2022 MPSSAA Quarterfinal Previews

4A

3 Broadneck (9-1) v 6 Churchill (9-2)

Coaches – Broadneck Rob Harris 11th season 92-30, 7-8 p/o; Churchill Joe Rydzewski 7th season 30-34, 3-1 p/o

Points per game – Points allowed per game / Point Differential – Broadneck 34.6-9.7/+24.9; Churchill 27.3-15.6/+11.7

Playoff History – Broadneck 19th appearance 19-19, 7-7 in QF/Ref F round; Churchill 16th appearance 18-13, 4-2

Broadneck sails into the quarterfinals riding a nine game winning streak, following their 30-13 victory over Meade in the second round. The Bruins have scored 30 or more points in eight of their nine wins. While the Bruins once again possess a precision passing game, it was the running game led by senior Ian Mauldin that put away the Mustangs with 155 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. 

The Bruins passing game is led by senior Camrin Catterton, who has completed 146 of 211 pass attempts (69.2%) for 2023 yards and 22 touchdowns (5 int). Catterton has two top targets in junior Eli Harris, who has caught 52 receptions for 850 yards and nine touchdowns, and senior Machi Evans, who has recorded 41 receptions for 714 yards and eight touchdowns. Mauldin, for his part, has rushed for 848 yards and 12 touchdowns. On the defensive side, senior safety Anthony Hawkins leads the Bruins in interceptions, with four, and led the unit in tackles in the win over the Mustangs, with 6.5. The Bruins advanced to the quarterfinal round in ‘21, and led Flowers, 28-12, before falling to the Jaguars in overtime, 43-36. 

Churchill too is riding a nine game winning streak. The Bulldogs started 0-2, before reeling off their last nine victories. Coach Joe Radyzewski is in his third season at Churchill, and looking to lead the Bulldogs to their first state semifinal berth since 1995. The Dawgs are led by the Avit brothers, Zeke and David. Zeke, a Maryland commit, leads the Bulldogs in receiving, with 46 catches for 595 yards and nine touchdowns, is second on the team in tackles, with 37, has picked off four interceptions, and has scored a total of 12 touchdowns. David, a 6’0 215 junior running back, has rushed for 1,234 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. Senior Jamie Calhoun ranks among the top ten in the MPSSAA in interceptions, with six. 

2 Quince Orchard (11-0) v 7 Old Mill (8-3)

Coaches – QO John Kelley 9th season 96-10, 17-5 p/o; Old Mill Michael Pfisterer 2nd season 16-6, 4-1

Points per game – Points allowed per game / Point Differential – QO 44.6-3.2/+41.5; OM 29.1-15.6/+13.5

Playoff history – QO 20th appearance 41-15, 9-9 in QF/Reg F round; OM 23rd appearance 24-20, 5-11

Old Mill comes into their quarterfinal matchup with the defending 4A state champion Quince Orchard Cougars as prohibitive underdogs, but have nothing to lose. Patriots coach Mike Pfisterer had to replace 17 starters from his ‘21 team, who also advanced to the quarterfinals, and also faced Quince Orchard, before falling to the Cougars, 41-6. The Patriots had one of the top five passing attacks in the MPSSAA in ‘21, and averaged 45.2 points per game before the loss to the Cougars. This year, the Patriots have had to adjust, after losing quarterback Myles Fulton and receivers Donte Craggette-Drake and Will Ennis to graduation.

“We are a younger team”, says Pfisterer. “We lost 17 out of 22 starters from the 2021 team.  We had two returning starting offensive players in offensive lineman Jaiheem Ross and Aswin Johnson.  On defense we had three returning starters. After starting 1-2, we have won seven out of last eight, and we are getting better every week in both practice and games.  Our goal is to play at the state level each year.” They’ve done that. Now, it’s off to the Cougar Dome.

