2022 Baltimore Metro High School Football Report November 3rd

MIAA A

Spalding and Mt St Joe meet Saturday in Irvington for the league’s regular season crown, as both go into the regular season finale unbeaten in league play. While finishing unbeaten in league play and a regular season title are great achievements, Saturday’s battle ranks secondary as compared to the week after, and the week after that, when the league champion is crowned in the post-season.

Many if not most of these Cavaliers know what finishing with an undefeated record in league play feels like – they won a regular season crown in ‘21, only to fall in the semifinals to McDonogh. What the Cavaliers haven’t done yet is win the MIAA A crown, and that is the ultimate goal.

Last season, the Cavaliers came into the regular season finale 9-0, while the Gaels came in 7-2, but undefeated in the league standings. The Cavaliers routed the Gaels, 41-0, to cap off a 10-0 regular season. A week later, the Cavaliers were stunned by McDonogh, 7-0, ending their magical season.

Both of these teams will put it in the air, with sophomore Malik Washington leading the Cavaliers aerial attack, and junior Winston Watkins directing the Gaels passing attack. 

Nearly two-thirds of the Cavaliers offensive yards come through the air, with Washington rising up to take hold of all of the Cavaliers major single-season passing records, and put his name among just two in a pair of major passing categories – yards and touchdowns, among MIAA lore. Washington set the Cavaliers single-season passing yards mark in the Cavs 41-0 win over Loyola last week, while also setting the single game passing yards mark, with 371. Washington has completed 57.5% of his 294 passes for 2,387 yards and 23 touchdowns, another Cavs record he set on Friday. Max Moss has already set single-season program records in receiving yards and touchdown by receptions, and has the MIAA’s single-season touchdown receptions record in his sights. 

A year after throwing for more than 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore, Winston Watkins has improved greatly in all of the passing categories. Watkins completion percentage has gone from 52.7% last year to 61.6% this year, and his passing yards per game from 146.5 to 205.8. Watkins has thrown for 1,852 yards and 21 touchdowns, against just four interceptions. For a second straight year, senior Trey Goodridge is Watkins top target. Saturday’s game at St Joe has a 1 o’clock kickoff. 

Calvert Hall (5-4) had a comeback for the ages last Friday, coming back from 14 points down with just more than two minutes to go to take the victory in regulation. Trailing McDonogh (3-6) 24-10 with 2:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals blocked a punt, and scored a play later on a 17 yard touchdown pass. The Cardinals recovered their onside kick, and two plays later, Donnie Lucas scored on a 31 yard touchdown reception. Then, with the Eagles trying to salvage a victory in regulation, the Cards Ricardo Cooper intercepted a Braeden Palazzo pass and returned it to the Eagles one yard line with :02 remaining. Dylan Manna kicked through the game-winner, in one the Cards will never forget. The Cardinals hold third place in the ‘A’ division, and head to Pallotti (2-6) this weekend. 

MIAA B

St Mary’s (9-0) can finish with an undefeated regular season with a win over Severn (7-2) on Friday. The Admirals are undefeated in the MIAA C division. The Saints and Concordia Prep (7-2) seemed destined to meet in the ‘B’ tournament championship. a year after the two met in the semifinals, where Prep took an 8-0 victory, on their way to their first ‘B’ championship. 

MPSSAA Playoffs – First Round

4A

The Baltimore area boasts just seven teams in the 4A classification, with classifications expanded from four to six for football, to allow as many as 128 teams in, and five rounds of playoffs. All seven area 4A teams will compete in the 4A East, with top seed Broadneck receiving a bye. All but one of the seven teams hail from Anne Arundel County, with Parkville the only rep’ from Baltimore County, or anywhere else in the Baltimore area. Two teams will advance to the quarterfinal round, where the two will advance along with two in each of the other three regions. Those teams will be re-seeded based on their points accumulated through the nine weeks of the regular season. 

4A East

1 Broadneck (8-1, 94.30) – Bye

5 North County (3-6, 30) @ 4 Meade (4-5, 38)

7 Annapolis (2-7, 18) @ 2 Old Mill (6-3, 71)

6 Parkville (2-7, 18) @ Glen Burnie 5-4, 59)

Broadneck made a nice run last season, before seeing a 16 point lead slip away in a wild 43-36 loss to Flowers in the quarterfinal round. While the Bruins lost four year starting quarterback Joshua Erlich to graduation, the notable Annapolis program has continued to thrive. And, put points on the board. 

