2023 MPSSAA Baltimore Metro Football Report – Round 1 Playoff Review, Round 2 Playoff Preview

Anne Arundel 

In the opening round of MPSSAA playoffs, where 35 of the 79 games ended in ‘running clocks’, the only matchup featuring a pair of teams ranked in the MPSSAA Top 50 between Glen Burnie and Meade was the best of all, an old fashioned barn burner, with the Gophers pulling out a 28-27 victory over the Mustangs. The final wasn’t decided until an untimed down with 0:00.0 on the clock, and the Mustangs at the Gophers 11 yard line. 

That was just the last of the fireworks for the night, in a game that featured five lead changes, including three in the final stanza, and one that began with a preview of the thrilling action that would follow.  

On the opening kickoff, Mustangs senior Tyrique Jones took it 81 yards to the house, bringing the home crowd to a hush, and giving the ‘Stangs a 7-0 lead without their offense having taken the field. The Gophers were unperturbed, as senior quarterback Romeo Edmonds orchestrated the offense down the field for an answering score, punctuated by his 11 yard scramble for a score. The Gophers missed the extra point attempt, and trailed by one, 7-6, just more than four minutes into the game. 

Two minutes later, after the Mustangs were forced to a three-and-out, Edmonds put the Gophers ahead when he ran around the right edge for 29 yards and a touchdown, followed by a dive and a two-point conversion. The late first quarter and early second quarter saw both defensive units step up, until Meade evened the game at 14 after a nine yard touchdown run from their senior quarterback Brian Jamison with 4:45 remaining before intermission. Then, after a Gophers punt, Jamison hooked up with Jones on a 34 yard touchdown pass and the Mustangs regained the lead, 21-14, with 1:32 to play before halftime.  

The third quarter was scoreless, just as the last seven minutes of the first quarter and first seven minutes of the second quarter were. The Mustangs appeared to take a two score lead, but a 65 yard touchdown pass from Jamison was nullified with an illegal player downfield. Just inside the fourth quarter, Edmonds came up big again for the Gophers, scrambling out of a dire situation on fourth down and finding Dante Todd in the end zone for a 21 yard score. The Gophers elected to go for a two point conversion and the lead, and Edmonds did the rest, giving the Gophers a one point lead, 22-21, with just over ten minutes to play. 

Not to be outdone, Jamison answered less than sixty seconds later, tossing a screen to Kayvawn Simms-Rogers that resulted into a 65 yard touchdown pass with 9:14 on the clock in the fourth quarter. With a five point lead, the Mustangs chose to go for the two-point conversion, but failed, settling for a 27-22 lead, their third advantage of the night.  

Undaunted, Edmonds drove the Gophers down the field, punctuating what would be the game-winning drive by leaping and stretching the ball over the goal line from the one yard line to give the hosts a 28-27 lead, with 3:20 to play. The Mustangs provided the final drama, but fell just short of the win. The Mustangs converted two third-and-long conversions, and after a pass interference call, with no time on the clock, had the ball on the Gophers 11 yard line, for one last untimed down. But, from 28 yards out, the kick went wide, and the Gophers survived and advanced after a thriller in Glen Burnie.  

Not only did the Gophers and Mustangs put on a show, but both displayed the talent and confidence instilled by their respective coaches that has led to a rise in both programs. The Gophers are guided by Alec Lemon, and the Mustangs by Tanardo Sharps, both Anne Arundel gridiron legends.  

Lemon, the former Arundel star receiver, led the Gophers to their first playoff victory in their program’s history last season, and their first winning season in more than 25 years. Now, Lemon, who played for the legendary Chuck Markiewicz, has the Gophers posting the best season the program has ever seen. Sharps, a former star running back for the Mustangs, took over a football program that went winless the year before. This season, not only did the Mustangs come up just one point short of the Gophers, but one point shy of county champ Old Mill, and a score short of Arundel, who played in the 4/3A title game last season.  

Lemon’s receiving marks in his senior season at Arundel in ‘08 still rank among the top five MPSSAA single-season marks in receptions (103 – tied for fourth), receiving yards (1616 – third best), and touchdown receptions (23 – tied for second). Lemon also ranks among the top ten in all three categories on the MPSSAA’s career lists, as well. Lemon went on to Syracuse, where he set single-season and career program marks in receptions, and finished second in career receiving yards, and third in career touchdown receptions.  

Sharps came a decade before Lemon, and stands as one of the greatest running backs in county history. Sharps was a two-time All-Met for the Mustangs, rushing for 1,765 yards as a junior, and 1,862 yards as a senior. Sharps played youth ball his freshman year, and on the ‘JV’ team his sophomore year, but put together what still ranks as the second most rushing yards in any two season period in county history, behind only Old Mill’s Ryan Callahan. After a year at prep school, Sharps went on to Temple, where he’d lead the Owls in rushing yards in each of his last three seasons. Sharps finished with 4,555 all-purpose yards for the Owls, scoring 24 touchdowns.  

