Five MPSSAA Football Games to Watch: Week 7
Franklin (5-1) at Milford Mill (5-1)
Two rivals that sit atop the MPSSAA 3A North regional standings square off in this Baltimore County tilt.
Franklin has won four straight contests since losing to DeMatha in Week 2. The past three games have been particularly dominant displays by the Indians- they've outscored their opponents 132-9. Quarterback Larry Smith has thrown 12 touchdowns to just two interceptions while compiling a 125.6 QB rating. Jahki Hylton and Jordan Dixon have formed a formidable rushing attack- Hylton has 247 yards and three touchdowns, while Dixon has ran for four scores and 189 yards. Top receiver Austin Kearney has caught 14 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns, while the defense has enjoyed great contributions from Elijah Solomon who has 32 tackles. Robert Garrett and Jayden Watson both have six sacks.
Milford Mill looks to extend its winning streak to six this weekend. The Millers just enjoyed their most complete victory of the season yet in a 47-0 victory over Kenwood. Troy Scott Jr. has been a force on the ground with 572 yards rushing and 11 scores. He has been complimented in the backfield by Desmond Shell, who has scored five times and rushed for 438 yards. Ugo Obasi has been the team's top receiver with 341 yards and six scores. On defense, Kevin Neal has been a force, registering 46 tackles and four sacks, both team highs.
Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 1 PM on Saturday.
Reginald F. Lewis (6-0) at Forest Park (5-0)
This contest features Baltimore City's lone unbeaten teams as Forest Park hosts Lewis.
Lewis has recorded four shutouts, using a defense that's been led by Kavon Kingsborough, who has the most tackles on the team with 51. Maxwell Williams has eight sacks, while Kendall Wagner has picked off three passes. The Falcons attack has been spearheaded by running backs Malik Green and Andre Darby Jr. Green has 295 yards and eight touchdowns on 28 carries, while Darby Jr. has scored nine times and run for 171 yards on 17 carries. Quarterback Jamaal Douglas has thrown for 687 yards and five touchdowns.
Forest Park's defense has also been sensational this season. The Foresters started their season with three straight shutouts, before giving up a combined 24 points against Carver Vo-Tech and Lake Clifton. Justin Leach leads the team in tackles with 56, and has also been a key player on offense as a running back, rushing for 10 scores and 520 yards. Leach also has nine sacks and four interceptions. Donte Jones has 46 tackles and 13 sacks. On offense, James Johnson has thrown for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns. Da'Lon Harris has also been sensational with 630 all purpose yards and seven touchdowns.
Kickoff for this contest is scheduled for this 3:45 PM this Friday.
La Plata (4-2) at Thomas Stone (4-2)
Two teams that occupy the MPSSAA 2A South's last two playoff slots square off in this contest which could have massive postseason implications.
La Plata carries a three game win streak into this contest, the most recent victory being a 28-14 decision against Lackey, which was the first Chargers' loss of the season. The Warriors were led in that contest by their quarterback Jordan Sinclair, who rushed for two scores and 65 yards. Sinclair also tossed a touchdown pass. Peytyn Gray ran for a touchdown and also inspired on the defensive side of the ball, recording 12 tackles, five sacks and recovering a fumble. Jack Chips had 10 tackles and a sack, while David Page finished the contest with seven tackles and two sacks.
Thomas Stone got back to winning ways last Friday by beating Calvert one week after dropping a close decision to Westlake. The Cougars have three players who have rushed for over 300 yards, and scored at least two touchdowns. Hopeton Mair leads the charge with 411 yards and five touchdowns, while Jordan Christian has rushed for 303 yards and two scores. Delonta Nunnally, the Cougars' quarterback, has run for 326 yards and two touchdowns. He's also passed for 500 yards and six touchdowns. His top target has been Hezikiah Hawkins, who has caught 405 yards through the air and six scores.
Kickoff for this contest is scheduled for 7 PM this Friday.
Bohemia Manor (4-2) at Harford Tech (6-0)
Harford Tech puts its unblemished mark on the line when it hosts Bohemia Manor this weekend.
