4A
Flowers (13-0) v Quince Orchard (13-0)
Coaches – Flowers Dameon Powell 14th season 121-37, 13-8 p/o; Quince Orchard John Kelley 9th season 98-10, 23-5
Pts / Pts Allowed / Pt Differrntial – Flowers 42.7 / 5.6 / +37.2; Quince Orchard 42.6 / 3.8 / +38.8
Playoff history – Flowers 17-13, 0-0 in state final; Quince Orchard 43-15, 4-4
The 4A defending state champion Quince Orchard Cougars storm into the 4A title game with a full year of momentum and horsepower, after winning their second 4A state championship in three years last December. Flowers, the Cougars opponent, comes in flaunting the same sterling 13-0 record as the four-time state champions, and with the Jaguars riding a sea of surge following their second win over Wise this season, a program that has ruled the 4A classification over the last decade, winning five 4A crowns in nine-post-seasons, and four in six.
The Cougars advanced to their fifth 4A state championship game in the last six post-seasons under Coach John Kelley, with a dominating 42-9 win over Broadneck in the state semifinals, a game where the visiting Bruins didn’t find the end zone until the final play of the game. Sophomore standout Iverson Howard took the first play from scrimmage 58 yards to the end zone and the Cougars never looked back. Howard added another score in the first quarter, and quarterback Savan Briggs threw for a touchdown and ran for a score in the second quarter, as the Cougars took a 28-3 halftime lead, and a 42-3, running clock lead after three quarters. Chris Coleman hit his 14th field goal of the year on the Bruins first drive, before Howard answered with his second touchdown.
The Jaguars, in a twist, held the target on their backs heading into their state semifinal showdown with Wise, having beaten the Pumas on their home turf in an overtime thriller in October. It was their first victory for the Jags over the Pumas since 2009. Still, with the win and target that came with it, the game may not have gone to overtime had the Pumas received three separate 15 yard penalties on a go-ahead, point after attempt, after having tied the game. Saturday afternoon’s matchup presented two of the best three football teams among the 180+ that participate in the MPSSAA, and two that had produced two games of the last three between the two that weren’t decided until the next-to-last play and the very last play, respectively. The stage was set.
The Jags 16-13 overtime win over the Pumas in week six snapped the Pumas 77 game win streak versus Prince Georges County competition, but they had yet to conquer the Pumas in six post-season meetings, including a 28-6 loss to their county foes in a 4A state semifinal in 2021. That had followed another week six matchup with the game decided on the Jaguars final play, a two-point attempt to win the game that came up short. Nothing came up short for the Jags on Saturday, from Sean Johnson’s clutch playmaking, to the defense holding the Pumas to one score for 42+ minutes, before coming up with a huge interception to seal it and end the Pumas potential game-tying or winning drive.
While the Jaguars championship game appearance will be a first, the 4A state title game will feature the best in 4A from Montgomery County versus the best in 4A from Prince Georges County for the fifth time in six post-seasons, and seventh time in the last ten 4A state title games. Since the MPSSAA began play in 1974 in football, the two biggest counties in the ‘Free State’ have had representatives go against each other in the 4A (once AA) state championship game 18 times, with each county boasting nine state champions in the county versus county duel. While Montgomery County held a 6-1 edge over ‘PG’ over the first 25 seasons of the MPSSAA, they’ve gone 3-8 versus their counterparts since 1999, though Quince Orchard posted that third victory in 22 post-seasons last December, with a 31-13 win over Wise.
The dominance of the Cougars and Jaguars in the 2022 season and their respective corresponding numbers testifying to that dominance are strikingly similar, almost mirroring each other. The Jaguars average 42.7 points per game, the Cougars, 42.6, fourth and fifth in all of the MPSSAA, and the top two scoring teams in the 4A classification. The Cougars allow a MPSSAA-best 3.8 points per game, while the Jags surrender just 5.6 points per game, fourth overall in the MPSSAA, and second best in 4A. The Cougars +38.8 point differential ranks third overall in the MPSSAA (behind only Dunbar and Milford Mill ), and tops among the 4A teams, while the Jags mark of +37.2 ranks fourth overall, and second to the Cougars in 4A.
