Baltimore Sports an Life looks back at the first few weeks on the gridiron for the top area teams, with a look forward to what’s ahead in September. First review, 10 weeks from the state semifinals. 1st
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Baltimore City
A week after winning its fourth game in its last six meetings with the Dunbar Poets, Mervo manhandled Poly, 42-0. The Mustangs face few tests the rest of the way, with Edmondson and City College the biggest challenges ahead of them, creating a nice path forward to to a possible 1 seed, and avoiding a matchup with Franklin in the regionals.
Despite a Week 1 loss for the Dunbar Poets, and with all respect due to Edmondson, Colonel Richardson, and all of the other soldiers in Class 1A, most avid fans project the seemingly inevitable seventh post-season clash between the ten-time champs and the Fort Hill Sentinels, and sixth meeting in the title game. In Week 2, he Poets dismantled Digital Harbor, 47-0, after a 34-0 margin at intermission.
Edmondson glided In Week 2, as the Red Storm put the pat-down on Patterson, 32-14. The Red Storm will find their true measure in October, when they host Mervo and Dunbar. The Black Knights of City College moved to 2-0, blanking Douglass, 33-0. After traveling to Forest Park next week, the Knights go to Mervo, then host Dunbar. The Lewis Falcons, who have scored 88 points in two weeks, hosts the Poets this week.
1 7 Mervo (2-0)
2 15 Dunbar (1-1)
3 ** Edmondson (2-0)
4 ** City College (2-0)
5 ** Lewis (2-0)
6 ** Lake Clifton (1-0)
Note; Second column reflects MPSSAA Top 50 Ranking.
Top September games ahead; WK3 – Dunbar @ Lewis, Lake Clifton @ Mervo; WK4 – City College @ Mervo
Baltimore County
The defending 3A State Champion Indians found tough sledding once again in an early season matchup with a local private, a week after knocking off top Long Island private, St Anthony’s, 33-15, on the road. The Indians are now 0-7 over the last 7 years in Week 1 and 2 matchups with Calvert Hall, DeMatha, and McDonogh, collectively, suffering their third loss to the Eagles over that span.
The Indians were in a 7-3 tussle with just over a minute remaining in the first half, before the Eagles Harrison Beattie drilled a 47 yard field goal just before intermission, his first of three on the night, to take a 10-3 halftime lead. The Eagles dominated in the second half, winding up a 38-3 rout. The Indians, who produced 518 yards of offense in Week 1, were limited to 15 yards of total offense and one first down in the second half.
Milford Mill, a week after holding on to a 2-point win over rival New Town at home, 14-12, went on the road and handled, Hereford, 35-13, with junior quarterback Rishon Holmes throwing for three touchdowns. New Town routed Owings Mills, 42-8, breaking open a 13-8 halftime lead, as Brian Williams ran for two touchdowns and threw for one, leading the Titans to 29 unanswered second half points.
The Warriors of Woodlawn shut out Western Tech, and Parkville did the same to Towson, 26-0. Dundalk was blanked by the Saints of Concordia Prep, 13-0. The Owls, who travel to Franklin Friday night, will have their hands full avoiding a two game skid, as the Indians too are coming off a humbling loss, as well. Kenwood went to Perry Hall and blanked the Gators, 46-0, but now are tasked with a first semester test with Harford Tech this week.
1 8 Franklin (1-1)
2 12 Milford Mill (2-0)
3 17 New Town (1-1)
4 25 Woodlawn (2-0)
5 32 Dundalk (1-1)
6 49 Parkville (2-0)
7 ** Kenwood (2-0)
Note; Second column reflects MPSSAA Top 50 Ranking.
Top September games ahead; WK3 – Dundalk @ Franklin, Harford Tech @ Kenwood; WK4 – Franklin @ Milford Mill, Douglass PG @ Dundalk
Howard County
Following six straight seasons of winning both of their first two games, the Howard Lions took a Week 2 loss for the second year in a row, losing to South Hagerstown, 19-10. A week after hanging on to edge Reservoir, the Lions couldn’t generate enough offensive production against the Rebels, and the unit has managed just three touchdowns in the first two weeks.
The Lions are working without Devin Dawkins for the first time in four years, as the Lions graduate took with him his nearly 6,000 career all-purpose yards and 74 touchdowns in May. Things get no easier for the Lions this week, as the Lions take on Baltimore Metro Top 10 Loyola, and the 3-0 Dons, before hosting Sherwood. Following that, the Lions finish with five straight county games. Dating back to the 2013 season, the Lions have won 52 of 54 games versus county competition, with both losses coming in the (‘16, ‘18) Elgard Bowl to their long-time rival, Glenelg.
Glenelg, meanwhile, pulled out a somewhat miraculous last-minute thriller in Week 2, versus Delaware’s #7 Smyrna, 29-26, when Mason Davis found Kyle Dry on a game-winning 55 yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds to play. The defending 2A State finalist Gladiators travel to Urbana this week, then Westminster, before hosting Howard in Week 5 ,in the 2019 edition of the Elgard Bowl.
River Hill, who won or shared 8 of 9 county titles from ‘04-12, has just a share (‘17) to show over the last six seasons. The four-time State Champion Hawks, however, have larger aspirations. and are looking for their first semifinal berth since 2013. In Week 2, the Hawks demolished Mt Hebron, 62-7, after taking a 49-0 halftime lead. The Hawks haven’t allowed a point in the first three quarters in either of their first two games.
