Crunch Time
By Sheldon Shealer
Although the state playoff are not scheduled to begin until Nov. 12, it's do-or-die
time right now for many of the state's perennial powers.
Allegany, C.M. Wright, Cambridge-S.D., Fort Hill, Middletown, Sherwood, Westlake and Wilde Lake are in jeopardy of not making the postseason.
Of course, many of those teams control their own destiny. However, the road to the playoffs won't be easy.
Here's a look at the situations facing several teams that had high expectations.
Allegany ñ The Campers started the year as a co-favorite in Class 1A. At 4-3, they must win out and hope for a little help to vault from 12th into a playoff spot. The Campers still face Keyser (W.Va.), Southern Garrett and Fort Hill. Unfortunately, the Campers could go undefeated against Maryland schools, but their 1-3 mark against West Virginia opponents might prove costly.
C.M. Wright ñ A move to Class 4A didn't help this perennial 3A tournament qualifier. The Mustangs face a schedule dominated by 2A opponents and simply aren't racking up enough points to make it into the show. C.M. Wright, currently 12th in 4A, could get big points this week with a win over Fallston, but need help.
Cambridge-S.D. ñ At 6-1, far from a playoff lock. The Vikings, along with Allegany, were favored in the 1A title chase. However, CSD lost to Snow Hill in a surprise last week. The Vikings must face 2A Queen Anne's and Wicomico the next two weeks. Queen Anne's and Wicomico are vying for the Class 2A East region title. A pair of CSD losses could leave them out of the big dance.
Fort Hill ñ A postseason without Cumberland? It has not happened since 1981 ñ in the days when only four teams advanced to the playoffs in each classification. However, at 4-3 and 24th in Class 2A, the Sentinels are done.
Middletown ñ Another team sitting pretty record-wise, but far from a sure thing. The Knights are 7-0, but right now would be seeded No. 6 in Class 2A. The team faces a must-win contest in Week 10 against league and county rival Walkersville (6-1). A Walkersville win could keep both out of the playoffs.
Sherwood ñ The Warriors' string of five straight playoff appearances is in jeopardy. Sherwood is 4-3 and 14th in Class 4A. There's enough inner region play remaining that Sherwood could recover and snag a low seed, but, of course, that would require winning its last three games.
Westlake ñ Coasting along then whoops! The Wolverines were 6-0 and looking good. Then Chopticon stunned Westlake last week, and now the Wolverines go into a stretch of games against Suitland, Patuxent and Thomas Stone.
Wilde Lake ñ The Wildecats, following an early season loss, have worked their way back into playoff contention at 6-1. But a surprising loss down the home stretch would likely prevent Wilde Lake from an eighth playoff trip in the 1990s.
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TAKE NOTE
Perryville has played three straight 28-0 games, winning one and losing two.
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UPSET CITY
Chopticon pulled off the upset of the week, edging previous No. 6 Westlake, 26-25.
The Braves entered the game with a 1-5 record while the Wolverines have been ranked among the stateís Top 10 teams all season.
The Chopticon contest was supposed to serve as the last easy win for Westlake before it entered a grueling stretch with games against Suitland (6-1), Patuxent (6-1) and Thomas Stone (7-0). Suitland is No. 6 in this weekís poll. Thomas Stone is No. 16.
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STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
A little trivia this week ñ Can you name the only MPSSAA coach to win 50 games in his first five years as a head coach?
If you said Stan Mitchell, you're right. Mitchell coached Dunbar for five seasons between 1993-1997, going 50-12 with a pair of state titles, a runner-up finish and two other semifinal appearances.
Hereford's Steve Turnbaugh has a chance to equal that feat this season. Turnbaugh was 39-8 through four seasons. The Bulls are 7-0 and will likely finish regular-season play at 10-0, meaning one playoff win would be No. 50 for Turnbaugh.
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DID YOU NOTICE?
Where's the wins?
The top 10 teams in Class 1A have collected a grand total of 127.5 bonus points. Basically, that translates in a defeated opponents' average win-loss record of 2-5.
Case in point, the seven teams that Northern Garrett has defeated are a combined 15-55.