Camrin Catterton transferred from South River for his senior season, after splitting time with fellow junior Trashaun Timmons behind center for the Seahawks last year, and the Bruins have profited from it. The Bruins have won eight straight games since their season opening loss to MIAA A power Spalding, with Catterton leading a unit that is averaging 39.1 points over the streak, and has scored 35 or more points in seven of the eight victories. The Bruins have held a +32.1 point differential over their eight game winning streak, with no opponent coming within 14 points of the county co-champions. The Bruins did not face Arundel, who also finished unbeaten in league play, and will compete in the 4/3A classification in the post-season. 

While the Bruins are idle this week, six teams will vie for a trip to the ‘Sweet 16’ this weekend, with two seed Old Mill hosting Annapolis, three seed Glen Burnie hosting Parkville, and four seed Meade hosting five seed North County for a second week in a row, after the Knights went on the road last Friday and pulled out their third win of the year, 35-28. While Old Mill doesn’t have the firepower it had a year ago, when the Patriots averaged 41.6 points per game, they’ll be the favorite to join Broadneck in advancing to the quarterfinal round from the region. The Patriots (6-3) routed Nap Town (2-7), 64-14, in their week four meeting, after staking a 56-7 halftime lead. Hard to think week ten will be too much different.

Glen Burnie is having their best season since the turn of the century, and with a playoff win, will have the best season since the Gophers have joined the MPSSAA, 48 years ago. A post-season victory will be the first of its kind for the program, who played in their very first playoff game last season. Former Arundel star Alec Lemon leads the Gophers, more than a decade after setting (since broken) the MPSSAA single-season record in receiving yards (1,616), and matching MPSSAA single-season records in receptions (103) and touchdown receptions (23) for Coach Chuck Markiewicz and the Wildcats. Parkville (2-7) will play the underdog role, as the Knights have been playing with numbers (of players) in the low 20s. 

It will be deja vu all over again for Meade and North County, as the two meet seven days after their regular season tilt. The Knights came back from eight points down in the fourth quarter behind the talents of sophomore quarterback Darius Burley to pull out the victory. 

4/3A

The Baltimore region offers thirteen teams across three regions in the 4-3A classification. Three Howard County schools – Howard, Reservoir, and Mt Hebron, join thee Frederick County schools and a pair of Montgomery County schools in the West. The North region, made up of six Baltimore County teams and defending state champion Mervo, is headlined by the two 2021 4/3A state finalists, the Mustangs and the Owls of Dundalk. In the East region, three Anne Arundel County teams join four SMAC (Charles, Calvert, and St Marys counties) teams in the region. 

4/3A West

8 Tuscarora (0-9, 0) @ 1 Urbana (8-1, 87)

5 Mt Hebron (3-6, 28) @ 4 Reservoir (5-4, 47)

7 Watkins Mill (0-9, 0) @ 2 Howard (6-3, 67)

6 Thomas Johnson (1-8, 8) @ 3 Seneca Valley (6-3, 64)

Howard (6-3) grabbed the two seed in the West region, behind 8-1 Urbana, and in front of 6-3 Seneca Valley. The Lions will host winless Watkins Mill (0-8) in the opening round. The Lions will very likely host Seneca Valley in the second round, and would be be double-digit underdogs to the Screamin’ Eagles, who are ranked #21 in this week’s MPSSAA rankings. 

Reservoir (5-4) will host Mt Hebron in the 4 v 5 game, in a rematch of their meeting in the season opener, won by the Gators in ‘the Swamp’, 9-7. The Gators finished with a winning regular season record for the first time in six years, while the Vikings are coming off of their biggest win of the season with their 42-21 victory over Glenelg, their first win over the Gladiators in 17 years. Drew Peperone rushed for 231 yards and five touchdowns for the Vikings, and with 1,130 rushing yards, is 107 away from matching the program record set by Jerry Hicks in 1998.

4/3 North

1 Dundalk (8-1, 86) – Bye

5 Dulaney (3-6, 28) @ 4 Kenwood (4-5, 34)

7 Woodlawn (2-7, 17) @ 2 Perry Hall (6-3, 55.1)

6 Catonsville (3-6, 25) @ 3 Mervo (5-3, 48.4)

Dundalk (8-1) receives a bye in the seven team North region, and will be a prohibitive favorite to advance out of the region, no matter who their opponent is in the second round. The defending state champion Mustangs (5-3) take the three seed in the region, behind the Owls and Perry Hall (6-3), after losses to Dunbar, Poly, and defending Delaware state finalist, Smyrna. Still, the Stangs would be favorites should they travel to Perry Hall in the second round, which is all but a surety. The Gators host 3-6 Catonsville, after putting away the Comets, 41-14, in week five, while the Mustangs host 2-7 Woodlawn, following their 72-0 win over Lewis last Friday. 

