Joseph Blackwell was not one of those names I heard tossed about in preseason as one of the area’s best football players. In fact, he was never mentioned.

That’s because hardly anyone knew about him. Until Friday night.

In his debut in an Arundel jersey, the junior running back scored four touchdowns in the No. 3 Wildcats’ season-opening 34-27 victory at No. 6 Old Mill, perhaps the Wildcats' top challenger in Anne Arundel County.

The Patriots struggled with Blackwell, who proved exceptionally slippery, running for 174 yards on 28 carries and one touchdown and catching five passes for 83 yards and three touchdowns.

“It’s like trying to catch a waterbug with a pair of tweezers,” said Arundel coach Chuck Markiewicz of his newest offensive threat.

For the last two seasons, Blackwell played at Archbishop Spalding. He wasn’t happy there, saying he didn’t fit into the Cavaliers’ offensive system, so he decided to transfer to his local public school in February.

It was a good fit.

“I was back with all my old friends,” said Blackwell, who attended Arundel Middle School and played recreation football with one of his Wildcats' teammates and against some others. "When I transferred, I talked to the coach and he was getting me caught up. Then I worked out with them over the summer.”

Blackwell was more than prepared for the season opener.

He caught two passes from All-Metro quarterback Billy Cosh in the first eight minutes for a 13-0 Wildcats lead. They never trailed although Old Mill tied the game at 13 before Blackwell scored again on a 13-yard run in the third quarter to take the lead for good.

“I usually get a case of nerves or butterflies before a game, but I didn’t get really nervous Friday night,” Blackwell said. “I felt really prepared. We came out and the first series went really well, the screen pass went for a long gain and the touchdown. Running that offense, everything kind of fit. I didn’t have this this-is-going-to-be-a-good-night moment, but the offense was really flowing well. For me, it wasn’t going to be a good night unless we won the game.”

Blackwell said he knew all eyes would be on Cosh, a senior who threw for more than 3,900 yards last season.

“In the spread offense, everybody’s worried about the pass, nobody’s worried about the run,” said Blackwell, who realizes the word is out about him now. “If they stop me, they won’t stop Billy.”

At one point in the third quarter Friday, Wildcats offensive coordinator Dave Doy called seven straight rushing plays, something Markiewicz said he does not remember ever doing in 32 years as a coach. Blackwell didn’t carry all seven times but his performance made those play calls -- and more of them later when the Wildcats wanted to keep the clock moving -- possible.

Blackwell, who has a 3.8 grade-point average and is considering becoming a doctor, is smart on the field and in an interview. He first gave credit to the Wildcats' linemen, whom he called “my best friends” for opening up some “huge holes” on Friday night.

After watching Blackwell practice, Markiewicz said he wasn’t sure how the 5-foot-11, 185-pound junior’s first game would go.

“We really weren’t sure how he was going to turn out. Joe’s a really smart kid and when he was learning things, he was really tentative. I just wasn’t sure if he was tentative like that always or what the explanation was [but] he was just trying to learn. He’s a methodical-type, smart, smart kid. What we found out was he really took it all in and when he had the opportunity to play, he just played. It’s scary how good he could be.”