Bohemia Manor has shaken off dropping its first two games of the season by winning its past four. The Eagles have won every game by double digits, and recorded two shutouts. Johnny Knight has been a key cog in the Eagles' defense- he's tied with James Baglio at 32 tackles, which leads the team, and also has three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Knight has also played well as the team's quarterback, throwing for 487 yards and four touchdowns. He's also rushed for 190 yards and three scores, but it hasn't been all about Knight. Bobby McLennan has run for 392 yards and three scores. Devin Gatewood has excelled on the ground too, picking up two scores and 249 yards.
It's been a dream start to the season for Harford Tech, which has thrived under first year head coach Tim Palmer, and already eclipsed its win total from 2016. The Cobras have outscored opponents 228-16. Harford Tech has spread the ball around, but the group has been led by two dynamic playmakers- Jalen Dangerfield and Kyle Cicone. Dangerfield torched Tower Hill from Delaware for 197 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while Cicone had a big performance against Capitol Christian when he ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries. Defensively it's been a group effort. Cicone led the group in tackles in Harford Tech's most recent win against North East with 13, but TJ Lowery and Jonathan Fletcher also did well with eight. Shawaun White and Laday Cooper each registered an interception.
Kickoff for this contest is scheduled for 7 PM this Friday.
Melbourne Central Catholic (4-2) at Fort Hill (6-0)
One of Maryland's most storied programs makes history this week when Fort Hill hosts Melbourne Central Catholic from Florida.
Fort Hill has been one of the gold standard football programs in Maryland for a long time, but especially in recent years. The Sentinels have won four straight MPSSAA 1A state titles, and are on a run of winning 60 of their last 61 contests.
Though Fort Hill is used to playing teams from outside Maryland, the furthest a team has ever traveled to Greenway Avenue Stadium to play Fort Hill is 238 miles, which was set by Bishop O'Reilly from Kingston, PA. That mark is about to be easily broken though as the Sentinels are set to play Melbourne Central Catholic from Florida. The Hustlers plan to fly into Washington DC on Friday, then take a bus to Cumberland from there.
In Melbourne Central Catholic, Fort Hill faces a dangerous opponent. The Hustlers reached the Florida Class 3A state semifinal round with an undefeated record in 2016 behind talented quarterback Joaquin Collazo. The group enters this game 4-2.
Kickoff for this contest is scheduled for 7 PM this Saturday.
Two rivals that sit atop the MPSSAA 3A North regional standings square off in this Baltimore County tilt.
Franklin has won four straight contests since losing to DeMatha in Week 2. The past three games have been particularly dominant displays by the Indians- they've outscored their opponents 132-9. Quarterback Larry Smith has thrown 12 touchdowns to just two interceptions while compiling a 125.6 QB rating. Jahki Hylton and Jordan Dixon have formed a formidable rushing attack- Hylton has 247 yards and three touchdowns, while Dixon has ran for four scores and 189 yards. Top receiver Austin Kearney has caught 14 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns, while the defense has enjoyed great contributions from Elijah Solomon who has 32 tackles. Robert Garrett and Jayden Watson both have six sacks.
Milford Mill looks to extend its winning streak to six this weekend. The Millers just enjoyed their most complete victory of the season yet in a 47-0 victory over Kenwood. Troy Scott Jr. has been a force on the ground with 572 yards rushing and 11 scores. He has been complimented in the backfield by Desmond Shell, who has scored five times and rushed for 438 yards. Ugo Obasi has been the team's top receiver with 341 yards and six scores. On defense, Kevin Neal has been a force, registering 46 tackles and four sacks, both team highs.
Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 1 PM on Saturday.
Reginald F. Lewis (6-0) at Forest Park (5-0)
This contest features Baltimore City's lone unbeaten teams as Forest Park hosts Lewis.
Lewis has recorded four shutouts, using a defense that's been led by Kavon Kingsborough, who has the most tackles on the team with 51. Maxwell Williams has eight sacks, while Kendall Wagner has picked off three passes. The Falcons attack has been spearheaded by running backs Malik Green and Andre Darby Jr. Green has 295 yards and eight touchdowns on 28 carries, while Darby Jr. has scored nine times and run for 171 yards on 17 carries. Quarterback Jamaal Douglas has thrown for 687 yards and five touchdowns.