Pfisterer, a one-time gun-slinging quarterback at North County under Chuck Markiewicz, has steered away from a pass-happy attack, and has put the ball in running back Max Jones’ hands, and the junior has responded brilliantly, rushing for 1,474 yards and 21 touchdowns on 229 carries. Last season, the Patriots threw it 54% of the time, running it 46% of the time. This year, led by Jones, the Pats has rushed on 76% of their offensive plays. KJ Henson and Tre Rankin are returning starters on the Patriots defensive line, and DJ Moore is back at outside linebacker. The Patriots will need the run game, headlined by Jones, to control the ball and keep it out of the Cougs paws, and will need their defense to contain an offense that averages 9.3 yards per play. 

The Cougars enter the contest with longest running win streak in Maryland, having won 27 straight games, dating back to the two game season in the Spring in ‘21. The Cougars are the top ranked public school team in Maryland for a second year in a row, and boast a +41.5 point differential. Coach John Kelley is in his ninth year at Quince Orchard, and has registered a 96-10 overall record, and 18-5 post-season record. Senior quarterback Savon Briggs has thrown 22 touchdowns on just 95 attempts, with only one interception. Sophomore running back Iverson Howard is scoring on every seven carries, and averaging better than 9.8 yards per carry. Senior linebackers Kendall Johnson and Matthieu Longa, and junior defensive end Jaylen Harvey, all are returning starters from the ‘21 championship team, and headline the defensive unit that allows a MPSSAA-low 3.2 points per game. 

4/3A

2 Dundalk (9-1) v 7 Blake (8-3)

Coaches – Dundalk Tommy Abel 1st season 9-1, 1-0 p/o; Blake Byron Marshall 1st season 8-3, 2-0

Points per game – Points allowed per game / Point Differential – Dundalk 29.2-5.8/+23.4; Blake 30.8-14.6/+16.2

Playoff history – Dundalk 10-12, 5-8 in QF/Reg F round; Blake 4-6, 0-2

A year after notching their best season in more than 50 years and advancing to the inaugural 4/3A state championship, Dundalk is back in the thick of things. Owls first year coach Tommy Abel took over for Matt Banta after serving as the Defensive Coordinator for the state finalist Owls in ‘21. The Owls are 9-1, with a 17-12 loss at Westminster showing as their only blemish. The Owls rely on a powerful running game, bolstered by a solid line, and a stout defense, the same ingredients that delivered them to the 2021 state title game. 

Senior Jordan Fiorenza is leading the Owls for a second year in a row, having rushed for 1,461 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging nine yards per carry. While Fiorenza has carried a load, two other Owls posted 100 yard rushing games in the Owls 34-0 win over Dulaney in the second round. Dale Martin rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns on ten carries, and Desmond Oxendine added 110 yards and a score on 15 attempts. Martin, who also plays tight end and defensive end, leads the Owls in tackles, and has posted 24 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. 

Blake comes into the quarterfinal matchup having won five straight games, and having won two playoff games in the same post-season for the first time in the program’s history. Blake coach Byron Marshall, like Abel, is serving his first year as head coach for the Bengals. Like the Owls with Fiorenza, the Bengals feature an outstanding running back in sophomore Jeremiah Seaton, who sat out last week’s 27-8 win over Wootton, has rushed for 1,219 yards and 15 touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Kirby Watson returned last week after missing six games with an injury, and threw three touchdowns in the Bengals 27-8 win over the Patriots in the second round. Blake will be looking for the first state semifinal berth in their program’s history on Friday night. 

