Maryland high school football notebook (11/15/2023)
In a matter of hours last Friday, Maryland’s Class 4A state football playoffs turned into “Freaky Friday.”
Two-time defending champ Quince Orchard had its reign ended by Northwest in a 29-26 decision. The Cougars, the top public squad in the state (ranked No. 4 in the state media poll) had won 39 consecutive games, including a 34-21 victory over Northwest in week eight.
Northwest's Xavier Rivers (0) heads to the end zone after intercepting a pass in the second quarter of last week's Class 4A West Region second round game on 11/10/2023. The Jaguars stunned then-undefeated and defending state champ Quince Orchard to advance to Friday's state quarterfinals
Photo by Phil Fabrizio/Mongomery County Media
The Jaguars, who fell behind immediately after the host Cougars returned the opening kickoff, weren’t deterred. Northwest scored 23 straight points to acquire a 29-12 halftime advantage.
The Jaguars were the last team to beat Quince Orchard - a 22-13 road decision in the 4A state semifinals in 2019. The Cougars were undefeated and defending state champs.
Flowers, which Quince Orchard defeated in the 2022 4A state final, was disqualified from the state playoffs for having an ineligible player.
The decision, made by the Prince George’s County Office of Athletics, came hours before Flowers’ matchup with Eleanor Roosevelt in the second round of the South Region playoffs. Roosevelt advanced to the 4A quarterfinals.
In a letter sent to parents Friday and provided to the Washington Post, Flowers assistant principal Diedra Screws wrote that violation was “in accordance with the Maryland Public Secondary Schools [Athletic Association] (MPSSAA) and Prince George’s County Public Schools player eligibility requirements.”
“We understand this news is disappointing, especially considering the success and hard work our team has demonstrated throughout the season,” Screws wrote.
Flowers went 9-1 (record to be changed) during the 2023 season, only losing in overtime to Wise.
Wise (10-1) is now the favorite to win the 4A title.
Titles at stake in MIAA, WCAC
Two of the state’s biggest private league crowns, the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association are set to be decided.
It will be Round 2 between Good Counsel and DeMatha, the state’s top two squads, this time for the WCAC Capital title at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Tuesday.
The No. 1 Falcons (9-1 overall) got a touchdown and 2-point conversion in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime. In overtime, Dilin Jones (committed to the University of Wisconsin) scored and Good Counsel kept the Stags out of the end zone to secure a thrilling 35-28 victory.
The Falcons, seeking their sixth WCAC championship, last won the title in 2019. DeMatha’s last championship came in 2016.
In 2018, DeMatha lost to Gonzaga (D.C.) in the WCAC Capital title match on current Heisman Trophy winner and probable 2024 NFL Draft top pick Caleb Williams’ Hail Mary touchdown pass on the final play of regulation for a 46-43 victory.
Friday at Navy Stadium, St. Mary’s Ryken (6-5) plays Archbishop Carroll (D.C.) for the WCAC Metro crown. Last year, Carroll denied St. Mary’s Ryken of a fourth straight title with a 30-9 semifinal win.
Sunday at Towson University’s Johnny Unitas, Archbishop Spalding will attempt to win a second straight MIAA A title. The Cavaliers (No. 3 in the Maryland State Media Poll) take on McDonogh.
Spalding (9-2) pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 31-14 victory over the Eagles in the MIAA A opener for both in mid-September. It will be the third MIAA A final in the last five years for McDonogh (7-2), which lost in 2019 (Mount St. Joseph) and 2021 (Calvert Hall).
After ending St. Mary’s title reign last weekend (won 28-7), Concordia Prep is in position for a second MIAA B championship in three seasons. The Saints (10-1) take on third-seeded John Carroll, which defeated No. 2 seed Archbishop Curley in the semifinals.
Concordia defeated John Carroll, 34-9, during the regular season. The Patriots (7-4) last won the MIAA B crown in 2015.
Georgetown Prep and Landon School gained a share of the Interstate Athletic Conference (IAC) title. The Hoyas (8-2) defeated Bullis, 24-3, while Landon (7-3) handled St. Albans, 36-14, to create a three-way tie with Episcopal (Va.).
All three teams finished 4-1 in IAC play.
MPSSAA postseason moves to quarterfinals
With Quince Orchard’s loss in the second round of the 4A playoffs, four teams - Dunbar (2A/1A), Fort Hill (1A), Milford Mill (2A) and North Point (4A/3A) remain in play for a second straight championship.
This weekend, quarterfinal action takes place in all six classifications. The eight remaining teams in each classification are reseeded based on its regular season point system average.
CLASS 1A
No. 8 seed Havre de Grace (4-7) at No. 1 Fort Hill (10-0)
No. 7 Catoctin (5-6) at No. 2 Mountain Ridge (9-1)
No. 6 Lake Clifton (7-4) at No. 3 Perryville (8-2)
No. 5 SEED School (5-4) at No. 4 Cambridge-South Dorchester (8-2)
CLASS 2A/1A
No. 8 Fallston (7-4) at No. 1 Calvert (10-1)
No. 7 Middletown (6-5) at No. 2 Patuxent (10-1)
No. 6 Harford Tech (7-3) vs. No. 3 Dunbar (8-0) at Sugar Cain Field
No. 5 Winters Mill (9-1) vs. No. 4 Forest Park (9-1) at Sugar Cain Field
CLASS 2A
No. 8 Walkersville (6-5) at No. 1 Owings Mills (10-0)
No. 7 Wilde Lake (6-5) at No. 2 Stephen Decatur (11-0)
No. 6 Potomac (8-3) at No. 3 Milford Mill (8-2)
No. 5 Huntingtown (8-2) at No. 4 Kent Island (9-2)
CLASS 3A
No. 8 Oakland Mills (5-6) at No. 1 Oakdale (11-0)
No. 7 Franklin (6-5) at No. 2 Linganore (10-1)
No. 6 Northern-Calvert (7-4) at No. 3 Chesapeake-Anne Arundel (9-2)
No. 5 City (7-4) at No. 4 Mount Hebron (8-2)
CLASS 4A/3A
No. 8 Leonardtown (6-5) at No. 1 Perry Hall (11-0)
No. 7 Urbana (6-5) at No. 2 Blake (10-0)
No. 6 Frederick (7-3) at No. 3 North Point (11-0)
No. 5 Suitland (9-2) at No. 4 Mervo (10-1)
CLASS 4A
No. 8 Bethesda-Chevy Chase (7-4) at No. 1 Churchill (10-1)
No. 7 Roosevelt (9-2) at No. 2 Old Mill (10-1)
No. 6 Walter Johnson (9-2) at No. 3 Wise (9-1)
No. 5 Broadneck (9-2) at No. 4 Northwest (9-2)
