No. 7 Hereford (6-1) at No. 10 Franklin (7-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: This is the “Game of the Year,” in Baltimore County as the winner gains the inside track to the 3A/4A championship. The Bulls may have been caught looking ahead to this match last weekend against Woodlawn.
The Bulls won 14-6 as a pair of second quarter touchdown runs by Vince DePaola, was all their scoring. Hereford averaged 40 points in its previous three games.
DePaola finished with 164 yards on 35 carries, and senior Tim Bristol added 108 yards. Hereford has won six straight since an opening loss at No. 6 North Harford.
Franklin kept its perfect season intact with a 35-26 victory at Perry Hall last Friday. The Indians raced out to a 21-0 first quarter behind a 85-yard interception return by junior Ian Thomas, who returned a punt 40 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Senior Mark Venable had a running and passing touchdown, and Navassa Brown scored twice.
This matchup will have huge implications on the Class 3A state North Region playoff chase. Franklin (10.22 point average) currently sits first with North Harford (9.6) with Hereford third (8.43).
Last season, Hereford beat Franklin twice en route to the state 3A semifinals. The Bulls took a 24-6 regular season decision before ending the Indians’ season with a 31-15 victory in the North Region finals.
No. 8 Eastern Tech (6-1) at Catonsville (5-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: This is another key game in the Baltimore County ranks as the victor puts a stranglehold on the 2A/3A crown. Eastern Tech put on a power display last weekend against Towson.
The Mavericks routed the Generals, 48-7, at CCBC-Essex, rolling up more than 300 yards on the ground. Kenyon Crawford rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown, and Milan Barry-Pollock added 101 and a score. Sayvon Norman scored three touchdowns for Eastern Tech, which is averaging 46 points a game over the last five games.
Catonsville tuned for Friday’s showdown with a power running showcase last Saturday as Tyler Weedon, Bobby Turner and Jerome Williams piled up 280 yards in a 35-6 rout of Chesapeake-Baltimore County. Williams had a 37-yard touchdown in the first half and Turner opened the second half for the Comets with a 29-yard score.
Deniko Carter caught a pair of touchdown passes for Catonsville, which only setback is a 42-34 decision at No. 10 Franklin in week three. The Comets have scored 40 or more points in four of their six decisions.
A victory over Eastern Tech would boost Catonsville’s postseason hopes. The Comets (6.67) are currently fourth in the 3A North Region standings with Poly (6.29) right behind. The Mavericks (8.03) look to maintain their hold of first in the 2A North Region.
No. 6 North Harford (7-0) at Havre de Grace (6-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Outlook: The unbeaten Hawks try to lock up the UCBAC Chesapeake Division crown, and clear their final hurdle towards a perfect regular season. North Harford gobbled Joppatowne’s defense for 373 rushing yards in a 36-16 decision last Thursday.
Senior running back Brandon Bayer led the way with 206 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half. Ben Kenley added two second half touchdowns for North Harford (4-0 UCBAC Chesapeake), which has won 10 straight in UCBAC play dating back to last season.
Havre de Grace (4-0 UCBAC Chesapeake) won its fourth straight, 27-14, over Bel Air last Thursday as junior quarterback Darin Washington threw for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Trailing 14-13 in the fourth quarter, Washington threw for a 23-yard scoring strike to Monty Werts, and scored on a one-yard sneak on fourth-and-goal.
The Warriors can boost their position (currently second) in the Class 1A East Region standings with a win Friday. North Harford sits second behind No. 10 Franklin in the 3A North Region.
Last season, North Harford overcame five fumbles (lost four) to knock off the Warriors, 27-14. Cody Turner returned an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Bayer scored on a 15-yard run, to put the game out of reach.
Georgetown Prep (5-2) at No. 12 McDonogh School (6-1)
When: Saturday, 3 p.m.
Outlook: Coming off its victory over then-No. 1 Calvert Hall College last Friday, Georgetown Prep looks to knock off another VSN Top 20 squad, with a share of first in the MIAA A Conference at stake.
The Little Hoyas brought Calvert Hall back to the pack in the league with a 21-14 decision in Bethesda last Friday as Joel Blockowicz’s 85-yard interception return was the difference. Georgetown Prep (2-1 MIAA A) denied Calvert Hall from inside the Little Hoyas’ five-yard line in the final seconds to preserve the victory. Bobby Gribbin scored two touchdowns for Prep.
The Eagles (1-1 MIAA A) rebounded from their first loss of the season (35-34 at Loyola Oct. 9) with a 38-21 victory over Mount St. Joseph. Denzel Walker had six receptions for 128 yards and caught a pair of scoring throws from junior quarterback Joel Jorgensen. Jorgensen (192 yards passing) added a touchdown run.
Last season in Bethesda, the teams collaborated for one of the season’s best games. McDonogh won 27-26, behind a career-defining performance by Rudy Johnson.
Johnson, now a freshman at the University of Buffalo, passed three touchdowns in final 4 minutes, 49 seconds of regulation as the Owings Mills school erased a 26-7 deficit. Johnson, who threw for 335 yards, tossed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Macis with 22.2 seconds remaining in regulation, capping a seven-play, 93-yard drive that took a little over a minute.
Edmondson (5-2) vs. No. 13 Dunbar (6-1)
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Where: Lumsden-Scott Stadium, Poly
Outlook: Arguably the most intense rivalry in the Baltimore City league will be renewed with a share of first place in Division I on the line. The teams are the only from Baltimore City to win a state title with Edmondson winning the Class 2A title in 2006 and Dunbar claiming its sixth crown in 2008 (Class 1A)
Edmondson kept pace in the league chase with a 34-12 victory over Northwestern last Thursday as Rodney Pratcher continued his impressive play since becoming the starting quarterback for the Red Storm a few weeks ago.
Pratcher, a senior, scored three touchdowns on the ground and threw a five-yard scoring pass to Kevin Day, part of his 130-yard passing day. The Red Storm defense provided four turnovers and three quarterback sacks, holding Northwestern to 55 yards.
Dunbar is the hottest team in the city league, winning five straight since its lone loss to No. 11 Patterson. Last Thursday, nine players scored in the Poets’ 68-0 victory over IBE.
The Poets’ defense, led by Travon Garrett (11 tackles vs. IBE) and Marvin Gross (two sacks), hasn’t allowed a score in the last 11 quarters. Dunbar shut down Edmondson’
s offense in a 6-0 decision last fall.
In addition to first place, possession of the Ben Eaton Memorial Trophy is at stake. Eaton, who led the Poets to two state championships, died before the start of the 2007 season.