3 Arundel (8-2) v 6 Seneca Valley (8-3)

Coaches – Arundel Jack Walsh 5th season 35-13, 6-3 p/o; Joe Rankin 1st season 8-3, 2-0

Points per game – Points Allowed / Point Differential – Arundel 28.3-14.5/+13.8; Seneca Valley 37.2-13.5/+/3.7

Playoff history – Arundel 19-23, 3-9 in QF/Reg F round; Seneca Valley 47-19, 14-6

Arundel, like Dundalk, and Broadneck and Old Mill in 4A, is back in the quarterfinal round after reaching the ‘Elite 8’ in 2021. The Wildcats went unbeaten in league play, with their only losses coming to nationally ranked St Frances, and Smyrna, the top ranked team in Delaware. The Wildcats still air it out like they always do, averaging the second most pass attempts per game in the MPSSAA, at 27.8. The Cats quarterfinal guest will be Seneca Valley, in a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal showdown between the two, won by the Cats, 29-21. 

Senior Gavin Kamachi has completed 150 of 274 passes for 1858 yards and 16 touchdowns. Kamachi’s top two targets are seniors Chris Downs and Miles Gilmore. Downs has grabbed 54 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns, while Gilmore has added 45 receptions for 557 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Ahmad Taylor, a between the tackles powerful back, has rushed for 15 touchdowns. Wildcats coach Jack Walsh is in his fifth season as head coach for the Wildcats, and holds  a 35-13 overall record. 

The Screamin’ Eagles soar into the quarterfinal following a 40-0 shutout win at Howard. The Eagles offense is led by junior quarterback Elijah Frazier, who has thrown for 1,789 yards and 23 touchdowns. Frazier has a number of targets, including a quartet who all have between 16-20 receptions, 249-393 receiving yards, and three to five touchdown receptions. Senior Ty Simmons has added punch in the ground game, rushing for 509 yards in the last four games, including 157 in the win over Howard. In last year’s matchup between the two, the game was tied at intermission at 21, with the Cats scoring the game-winning and only second half points on a blocked punt and return. 

1 Urbana (10-1) v 8 Perry Hall (8-3)

Coaches – Urbana Brad Wilson 6th season 28-31, 4-1 p/o; Perry Hall Rocco Bruno 1st season 8-3, 2-0

Points per game – Points allowed per game / Points Differential – Urbana 37.1-6.4/+30.7; Perry Hall 22.3-10.2/+12.1

Playoff history – Urbana 18th appearance 27-12, 7-4 in QF/Reg F round; Perry Hall 17th appearance 11-16, 1-9

Perry Hall is on a six game winning streak following their 7-6 upset win over the defending 4/3A state champion Mervo Mustangs, avenging a 42-3 loss to the Stangs in the second round a year ago. Mervo had scored 72 points in their regular season finale, and 66 in their opening round win over Catonsville. The Gators have held all of their opponents in each of their wins to 14 points or less.

The Gators opened the season with two wins, followed by three losses – to Dundalk, Franklin, and Chesapeake AA, before starting on their six game run. Urbana, the top seed and the Gators opponent on Friday, average 37.1 points per game. Gators junior quarterback Da’shaun Conway has thrown for 16 touchdowns, against just two interceptions. Junior running back Jacob Wagner, the Gators leading rusher, scored what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown versus Mervo, and gained 64 yards on 16 carries versus the Mustangs. Wagner has totaled seven tackles for loss from the linebacker position. Sophomore Corey Costner is Conway’s top target, grabbing 36 receptions for 779 yards and ten touchdowns, and has added four interceptions on defense. 

Urbana enters the quarterfinal with a 10-1 record, the Hawks first ten win season since 2012. Hawks senior quarterback Keegan Johnson leads the MPSSAA in passing touchdowns, with 31, and became the first quarterback in Frederick County history to throw for 30 or more touchdown passes in a season.  Johnson has completed 63.8% of his passes, and has thrown only three interceptions in 213 attempts. Hawks senior receiver Riley Smith has caught 45 passes for 797 yards and a MPSSAA-best 17 touchdown receptions. Johnson and Smith linked up five times for 139 yards and four touchdowns in the Hawks 42-7 win over Mt Hebron in the second round. The Hawks have scored 24 or more points in all 11 games, and allow just 6.4 points per game. 