The Cougars held 11 of their first 12 opponents to one score or less, and Friday, versus their 13th opponent, the Cougars didn’t allow a second score until the last play of the game, leading by 39 points. Flowers held Paint Branch to six points in the quarterfinal, joining only the Cougars in limiting the Panthers to anything less then three scores this season. Outside of their two games with the Jaguars, the Pumas averaged 46.1 versus their other eleven opponents, but were limited to just 13 points a second time by the Jags on Saturday.
Cougars sophomore sensation Iverson Howard has rushed for 1,350 yards and scored 17 touchdowns on less than 12 carries per game. Senior three-way star Kendall Johnson has scored ten touchdowns on 22 offensive touches. Johnson also has returned a kickoff for a score on special teams, and has four sacks on defense. Senior quarterback Savan Briggs has completed 69% of his passes for more than 1,457 yards, with 23 touchdown passes, against just one interception. Tavahri Groves is another explosive playmaker for the Cougars, and scored twice in the win over Broadneck, one on a reception, and one on a jet sweep.
Sean Johnson makes the Flowers offense go, with the senior signal caller throwing for 1300 yards and 19 touchdowns (3 int), and rushing for 648 yards and 12 touchdowns. Daiquan Young adds 627 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Nasir Rhem has 25 receptions for 452 yards and five touchdowns, and Mattheu Ogunniyi has 430 yards and six touchdown receptions. Senior linebacker Kendric Council leads the Jaguars in both total tackles and solo tackles, while South Carolina commit Desmond Umeozulu leads the Jags with ten sacks. Junior defensive tackle Santana Williams adds ten sacks.
Coach Kelley has taken the Quince Orchard program to another level since taking the reigns from Dave Mancarini in 2014. Kelley served as the Cougars Defensive Coordinator for five seasons before taking the head coaching job, with the Cougs placing among the top twenty in the MPSSAA in points allowed in four of those five seasons. What a hire he’s been. With a 98-10 overall record, Kelley has the highest winning percentage (.907) in MPSSAA history. Kelley has a 23-5 post-season record, including a 16-1 mark over the last four tournaments. Kelley starred at Seneca Valley in the late 90s playing under Terry Changuris, winning a pair of 4A state titles in ‘97 and ‘98, playing alongside his younger brother Chris, who was selected as the Washington Post’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1999. John, a tight end and defensive end, earned All-Met honors in his senior year, securing 17 sacks.
Flowers coach Dameon Powell knows all about Montgomery County 4A football, having himself starred at Sherwood under Bob Milloy in ‘95 and ‘96, preceding the Screamin’
Eagles back-to-back 4A state titles in ‘97 and ‘98. Powell’s and Kelley’s ties on the gridiron go back 26 years, when Powell was an All-Met lineman his senior year, and Kelley was a sophomore for the Screamin’ Eagles. After losing to Kelley’s Screamin Eagles, 27-20, in week ten, Powell’s Warriors, led by running back Tyree Foreman, stunned 4,000 fans in Germantown with a 37-0 victory in the state semifinals two weeks later, with Foreman gaining 193 yards on the ground. seneca Valley, Sherwood. Milloy, Changuris. Championship pedigrees.
Powell boasts an impressive 121-37 overall record, including a 59-12 mark in seven seasons in Springdale. Since the 2017 opener, the Jaguars have a 52-8 record, including a 50-4 record against those not named Wise. Powell’s .766 win percentage ranks fifth in the MPSSAA among active coaches. Powell led DuVal the state semifinals in 2014, losing to Northwest, and led the Jags to their second state semifinal berth last season. Powell led DuVal to their first playoff appearance in 18 years in his first season at DuVal, and steadied a Flowers program that finished 4-6 the season before he arrived, and a team spiraling after their popular first season coach Cato June took a job at Howard University.
