2023 MPSSAA Baltimore Metro Football Report – Week 4

Baltimore County 

Milford Mill won their 24th game in a row versus county competition with a 26-0 blank sheet victory over Franklin in week four. The Millers jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead over the Indians, the last Baltimore County team to defeat them. Since their 2021 opening game loss to the Tribe, the Millers have gone 29-2 overall, with two state title game appearances and one state championship, and have outscored the Indians 68-7 in the two games since.  

Since their opener two seasons ago, the Millers have outscored their county opponents by 23 points or more in 22 of the 23 games full games they’ve played county foes. The Tribe slid to 1-3 for the first time since 2004. 

The Millers (3-1) host Dundalk (3-1) on Friday, in their first meeting with the Owls since the Spring ‘21 season. Franklin (1-3) hosts Kenwood (3-1) on Friday.  

Perry Hall put themselves among the top two teams in the county for the first time in ten years with a 14-7 road win at Dundalk, which followed the Gators resounding 45-7 victory over Franklin in week three. While the Gators are noted for their playmakers on offense, it was their defense that was the catalyst in their win over the Owls, limiting the hosts to just one score.  

The Gators sat atop the county throne in 2013, going undefeated in league play, including a 21-7 win over Franklin, and a 41-6 victory over Milford Mill. Since, the Indians have won three state championships and played in four state title games, and the Millers have played in three state championship games, winning the 2A state crown last December.  

Meanwhile, entering the season, the Gators had posted a respectable 43-27 mark against county opponents since 2014, but 3-18 versus the Millers, Indians, and Owls. 40-9 versus everyone else. The Gators host Catonsville (3-1) on Friday.  

While the Gators put themselves on a mantle of two, Owings Mills is making a strong argument to be placed among the top five in a county of 23 teams. The undefeated Eagles handed Overlea a 50-18 pasting in week four, which followed their convincing 32-7 victory over New Town. The Eagles are now 4-0 for the first time in more than a quarter of a century. 

Hereford pushed to 3-1 with their 49-14 victory over Dulaney (1-3), as junior quarterback Bobby Burke completed 7 of 9 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns, and added another score on the ground. Bulls senior Nico Mosquera caught three passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns, and also added a rushing touchdown. The Bulls (3-1) travel to Eastern Tech (0-3) on Friday to take on the Mavericks.  

Catonsville rose to 3-1 with a 35-24 Homecoming win over Woodlawn, with junior Tyler Boyd leading the Comets to victory, with two rushing touchdowns, a touchdown reception, and a 36 yard punt return. The Comets (3-1) head to Perry Hall on Friday to face the undefeated Gators.  

Baltimore City 

The whispers of Dunbar’s imminent demise by those outside of the program may not be only premature, but baseless in fact. On Friday, in just their second complete game this season, the Poets routed City College like it was nobody’s business, registering a 62-0 victory over the Black Knights.  

While the Black Knights weren’t ranked in the MPSSAA Top 50 this week, they were considered, just outside, after losing to #30 Edgewood by two scores, losing at #46 Kent Island by a point, and routing Patterson, 56-0.  

The Poets weren’t having it, shutting out a Black Knights squad that scored eight touchdowns last week. The Poets extended their winning streak versus Baltimore City foes to 29 games, where they’ve registered a +39.2 point margin per game. The Poets host winless Edmondson (0-4) on Friday. Mervo (4-0) stayed unbeaten with a 40-0 rout of Digital Harbor on Monday afternoon.   

Forest Park climbed to 4-0 with their 64-0 demolishing of Ben Franklin on Friday. Foresters junior Tijuan Reid rushed for two touchdowns and added a ‘pick 6’ on defense. The Foresters, who beat Poly for the first time since 2004 in week two, have outscored their four opponents this season, 160-6. The Foresters toughest test will come in week six when they face Mervo, followed by division defining games with Carver Vo-Tech and Lake Clifton.  

Carver Vo-Tech (4-0) remained unbeaten with a 22-0 shutout of Lake Clifton (3-1), who came into the contest with a 3-0 record. Poly and Patterson both won their first games of the season in week four, with the Engineers putting away Lewis, 24-6, and the Clippers handing Edmondson its fourth straight loss, 33-18.  

Howard County 

The three Howard County teams that entered week four unbeaten exited week four unbeaten. Reservoir has risen to 4-0 for the first time in their program’s twenty year history following their 13-5 win over Glenelg (2-2) on Friday. After three 40-point scoring routs, the Gators did enough early to pull out the low scoring affair with the Gladiators.  

Gators senior Adrian ‘AD’ Alvarado controlled the tempo, rushing 29 times for 212 yards and a score. Senior Jordan Tate connected with senior Destin Hill on a 26 yard scoring strike for the Gators other score, before the quarterback exited in the second quarter for precautionary measures. The Gators visit Marriotts Ridge (2-2) on Friday, following the Mustangs 40-0 shutout of Hammond (0-4).  

Mt Hebron is 4-0 for the first time since 2012 following their 35-12 victory over Oakland Mills (0-4), with the Vikings scoring five or more touchdowns in each of their first four games. The Vikings defense grabbed four Scorpions turnovers in the second half. The Vikings host Hammond for their Homecoming  game on Saturday.  

