By Montgomery Marty

The Big Sound and Fury was all set to celebrate his favorite back, Marcus Mason, makin' the roster of the Washington Redskins. But lo and behold, the greatest player in Georgetown Prep history got the ax. For cryin' out loud, what does a guy need to do to make the team?

Marcus did the heavy liftin' in the preseason and look where it got him? This bit of numbskullery has Vinny Cerrato written all over it. What is this bonehead doin' in an NFL front office? It's time we ship this jamoke out of town and get a real GM.

His two gimpy, second-round-choice wideouts are lookin' more and more like busts each day. And how about fourth-round pick Justin Tryon? His nickname should be "Toast," because all he did this preseason was get burned.

So it is with a heavy heart that Marty kicks off the 2008 football season. As always, the Big Omniscient One is available at MontgomeryMarty@aol.com.

Quince Orchard 28

Wootton 14

The Big High and Mighty is usually passed out on Saturday night, but he's gonna have to stay upright for another couple of hours this week because he can't wait to see the Best Dang Team in Montgomery County. Coach Dave Mencarini's defendin' state champs are ready to roll, and this is a nice openin' test against the fired-up Pats. Best of all, it's on Saturday, givin' the whole county a chance to see where the bar is set. The path to the state title runs through Darnestown, kids. If you thought the Cougars were good in 2007, wait 'til you see 'em this year.

Sherwood 20

Magruder 14

This is the place to be Friday night as Ol' Al Thomas emerges from six months in his high-security underground bunker to unveil his 2008 Warriors. They got a rugged opener against their neighborhood arch-rivals who are comin' off their first playoff berth in 18 years and will be foamin' at the mouth.

S. Valley 27

Watkins Mill 14

The Big Master of Disaster hears the Wolverines got a chance to be pretty good. But he don't believe they got enough to deal with veteran QB George Lerch and the Screamin' Eagles' squadron of storm troopers comin' off the edges.

Damascus 26

Kennedy 7

The defendin' state champion Swarmin' Hornets got a new coach, a new quarterback, a new line, and a new scatback, but the only way Kennedy can compete in this one is if it can get a seventh year of eligibility for Melvin Harris.

G-burg 14

Springbrook 13

With Sean Stanley comin' off the edge and Serge Kona comin' up the middle, the Big Road Rage has one word for the Blue Devils' QB Phoenix Butler-Poole - duck.

Northwest 14

Whitman 8

Marty hears that Andrew Fields' boys got the size, speed, and experience to get back to the postseason, which means the Big Mike Man can't wait for Week Two - Northwest at Seneca Valley, the Best Dang Rivalry in Montgomery County.

Churchill 34

R. M. 7

The Big Buckin' Bronco recalls Churchill finishin' on an uptick last year, upsettin' neighborhood rival Wootton and layin' the foundation for a successful 2008. Marty reckons Greg Neuendorf's boys will get off to a good start here behind QB Curran Chabra.

Clarksburg 24

W. J. 6

With Paul Okeyo back, the Big Behemoth reckons W.J. is gonna break its county-high losing streak (30 games) at some point this season, but not this week against Larry Hurd's baby blue-clad Coyotes.

Rockville 20

Northwood 14

Mark Maradei's Rams are on the right track and Marty figures they'll give the business to Lydell Baker and company.

Einstein 20

Wheaton 8

Game to be broadcast live on Telemundo!

Paint Branch 33

B-CC 8

It's Year Two of the Mike Nesmith Era and the Big Basso Profundo believes the Panthers are ready to roll behind Omar Fahnbulleh, Franklyn Paris, and QB Eric Freniere.

Blake 14

Blair 7

Hey, boys and girls, with a win here Blake can acquire enough FedEx Cup points to qualify for The Chase and secure a BCS bid.

Poolesville 7

Brunswick 6

Marty hears from his usually reliable sources that several Falcons have been punished for incidents on Facebook. The Big Dawsonville Resident reckons this can't be true. Everybody knows they ain't got computers in Poolesville yet.

Good Counsel 24

Dunbar 8

A Category 5 Tropical Storm, Hurricane Jelani, is gathernin' strength in Olney and will hit Washington D.C. at 7 p.m. Friday. Expect locally heavy downpours, gale-force winds, power outages, and mass destruction in and around Dunbar High. All members of the football team, fans, and non-essential personnel are advised to evacuate the area.

Landon 14

Archbishop Carroll 7

Cool opener for the Lax Coach, Rob Bordley, as he goes up against former Eleanor Roosevelt coach Rick Houchens, who hopes to return Carroll to the glory days of Maus Collins. It ain't gonna be easy, risin' Carroll up from the ashes, but The Big Prognosticator can guarantee you this - Houchens can flat-out recruit.

Georgetown Prep 14

Paul VI 13

The Big Altar Boy don't know what happened to his Little Hoyas last year. But he reckons it was a one-year aberration and that they'll have just enough horses to lasso PVI's talented back Idreis Augustus Friday night in Fairfax.

Pallotti 20

Bullis 0

Here's how bad it is in Bullis Land: They hired a coach last spring, who realized the ship was sinkin' when he took the job. By the time he hit the poop deck, he up and quit. As Lurch the butler used to say on The Addams Family, "uhhhhhhh."