Let me start this article by saying, I am not from Howard County so I do not know the intricacies of all of the rivalries from years past.
But I have been covering sports in the county for the past couple of years and I must say that the 2010 football season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting races in recent memory.
After fives game, the league has turned into the Wild, Wild, West. With weekly shootouts leading to several early upsets, any team truly has the possibility to knock off another.
Case in point, on Friday night, Atholton shut out No. 3 River Hill, 10-0. The loss snapped the Hawks’ 48-game winning streak against league opponents, including two playoff games.
But a few weeks back, it was the Raiders who were upset by upstart Hammond, 19-13, on the road in week two. In week one, the Bears were beaten soundly by River Hill.
Confused yet?
That has been the way Howard County has turned out so far this season. When the lights come on Friday nights, you never know what is going to happen.
Right now, Hammond is tied with Howard, River Hill and Wilde Lake for the top spot. All of the teams sit at 4-1.
The surprising Bears have already surpassed last season’s win total of three. Two years ago, they didn’t win any games. The running back tandem of Devon Paye and Dionte Jones have been giving defensive coordinators nightmares this season.
After Hammond’s victory over Atholton, head coach Dan Makosy had this to say:
“I told the guys this year that I don’t know if we’re going to make the playoffs or not but we’re going to definitely make some noise this season. This is the first bit of noise we’ll make.”
The Bears aren’t just making a little noise, they are running all over the field banging pots and pans.
After falling to Hammond themselves on Sept. 17, Wilde Lake has rebounded with back-to-back drubbings of Mount Hebron and Oakland Mills, beating both by 50-0 scores.
“I think [the loss to Hammond] focused them,” said Wildecats coach Mike Harrison of his team’s new drive. “I think maybe they were taking things a little for granted and I think it has focused them. I think that they want to come through and be impressive in the county and get into the playoffs this year.”
“They have made it their mission since the Hammond game and I give all the credit to [Hammond coach Dan] Makosy for that because it woke the kids up, that may have been the best favor he could have ever done for us.”
Wilde Lake is combining stingy defense, while using running backs Khalil Viera, EJ Gilmore, Terrell Nickens and AJ Harris to overpower the opposition.
Howard’s lone loss came to Oakland Mill, 41-26 three weeks ago. The Scorpions started the season 3-0 before dropping two straight. The Lions have rebounded with wins over Atholton and Reservoir.
Howard’s rushing attack is led by Ryan Dacus, who scored two touchdowns on Saturday afternoon against the Gators for a 21-14 win on homecoming. Ryan Caruso is also a target in both the rushing game as well as the passing attack which is powered by quarterback Ryan Wade.
But you can’t count out the five-time defending county champion River Hill. Despite the hiccup against the Raiders, the Hawks have had a strangle hold on the league and aren’t going to fade into the background quietly.
River Hill has a strong rushing attack with junior Aaron Wells, who has rushed for over 500 yards and scored 11 touchdowns this season. Raamah Vaughn and Brent Kluge are also tough runners.
River Hill will travel to Howard on Friday; should be another wild contest.
So fans of Howard County football: buckle your seat belts, no texting while driving, it’s the law now and hold on tight for the next five weeks to see who will still be standing when the dust clears.
Below are the results team-by-team:
River Hill (4-1)
9/3/10 River Hill 27, Hammond 6
9/10/10 River Hill 46, Centennial 8
9/17/10 River Hill 41, Long Reach 6
9/24/10 River Hill 41, Reservoir 19
10/1/10 Atholton 10, River Hill 0
Wilde Lake (4-1)
9/3/10 Wilde Lake 26, Glenelg 19
9/10/10 Wilde Lake 42, Long Reach 25
9/17/10 Hammond 14,Wilde Lake 6
9/25/10 Wilde Lake 50, Mount Hebron 0
10/1/10 Wilde Lake 50, Oakland Mills 0
Hammond (4-1)
9/3/10 River Hill 27, Hammond 6
9/10/10 Hammond 19, Atholton 13
9/17/10 Hammond 14, Wilde Lake 6
9/25/10 Hammond 33, Marriotts Ridge 6
10/1/10 Hammond 26, Glenelg 14
Howard (4-1)
9/3/10 Howard 49, Marriotts Ridge 6
9/10/10 Howard 45, Mount Hebron 20
9/17/10 Oakland Mills 41, Howard 26
9/24/10 Howard 32, Atholton 28
9/2/10 Howard 21, Reservoir 14
Atholton (3-2)
9/3/10 Atholton 40, Mount Hebron 0
9/10/10 Hammond 19, Atholton 13
9/17/10 Atholton 29, Centennial 22
9/24/10 Howard 32, Atholton 28
10/1/10 Atholton 10, River Hill 0
Oakland Mills (3-2)
9/3/10 Oakland Mills 32, Centennial 16
9/10/10 Oakland Mills 49, Marriotts Ridge 14
9/17/10 Oakland Mills 41, Howard 26
9/25/10 Long Reach 31, Oakland Mills 26
10/1/10 Wilde Lake 50, Oakland Mills 0
Reservoir (3-2)
9/3/10 Reservoir 19, Long Reach 0
9/10/10 Reservoir 32, Glenelg 22
9/17/10 Reservior 38, Mount Hebron 15
9/24/10 River Hill 41, Reservoir 19
10/2/10 Howard 21, Reservoir 14
Glenelg (2-3)
9/3/10 Wilde Lake 26, Glenelg 19
9/10/10 Reservoir 32, Glenelg 22
9/17/10 Glenelg 44, Marriotts Ridge 6
9/24/ 10 Glenelg 28, Centennial 14
10/1/10 Hammond 26, Glenelg 14
Long Reach (1-3)
9/3/10 Reservoir 19, Long Reach 0
9/10/10 Wilde Lake 42, Long Reach 25
9/17/10 River Hill 41, Long Reach 6
9/25/10 Long Reach 31, Oakland Mills 26
10/2/10 Long Reach at Mount Hebron
Centennial (1-4)
9/3/10 Oakland Mills 32, Centennial 16
9/10/10 River Hill 46, Centennial 8
9/17/10 Atholton 29, Centennial 22
9/24/10 Glenelg 28, Centennial 14
10/1/10 Centennial 35, Marriotts Ridg
e 14
Mount Hebron (0-4)
9/3/10 Atholton 40, Mount Hebron 0
9/10/10 Howard 45, Mount Hebron 20
9/17/10 Reservoir 38, Mount Hebron 15
9/25/10 Wilde Lake 50, Mount Hebron 0
10/2/10 Long Reach at Mount Hebron
Marriotts Ridge (0-5)
9/3/10 Howard 49, Marriotts Ridge 6
9/10/10 Oakland Mills 49, Marriotts Ridge 14
9/17/10 Glenelg 44, Marriotts Ridge 6
9/25/10 Hammond 33, Marriotts Ridge 6
10/1/10 Centennial 35, Marriotts Ridge 14
