Maryland High School Football State Championship Preview (11/29/2023)
The 2023 Maryland high school football season hits its epic crescendo with the MPSSAA state championships starting Thursday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in the state capital of Annapolis.
Three teams - Dunbar, Fort Hill and North Point - are 48 minutes away from continuing their championship reign. Meanwhile, three new champions will be crowned.
Here’s a preview of championship weekend in Maryland.
THURSDAY
CLASS 2A
Huntingtown (10-2) vs. Stephen Decatur (13-0)
Time: 7 p.m.
Outlook: A chance at history awaits the winner. Stephen Decatur, which ended Milford Mill’s title tenure with a 35-34 semifinal victory last weekend, seeks its first championship and first for an Eastern Shore program since 1996 (Cambridge-South Dorchester).
Huntingtown is hoping the third time is a title after runner-up finishes in 2012 and 2009. The Hurricanes haven’t lost a non-home game (6-0) this season.
Stephen Decatur quarterback Brycen Coleman, a Vanderbilt University commit, will lead his squad against Huntingtown in the Maryland Class 2A state final Thursday evening. Coleman has accounted for more than 2,700 total yards and 43 touchdowns.
Photo courtesyof Stephen Decatur Athletics
FRIDAY
CLASS 2A/1A
Dunbar (11-0) vs. Calvert (12-1)
Time: 4 p.m.
Outlook: The Poets look to secure a record 13th state championship. The Baltimore City school has the state’s longest current win streak at 36 (last loss - 2019 Class 1A state final).
Calvert seeks to end a 23-year title drought (won 3A crown in 2000). The Cavaliers’ only loss this season came against reigning 4A/3A state champ and undefeated North Point.
Dunbar's Antonio Lyde slips out of a tackle during the Poets' season opening game against Loyola Blakefield. The undefeated Poets will try to claim a third consecutive Maryland Class 2A/1A state championship Friday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.
Photo by Jimmy Fields
CLASS 4A
Broadneck (11-2) vs. Wise (12-1)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Outlook:
After losing to league rival Flowers in last year’s state semifinal, Wise gets a shot at redemption. The Prince George’s County squad, which lost in the 2021 4A final to Quince Orchard, has claimed four of the last seven 4A titles.
After back-to-back road victories, Broadneck gets the opportunity to play about seven miles from its campus for a first state championship. The Anne Arundel County school will try to become the first non-Prince George’s or Montgomery County to win the 4A crown since its Anne Arundel rival Old Mill in 2011.
SATURDAY
CLASS 1A
Mountain Ridge (11-1) vs. Fort Hill (12-0)
Time: 12 p.m.
Outlook: It will be the long anticipated Round 3 between the Western Maryland rivals. Fort Hill, seeking its third straight 1A title (seventh since 2013), has won 20 straight including a 37-14 victory over Mountain Ridge in week 6.
Mountain Ridge is the last team to beat Fort Hill (30-8 in 2022). The Miners lost to the Sentinels in the 2022 (16-14) and 2021 (51-31) 1A final.
CLASS 4A/3A
Mervo (12-1) vs. North Point (13-0)
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Outlook: The past two 4A/3A state champs meet for the 2023 crown. Mervo, which ended Perry Hall’s undefeated season in the semifinals last weekend, has allowed one touchdown in the playoffs.
Defending champ North Point has won 18 straight including a 28-7 triumph over previously undefeated Blake in last weekend’s semifinals. The Southern Maryland school has posted 13 shutouts during its 18-game win streak.
CLASS 3A
Linganore (12-1) vs. Oakdale (13-0)
Time: 7 p.m.
Outlook: Separated by just seven miles in the suburbs of Frederick, Oakdale and Linganore will decide the 3A championship. After a high-scoring opening half last weekend, Oakdale wore down City in the second half (won 57-20) to reach the title game (lost to Damascus last year) for the second consecutive year.