4/3 South

1 Arundel (7-2, 85) – Bye

5 South River (4-5, 43) @ 4 Leonardtown (5-4, 52)

7 Great Mills (3-6, 30) @ 2 North Point (6-3, 74)

6 Chopticon (4-5, 40) @ 3 Severna Park (5-4, 54)

In the South, Arundel (7-2) is the top seed, and will receive a bye in the opening round with a seven team field. Last season, the Wildcats advanced to the 4/3A state semifinals, before losing to Dundalk, 40-6. The Wildcats six game win streak came to halt last Friday, with their 50-0 loss to #2 nationally ranked St Frances. The Cats only other loss came to 2021 Delaware state finalist, Smyrna. The Wildcats are favored to advance to the re-seeded quarterfinal round again, and push for a state title in a wide open field in the 4/3A classification.

The two other games in the region that feature local teams are both Anne Arundel County versus SMAC (Southern Maryland Athletic Conference) matchups. Severna Park (5-4), the three seed, who is looking to rebound from a 35-0 loss to Old Mill, hosts Chopticon (4-5), while South River (4-5) travels to Leonardtown (5-4) to take on the Leopards.

3A

Sixteen Baltimore area teams will be spread across three regions in 3A, including the entireties of the North – and the South, of all regions. City and Poly have withdrawn from the playoffs due to altercations between the teams following City’s 24-16 win over Poly on Friday, the Black Knights tenth straight win in the series. Coming into the game, Poly was having its best season since 2011, having beat Mervo, allowing Dunbar just three touchdowns to their one, and entering the rivalry game at 7-1. 

3A South

1 Atholton (9-0, 100) – Bye

5 Digital Harbor (1-8, 7.1) @ 4 Marriotts Ridge (3-6, 29)

2 River Hill (8-1, 92) – bye

6 Centennial (1-8) @ 3 Wilde Lake 4-5, 37)

Atholton and River Hill are heavy favorites to advance out of the south, and even greater favorites after both the Engineers and Black Knights withdrew from the post-season. Atholton (9-0) finished with an undefeated regular season for the first time in their program’s history. River Hill is (8-1) having one of its two best seasons since winning their fourth state championship in 2012. Marriotts Ridge (3-6), who has posted three wins after a winless season in ‘21, will be a favorite over one-win Digital Harbor (1-8) in the regions’s 4 v 5 matchup. Wilde Lake (4-5) hosts Centennial (1-8) in a rematch of the Wildecats 28-14 win in week five, when sophomore Da’Shawn Powell scored three touchdowns,. in the first meeting, the Wildecats special teams unit produced an opening kickoff for a score by Powell, a blocked punt, an onside kick recovery, and a successful fake punt conversion. 

3A North

8 Towson (0-9, 0) @ 1 Bel Air (9-0, 89)

5 Manchester Valley (5-4, 48.3) @ 4 Franklin (6-3, 63)

7 Aberdeen (0-9, 0) @ 2 Westminster (8-1, 87.3)

6 Patapsco (5-4, 40.1) @ 3 Edgewood (7-2, 73)

Bel Air finished with the first undefeated regular season in their program’s history, after a dramatic four overtime, 28-27 victory over Edgewood for the UCBAC Chesapeake regular season title. The Bobcats will be prohibitive favorites in the opening round,  as they host winless Towson. Westminster is the two seed in the North region, and will host winless Aberdeen. 

Bobcats coach Eric Siegel remarked after the epic victory, “This game was exactly what you want high school football to be, and it was the best game I’ve ever been a part of. Both teams played their hearts out, and in the end, we were very happy to achieve the victory. This season has been very special, and since the end of last season, the players have decided to buy in and accept being coached hard. They have met every challenge that has been put in their way, and finishing with an undefeated  regular season record is a testament to the senior leadership we’re getting, as well as the underclassmen knowing how to be led. We now prepare for the playoffs knowing everyone is 0-0, and the coaches will challenge the players to have that mindset.”

The Bobcats likely opponent in the second round will be three-time state champion Franklin, who has won six of their last seven games, after losing their first two games of the season to Milford Mill and Mt St Joe. Though Coach Anthony Burgos’ Indians are very inexperienced and not of the championship caliber they have been over the last decade, the Tribe can’t be overlooked. Junior linebacker Devin Rollins leads an Indians defensive unit that has allowed just six offensive touchdowns in the last six games. Rollins has recorded a team-high 41 solo tackles, including nine for loss, and added two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. 

