2022 Baltimore Metro High School Football Report: Week 6

Howard

The last two undefeated teams in Howard County clashed on Freetown Road on Friday night, before Atholton pulled out a 14-7 victory over River Hill, limiting the Hawks to 71 yards of offense, and using a 16 play, 10:22 game-closing drive to prevent the four-time state champions a potential game-tying or winning drive. The 14-7 Raiders win was the identical score of their win in ‘21, when they went on to win a share of the county title. Raiders quarterback Miles Scott made crucial plays in the Raiders game-winning , last minute drive a year ago, and the senior made a big play on their scoring drive, and several during their time consuming, game-clinching drive.

And, like a year ago, in a game where both offenses each produced just one touchdown, the Raiders added another that proved to be the difference. A year ago in week six, the Raiders Jerome Colbert returned the kickoff to open the second half 85 yards for a score to put the first points on the board in their 14-7 win. Friday, with the Hawks leading 7-0 and approaching Raiders territory, Jabriel Moody took a ‘pick 6’ 51 yards to even things at 7, with :59 remaining in the first half. The Hawks struck first after capitalizing on a Raiders fumble, recovering in the hosts ‘red zone’. Omar Hassan hooked up with Tyler Windsor for a six yard touchdown touchdown pass to open the scoring. 

On their first possession of the second half, the Raiders put together a nine play, 51 yard scoring drive, one that would prove to be the game-winner. Dillan Watkins punctuated the drive with a six yard score, but not before Scott scrambled for 11 yards to convert on a third-and-nine play. Scott converted a third down conversion and two fourth down conversions on the game-ending drive, and the Raiders moved to 6-0 for the first time since 2009. Though the Raiders offense was limited to one score, Watkins finished with 122 yards on 24 carries. The Raiders head to Marriotts Ridge on Friday, after the Mustangs snapped their 15 game losing streak on Saturday, upsetting Wilde Lake, 10-6, on the Wildecats Homecoming. 

Six miles north of Freetown Road, the 65th edition of the Elgard Bowl was taking place in Glenelg, with the Gladiators hosting the Howard Lions in the county’s oldest rivalry among its two oldest high schools. Despite seemingly receiving less fanfare than the Raiders and Hawks showdown, this Elgard edition featured two 4-1 teams, and was featured as the Ravens RISE Game of the Week.

In the end, the Lions claimed their first road victory in the rivalry since 1999 with a 24-14 win over the Gladiators, snapping a four game skid in the series. The Lions won their fourth straight game, with Travis Thompson rushing for 139 yards and two touchdowns, and Connor Hawkins adding 67 yards on the ground, and scoring on a shovel pass from Tyler Sabatinti for the Lions first score.   Pat Conron drilled a 25 yard field goal to extend the margin to ten with 9:02 to play. Ethan Sotka rushed for 124 yards for the Gladiators, who now travel to River Hill. The Lions head to Oakland Mills on Friday. 

Oakland Mills scored 18 unanswered points in an 18-7 win over Mt Hebron on the Vikings Homecoming, as Cyrus Thomas Ray threw for a touchdown and ran for a score. The Scorpions rise to .500, and host Howard this week. Wilde Lake’s Homecoming plans were doused by a 10-6 loss to Marriotts Ridge, to slide to 3-3. It was the first victory for the Mustangs since the abbreviated 2021 spring season. Long Reach moved to 4-2 with a 49-12 rout of Centennial, on the Eagles Homecoming weekend. The Lightning host Wilde Lake this week. 

Baltimore City

Eight days after falling short of Dunbar at Morgan State amidst all the pomp and circumstance, Mervo was stymied by Poly on Friday night, as the Engineers ended an eight game losing streak to the Mustangs, and won their first game in the series since 2013, winning 14-6 without their offense scoring a point. The Engineers and Mustangs were locked in a defensive duel, and it was the Engineers defense that delivered the game-winning score with just more than a minute to play. 

