2023 MPSSAA Baltimore Metro Football Report – Week 3

Baltimore County 

After a tough one point loss to Oakdale in the opener, then a game halted because of excessive heat, Milford Mill (2-1) made quick work of Kenwood (2-1) in a 59-0 rout in week three. The Millers, playing their first full half in two weeks, made the most of it, running out to a 47-0 halftime lead over the Bluebirds.  

The victory notched the Millers 23rd straight win over a Baltimore County opponent, dating back to their 2021 opening week loss to Franklin. The Millers visit the Tribe on Friday, in what has been the county’s best rivalry over the last handful of years. 

Thursday, the Millers ran through the Birds, rushing for 270 yards and five touchdowns on only 17 carries, collectively. Damon Ferguson Jr rushed just four times for 136 yards and two scores, including a 90 yard scoring run. Ferguson Jr, a sophomore, is part of a three-headed monster backfield, along with senior Keion Sutton and junior Montae Royster.  

The trio is replacing All-State first team running back Sean Williams Jr, who rushed for 2,059 yards and scored a county single-season record 38 touchdowns in the Millers undefeated championship season. No other Millers running back averaged three or more carries per game last season. This season, all three have contributed greatly through three games, combining to rush for 676 yards and nine touchdowns on 68 carries, averaging 9.9 yards per carry.  

Now, it’s another edition with Franklin. The two western Baltimore County powerhouses have won the last four state championships won by county schools, with the Tribe winning the 3A state title in ‘13, ‘14, and ‘19, and the Millers last season, after losing in the title game in ‘17 and ‘21.  

Since 2017, the two titans have split their six meetings, with each winning three. Four of the last six games between the two have been decided by five points or less. Last season was not one of them, as the Millers put away the Indians 42-7 in week one.  

Perry Hall sent notice that they deserve a seat at the table of the best three teams in Baltimore County with their 45-7 rout of Franklin, a team that has been among the ‘Big 3’ in the county for more than a decade. The Gators jumped out to a 35-7 halftime lead on the Indians and never looked back. Things looked to be turning last season, but the Tribe pulled out an overtime victory. The 3-0 Gators face a tall task when they visit Dundalk (3-0) on Friday, a year after suffering a 27-6 loss to the Owls. The winner becomes one of the top two teams in the county, along with defending state champion Milford Mill. Monday, the Owls moved to 3-0 with their 40-0 mauling of Woodlawn (1-2). 

Owings Mills (3-0) made a statement too in week three, as the unbeaten Eagles crushed New Town (1-2), 32-7. The Titans had registered a quality win in Week one, with a one point win over Eleanor Roosevelt, and led Dundalk 26-6 heading into the fourth quarter in week two. Since, the Titans have been outscored 53-7 over the last five quarters. The undefeated Eagles host Overlea (2-1) on Friday, while the Titans host Parkville (1-2) on Saturday. 

Hereford (2-1), the once ‘ground and pound’ poster child, went aerial in their 21-12 win over Parkville on Thursday, with junior Bobby Burke completed 11 of 18 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Bulls senior Chris Makowy gained 172 yards from scrimmage on just eight touches – four runs and four receptions, and scored twice. The Bulls host Dulaney (1-2), who are coming off of their first victory of the season in a 27-0 win over Eastern Tech (0-3). Catonsville (2-1) suffered their first defeat in three games, losing to unbeaten Northeast, 47-26. 

Baltimore City 

The Poets of Dunbar (1-0-1) had seen their season open with nearly three weeks of turbulence, beginning with their opener, where they trailed Loyola 21-0 in the second quarter, and ultimately, the game was ended and ruled a no contest. The following Friday morning, their coach, Lawrence Smith, was replaced after being indicted by federal prosecutors. That night, the Poets and Dunbar of DC were knotted up at 8-8 with 7:22 remaining in the third quarter, until lightning won out, and the game was never resumed.  

Friday, the Poets got their ‘mojo’ back in a 50-6 thumping of Poly, who fell to 0-3. The Poets host City College (1-2) on Friday. The Black Knights blasted Patterson (0-3), 56-0, on Friday. Mervo moved to 3-0 with a 38-0 shutout win over Edmondson, which slid the Red Tribe to 0-3.  

Forest Park (3-0) blanked Green Street Academy (0-2), 54-0, holding the Chargers to -6 yards of offense. The Foresters play in the Baltimore II division, the lesser competitive of the city’s two football divisions, but are the fourth ranked team among all city schools, behind only Dunbar, Mervo, and City College.  

Two other Baltimore City II members, Lake Clifton and Carver Vo-Tech, are both 3-0 as well, with the former topping a pair of Division I teams, Patterson and Edmondson, holding both to one score, and the latter also posting a victory over Patterson. Carver plays host to ‘Lake’ on Friday.  

Anne Arundel 

In a battle of 2-0 teams, Broadneck jumped out to a 17-0 advantage over Meade, before the Mustangs made it a 24-21 game after their first drive in the second half. The Bruins defense buckled down and held the Mustangs scoreless the rest of the way.  

