Michael Spahr’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Jude Merkel in the third quarter was all Urbana needed as the Frederick County school held off Wise of Prince George’s County, 6-0, for the Class 4A state football title at M & T Bank Stadium Friday evening. Urbana, which knocked off Patterson in the North Region finals, capped a perfect season at 13-0 for its first state title since winning the last of a historic four in a row in 2001.
After a scoreless first half, the Hawks went eight plays in 79 yards as Spahr found Merkel in the right side of end zone with 8 minutes, 42 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Urbana stopped Wise (12-2) on a fourth-and-1 at the Hawks’ 48-yard line with a little over three minutes remaining, and ran out of the clock.
Wise, which beat Broadneck in the state semifinals last weekend, squandered a near perfect scoring opportunity in the first half when Ryan Smith dropped a pass in the end zone. Five plays later, Kevin Stanton battled his way to the Hawks’ three, but fumbled and Urbana recovered.
It’s the second straight year Wise has lost in the finals. Last year, Old Mill held off the Pumas, 17-16, for its first state crown. Wise is coached by former Howard High and Wake Forest University standout DaLawn Parrish.