While both county legends have their playing days long behind them, both Lemon and Sharps have their respective program’s on upward trajectories, and were among the county’s five best teams in the 13 team county league this season. The Gophers (7-3) travel to Old Mill (9-1) for their 4A East second round matchup, three weeks after falling just short of the Patriots, 27-26. The Patriots moved on as the top seed in the region, following their 30-0 shutout win over North County on Friday. Max Jones rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns in the win, giving the junior 1,581 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns through ten games this season.  

Broadneck advanced in the 4A East with the Bruins 45-0 rout of Parkville, adding three touchdowns in the first six minutes of the second half to their 17-0 lead at intermission to seal it. The Bruins first nine points were supplied by the defense, with a ‘pick 6’ and a safety. CJ Watkins and Patrick Doyle each threw a pair of touchdown passes, with senior Eli Harris catching both of Watkins’ scoring throws, and Joey Smargissi capitalizing on both of Doyle’s touchdown throws. The Bruins (8-2) host Dundalk (8-2) in the 2 v 3 matchup in the 4A East. 

Arundel (7-2) received a bye in the 3A East in the opening round and will host Northern of Calvert County in round two. The Patriots, who were the 2021 3A state champions, finished the regular season with three straight losses, but two were to a pair of top 15 teams – Calvert and Patuxent. Chesapeake (8-2) advanced in the 3A South region with a 47-7 pounding of Chopticon, and will host league rival Northeast (7-3) in the second round, who squeaked by South River (3-7), 10-7. The Cougars pulled out a 21-14 win over Northeast in week seven, giving them a leg up on the Eagles and home field advantage in the second round.  

Anne Arundel County will have six teams competing in the second round, with the county’s ‘Big 3’ – Old Mill, Broadneck, and Arundel, leading the way, along with Glen Burnie, Chesapeake, and Northeast.  

Carroll  

Westminster was the only victim among the MPSSAA top 25 teams to see elimination in the first round, as Manchester Valley produced a 23-15 victory over the county champs, and stunning the home crowd at Ruby Field. Coach Bernie Koontz’s Mavericks ended the Owls 11 game win streak versus county foes. This, a week after the Owls rolled in the county championship game, boasting a 34-10 victory over previously unbeaten Winters Mill to capture the title.  

The Mavericks took a 17-7 lead into halftime with touchdown scores by Isaiah Ferebee and Kingston Canby, and a field goal from Braden Fitz. The Mavericks limited the Owls to just one score after intermission, while Fritz added six insurance points with two more field goals. The Mavericks, who held the Owls to a regular season low in points scored in their 19-7 week five loss to the county champs, went one step further in week ten, re-setting the Owls season low, and taking the rematch and moving on to the second round.  

The Mavericks will now visit Linganore in the second round, to take on the 9-1 Lancers. Winters Mill was idle in week ten, and the Falcons open their post-season hosting Williamsport in the second round of the 2/1A playoffs, after the Wildcats (3-7) knocked off South Carroll (3-7) on the road. Liberty also moved on in the 2/1A West following their 42-0 victory over Century (0-10). The Lions (5-5)  will visit Middletown (5-5) in round two.  

Baltimore City 

The city’s playoff teams saw no drama like AACo and Carroll County did in the opening round, with all of the favorites moving on. Dunbar notched their 37th straight win over a city foe with their 62-6 annihilation of Carver Vo-Tech (6-4). The Poets received an opening round bye, and host 6-4 Western Tech in the second round in the 2/1A North. Mervo moved on easily in the 4/3A North, pummeling Catonsville, 42-0, registering their sixth shutout of the season. The Mustangs (9-1) host 5-5 Kenwood in the second round.  

City College continued their dominance over the city’s lesser teams, with the Black Knights 54-6 rout of Patterson (3-7) in the first round, almost mirroring their 56-0 shutout of the Clippers in week three. The Black Knights (6-4) and their high-powered offense can advance to the state quarterfinals for just the second time in 16 years with a win at Bel Air (6-4) next week.  

Forest Park made quick work of Central in the 2/1A North, running out to a 36-0 lead midway through the second quarter, and settling on a 44-0 win. Junior TiJuan Reed scored three touchdowns and added a two-point conversion, while senior Jayon Knox supplied a rushing touchdown, a sack, and a ‘strip 6’ for the Foresters. The Foresters (9-1) travel to Randallstown (8-2) in round two. The city has four teams competing in the 1A South this weekend, with SEED (4-4) hosting Lewis (5-4) in the 1 v 4 matchup, and Lake Clifton (6-4) hosting Green Street Academy (4-4) in the 2 v 3 tilt.  

Baltimore County 

Perry Hall received a bye in the opening round as the top seed in the 4/3A North, and the undefeated Gators (9-0) will play host to the Generals of Towson (4-5), 21-20 winners over Dulaney (4-6). Milford Mill moved on in the 2A North with a 20-7 win over C Milton Wright, and now the Millers go on the road to take on New Town in the second round, after falling just short of the Titans in both win points and bonus points in the point standings. The Millers (7-2) and Titans (8-2) haven’t met this season, after meeting in both ‘21 and ‘22, with the Millers winning the first, 27-13, then 37-14 during their championship season last year. The Titans handled Patapsco (4-6), in the opening round.  