The only score in the first half came when Ray Moore III connected with Tysean Cox for ten yard score, giving the Mustangs a 6-0 halftime lead. The score came after the Engineers fumbled in the Mustangs ‘red zone’, spoiling a potential scoring drive. With both offenses struggling, and the Mustangs deep in their own territory, the Engineers special teams unit came up with a huge play in the third quarter when Tyrese Stanley broke through the line and recovered his own blocked punt in the Mustangs end zone to tie the game. The subsequent point after conversion failed, leaving the game tied at six. 

Then, with the Mustangs deep in their own territory, with just more than a minute to play and the game seemingly headed to overtime, the Engineers Nick Gordon came up with a strip-sack fumble recovery and took it in ten yards for the game-winning score with 1:03 remaining. The Mustangs lost in back-to-back games for the first time since 2013, while the Engineers could very well be on their way to their best season since 2011, when they finished 11-1. The Engineers had been outscored 103-0 in their three previous meetings with the Mustangs. 

The Engineers road gets even testier this week, as the undefeated Engineers head to Dunbar on Thursday, to take on the undefeated Poets. The Engineers last win over the Poets came in that 11-1 season in 2011. Mervo, meanwhile, faces a tough opponent for a third straight week, as the Mustangs head to Delaware to play Smyrna, a Deleware state finalist in ‘21. The 4-1 Eagles handed Arundel their only loss in week one, 14-0. 

Dunbar routed City College, 62-14, to win their 19th straight game, and 24th straight versus Baltimore City competition. Tristan Kenan rushed for a season-high 205 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Deshawn Parks also ran for a season-high 165 yards for the Poets. The Poets were without their All-State star Devin Roche, who suffered a foot injury in their win over Mervo. Forest Park shut out Douglass, 28-0, to move to 4-2. The Foresters only losses came to Mervo, 37-9, and Poly, 8-2. The Foresters go to Dunbar in week eight.

Baltimore County

Milford Mill scored 21 points in the second quarter to take a 28-14 halftime lead over New Town, then held the Titans scoreless in the second half and finished with a 37-14 win over their county rival. Deshawn Purdie threw for 220 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions, and Marquis Edmond rushed for two touchdowns for the Millers, who stand at 6-0. Emmanuel Gee registered three tackles for loss and two sacks in the win. The Millers go to Randallstown on Friday, to take on the winless Rams. 

Dundalk rose to 5-1 with their 53-14 win over Catonsville on the Owls Homecoming weekend, with Jordan Fiorenza rushing for a season-best 209 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries. The Owls go to Franklin on Friday, with the Indians carrying a four game win streak. The Indians topped Parkville, 52-30, after mounting a 49-13 lead through three quarters. The Indians have scored 40 or more points in three of their last four games. Hereford took a forfeit win over Woodlawn, to move to 5-1. The Bulls, who are having their best season since 2016, host 4-2 New Town on Friday. Perry Hall ended a three game slide with a 27-14 win over Dulaney. Sparrows Point handed Patapsco their first loss in the Pointers 26-20 overtime win over the Patriots on Friday. 

Carroll

South Carroll was tested again, but survived Winters Mill and remained unbeaten with a 19-13 win. The Cavaliers Carter Mazalewski broke a 13-13 tie when he scampered in from 18 yards out with :59 remaining for the game-winning score. The Cavs came back from 7-0 and 13-7 deficits, before putting away the Falcons. AJ Rodrigues scored early in the fourth quarter to even the game at 13, and finished with 168 rushing yards on 18 carries. The Cavaliers push their regular season game win streak to 15 games. The Cavaliers travel to Liberty on Friday. 

Liberty suffered their second loss of the season, 21-17, to Brunswick, after wasting an opportunity that had the Lions with a first-and-goal at the Railroders one yard line in the final minute. The Lions threw an incomplete pass on first down, then committed a false start penalty on second, pushing them back to the six yard line. After breaking up a pass attempt on second down, the Roaders stopped a pair of potential game-winning runs on third and fourth down to secure the win. The Lions host undefeated South Carroll on Friday. Westminster routed Francis Scott Key, 44-7, to move to 5-1. Raquan Warfield returned the opening kickoff for a score, added a rushing touchdown, and Owls quarterback Kyrece Walker accounted for three touchdowns in the victory. The Owls go to Century on Friday, to take on the 1-5 Knights. 

