the second quarter, and B-CC stuffed it.

Then the lights at the Guck, B-CC's home field, went out with 1:08 left in the third quarter. Students flipped on phone flashlights and sang John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads," The Tattler reported.

Head coach Matt Schwartzback praised the defense and noted the Barons mixed in more passing than usual. He pointed to unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties as the top priority to fix.

"We threw the ball a little bit more tonight, which you know we're not used to, but we showed we could do it, which we're happy about," Schwartzback said.

He also credited the student section, saying he can "really feel a shift in the culture and the community, really buying into the football program."

The Barons host the Paint Branch Panthers at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at the Guck. The game doubles as senior night for football, cheer, poms, pep band and drumline after those ceremonies were moved up from the rescheduled Battle of Bethesda, as we reported Sept. 29.