But first, Franklin must get past 5-4 Manchester Valley, who can’t be overlooked either, with the Mavericks carrying a four game win streak into the opening round. Senior quarterback Jake Boog directs a Mavericks attack that has scored 26 points or more in each of their last four games, including a 26-21 victory over then 7-1 Poolesville in the regular season finale. 

Westminster (7-2) will be overwhelming favorites when they face winless Aberdeen in the opening round, and will likely host Edgewood in the second round, with the Rams being heavy favorites in their opening round matchup with Patapsco, who now have lost four straight games, after starting the season 5-0. The Owls faced Edgewood in the second round of last years playoffs, winning 28-14. 

3A East

1 Northern (8-1, 98) – idle

5 Oxon Hill (4-5, 41) @ 4 St Charles (6-3, 61)

7 JM Bennett (0-9, 0) @ 2 Chesapeake AA (7-2, 77.3)

6 Crofton (2-7, 16) @ 3 Long Reach (7-2, 71)

Chesapeake of Anne Arundel County and Long Reach join five others in the 3A East that features seven teams hailing from five different leagues, including the SMAC, Bayside Conference, and PG 3/2A leagues. Chesapeake, the two seed, hosts winless JM Bennett this weekend, and will host the winner of the Long Reach-Crofton first round matchup with a win. The Lightning finished third in Howard County this season, behind Atholton and River Hill, while the Cardinals went 6-3 on the field, but forfeited four victories because of the use of an ineligible player. 

2A

The Charm City area has fourteen teams competing in the 2A classification, spread across all four regions. 

2A West

1 Poolesville (7-2, 76) – Bye

5 Glenelg (4-5, 37) @ 4 Walkersville (4-5, 37)

7 Hammond (0-9, 0) @ 2 Middletown (6-3, 62)

6 Century (1-8, 7) @ 3 Oakland Mills (4-5, 40)

Oakland Mills advanced out of this region to the state semifinals last season, before losing to eventual state champion Douglass in the final seconds. The third seeded Scorpions (4-5) will be hard-pressed to match their heroics of a year ago, their best season in twenty years.  The Scorps will be prohibitive favorites in their first round meeting with 1-8 Century, but they’d be a double-digit underdog at Middletown in the second round, should both the Scorpions and Knights win. Winless Hammond travels to Middletown (6-3) in the opening round. In the 4 v 5 matchup in the East region, Glenelg (4-5) goes to Walkersville (4-5), limping in with a four game losing streak, the Gladiators first four game losing streak since 2007. The Lions have won four of their last six games., after starting the season 0-3. 

2A South

1 Potomac (8-1, 80) – Bye

5 Thomas Stone (2-7, 17) @ 4 Northeast (5-4, 45)

7 LaPlata (0-9, 0) @ 2 Douglass PG (8-1, 75)

6 Westlake (2-7, 16) @ 3 Huntingtown (5-4, 58)

Northeast of Anne Arundel County join a quartet of SMAC members, and the two top seeds hailing from ‘PG’, Potomac and Douglass. The Eagles (5-4) will be looking for the first post-season victory in their program’s history when they host Thomas Stone (2-7) this week. 

2A North

8 Landsdowne (2-7, 14.1) @ 1 Milford Mill (9-0, 103)

5 Eastern Tech (5-4, 49) @ 4 Owings Mills (6-3, 59)

7 Patterson (3-5, 22.8) @ 2 Hereford (8-1, 88)

6 Overlea 3-6, 29) @ 3 New Town (6-3, 64)

Milford Mill advanced to the 2A state title game in 2021, and the Millers will go into this post-season as the favorites to win the 2022 2A state title, after dominating play in the regular season. The Millers (9-0) finished with an undefeated regular season for the first time since 1999. The 9-0 Millers are averaging 47.3 points per game, on pace to snap Dunbar’s MPSSAA single-season mark set last year, at 46.7 points per game. Sean Williams set the Millers program single-season record for touchdowns scored in week nine, with 26, one more than Troy Scott’s previous record of 25, set in 2017. The Millers hosts 2-7 Landsdowne in the opening round. Two seed Hereford (8-1) will be a double-digit favorite over Patterson (3-5), and New Town (6-3), the three seed, meets Overlea (3-6), after crushing the Falcons in their first meeting in week two, 36-0. 

2A East

8 North Harford (3-6, 23) @ 1 Kent Island (8-1, 90)

5 Wicomico (6-3, 57) @ 4 Queen Anne’s (7-2, 68)

7 North Caroline (4-5, 36) @ 2 Easton (7-2, 74)

6 CM Wright (6-3, 51) @ 3 Decatur (7-2, 72.5)

North Harford will be substantial underdogs when they head to Kent Island in the opening round. The Hawks are the eighth seed, while the Buccaneers are the top seed, and riding an eight game win streak.