The Gators last played in the quarterfinal round in 2013, when the Gators were outlasted by Paint Branch, 51-48, in one of the highest scoring post-season games in MPSSAA history. The Gators last played in a state semifinal game in 1993.

3A

1 Atholton (10-0) v 8 St Charles (8-3)

Coaches – Atholton Eric Woodson 18th season 94-84, 3-2 p/o; St Charles Patrick Ornoff 5th season 30-14, 4-3

Points per game – Points allowed per game / Point Differential – Atholton 28.4-6.0/+22.4; St Charles 28.0-18.0/+10.0

Playoff history – Atholton 8-10, 0-7 in QF/Reg F round; St Charles 4-3, 0-0

Atholton is having its finest season in its program’s history, and the 10-0 Raiders are assured of their best win percentage in their program’s 56 year history. The Raiders ten wins match the Raiders teams of ‘09, ‘11, and ‘12, all coached by current Spalding coach Kyle Schmitt, who all finished 10-2. Still, the Raiders seek their first state semifinal berth in their program’s history, and are a win away. 

The top seed Raiders host St Charles, who upended the defending 3A state champion, and SMAC league rival, Northern. The Raiders present a balanced offense, and a stingy defense. Senior quarterback Miles Scott has completed 62.1% of his passes for 1,272 yards and 14 touchdowns, against two interceptions. Senior Dillan Watkins has rushed for 1,271 yards and 15 touchdowns, is the Raiders second leading tackler, and leads the unit with nine tackles for loss. Defensively, the Raiders have held nine of their ten opponents to seven points or less. The Raiders have won nine of their ten victories by double-digits, and have won 24 of their last 26 games. 

St Charles has won four straight games after starting 4-3, including an impressive 53-16 victory over Oxon Hill in the opening round, then following that with the 22-15 win over the defending champion Patriots. The Spartans lost to the eventual champion Patriots in the second round last season, 48-34, and will be playing in their first quarterfinal game in their program’s eight year history. The Spartans offense is spearheaded by quarterback Kevin Taylor and playmaker Keyon Washington. Taylor scored the first two of the Spartans three touchdowns in the win over Northern. 

The Raiders are 0-7 in the quarterfinal round, dating back to their first foray in 1985. While Schmitt’s Raiders went 38-9 in his four seasons on Freetown Road, ‘A-Town’ fell to River Hill three times in the quarterfinal round over those four seasons. 

2 River Hill (9-1) v 7 Franklin (8-3) 

Coaches – River Hill Brian Van Deusen 23rd season 211-51, 31-13 p/o; Franklin Anthony Burgos 20th season 163-59, 29-11

Points per game – Points allowed per game / Point Differential – River Hill 32.1-6.1/+26.0; Franklin 26.5-15.7/+10.7

Playoff history – River Hill 31-13, 8/4 in QF/Reg F round; Franklin 30-18, 6-9

River Hill meets Franklin in a quarterfinal matchup featuring two teams that have produced five of the last ten 3A state champions. Three years after winning back-to-back 2A state championships, River Hill won back-to-back 3A state championships in ‘11 and ‘12. Franklin won the 3A state title the following two years, in ‘13 and ‘14, and again in 2018. 

River Hill is playing in week 12 with just one loss for the first time since the 2012 season, when the Hawks finished 14-0. The Hawks are looking for their first state semifinal berth since 2013, when they lost to Linganore, 41-38. Hawks coach Brian Van Deusen ranks 15th all-time in wins among Maryland public school coaches, with 211, and sixth all-time in post-season wins, with 31. 

The Hawks have a quartet of runners headlining their ‘Wing T’ offense that have all rushed for more than 500 yards this season, with the four combining for more than 2,700 yards and 38 touchdowns. Ethan Burnett is the Hawks leading rusher for a second straight year, with 807 yards, and has scored 16 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Omar Hassan and running backs Nico Lancashire and Eje Okijie fortify the Hawks rushing attack. The Hawks biggest strength this year has been their defense, allowing just 6.1 points per game. 