Forest Park's defense has also been sensational this season. The Foresters started their season with three straight shutouts, before giving up a combined 24 points against Carver Vo-Tech and Lake Clifton. Justin Leach leads the team in tackles with 56, and has also been a key player on offense as a running back, rushing for 10 scores and 520 yards. Leach also has nine sacks and four interceptions. Donte Jones has 46 tackles and 13 sacks. On offense, James Johnson has thrown for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns. Da'Lon Harris has also been sensational with 630 all purpose yards and seven touchdowns.
Kickoff for this contest is scheduled for this 3:45 PM this Friday.
La Plata (4-2) at Thomas Stone (4-2)
Two teams that occupy the MPSSAA 2A South's last two playoff slots square off in this contest which could have massive postseason implications.
La Plata carries a three game win streak into this contest, the most recent victory being a 28-14 decision against Lackey, which was the first Chargers' loss of the season. The Warriors were led in that contest by their quarterback Jordan Sinclair, who rushed for two scores and 65 yards. Sinclair also tossed a touchdown pass. Peytyn Gray ran for a touchdown and also inspired on the defensive side of the ball, recording 12 tackles, five sacks and recovering a fumble. Jack Chips had 10 tackles and a sack, while David Page finished the contest with seven tackles and two sacks.
Thomas Stone got back to winning ways last Friday by beating Calvert one week after dropping a close decision to Westlake. The Cougars have three players who have rushed for over 300 yards, and scored at least two touchdowns. Hopeton Mair leads the charge with 411 yards and five touchdowns, while Jordan Christian has rushed for 303 yards and two scores. Delonta Nunnally, the Cougars' quarterback, has run for 326 yards and two touchdowns. He's also passed for 500 yards and six touchdowns. His top target has been Hezikiah Hawkins, who has caught 405 yards through the air and six scores.
Kickoff for this contest is scheduled for 7 PM this Friday.
Bohemia Manor (4-2) at Harford Tech (6-0)
Harford Tech puts its unblemished mark on the line when it hosts Bohemia Manor this weekend.
Bohemia Manor has shaken off dropping its first two games of the season by winning its past four. The Eagles have won every game by double digits, and recorded two shutouts. Johnny Knight has been a key cog in the Eagles' defense- he's tied with James Baglio at 32 tackles, which leads the team, and also has three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Knight has also played well as the team's quarterback, throwing for 487 yards and four touchdowns. He's also rushed for 190 yards and three scores, but it hasn't been all about Knight. Bobby McLennan has run for 392 yards and three scores. Devin Gatewood has excelled on the ground too, picking up two scores and 249 yards.
It's been a dream start to the season for Harford Tech, which has thrived under first year head coach Tim Palmer, and already eclipsed its win total from 2016. The Cobras have outscored opponents 228-16. Harford Tech has spread the ball around, but the group has been led by two dynamic playmakers- Jalen Dangerfield and Kyle Cicone. Dangerfield torched Tower Hill from Delaware for 197 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while Cicone had a big performance against Capitol Christian when he ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries. Defensively it's been a group effort. Cicone led the group in tackles in Harford Tech's most recent win against North East with 13, but TJ Lowery and Jonathan Fletcher also did well with eight. Shawaun White and Laday Cooper each registered an interception.
Kickoff for this contest is scheduled for 7 PM this Friday.
Melbourne Central Catholic (4-2) at Fort Hill (6-0)
One of Maryland's most storied programs makes history this week when Fort Hill hosts Melbourne Central Catholic from Florida.
Fort Hill has been one of the gold standard football programs in Maryland for a long time, but especially in recent years. The Sentinels have won four straight MPSSAA 1A state titles, and are on a run of winning 60 of their last 61 contests.
Though Fort Hill is used to playing teams from outside Maryland, the furthest a team has ever traveled to Greenway Avenue Stadium to play Fort Hill is 238 miles, which was set by Bishop O'Reilly from Kingston, PA. That mark is about to be easily broken though as the Sentinels are set to play Melbourne Central Catholic from Florida. The Hustlers plan to fly into Washington DC on Friday, then take a bus to Cumberland from there.
In Melbourne Central Catholic, Fort Hill faces a dangerous opponent. The Hustlers reached the Florida Class 3A state semifinal round with an undefeated record in 2016 behind talented quarterback Joaquin Collazo. The group enters this game 4-2.
Kickoff for this contest is scheduled for 7 PM this Saturday.
| October 10th, 2017 | By: Wick Eisenberg |