Linganore built a 42-14 halftime lead against Northern-Calvert en route to a 56-20 decision in the other semifinal. The Lancers lost to Oakdale, 21-14, in week four.
The A-list in Annapolis
There won’t be a shortage of talented players on the field at Navy Stadium this weekend. Here’s a look at some of the best.
Ethan Arneson, Linganore: The 5-foot-7, 185 pound senior tailback has been a workhorse for the Lancers with 2,286 rushing yards and 35 total touchdowns. His 71 career scores is tops all-time in Frederick County.
Evan Austin, Oakdale: The lefty dual threat signal caller has accounted for nearly 3,200 yards and 45 touchdowns for the Class 3A state finalists. The 6-foot, 175-pounder is committed to Charlotte University where he’s slated to play wide receiver.
Brycen Coleman, Stephen Decatur: Coleman has Decatur in position for its first state championship, passing for 2,036 yards and 31 touchdowns with 638 yards rushing and 12 scores. Coleman, who’s committed to Vanderbilt, where he’ll play tight end.
Jabari Daniels, Fort Hill: Daniels is the centerpiece of Fort Hill’s power running attack with 1,518 yards and 28 touchdowns. The 6-foot, 175-pounder has a pair of five touchdown performances on his 2023 resume.
Kaleb Hart, North Point: Hart has North Point for another 4A/3A state championship, rushing for more than 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns. The 6-foot, 190-pound wildcat quarterback currently has an offer from Fairmont State.
Eli Harris, Broadneck: The 6-foot, 180-pound senior wide receiver is the go-to performer on the perimeter for the Bruins with 55 catches for 880 yards and 13 touchdowns (32 for career). A talented lacrosse player who committed to Loyola University late in the summer, Harris switched his commitment to the Naval Academy for football during the regular season.
Carter Hess, Fort Hill: Hess, who is committed to Fordham, has been the undeniable two-way force for two-time defending 1A state champ Sentinels. The 6-foot-2, 295-pounder has more than 120 tackles and 10 sacks (through state quarterfinals) on defense and anchors an offensive front that has helped produce more than 4,300 rushing yards.
Evan Kuntz, Huntingtown: The 5-foot-10, 160-pound quarterback has been the driving force behind Hurricanes’ surge to the Class 2A state final with 3,002 combined yards, rushing and passing, and 38 touchdowns. He accounted for 202 yards and three scores in Huntingtown’s semifinal victory over Walkersville.
Ray Moore, Mervo: After a wrist injury cut short his junior season last year, Moore has emerged as the Mustangs’ full-time starting quarterback this fall. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder has thrown for more than 2,300 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Dom Nichols, Oakdale: Nichols is the top tackler for the undefeated Bears with more than 80 tackles and 13.5 sacks. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive end is committed to two-time reigning Big 10 champion Michigan.
Will Patterson, Mountain Ridge: Patterson is a major reason behind Mountain Ridge’s run to another 1A state final. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior quarterback has thrown for 1,630 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for another 1,211 yards and 20 touchdowns, while posting 88 tackles (second on team) and two interceptions on defense.
Hunter Thompson, Oakdale: Opposing teams fear and loath Thompson who has more than 1,500 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns this season. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder who plays receiver, defensive back and returner is committed to Ohio.
Domaine Wallace, Calvert: The 5-foot-8, 185-pound senior running back has the Cavaliers a win away from its first state title in three decades, rushing for 1,384 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. He had 135 yards and a score in last weekend’s semifinal victory over Forest Park.
Savion Witherspoon, Dunbar: Witherspoon has helped the Poets back to the Class 2A/1A state final as the full-time starting quarterback this season. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound junior has accounted for more than 2,300 yards and 23 touchdowns (15 pass, 8 run).
DeCarlos Young, Wise: The junior has been arguably Wise’s best player this season. The 5-foot-10, 225-pounder has rushed for 1,461 yards and 26 touchdowns and leads the defense with 89 tackles from his middle linebacker spot.