Franklin comes in having won eight of nine games, after losing to Milford Mill and Mt St Joe to begin the season. Last Friday, the Indians topped previously undefeated Bel Air, 17-7. The Indians have held five of their last six opponents to seven points or less, including the then 10-0 Bobcats, who came into the game averaging 36.1 points per game. Anthony Gibson posted his second consecutive 100 yard rushing game in the win over the Bobcats, after registering a total of 238 rushing yards in the regular season. Indians coach Anthony Burgos has registered 163 wins in his twenty seasons at Franklin, and ranks fifth among active coaches in post-season wins, with 29. 

4 Westminster (10-1) v Oakdale (9-2)

Coaches – Chris Bassler 4th season 32-7, 6-2 p/o; Oakdale Kurt Stein 12th season 78-47, 8-6

Points per game – Points allowed per game / Point Differential – Westminster 32.4-12.8/+19.6; Oakdale 31.7-18.0/+13.7

Playoff history – Westminster 10th appearance 12-9, 2-4 in QF/Reg F round; Oakdale 7th appearance 8-6, 1-1 

Westminster won their eighth straight game following he Owls hard fought 28-20 victory over Edgewood in the second round, after trailing the Rams 14-0. The 10-1 Owls are one step away from a state semifinal berth for the fifth straight post-season, and seeking their first ‘Final Four’ berth since 2012.  The Owls scored 28 points or more for the sixth straight game.

The Owls offensive attack is led by junior quarterback Kyrece Walker and senior receiver Mason Fisher, and both came up big in the victory over the Rams. Walker threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns in the win, and added 102 yards and a score on 19 carries. In a bid to get Fisher more opportunities, the dynamic playmaker lined up in the backfield and gained 97 yards on the ground, to pair with his 51 receiving yards. Walker has accounted for more than 2,700 offensive yards and 32 touchdowns this season, while Fisher has supplied more than 1,000 all-purpose yards, and has scored 13 touchdowns. 

Oakdale advanced to the quarterfinal by pulling out a 20-17 victory over previously undefeated Frederick, scoring the game-winning touchdown with just 28 seconds remaining in regulation time. The Bears trailed the Cadets 17-7, before Evan Austin scored his second and third touchdowns of the duel in the final four minutes of the game. Austin rushed for 166 yards on 34 carries, and added 126 passing yards. Hunter Thompson caught nine of Austin’s ten completions for 119 yards. Austin has passed for 1,340 yards and rushed for 1,068 yards, accounting for 25 touchdowns. Thompson has recorded 46 receptions for 803 yards and ten touchdowns, and has returned both a punt and kickoff for scores. 

3 Damascus (9-1) v 6 Long Reach (9-2)

Coaches – Damascus Jason Klotz 11th season 62-41, 4-6 p/o; Long Reach Jamie Willis 10th season 48-50, 4-4

Points per game – Points allowed per game / Point Differential – Damascus 40.4-10.7/+29.7; Long Reach 22.6-8.4/+14.2

Playoff history – Damascus 31st appearance 58-19, 17-6 in QF/Reg F round; Long Reach 9th appearance 5-8, 1-1

Long Reach won their seventh straight game with their 14-13 victory over Chesapeake AA in the second round. The Lightning have held nine of their last ten opponents to 13 points or less, and only yield 8.4 points per game. The Bolts will have their hands full this week when they head to Damascus, to take on the 11-time state champion Swarmin’ Hornets. Both the Swarmin’ Hornets and Dunbar are vying for their respective twelfth state championships in 3A and 2/1A, which would match Seneca Valley for the most in MPSSAA history, though the Screamin’ Eagles are still in the hunt for their 13th in the 4/3A classification. 