Howard stayed unbeaten with a 14-6 win over Wilde Lake (1-3), and now go on the road to face Atholton (1-2) in week five. River Hill (3-1) handed Long Reach (2-2) its second loss in as many weeks with a 28-0 shutout win, as senior Jett Born rushed for 198 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Hawks coach Brian Van Deusen captured his 215th victory in Clarksville, and now ranks ninth in MPSSAA history in wins. The Hawks host Wilde Lake on Friday. 

Anne Arundel 

Through their first three games, Northeast was on a roll, with a win over Poly, and 20-point wins over both Crofton and Catonsville, but the question remained as to where the Eagles measured up with the county’s top teams, like Broadneck or Arundel. In week four, a mid-season answer came in when Arundel shut down the Eagles potent running game, posting a 42-0 shutout victory.  

Wildcats senior running back TJ Mordecai rushed for 125 yards and four touchdowns for the Cats, and the defense shut down an Eagles offense that was averaging 348 rushing yards per game and held them scoreless. The Cats travel to see undefeated Chesapeake AA on Friday, while the Eagles host South River (1-3).  

Chesapeake AA (4-0) is 4-0 for the first time since 2018, when the Cougars advanced to the 3A state semifinals. The Cougars won their third straight by a margin of 12 points or less with their 21-14 win over Severna Park on Friday. Cougars senior running back Collin Lewis registered his fourth 100 yard game in as many games, rushing for 121 yards and a score in the win. Through four games, Lewis has rushed for 604 yards. The Cougars unblemished mark will face a test when they travel to Arundel on Friday.  

Broadneck (3-1) stayed unbeaten in league play with a 21-14 win over Glen Burnie (2-2), with junior Ian Mauldin running for two touchdowns, and junior CJ Watkins throwing for another. Mauldin finished with 125 yards from scrimmage. The Bruins host Severna Park (1-3) on Friday, while the Gophers host Woodlawn on Saturday.  

Old Mill (3-1) walloped North County (2-2), 48-7, scoring 48 unanswered points behind three touchdowns from both junior Max Jones and senior Jordan Penn. Jones rushed for 207 yards and two scores, and added a touchdown reception, while Penn added two scores on the ground and a 77 yard touchdown reception. The Patriots visit Crofton (0-4) on Friday.  

Meade (3-1) bounced back from their first loss of the season last week to Broadneck with a 40-6 thumping of Crofton, highlighted by the passing game of senior Brian Jamison, who connected on 11 of 17 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns (1 int), and threw to five different receivers that finished with 50 receiving yards or more. The Mustangs travel to North County on Friday. Annapolis (2-2) won its second game in as many weeks, with a 28-14 win over South River (1-3). The Panthers go to Southern (1-2) on Friday.  

UCBAC 

In a rematch of the best game in the UCBAC in 2022, Edgewood (3-0) tamed Bel Air (2-2) in week four, 21-12, with the Rams defense bending, but not breaking. Though the Rams allowed more than 300 yards of offense, the Bobcats could must just two scores. The Rams put their unbeaten record on the line when they host Joppatowne (1-2) on Friday, a week after the Mariners handed Harford Tech (3-1) their first loss.  

Elkton (2-2) came back from 14 points down to C Milton Wright, with the Golden Elks scoring 19 unanswered points to take a 19-14 victory over the Mustangs.  Golden Elks senior receiver DJ Piner caught two touchdown passes from senior Patience Richmond, including the 63 yard game-winner with 1:19 remaining in regulation time. The Golden Elks travel across state lines to take on Delaware Military Academy on Friday.  

Carroll 

Westminster (3-1) came back from a double-digit deficit for the second time this season, scoring 21 unanswered points to take a 28-21 victory over Walkersville. In week one, the Owls came back from 21 points down to Franklin, to pull out a 48-42 victory over the Indians. Like week one, senior quarterback Kyrece Walker was the catalyst in the comeback victory.  

Down 21-7, late in the second quarter, Walker found Clayton Dorsey for a 35 yard touchdown to cut the Owls deficit to seven points at intermission. Early in the third quarter, Walker found himself in a precarious position, with a loose ball in his own end zone, before picking it up and racing out of the end zone for an 85 yard run, setting up the tying score.  

Later in the third quarter, Walker connected with Dorsey again, this time for 55 yards – flipping the field, before Walker ran one in untouched from 30 yards out to score what would be the game-winner. Walker rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries, and threw for 119 yards and another score. The Owls host Manchester Valley on Friday. Manchester Valley (2-2) rose to a .500 record with a 28-14 win over South Carroll (0-4). 

Winters Mill (4-0) stayed unbeaten with a 35-0 shutout win over winless Century (0-4). Senior quarterback Caleb Crouch rushed for four touchdowns in the Falcons win, and senior Kamdyn Koch produced a ‘pick 6’ for the defense. The Falcons are 4-0 for the first time in their program’s history. The Falcons host Liberty (2-2) on Friday, a week after the Lions won their second in a row with a 21-6 victory over Francis Scott Key (0-4).