2/1A

The Baltimore region will have 17 teams competing in the 2/1A class, spread across four regions.

2/1 West

1 South Carroll (8-1, 84.3) – Bye

5 Western Tech (5-4, 45.1) @ 4 Boonsboro (6-3, 56)

7 Francis Scott Key (1-8, 10.5) @ 2 Liberty (6-3, 61.3)

6 Winters Mill (3-5, 25.2) @ 3 Williamsport (6-3, 58)

South Carroll advanced to the very first 2/1A state title game last year, before losing to 11-time state champion Dunbar. in the title game. The Cavs receive a bye, with Randallstown withdrawing from the playoffs. AJ Rodrigues has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the Cavs for the second year in a row. Liberty will be favored not only this weekend versus league foe Francis Scott Key, but next week too, whether it’s three seed Williamsport, or six seed Winters Mill. 

2/1 South

8 Southern AA (3-6, 21) @ 1 Patuxent (7-2, 72)

5 McDonough (3-6, 25) @ 4 Gwynn Park (4-5, 34)

7 Crossland (3-6, 21) @ 2 Calvert (7-2, 69)

6 Friendly (3-6, 24) @ 3 Lackey (5-4, 46)

Southern is the lone area team in the South, and will be heavy underdogs at Patuxent. 

2/1A North

1 Dunbar (9-0, 103.1) – Bye

5 Fairmont Heights (2-7, 16) @ 4 Carver Vo Tech (3-5, 24)

7 Central (0-9, 0) @ 2 Largo (7-2, 66.6)

6 Chesapeake B (1-7, 11.4) @ 3 Sparrows Point (6-3, 58.1)

The defending 2/1A state champion Dunbar Poets head into the post-season carrying a 22 game win streak, and will be prohibitive favorites to win their twelfth state championship, which would match Seneca Valley for the most in MPSSAA history. The Poets (9-0) are averaging 47.1 points per game, decimal points ahead of their MPSSAA single-season scoring average of 46.7 points per game last season, snapping ‘97 Hereford’s mark of 46.2 points per game. Tristan Kenan has surpassed the 1,500 rushing yard mark for a second year in a row. 

Sparrows Point (6-3) will be heavy favorites to win the fourth post-season victory in their program’s history, and will likely face Largo (7-2) in the second round, a year after losing 38-30 to the Lions in the second round.

2/1A East

1 Rising Sun (6-3, 52) – Bye

5 Cambridge SD (4-5, 29) @ 4 Elkton (4-5, 36)

7 North East (1-8, 6) @ 2 Harford Tech (5-4, 50.6)

6 Parkside (3-6, 23) @ 3 Fallston (4-5, 39)

The East appears to be up for grabs, and the two to advance from the South will almost assuredly be the seven and eight seeds in the quarterfinal re-seeded round.

1A

Fifteen area teams will competing across three regions in the 1A classification.

1A South

1 Forest Park (6-3, 53.1) – Bye

5 Lewis (1-7, 7) @ 4 Edmondson (2-7, 16.8)

2 Lake Clifton (6-3, 51.6) – Bye

6 Ben Franklin (1-7, 7) @ 3 Douglass B (5-2, 36.8)

1A North

8 Havre de Grace (0-9, 0) @ 1 Joppatowne (8-1, 80.6)

5 SEED (4-4, 26) @ 4 Loch Raven (4-5, 35.1)

7 Pikesville (1-8, 7.1) @ 2 Patterson Mill (7-2, 66)

6 Catoctin (2-7, 19) @ 3 Brunswick (6-3, 60)

Joppatowne is having their best season since 2009, led by the versatile Steven Robinson, who has gained more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage for the Mariners, scoring 27 touchdowns. Robinson ranks third in the MPSSAA in rushing yards, with 1,629, and third in touchdowns. The Mariners (8-1) edged Patterson Mill (7-2), 18-14, last Friday, in a battle for the UCBAC Susquehanna title. The two seed Huskies host 1-8 Pikesville in the opening round. 

1A East

8 Washington (0-9, 0) @ 1 Colonel Richardson (6-3, 52)

5 Surrattsville (4-5, 33.2) @ 4 Bohemia Manor (5-4, 47)

7 Snow Hill (2-7, 14) @ 2 Green Street Academy (5-3, 43.8)

6 Kent County (2-7, 33.2) @ 3 Perryville (5-4, 48)

The two area teams in the East region, two seed Green Street Academy (5-3) and three seed Perryville (5-4) seemed destined to meet in the second round.