Long Reach, who has made three straight post-season appearances, including winning its first three post-season games in school history, rebounded from a 2-point loss to Woodlawn in Week 1, with a 13-0 shutout of Reservoir in Week 2. The Lightning host Marriotts Ridge this week, after the Mustangs shut out Wilde Lake, 7-0, a week after the ‘Stangs took a competitive 14-7 loss from defending 2A State finalist, Glenelg.
1 16 River Hill (2-0)
2 22 Glenelg (2-0)
3 26 Long Reach (1-1)
4 33 Howard (1-1)
5 43 Marriotts Ridge (1-1)
6 ** Wilde Lake (0-2)
7 ** Reservoir (0-2)
Note; Second column reflects MPSSAA Top 50 Ranking.
Top September games ahead; WK3 – Marriotts Ridge @ Long Reach, Howard @ Loyola, Glenelg @ Urbana; WK4 – River Hill @ Marriotts Ridge, Sherwood @ Howard, Glenelg @ Westminster
Anne Arundel
Despite the return of their respective flame-throwers, Arundel and Broadneck have took their bumps and bruises through two weeks, and in the Bruins case, took two losses in two games. Both the Cats and Bruins returned quarterbacks that littered top 5 passing lists in 2018, in Austin Slye and Josh Erlich, respectively, but both struggled in Week 2, with teams they dominated a year ago.
Broadneck shut out Old Mill, 35-0, last year, before finishing with its second consecutive 10-0 regular season. In Week 2, the Patriots Caron Tull broke open a 14-12 game in the second half with two scores, finishing with 137 yards on 25 carries in the 28-12 victory.
The Bruins, who had won 20 straight regular season games versus county competition coming in, has lost the first two games of the season for the first time in this century. The Bruins sophomore signal-caller Erlich, who battled dropped passes, among other things, finished throwing 23-43 for 230 yards.
In 2018, Arundel routed Severna Park, 35-0, just as the Bruins had done to the Patriots, but the Cats had to scratch their way to a 27-16 win in Week 2.
Meanwhile, South River, who finished as the hottest county team a year ago, despite going 6-4 in their ten game slate, has picked up where they left off, despite the loss of star running back Joey Foy and two-way star linemen KaRon Lewis to graduation. The soaring Seahawks cruised to a sound 35-14 victory over Meade, with the defense forcing six turnovers, and David Foust throwing for 253 yards and three touchdowns.
Meade hosts Old Mill In Week 3, as Mustangs Coach Mike Francis faces familiarity, after coaching the Patriots basketball team over their last five seasons. The winner moves to 2-1, the loser, 1-2. Nap Town rebounded from a one score loss to Meade, with a 33-6 win over Glen Burnie. Both Chesapeake and North County moved to 2-0.
1 18 South River (2-0)
2 35 Arundel (1-1)
3 45 Meade (1-1)
4 46 Old Mill (1-1)
5 48 Annapolis (1-1)
6 ** Chesapeake (2-0)
7 ** North County (2-0)
8 ** Broadneck (0-2)
Note; Second column reflects MPSSAA Top 50 Ranking.
Top September games ahead; WK3 – Old Mill @ Meade, Arundel @ North County, South River @ Annapolis; WK4 – South River @ Arundel, North County @ Old Mill, Annapolis @ Broadneck
Carroll County
Carroll has never established a foothold on the statewide gridiron landscape in the MPSSAA’s 45 years, with zero state titles, and just three title game appearances to speak of. In Week 2, both Liberty and Westminster had a chance for redemption, if not respect, but both left with resounding defeats to quality out-of-county opponents.
Liberty ran into a roadblock in Week 2, getting shut down by the Walkersville Lions, 27-7, as 2018 Carroll County POY Nate Kent was limited to 36 passing yards, and 31 yards on 12 carries. After scoring just 7 points against both Linganore and Walkersville, the Lions look to jump-start their offense against Century this week, with the defending County Champion Lions having won 17 of their last 18 games versus county competition.
A week after Linganore handed Liberty a 35-7 loss, the Lancers shutout Westminster, 31-0. The Owls, who lost to South River, 42-20, in Week 1, looks for its first victory this week when they face South Carroll, before hosting Glenelg, a week later. Manchester Valley moved to 2-0 for the first time since 2015.
1 ** Liberty (0-2)
2 ** Westminster (0-2)
Note; Second column reflects MPSSAA Top 50 Ranking.
Top September games ahead; WK3 – Century @ Liberty; WK4 – Glenelg @ Westminster
UCBAC
The Golden Elks of Elkton have a rich tradition on the gridiron, and look to have another contender this year. The Elks have made 18 playoff appearances over the last 27 years (20 overall), winning 11 regional championships, capturing a state title in 2000.
In Week 2, the Elks throttled Edgewood, 42-8, after staking a 35-0 halftime lead, and a 42-0 margin after three stanzas.
Harford Tech, who lost to Elkton, 21-14, in last year’s regional semifinal, took a 33-14 victory over Aberdeen. The Cobras have won 21 of their last 23 matchups v UCBAC completion, including the 7 point loss to the Elks last November.
1 14 Elkton (2-0)
2 39 Harford Tech (2-0)
Note; Second column reflects MPSSAA Top 50 Ranking.
Top September games ahead; WK3 – Harford Tech @ Kenwood; WK4 – Edgewood @ Harford Tech, Havre de Grace @ Elkton
Tomorrow we will update the MIAA.
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.