The Lightning’s Brice Koontz threw for a score and ran for a touchdown in their second round win over the Cougars. The Lightning defense allowed only one score, as the Cougars Rashaun Tongue took an interception back 55 yards for a touchdown that gave the hosts a 13-7 edge. The Cougars eliminated the Lightning in the second round last season, while the Lightning eliminated the Cougars in the opening round in 2017, when they made their first and only state semifinal appearance. Koontz has thrown for 17 touchdowns and rushed for six touchdowns. 

The Swarmin’ Hornets only loss this season came to defending 4A state champion Quince Orchard, considered the top public school team in the state. Outside of the loss to the Cougars, the Swarmin’ Hornets have averaged 44.8 points per game, and outscored their other nine opponents by 36 points per contest. The Hornets are led by senior Dillan Dunathan, on both sides of the ball. Dunathan has rushed for 1,218 yards and 14 touchdowns, passed for a touchdown, and caught a touchdown pass. On defense, Dunathan leads the Swarmin’ Hornets in solo tackles, with 35, and tackles for loss, with 18, and has added five sacks, ten quarterback hurries, and returned an interception for a touchdown. 

2A

1 Milford Mill (11-0) v 8 Walkersville (6-5)

Coaches – Milford Mill Reggie White 20th season 159-62, 18-11 p/o; Walkersville Joe Polce 17th season 131-61, 17-11

Points per game – Points Allowed per game / Point Differential – Milford Mill 50.0-5.0/+45.0; Walkersville 27.3-14.4/+12.9

Playoff history – Milford Mill 22nd appearance 25-20, 8-9 in QF/Reg F round; Walkersville 17th appearance 22-14, 6-6

The Millers are on a mission, and have been since they left Annapolis last year with a loss in the state title game to Douglass. The Millers are in a MPSSAA record breaking scoring pace, averaging 50 points per game over 11 games. The Millers junior quarterback Deshawn Purdie has thrown for 2,356 yards and 25 touchdowns, both single-season passing records for the Millers, while senior running back Sean Johnson has rushed for 1,400 yards and set Millers marks in rushing touchdowns in a season, with 30, and total touchdowns, with 31. Only one team, New Town, has come within 30 points of the Millers. The Millers beat the Titans, 37-14, in week six. 

Walkersville started 0-3, but has won six of their last eight games, following their 28-14 win over Poolesville in the second round. Coach Joe Polce led the Lions to the 2A state title in 2016. The Lions have allowed only nine points per game in their last nine games, and have posted four shutouts. 

3 Hereford (10-1) v 6 Middletown (8-3)

Coaches – Hereford John Walter 3rd season 22-6, 3-1 p/o; Middletown Collin Delauter 6th season 46-16, 7-1

Points per game – Points Allowed per game / Point Differential – Hereford 26.6-9.4/+17.7; Middletown 26.3-15.2/+11.1

Playoff history – Hereford 22nd appearance 31-18, 11-5 in QF/Reg F round; Middletown 25th appearance 40-20, 13-9

Hereford has notched it’s first ten win season since 2016 with their 10-7 victory over New Town in the second round, their second single-digit win over the Titans this season. The Bulls have won ten straight games since losing to Milford Mill, 48-9, in week two. In all but one of their wins, the Bulls have held their opponents to eight points or less. Bulls quarterback Grayson Ayres has rushed for ten touchdowns and thrown for seven scores. Coach John Walters’ son, Ryder, has been a key on both sides of the ball. Walter leads the Bulls with six touchdown receptions, and leads the defensive unit in sacks, with 15. JP Revitte has five interceptions for the Bulls.

Middletown will ride the shoulders of their 6’2 218 senior running back, Carson Smith, who has took 235 carries for 1,619 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. The Army commit has also thrown two halfback option passes for touchdowns. The Knights have registered shutout wins in their two playoff victories over Hammond and Oakland Mills. Smith rushed for 193 yards and three scores in the Knights second round win over Oakland Mills. 