4/3A
Arundel (10-2) v North Point (10-3)
Coaches – Arundel Jack Walsh 5th season 37-14, 8-3 p/o ; North Point Billy Condo 1st season 10-3, 4-0
Pts / Pts Allowed / Pt Differential – Arundel 25.8 / 12.7 / +13.2; North Point 27.9 / 7.1 / +20.8
Playoff history – Arundel 21-23, 1-2 in state final; North Point 14-11, 0-1
Both Arundel and North Point enter the 4/3A state championship game bolstered by stingy, unyielding defensive units, two units that delivered their teams to the state title game by posting very impressive shutouts on the road in the state semifinals. Arundel, playing without junior quarterback Gavin Kamachi, who broke his collarbone in the Wildcats quarterfinal win over Seneca Valley, shutout defending state finalist Dundalk, 6-0, with starting running back Ahmad Taylor playing behind center in the ‘wildcat’. Late in the third quarter, Taylor followed a 32 yard run with a 20 yard zip through the middle to the end zone to put the Cats on the board, 6-0, with 2:12 remaining in the third quarter. That would be enough, with the defensive unit coming up with one last stop, punctuated by Jacob Knighton’s interception of an Owls desperate heave at the five yard line with 1:14 to play.
North Point traveled 68 miles to Ijamsville and posted their MPSSAA record best fourth shutout in the same post-season in the Eagles 17-0 win. The hometown 11-1 Hawks entered the game averaging 36.6 points per game, and having scored 24 or more points in each of their previous twelve games. The Eagles defense wasn’t having it, holding an offense that had scored 57 touchdowns in twelve games scoreless, and limiting the Hawks who averaged 310 yards of offense per game, to just 116 on Friday night. The Eagles have been smothering in the post-season, avenging one of their three regular season losses with a 50-0 pasting of Great Mills in the opening round, followed by a 35-0 shutout of Chopticon, followed by a very impressive 31-0 drubbing of Sherwood, before registering their biggest win of the season in Ijamsville.
Both teams come into the championship game battle-tested, with the Wildcats having played Delaware’s two 3A state finalists this year, Smyrna (lost) and Dover (won), and taking on then nationally ranked #2 St Frances in week nine, after having to find a replacement late in the scheduling process. Cats coach Jack Walsh consulted with a dozen of his players, and rather take a bye week, and strengthen their playoff point average by avoiding a loss and improving their seeding two weeks later, Arundel chose to take on the East Baltimore juggernaut. While the Wildcats and 4A state semifinalist Broadneck never met this year, the Cats had faced four stiff tests, including their quarterfinal matchup with Seneca Valley, and a return trip to Dundalk, on a field where they suffered a 40-6 loss to the Owls in the 2021 4/3A state semifinal. These Cats won’t be intimidated.
North Point too boasts a strong strength of schedule, a slate featuring a half dozen quality games. The Eagles opened up with Wise, losing 20-18, then closed the regular season going to Huntingtown, hosting St Charles and Northern, and closing the regular season at Patuxent. Wise has been the staple in 4A for a decade, St Charles fell just short of a state title game berth at Oakdale, Northern is the defending 3A state champion, and Patuxent will be playing for the 2/1A title. To add, Sherwood came into their quarterfinal matchup with a 9-2 record, and Urbana came into the semifinal clash at 11-1. After falling just short of the Pumas, the Eagles suffered a 14-8 loss to Great Mills in week two to fall to 0-2. Since, the Eagles have won ten of their last eleven games, including a 17 point win over St Charles, a 31-3 win over Northern, and an eight point loss to Patuxent in week nine.
Cats coach Coach Walsh is a Chuck Markiewicz disciple, having played for the legendary coach at North County, then working under him at Arundel as an assistant for 13 years before taking the head coaching job when his mentor stepped down after 18 seasons with the Wildcats. Now, without a polished quarterback, Walsh and the Wildcats will rely on Taylor even more, and it all but takes out two of the Cats best offensive players in the passing game in seniors Chris Downs and Miles Gilmore. Taylor has led the Wildcats in rushing the last two seasons and has rushed for 1,021 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. Downs and Gilmore have combined for 101 receptions for 1,302 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior linebacker Camden Neisweinder headlines the Cats stubborn defensive unit, and produced seven tackles in the win over the Owls. Senior Avery Struve has six interceptions.
The Eagles offense is spurred by a rushing attack headlined by Tyrone Hudson and quarterback Kaleb Hart. Hudson has rushed for 1,676 yards and nine touchdowns, while Hart has registered 769 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. William Gray bolsters the running game with 588 yards and seven touchdowns. Xavier Herbert has caught 27 receptions for 652 yards and seven touchdowns. The Eagles formidable defense has produced 28 turnovers, led by Kyree Wimberly’s six interceptions. Kamari Loving leads the Eagles with 64 solo tackles and 103 tackles, and has eight sacks, while Mackai Young leads the Eagles in sacks, with 14.