Bruins senior linebacker Braden McCassie grabbed one of the two Bruins interceptions, and registered a sack. The Bruins all but abandoned the passing game in the second half and put the ball in Ian Mauldin’s hands, and the senior took 22 carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.  

The Bruins did get 139 yards through the air, much of it early, with their two quarterbacks, CJ Watkins and Nate Tapley. Watkins threw for a score and ran for another, while Tapley added one through the air. Mike rushed 16 times for 88 yards scored two touchdowns for the Mustangs. The Bruins (3-0) head to Glen Burnie (2-1) on Friday, to take on the Gophers. The Gophers are coming off of a 44-22 victory over North County.  

After suffering a 28-7 loss to Broadneck in week two, Arundel travelled to Crofton (0-3) and crushed the Cardinal, 52-14.  The Wildcats (2-1) host Northeast this Friday, with the Eagles boasting their first 3-0 record since 2018. The Eagles ran past Catonsville on Friday, 47-26, with senior quarterback Shamar Johnson rushing for 153 yards and three touchdowns.  

Chesapeake (3-0) remained unbeaten with a 30-20 win over CM Wright, spearheaded by senior running back Collin Lewis, who rushed for 147 yards and two scores on 18 carries. The Cougars host Severna Park (1-2) on Friday. Old Mill (2-1) stopped South River (1-2), 21-3, last Friday, and host North County (2-1) this Friday.  

UCBAC 

Harford Tech pulled out a hard fought 27-20 victory over defending league champ Bel Air on Thursday, with sophomore quarterback Stephen Kelley II completing 11 of his 16 attempts for 133 yards and three touchdowns. The Cobras built a 21-6 lead, but had to hold off the Bobcats in the end. The Cobras (3-0) have reached the 3-0 mark in each of the last six seasons.  

A week after playing an incomplete game with CM Wright in week two, Edgewood posted a convincing 43-24 win over Elkton in week three. The Rams held a slim 28-24 advantage through three quarters, before sealing the game with two scores in the fourth quarter. The Rams (2-0) travel to Bel Air (2-1) on Friday, while the Golden Elks (1-2) prep for CM Wright (1-1) at home on Friday night. The Mustangs look to rebound from a 30-20 loss to Chesapeake AA. 

Carroll 

Senior quarterback Kyrece Walker and Westminster put it on county rival South Carroll, 42-0, a year after after losing to their league foes, 24-21. This affair was much different, as Walker took over, accounting for five touchdowns for a second time in three games – running for a 40 yard score, then throwing four scoring strikes.  

Through three games, Walker has accounted for more than 800 yards of offense and 13 touchdowns. Friday, the Owls (2-1), who played Frederick on Monday, will face another Frederick county power when they travel to Walkersville to take on the Lions.  

Liberty won their first game of the season with a 28-21 victory over Manchester Valley. The Lions (1-2) head to Francis Scott Key (0-3) on Friday. Winters Mill moved to 3-0 with a 7-6 win over Francis Scott Key. Coach Matthew Miller’s Falcons are 3-0 for the first time since 2009, and could push to 4-0 for the first time in more than 20 years with a victory when they host Century on Friday.  

Howard 

Howard County was the only jurisdiction that had all their games held on Monday. 

Reservoir rolled to 3-0 for the first time since 2010 with their 49-0 rout of Hammond. Gators senior quarterback Jordan Tate threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, while senior running back Adrian Alvarado added three rushing touchdowns. The Gators can move to 4-0 for the first time in their program’s history with a win at Glenelg next weekend. Three other times the Gators began the season with a 3-0 record, but never finished with a winning record in any of those three seasons, ending with a 4-6 record in ‘06 and ‘07, and going 5-5 in 2010, the last time they began the season with three straight victories.  

Mt Hebron continues to impress, after the Vikings registered a 23-7 victory over then 2-0 Glenelg. The Vikings forced the Gladiators into four second half turnovers. The Vikings are 3-0 for the first time since 2012, when they broke out to a 5-0 record, only to finish with a 6-5 mark. The Vikings program is on the rise, after winning their first playoff game in 39 years in ‘21, and adding another last season. The Vikings host Oakland Mills this weekend.  

River Hill pushed to 2-1 with a 28-18 win over Centennial, in which the game was halted by lighting issues at the stadium. The Hawks led 28-0 at halftime, before the Eagles scored 18 straight points in the third quarter. With the win, Hawks coach Brian Van Deusen tied Baltimore City legendary coach Pete Pompey for 14th place on the Maryland public schools all-time win list, with 214.  

Howard rose to 3-0 with a convincing 24-0 shutout victory over their arch rival – Long Reach (2-1). The Lions have dominated in the rivalry in recent times, having won 12 of their last 13 meetings with the Lightning. Marriotts Ridge ran away from Oakland Mills in a 39-27 shootout, earning the Mustangs their first win if the season, while the Scorpions slid to 0-3. The defending County champion Atholton Raiders won their first game of the season with a 16-14 victory over Wilde Lake. The Mustangs head to Hammond on Friday, while the Scorpions go on the road to Mt Hebron, to meet the undefeated Vikings.