First Third; A Look at Week 3 on the Gridiron in the MPSSAA

Franklin bounces back, silencing the Owls, with a ‘big one’ awaiting. Mervo continues to romp. River Hill is rolling along so well it’d make Mary proud. Elkton is still stacking up touchdowns, and South River is dropping ‘60 burgers’ on county comp’. Broadneck, Liberty, and Westminster all notch their first wins of the season.

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Baltimore County

The Indians of Franklin responded from their 38-3 loss to McDonogh with a 49-10 rout of county rival Dundalk, to open up league play. Vernon Brown threw for 17-22 for 318 yards and 5 touchdowns, with Anthony Morante on the other end of 5 of those passes for 102 yards and a pair of Brown’s touchdown passes. Corey Crawford also caught a pair of touchdown passes. Damon David and Xavier Cokley each picked off a pair of Owls passes.

The Indians host their chief county nemesis this week, the Millers of Milford Mill, in what has proved to be one of the best regular season matchups in the area over the last several seasons. Four of the last five meetings between the two over the last three years have been decided by 6 points or less.

In 2016, Franklin held off Milford Mill, 24-20, on the Indians Homecoming, before registering the only rout in the last handful of contests, with a 28-7 win over the Millers in the regional final. In 2017, the Millers came back from  a 15 point, fourth quarter deficit, then held off Franklin’s final flurry to secure a 26-21 victory in week 7, snapping a 7 game run by the Tribe in the series.

Trailing 21-6 in the fourth, the Indians capitalized on a pair of special teams plays to cut the lead to 1, 21-20, after starting a scoring drive at the Indians 18 yard line following a poor punt, then recovering a squib kick in Indians territory at the 13 yard line, following the short field scoring drive. After what turned out to be the game-winning score with less than 6 minutes to play, the Millers had to stave off an Indians drive that landed inside the Millers 10 yard line with less than 10 seconds to play.

Last year, the two Baltimore County heavyweights battled to a pair of one possession games, with the Millers winning in overtime in the regular season tilt, and the Indians edging their foes by 3 in the regional semifinal. In the week 7 matchup, the Millers defense recorded three interceptions in the 19-13 overtime win, stuffing the Indians on three plays from the 3 yard line in the extra session. In the regional semifinal, the Indians held off two fourth quarter Millers possessions that began inside their territory in the 15-12 victory.

While the two county juggernauts head to battle this week, the Owls look to regroup versus PG 3/2/1A power Douglass, and the 3-0 Eagles. New Town used a 20-7 second half to separate from a 28-21 halftime lead over Hereford, in a 48-28 win. Parkville went to Columbia and scored 42 unanswered points in a 42-12 blowout at Hammond. The Knights are 3-0 for the first time since 2007, when they started 5-0, and finished 6-4.

Randallstown shut down rival Woodlawn, 12-6, handing the Warriors their first loss of the season. Catonsville, who came into the season having lost 19 of their last 21 games, are now 3-0, following the Comets 35-0 shutout of Western Tech.

Baltimore County Power Rankings* – Week 4
*First number is our County Power Ranking, second number is our MPSSAA Power Ranking. 

1 6 Franklin (2-1)

2 10 Milford Mill (3-0)

3 19 New Town (2-1)

4 39 Parkville (3-0)

5 46 Kenwood (2-1)

6 ** Dundalk (1-2)

7 ** Woodlawn (2-1)

Top matchup this week; Milford Mill @ Franklin

Baltimore City

Mervo won its 42nd in its last 46 meetings against Baltimore City schools, with a 38-12 win over Lake Clifton. The Mustangs host City College this week, as the Black Knights hold a 3-0 record for the first time since 2013. The Knights have outscored Patterson, Douglass B, and Forest Park, 83-13, collectively.

The Mustangs have won five straight in the series since a 20-14 Black Knights overtime victory in 2013, including a 54-0 rout last season.