North Point lost their very successful eight year coach, Tom Petre, over the off-season, but his former assistant, Billy Condo, has the Eagles back in a state championship game for the second time in four post-seasons. The Eagles fell short of Quince Orchard in the 2018 4A title game, 40-33, in their first title game appearance. Petre went 69-14 in his eight seasons with the Eagles, which produced the fourth highest win percentage among active MPSSAA coaches before he stepped down, after he and his wife relocated to Ohio. Condo has been a part of the North Point program since it’s infancy, first serving as an assistant to Ken Lane (now an assistant), then Petre. Eagles Defensive Coordinator Mike Rucker led Parkdale to the 2002 state title, twenty years ago this week.
3A
Damascus (11-1) v Oakdale (11-2)
Coaches – Damascus Josh Klotz 10th season 65-37, 7-6 p/o; Oakdale Kurt Stein 12th season 80-47, 10-6
Pts / Pts Allowed / Pt Differential – Damascus 41.1 / 10.5 / +30.6; Oakdale 31.5 / 18.0 / +13.5
Playoff history – Damascus 60-19, 11-4 in state final; Oakdale 10-6, 1-0
The ‘Group of Death’ lives on. For decades, the 3A West region was as loaded as any region in any class in the state, and was a main driver in MPSSAA’s post-season expansions in both 2003 and 2019, the latter which added a week to the post-season and allowed two teams from a region to advance to a quarterfinal round, where the eight teams were re-seeded. Now, Damascus and Oakdale benefit from the change, and now it all but eliminates the two best teams in a classification competing for a regional championship. In fact, without the change, we wouldn’t have three of the championships we have this week, though we wouldn’t have two if the MPSSAA didn’t move to six classifications.
After a not-so-normal 7-4 record in 2021, Damascus has been dominant this season, with their only loss coming to Quince Orchard. The Swarmin’ Hornets have won eight straight games since the loss of the Cougars, and scored 42 or more points in six of the eight games, including their 42-7 win over River Hill in the state semifinal. Senior three-way star Dillon Dunathan rushed for 249 yards and four touchdowns in three quarters in the win over the Hawks, and has amassed 706 yards in three post-season games. scoring ten touchdowns. Sophomore Michael Cooley added 96 rushing yards and two scores in the semifinal win. The Swarmin’ Hornets rushed for a total of 822 yards over their last two games versus the Hawks and Long Reach in the quarterfinal.
Oakdale needed a game-winning fourth quarter drive to put away eight seed St Charles, 27-22, and advance to their second state championship in their program’s history. Bears senior quarterback Evan Austin rushed 26 times for 153 yards and two scores, including the game-winner with 3:31 remaining in regulation. The Bears were able to take a 21-14 halftime lead by scoring a touchdown in the final 34 seconds of the half after the Spartans had tied it at 14. Austin connected with senior Hunter Thompson for a 32 yard gain, and after lining up for a field goal with :1.4 remaining, senior kicker Cory Blanchard took the direct snap and found William Hodges in the corner of the end zone. Thompson gave the Bears their first lead of the game after taking an interception 74 yards for a score in the second quarter, just as the Spartans looked to push it to a two score margin.
Damascus head coach Josh Klotz is in his third season with the Swarmin’ Hornets, after seven successful seasons at Richard Montgomery. The Swarmin’ Hornets are bidding to win their 12th state championship in their program’s history, which would match Seneca Valley for the most in MPSSAA history (Dunbar too can win their 12th this weekend). With Friday night’s win over River Hill, the Swarmin’ Hornets became the third team in MPSSAA history to notch 60 post-season wins, joining Dunbar and Fort Hill. Oakdale head coach Kurt Stein has been with the Bears since the program’s inception in 2011. Stein holds an 80-47 record over twelve seasons, and led the Bears to the 2018 2A state title, behind the direction of quarterback Collin Schlee.