Anne Arundel

Broadneck won their fifth straight game, shutting out Annapolis, 44-0, and scoring 35 or more points for the fifth straight game. Camrin Catterton completed 10 of 14 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns. Eli Harris caught five passes for 76 yards and a score, and Joseph Smargassi caught a pair of touchdown receptions. The Bruins go to Severna Park on Friday, a season after scoring 24 points in the second half to break open a 14-14 tie with the Falcons and take a 38-14 win over the Falcons. The Falcons are 4-2, after their 7-6 win over South River, snapping the Seahawks three game winning streak. 

Arundel won its fourth straight game with their 56-15 win over Nottheast, as Ahmad Taylor rushed for three touchdowns, and Gavin Kamachi threw for two scores to lead the Wildcats. Taylor rushed for 101 yards on 16 carries, and Kamachi completed 13 of 22 passes for 243 yards. Xavier Felder added two rushing touchdowns for the Cats. The Wildcats go to Crofton on Friday. Chesapeake topped Crofton, 33-13, on Friday, after taking a 27-0 lead after three quarters. The Cougars moved to 5-1, while the Cards slipped to 4-2. Old Mill rise to 4-2 after scoring 22 unanswered points in their 22-7 win over Meade. The Patriots go to Glen Burnie on Friday. The Gophers, who played in their first playoff game in their program’s history last year, can go to 5-2 for the first time this century with a win on Friday. 

UCBAC

Edgewood and Bel Air remained among the unbeatens, but not without a struggle. The Rams needed overtime to put away Perryville, 19-16, while the Bobcats stood off Fallston, 20-13. After the Panthers were forced to settle for a Zach Ayers field goal in the extra session, Jahmir Torres to the ball in from ten yards on first down to win it for the Rams. Ayers kicked three field goals and returned a kickoff for a touchdown for Perryville,  accounting for all 16 points for the Panthers. Edgewood goes to Friendship Collegiate on Friday night in a non-league game. Nate Furrow rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns in the Bobcats win. Bel Air hosts Harford Tech on Thursday, in a bid to go 7-0 for the first time since 2004. 

Joppatowne is 5-1 after the Mariners won their fourth straight game in a 44-22 win over Green Street Academy. The Mariners have scored 44 or more points in all of their last four games. Steven Robinson rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries for the Mariners. Patterson Mill topped Harford Tech, 14-7, to move to 5-1 for the first time since 2011. The Huskies travel to Perryville on Friday. Bohemia Manor bounced back from a 48-14 loss to Joppatowne, with a 6-0 shutout of CM Wright, to push the Eagles to 5-1. 

MIAA A & B

Spalding trounced Gilman, 54-7, with Malik Washington completing 23 of 33 passes for 321 yards and five touchdowns, and running for a score. RJ Newton nabbed ten receptions for 121 yards and a score, and Max Moss caught three passes for 58 yards and two touchdowns. Jameson Coffman also caught two touchdown receptions. The Cavaliers are idle next week, while Gilman hosts Calvert Hall. Sam Arbaugh’s extra point was the difference in McDonogh’s 7-6 victory over Pallotti. Arbaugh’s kick followed Braeden Pallozzo’s touchdown pass to Jefferson Exinor. Exinor, a sophomore, finished with nine receptions for 118 yards. McDonogh travels to Mt St Joe this week, while Pallotti hosts Loyola. Mt St Joe, Calvert Hall, and Loyola, were all idle last week.

Both Concordia Prep and St Mary’s handled their business last week, setting up a showdown this week of the last two unbeaten teams in league play. Concordia Prep rose to 6-1 with a 30-14 win over John Carroll, scoring 30 unanswered points after falling behind 14-0. Jordan Brooks completed 11 of 17 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, and Jaedon Alison ran for two scores for the Saints. St Mary’s put away Mt Carmel, 41-14, with Carson Petitbon throwing for three touchdowns and running for two scores, and Pat Cary rushing for 108 yards. St Mary’s hosts Concordia Prep on Friday. St Mary’s led 17-3 at halftime in last years meeting, before Concordia Prep took a 23-17 win. Two weeks later, Prep held off St Mary’s, 8-0, in the league semifinals.