Dunbar won its 22nd in its last 23 tries versus city competition, with a 36-6 win over Lewis, following a lackluster 14-6 first half. The Edmondson Red Storm pummeled Douglass B, 66-0, to move to 3-0. The Red Storm have outscored Digital Harbor, Patterson, and Douglass B, 116-14, combined. After hosting Poly this week, the Red Storm host Mervo on the 4th.

Baltimore City Power Rankings* – Week 4
*First number is our City Power Ranking, second number is our MPSSAA Power Ranking.

1 7 Mervo (3-0)

2 24 Dunbar (2-1)

3 50 Edmondson (3-0)

4 ** City College (3-0)

Top matchup this week; City College @ Mervo

Howard County

Outside of their 2017 season, the River Hill Hawks had just one three-game winning streak over the last five years, before trouncing Reservoir, 41-13, in their meeting with the Gators on Friday, pushing the four-time state champions to 3-0. Anthony Behmann rushed for two touchdowns, and kicker Santiago Bryant made all five extra point attempts, and added successful 27 and 41 yard three-point attempts.

The Hawks travel to Marriotts Ridge this week, following the Mustangs 16-12 victory at Long Reach. The #StangGang capitalized on defense and special teams early, registering a safety, and then following that up with a Javlin Moore 60 yard free-kick return for a score and a 9-0 lead. The Mustangs, who shut out a Wilde Lake team last week, after the Cats had scored 20 points on Oakdale the week before, were led by their defense again, preventing the Lightning from one sustained drive, as the Bolts scored on 60 and 70 yard pass plays, the former cutting the lead to four in the fourth quarter.

‘Rowdy Ridge’ should be rocking this week, as the Marriottsville school searches for its first win over River Hill in school history. While Hawks hold a 11-0 series lead over the Mustangs, three of the last four meetings have been decided by 7 points or less. Before that, the Hawks had outscored the ‘Stangs 357-18 (51.0-2.6) in their first 7 meetings.

In 2015, the Hawks edged the Mustangs, 12-6, breaking a stalemate at 6 l, with a Cooper McGeehan 25 yard interception return to the ‘Stangs 15 yard line, setting up the game-winning score. In 2016, the Hawks fought to a 14-7 win on the Mustangs Homecoming, and in ‘17, scratched out a 17-10 victory, after trailing 10-7 at intermission. Last year, the Hawks routed the Mustangs, 35-13, in week 10. The Mustangs, who started 3-0 in 2018, finished 4-6 following a season-ending injury to Kameron Young (119 rushing yards per game) in week 5.

The defending state 2A state runner-up Glenelg Gladiators were handed their first loss of the season, and their first regular season loss since 2017, after surrendering a 42-28 fourth quarter lead to Urbana, losing in overtime, 49-42. The Gladiators led 28-14, when a 77 yard Hawks touchdown pass cut it to 7, then surrendered an 82 yard score to cut the deficit to 42-35, followed by a 26 yard game-tying touchdown pass.

The Hawks scored on fourth down in the extra session, while the Gladiators 4th down pass from the 11 yard line was batted down. The Gladiators head to Westminster in week 4, as Glenelg looks to remain above .500, while the Owls hope to reach that level.

Howard lost for a second week in a row, falling to Loyola, 42-28, the first time the Lions have suffered back-to-back regular season losses since 2013. There will be no piece of cake for the Lions this week, as they host 2-1 Sherwood, fresh off a 55-0 stomping of Northwood. The Warriors lost in overtime to Blake, 22-21, the week before. Wilde Lake won its first, after a 13 point loss to Oakdale, and a 7 point loss at Marriotts Ridge, with a 27-6 win over Atholton. Junior Amari Hutson caught 5 passes for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns, while recording an interception and forced fumble on defense, and adding a first down, 15 yard run on a fake punt in the Cats Homecoming triumph.

Howard County Power Rankings* – Week 4
*First number is our County Power Ranking, second number is our MPSSAA Power Ranking. 