Dunathan has followed his All-State junior campaign with an outstanding senior season, rushing for 1736 yards and scoring 22 touchdowns, and adding 44 solo tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and six sacks. Dunathan also has a 73 yard touchdown reception, and a fumble return for a score, for a total of 24 touchdowns. Cooley, the sophomore, has rushed for 722 yards and ten touchdowns, and has added 53 total tackles and nine tackles for loss on defense. While the Hornets have a tradition of ‘ground and pound’, their passing game is more than an afterthought, as senior Thomas McDarby has thrown for 965 yards and 15 touchdowns, with only two interceptions. Senior linebacker Dustin Hottel leads the Swarmin’ Hornets with 67 total tackles, 45 solo tackles, and 12 tackles for loss. The Swarmin’ Hornets defense has scored seven touchdowns this season.
Austin, like Schlee in 2018, makes the Bears go. The senior dual-threat quarterback has rushed for 1,380 yards and 15 touchdowns, and thrown for 1,487 yards and 16 scores. Austin also picked off a lateral on St Charles last drive to seal the Bears victory. In three playoff games, Austin has accounted for 726 yards and nine touchdowns. Thompson is Austin’s #1 target, with 53 receptions for 901 yards and ten touchdowns, and has also come up with big plays on defense and special teams, taking a kickoff back for a touchdown, a punt back for a touchdown, and added an interception for a score on Friday night. Junior defensive end Dominic Nichols, a 6’4 235 prospect that holds 16 offers, including those from Penn State, Michigan, and Maryland, among others, has 10.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and a program-best 48 quarterback pressures.
The two teams have met three times in the post-season, with the Swarmin’ Hornets winning two of three, but the Bears winning the last. Damascus topped the Bears, 44-21, in the opening round in 2015, and 42-21 in the regional final the following year, before going on to win the 3A state titles and finish with an unblemished 14-0 record in both years. In 2018, behind Schlee, the Bears knocked off the Swarmin’ Hornets, 24-7, before going on to win the 2A state title and finish 13-0. Since 2011, the 3A West has sent a league member to the 3A state championship game in each of the last ten post-seasons, posting a 4-6 record, though those four titles have come in just the last six years.
2A
Milford Mill (13-0) v Kent Island (12-1)
Coaches – Milford Mill 20th season 161-62, 20-11 p/o; Kent Island Byron Sofinowski 15th season 109-60, 10-7
Pts / Pts Allowed / Pt Differential – 46.9 / 7.4 / +39.6; Kent Island 35.6 / 10.7 / +24.9
Playoff history – Milford Mill 27-20, 1-3 in state final; Kent Island 13-12, 0-0
The 2A state championship features the two hottest 2A teams since week two, including undefeated Milford Mill, the top ranked 2A team all season, and Kent Island, who has won 12 straight games since the Buccaneers lost their opener to Easton. The Millers have been one of the most dominant teams in the MPSSAA this season, registering the second highest point differential among all classifications, at +39.6. Kent Island emerged as the best team in a competitive Bayside Conference this season, as the Bucs posted victories over 2A state semifinalist Decatur, Wicomico (twice), and a 7-1 Queen Anne’s team.
While the Millers mauled competition for eleven weeks, they’ve received a couple of scares over the last two weeks. The Millers trailed at halftime for the first time this season in their quarterfinal matchup with Walkersville, before ushering past the Lions with a 20-7 win. Last Friday, the Millers survived a game with Decatur that saw five lead changes and one tie, before the guys in green pulled out a 40-33 victory at home. In a season where Millers running back Sean Williams has been outstanding, the Mt St Joe transfer had his finest game in the state semifinal, rushing for 310 yards and four touchdowns. Still, the Millers allowed the Seahawks 402 offensive yards, including 320 through the air, and 33 points.
After two blowout wins in the regionals, including a 38-0 win over Wicomico, the Bucs have put together a pair of wins over proven, championship caliber programs in the quarterfinals and semifinals in Huntingtown and Middletown. Huntingtown advanced to seven state semifinal appearances in eleven seasons from ‘09 through ‘19, and Middletown has won four state titles in the last ten post-seasons. MPSSAA leading rusher Kasey Heath rushed for 316 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-11 win over the Hurricanes in the quarterfinals, then a hard fought 134 yards on 28 carries and both of the Bucs scores in their 14-7 win over the four-time state champion Knights in the semifinals.