2/1A

1 Dunbar (10-0) v 8 Elkton (6-5)

Coaches – Dunbar Lawrence Smith 14th season 166-24, 45-7; Elkton Matt Freeney 9th season 70-27, 10-6

Points per game – Points Allowed per game / Point Differential – Dunbar 48.2-8.2/+40.0; Elkton 19.6-24.0/-4.4

Playoff history – Dunbar 66-14, 22-3 in QF/Reg F round; Elkton 27-21, 10-7

Dunbar rolls into the quarterfinal round with a 23 game winning streak, following the Poets 58-0 win over Fairmont Heights. Devin Roche rushed for 155 yards and Tristan Kenan added 140 yards on the ground. Roche, Kenan, and Dashawn Parks each scored two touchdowns in the win. The Poets, who average 48.2 points per game, have scored 50 points or more in each of their last three games. The Poets boast a +40.0 point differential.

Elkton has pulled out a pair of tight victories in the first two rounds, with the Golden Elks 7-6 win over Cambridge South Dorchester in the opening round, and their 27-19 win over Rising Sun in the second round. Isaiah Huffstutler and Jaden Nichols star on both sides of the ball for the Golden Elks. Huffstutler has 467 yards and six touchdown receptions on offense, to go with his three interceptions, ten pass breakups, and 30 tackles on defense. Nichols leads the Golden Elks in receptions, with 31, and has registered 22 tackles for loss and 18 quarterback hurries. 

2 South Carroll (9-1) v 7 Harford Tech (7-4)

Coaches – South Carroll Mike Kraus 5th season 30-16, 4-1 p/o; Harford Tech Tim Palmer 6th season 46-11, 7-4

Points per game – Points Allowed per game / Point Differential – South Carroll 30.3-12.4/+17.9; Harford Tech 19.5-10.5/+9.0

Playoff history – South Carroll 17-11, 5-5 in QF/Reg F round; Harford Tech 6-4, 1-1

South Carroll scraped by Boonsboro, 20-14, in the second round, as the Cavaliers look to return to the 2/1A state championship game, after losing in the inaugural title game in the classification last season. The Cavs win over the Warriors was their fourth victory decided by six points or less. Senior running back AJ Rodrigues has rushed for 1,439 yards and 22 touchdowns for the Cavs this season. Senior linebacker Caleb Blum has recorded 85 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and five sacks. 

Harford Tech has won four straight games after starting 3-4, and have scored 28 points or more in all four victories. Jamaal Pearl rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns in the Cobras 30-13 second round win over Parkside. Junior Aderomilehin picked off two interceptions in the Cobras win over the Rams. 

1A

Five area teams will compete in the 1A quarterfinals, with one, Joppatowne, a favorite to move on to the semifinals. The Mariners host Lake Clifton, in the only matchup between area teams. Bohemia Manor, who goes to Mountain Ridge to meet the top seed Miners, and Perryville, who heads to Fort Hill to meet the defending state champion Sentinels, will be huge underdogs in the quarterfinal round. Forest Park will be underdogs, but not at the margins the Eagles and Panthers are facing. 

Joppatowne will be favorites when they host the Lakers on Friday, as the Mariners are riding a nine game winning streak, scoring 36 or more points in eight of those nine wins. The Nariners routed SEED in the second round, 72-12. The Mariners have a balanced offensive attack, with senior quarterback AJ Wilson and senior running back Steven Robinson leading the way. Wilson has thrown for 1,903 yards and 23 touchdowns, while Robinson has registered 1,789 rushing yards, 385 receiving yards, and has scored 30 touchdowns. The Mariners are looking for their first state semifinal berth since 2009. 

Time didn’t permit for previews of three quarterfinal games in the 1A classification involving Baltimore area teams.

No. 8 Bohemia Manor (7-4) at No. 1 Mountain Ridge (10-0)

No. 7 Perryville (7-4) at No. 2 Fort Hill (10-1)

No. 5 Forest Park (7-3) at No. 4 Brunswick (8-3)