1 13 River Hill (3-0)

2 28 Glenelg (2-1)

3 36 Marriotts Ridge (2-1)

4 41 Howard (1-2)

5 ** Long Reach (1-2)

6 ** Wilde Lake (1-2)

Top matchups this week; River Hill @ Marriotts Ridge, Sherwood @ Howard, Glenelg @ Westminster

Anne Arundel

The week 3 AACo Game of the Week was pushed back to early in week 4, as a shooting in Odenton on Wednesday night forced officials to postpone the matchup between Old Mill and the hosts, Meade Mustangs, as one shooter remained at large on Friday. The spectator-less game with be played Monday evening. The Patriots have won 6 straight in the series since a 28-21 loss in the 4A regional final in 2012.

South River continued to score, and score some more, registering a 62-22 rout of Annapolis. The Seahawks David Faust threw for 212 yards and 5 touchdowns, and Sean Leonard caught 8 of those passes for 164 yards and three scores. The Seahawks, who travel to Arundel this week, are averaging 46.3 points per game in wins over Westminster, Meade, and Annapolis.

Arundel moved to 2-1 with a 37-26 win over North County, handing the Knights their first loss. Broadneck notched its first win, after losses to Douglass and Old Mill, with a 42-0 shutout of Glen Burnie, as sophomore quarterback Josh Erlich threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding rushing touchdown. Severna Park dealt Chesapeake it’s first loss, 21-14, as the Falcons were sparked by a 21 point second quarter. The Falcons host Meade  on Friday.

Anne Arundel County Power Rankings* – Week 4
*First number is our County Power Ranking, second number is our MPSSAA Power Ranking. 

1 14 South River (3-0)

2 30 Arundel (2-1)

3 42 Old Mill (1-1)

4 49 Meade (1-1)

5 ** Broadneck (1-2)

6 ** North County (2-1)

7 ** Annapolis (1-2)

8 ** Severna Park (1-2)

Top matchups this week; Old @ Meade – Monday, South River @ Arundel, North County @ Old Mill, Annapolis @ Broadneck, Meade @ Severna Park

Carroll County

Carroll County’s top two teams recorded their respective first wins of the season, as both Liberty and Westminster cruised past county competition.

The Liberty Lions took home the Freedom Bell trophy, in a 34-9 victory over Century. Nate Kent County threw for 3 touchdowns, and Tommy Nelson rushed for 141 yards and a score on 14 carries in the Lions 18th win in 19 games versus county competition. The Lions mounted a 21-2 halftime lead, then a 28-2 lead after three quarters.

Westminster won the 52nd meeting between the Owls and South Carroll, 31-13, as Erick Stanko and Ben Flowers both scored two touchdowns. The Owls, who captured their 33rd win in the series, host the defending 2A state runner-up Glenelg Gladiators this week.

Carroll County Power Rankings* – Week 4
*First number is our County Power Ranking, second number is our MPSSAA Power Ranking. 

1 48 Liberty (1-2)

2 ** Westminster (1-2)

Top matchup this week; Glenelg @ Westminster

UCBAC

The Elkton Golden Elks scored 42 points or more for a third straight week, with a 45-14 snubbing of Aberdeen. The Elks face Havre de Grace this week, in a rematch of their 50-30 victory over the Warriors last season, before hosting defending 2A state champion Oakdale in week 5.

Harford Tech won its third in three tries this season, with its 31-28 win over previously unbeaten Kenwood. Sophomore Kelvin Mendez rushed for 191 yards and two scores on 23 carries in the Cobras win. TJ Lowery has recorded 10 receptions for 299 yards and 4 touchdowns this season, while adding 40 tackles on the other side of the ball.

UCBAC Power Rankings* – Week 4
*First number is our UCBAC Power Ranking, second number is our MPSSAA Power Ranking. 

1 12 Elkton (3-0)

2 34 Harford Tech (3-0)

Top matchups this week; Havre de Grace @ Elkton, Edgewood @ Harford Tech