Both of the coaches in the 2A title game have been longtime head coaches for their respective schools, with Milford Mill alum’ Reggie White in his 20th season with the Millers, and Bryon Sofinowski in his 15th season with the Bucs, but his first year back in his second stint. White has recorded a 161-62 record, and ranks seventh among active MPSSAA coaches in wins, and eighth in post-season wins, with 20. Sofinowski came home again after Damian Ferragamo stepped down after seven seasons at Kent Island. Ferragamo replaced Sofinowski in 2015, after 14 years directing the Buccaneers program. Sofinowski boasts a 109-61 record with the Buccaneers.
The Millers offense has been a record-breaking one, with Williams breaking rushing and touchdown records, junior Deshawn Purdie setting passing records, and the team shattering the program’s scoring record weeks ago. Williams has rushed for 1,928 yards and 36 touchdowns, and has added 11 receptions for 180 yards and a score. Purdie has thrown for 2,621 yards and 27 touchdowns, shadowing five interceptions. Senior Daysen Shell has 41 receptions for 938 yards and 13 touchdowns. and has added 466 yards in kickoff and punt returns. Senior 6’3 275 defensive tackle Emmanuel Gee has recorded 25 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.
Heath is having a season for the ages, registering 2,527 yards and 39 touchdowns on 332 carries, including 808 yards and 11 touchdown in four post-season games. Heath adds 65 solo tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and seven sacks and an interception he returned for a touchdown on defense. While Bucs quarterback Tommy McAndrews threw an interception in the semifinal, he connected on five of his other eight passes for 109 yards, including two key completions on the Bucs game-winning drive. Junior defensive tackle Giuseppe Mellinger has posted 84 solo tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks.
2/1A
Dunbar (12-0) v Patuxent (11-2)
Coaches – Dunbar Lawrence Smith 15th season 168-24, 48-7 p/o; Patuxent Steve Crounse 19th season 151-65, 17-11
Pts / Pts Allowed / Pt Differential – Dunbar 48.5 / 7.4 / +41.1; Patuxent 35.6 / 15.4 / +20.2
Playoff history – Dunbar 69-14, 11-3 in state final; Patuxent 19-11, 1-2
After the Dunbar Poets ran away from South Carroll in the first 2/1A title game last season, and with their top two extraordinary playmakers returning, the question was, ‘does anyone even stand a chance with the Poets in 2022?’ So far, chances have been few and far in between, and the answer has been no.. Mervo hung with their city rivals, but the Poets had comfort in the fourth quarter with a ten point lead until the game’s final play. The last chance stands with Patuxent, who have won 11 of their last 12 games, including their last six, highlighted by a victory over 4/3A state finalist, North Point.
Poets coach Lawrence Smith has won more post-season games than any other coach in MPSSAA history, with 48, and holds the best post-season win percentage in MPSSAA history, at .873. Smith has a startling 168-24 record with the Poets over 15 seasons, and is looking to become one of just three coaches in MPSSAA history to have won eight state titles, joining legends Bob Milloy and Al Thomas. Smith will join Milloy and Thomas as the only coaches in MPSSAA history to coach in at least ten state championship games.
Across the field, Steve Crounse will be leading Patuxent, in his first season of his second stint with the Panthers. In his first stint at Patuxent, Crounse led the Panthers to a pair of title game appearances, in ‘13 and in ‘15 – when they won their first and only state championship in their program’s history. Crounse became one of eight active coaches in the MPSSAA to notch 150 victories in the Panthers 33-24 win over Williamsport in the quarterfinals.
The Poets have an array of playmakers, headlined by seniors Tristan Kenan and Devin Roche. Kenan has rushed for 1,922 yards and 22 touchdowns, and rushed for 100 yards or more in each of the Poets 12 games. Roche, who injured his foot in their matchup with Mervo, and missed the subsequent two games, has rushed for 1.522 yards and 16 touchdowns. Sophomore Savion Witherspoon has thrown for 1,486 passing yards, and senior Tony Hart has registered 1,022 receiving yards. Senior defensive tackle Joshua Fedd leads the Poets in tackles and sacks, with 67 and 18, respectively. Hart has added five interceptions on defense. The Poets have scored 46 points or more in nine of their twelve games, including in each of their last five games. The Poets are averaging 48.5 points per game, which would rank second to only the ‘21 Poets in points per game in MPSSAA history.