Owings Mills received a bye as top dog in the 2A North and will take on Hereford next week, for a berth in the state quarterfinals. The undefeated Eagles (9-0) slipped past the Bulls (7-3) in week nine, 20-15. The Bulls advanced to the second round following their win over North Harford. Dundalk pressed on in 4A with a 54-27 win over Annapolis (4-6) in the opening round. The Owls (8-2) travel to Broadneck in found two, where the Owls will find themselves as underdogs for just the third time this season.  

Franklin pushed on in the 3A North with a 49-0 shutout win over Poly (3-7) in the first round, and Coach Anthony Burgos became just the eighth coach in MPSSAA history to register 30 post-season victories, joining Lawrence Smith, DaLawn Parrish, Todd Appel, Rick Conner, Brian Van Deusen, Al Thomas, and Bob Milloy. The Indians travel to Edgewood in round two, to take in the top seed Rams.  

Randallstown (8-2) shut out Fairmont Heights, 35-0, notching the Rams eighth straight win. The Rams visit Forest Park this week, to face the 9-1 Foresters. Sparrows Point (7-3) slipped by Rising Sun (1-9), 13-6, in the 2/1A North, and will host Fallston in the second round. The second round in the 4/3A North sees Towson travel to take on undefeated Perry Hall, and Kenwood (5-5) visiting 2021 4/3A state champion Mervo.  

Howard  

Reservoir made easy work of Severna Park in the opening round, with the Gators registering a 49-22 victory over the Falcons. Gators senior ‘AD’ Alvarado rushed for 237 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries, setting single-season post-season records in both rushing yards and touchdowns. Alvarado also set a single-season program record with 18 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Jordan Tate added 111 rushing yards on six carries, and threw for a score. The Gators (8-2) host Leonardtown in the second round in the 4/3A East, after the Raiders (5-5) went on the road and pummeled Howard (6-4), 42-12.  

Oakland Mills hot streak continues, after the Scorpions went on the road and captured a 29-6 win over River Hill, notching the Scorps fourth straight win. After beginning the season with a 0-6 record, and going scoreless in weeks five and six, the Scorpions ended Atholton’s four game win streak, arch rival Wilde Lake’s three game win streak, followed by a 42-6 win over Hammond in the regular season finale.  

The Scorpions (4-6) travel to Atholton (7-3) in the second round of the 3A East playoffs, as the Raiders will seek to avenge their week seven loss. The Raiders shut out Landsdowne, 35-0, in round one. Mt Hebron (7-2), the top seed in the 3A East, received a bye in the opening round and will host Oxon Hill for a berth in the quarterfinal, following the Clippers 18-0 shutout win over Marriotts Ridge (4-6) on Friday.  

Either Glenelg or Wilde Lake will gain a state quarterfinal berth when the Gladiators host the Wildecats in the second round of the 2A West. The Gladiators put away winless Hammond (0-10) in the first round, 46–18, winning their fifth in six games. The Wildecats moved on to the second round with a 17-6 win over Centennial (0-10). The Gladiators (7-3) and Wildecats (5-5) did not meet in the regular season.  

UCBAC 

Edgewood propelled to the second round with their 47-0 rout of Aberdeen (1-9), with the Rams recording their fourth shutout of the season, and holding their opponent to two touchdowns or less for the ninth time in ten games. The Rams (9-1) host Franklin (5-5) in the 3A North for a berth in the quarterfinal round. Bel Air pushed on to the second round in the 3A North as well, handing Overlea a blank sheet in the Bobcats 22-0 shutout win. The Bobcats (6-4) travel to City College (6-4) in round two, and prepare for the Black Knights high-octane passing game.  

Harford Tech saw a bye as the top seed in the 2/1A North, and will face Elkton in the second round, following the Golden Elks 55-15 over Chesapeake (B). The Cobras (6-3) and Golden Elks (4-6) met in week two, with the Cobras hanging on to a 27-25 win, getting touchdowns from both the defensive and special teams units. Fallston crushed North East (2-8), 42-13, in round one of the 2/1A North playoffs, and now the Cougars (6-4) travel to Sparrows Point in the second round.  

Four UCBAC teams remain alive in 1A, including top seeds Patterson Mill and Perryville. The Huskies (9-1), the top seed in the 1A North, will host Catoctin this weekend, while Perryville, top seed in the 1A East and idle last week, invites Bohemia Manor in round two. The Panthers (8-2) stomped the Eagles (6-4) in week eight, 42-2. The Eagles gained the berth in the second round with a 12-7 win over Colonel Richardson in the opening round. Havre de Grace produced one of the biggest upsets in round one, with their 35-32 win over two seed Brunswick, overcoming a 19-0 deficit. The Warriors (4-6) head to Boonsboro (8-2) in the second round.