The Panthers top playmaker is senior Asa Locks, who has scored four different ways, and who caught two receptions for 77 yards and returned an interception for a score in the Panthers 43-21 win over Harford Tech in the semifinals. Locks averages 22.9 yards per reception and has seven touchdown receptions, to go with six interceptions on defense, and three kickoff returns for touchdowns and a punt return for a touchdown on special teams. Evan Blouir, the Panthers dual threat quarterback, has had an outstanding season, throwing for 1,466 yards and 15 touchdowns, and rushing for 1,089 yards and 12 touchdowns. Daiquan Buck rushed for 77 yards and three scores on 12 carries in the semifinal win over the Cobras.
While the Poets go for an even dozen number of state championships, and look for their MPSSAA-best 69fh post-season victory, Crounse’s Panthers did knock off the Poets in the 2015 2A state semifinals, 17-8, on their way to their first state championship.
1A
Mountain Ridge (12-0) v Fort Hill (12-1)
Coaches – Mountain Ridge Ryan Patterson 7th season 43-22, 7-1 p/o; Fort Hill Zach Alkire 3rd season 26-2, 9-0
Pts / Pts Allowed / Pt Differential – Mountain Ridge 46.9 / 10.5 / +36.5; Fort Hill 39.1 / 7.3 / +31.8
Playoff history – Mountain Ridge 8-2, 0-1 in state final; Fort Hill 67-27, 8-7
This relatively new rivalry has turned into a special one for the last several seasons, and pits two Western Maryland juggernauts in the 1A title game for a second year in a row. Fort Hill is arguably the most storied program in Maryland history, while Mountain Ridge is the new kid on the block, who has beaten the Sentinels in two of their last four meetings. Though, the Miners have yet to get past ‘Big Red’ in the ‘big one’.
After notching their first win over Fort Hill in their program’s history in the very abbreviated spring season of ‘21, the Mariners were stifled by the Sentinels later that fall, 37-7. With the newer MPSSAA post-season format in place, sending two teams with each region to the quarterfinal round, the Sentinels and Miners met in the 1A state championship game eight weeks later, with Fort Hill scoring 35 unanswered points in a 51-31 win. The Miners led, 19-10, early in the second quarter. This season, the Miners turned the tables on the Sentinels, capturing a 30-8 win at home, holding the Sentinels offense scoreless for 42 minutes.
The Miners are led by dual threat senior quarterback Uma Pua’auli, who became the first player in MPSSAA history to throw for 25 touchdowns and run for 20 scores in the same season, and is a passing touchdown from establishing the ‘30-20’ club. Pua’auli has thrown for 1,831 yards and 29 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,132 yards and 20 touchdowns. Senior Jaden Lee is a threat in both the running and passing games, with 764 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. and 635 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Senior middle linebacker Hunter Clise leads the Miners in solo tackles, with 101, and recorded 12 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
The Sentinels rushing attack, led by seniors Tavin Willis, Tanner Wertz, and Mikey Allen, along with sophomore Jabril Daniels, have combined to rush for more than 3,400 yards and 49 touchdowns. Willis took the Sentinels first play from scrimmage 53 yards for a touchdown in the Sentinels 41-6 win over Joppatowne in the state semifinals, and ‘Big Red’ never looked back. Allen added two rushing touchdowns and an interception in the win over the Mariners, and leads the Sentinels in touchdowns, with 19. Junior defensive tackle Carter Hess leads the Sentinels in tackles, solo tackles, and tackles for loss, with 24.
Zack Alkire is in his third season at Fort Hill, and has a sterling 26-2 record, including an 8-0 record in the post-season. The Sentinels will look to win their ninth state championship, breaking a tie with their arch rival Allegany for fourth most in MPSSAA history, behind Seneca Valley, Damascus, and Dunbar. Ryan Patterson is 43-22 in his seventh season at Mountain Ridge and has an overall record of 43-22, including a 7-1 mark in the post-season.
HS Sports Analyst
Willie, a native of Chicago, and now a resident of Columbia for 40 years, is an educator at Homewood Center in Howard County, after spending 12 years as a real estate agent, following 10 years of running a small men’s retail company. Willie has contributed to Max Preps, Digital Sports, and Varsity Sports Network. Willie has produced MPSSAA top 25 rankings for both football and basketball for 15 years, across various platforms. From a large ‘sports family’, Willie’s brother Mike led Reservoir High to the 3A basketball state title game in 2018, while his nephew Anthony serves as the Indianapolis Colts College Scouting Coordinator.