Region-By-Region Outlooks
Class 4A
West
Favorites: Gaithersburg, Sherwood, Watkins Mill.
In The Running: Quince Orchard, Walt Whitman
What To Watch For: Although Seneca Valley dropped to 3A, there remains plenty
of horses in 4A West. Sherwood (1995, 1996 4A champ) and Gaithersburg get the early
nod, but Watkins Mill has two of Montgomery County's top players.
Key Games: xx
North
Favorites: Patterson, Woodlawn
In The Running: Perry Hall, Lake Clifton
What To Watch For:
Key Games:
South
Favorites: Suitland, Northwestern-PG
In The Running: Eleanor Roosevelt, High Point, Parkdale
What To Watch For: The South region is comprised of the nine Class 4A schools
in Prince George's County, therefore, the PG 4A league champ is basically guaranteed
a spot in the playoffs. This has been one of the toughest leagues to predict in recent
years. Suitland graduates a ton of players from last year's 4A runner-up squad. Northwestern-PG
looks physically strong (based on summer powerlifting meets), but has yet to emerge
as a football power.
Key Games:
East
Favorites: Broadneck, C.M. Wright
In The Running: Arundel, Meade, Westminster
What To Watch For: This region is primarily Anne Arundel County 4A schools,
but it's the two wild card teams ñ Westminster and C.M. Wright who might be
best positioned to snag the region title. C.M. Wright is favorited in Harford County,
and a 10-0 record would go along way in securing a playoff spot. However, the Mustangs
will be playing a schedule dominated by 2A schools, therefore, not collecting as
many points on a weekly basis as their 4A rivals. Westminster went into the final
week of the 1998 season with a chance at the East title, and the Owls could do the
same this year. Broadneck, despite heavy graduation and a promotion to Class 4A,
is the early favorite. The Bruins are XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX vs. Anne Arundel 4A teams
in the past XXXXXXX years.
Key Games:
Class 3A
West
Favorite: Seneca Valley
In The Running: Damsacus, Einstein
What To Watch For: Seneca Valley's enrollment has made the school teeter between
Class 4A and 3A for the past 20 years, but one thing remains constant ñ the
Screaming Eagles always win. Seneca Valley won the state title ... XXX of the XXX
years that the school has been 3A. Einstein returns one of the state's most exciting
RBs, and should make a run at a playoff spot after going 9-2 last year.
Key Games:
North
Favorites: Eastern Tech, Milford Mill
In The Running: Bel Air, Randallstown
What To Watch For:
Key Games:
South
Favorite: Westlake
In The Running: Calvert, Thomas Stone
What To Watch For: Class 3A South is exclusively teams from the Southern Maryland
Athletic Conference, meaning the SMAC champion (unless it's 2A Lackey) will get a
berth in the 3A playoffs. Westlake returns three RBs who combined for more than 2,500
yards and 35 TDs last year. Thomas Stone counters with an RB rated among the state's
Top 10 prospects. Calvert, under coach Jerry Franks, has slowly built toward this
year.
Key Games:
East
Favorites: Friendly, Annapolis, Wilde Lake
In The Running: Long Reach, Douglass-PG
What To Watch For: By far, the most competitive region in the state, and it's
made possible by the fact the three favorites ñ each in different counties and
leagues ñ do not meet during the regular season. Last year, Annapolis (then a 4A
school), Friendly and Wilde Lake combined to go 28-2 in regular-season play. Friendly,
coming off a 13-0 state
championship season, has built a killer schedule that includes Hylton (Va.), (((Pa.)))
and last year's 4A champion Seneca Valley, in addition to league rival Douglass-PG.
The hope is that Friendly didn't schedule itself out of the playoffs, because a 7-3
record won't do it in this region, or this classification. Wilde Lake has long been
the king of
Howard County, and expect no different in 1999. A 9-1 or 10-0 regular season is never
beyond reach for the Wildecats. Annapolis returns RB Rayvon Johnson, who led the
state in rushing last year. Douglass-PG went 9-1 last year, but failed to make the
playoffs.
Key Games:
Class 2A
West
Favorites: Urbana
In The Running: Fort Hill, Linganore, Middletown, Walkersville, Northwest
What To Watch For: In only its second year of full varsity competiton, Urbana
claimed the Class 2A state title with a perfect record, marking the first time a
Frederick County school had ever gone 13-0. Penn State-bound QB Zack Mills returns
to lead the Hawks. Middletown and Walkersville are the co-favorites in the Monocacy
Valley Athletic League, and Middletown has made XXXX straight playoff appearances.
Northwest showed well in summer passing tournaments, and draws from football-rich
northern Montgomery County. Perennial Western Maryland
power Fort Hill is under a new coach, but the same expectations ñ to win. This
region has produced the past four 2A state champions, and very well could do it again
in 1999.
Key Games:
North
Favorites: Hereford, City College, Polytechnic
In The Running: Dunbar
What To Watch For: Hereford is clearly the class of Baltimore County, and
despite its move to Class 2A (the Bulls were the 1A champion in 1997) remain a favorite
to make a playoff appearance. Dunbar is coming off an XXXXX season, failing to make
the playoffs for the first time since joining the MPSSAA in 1993.
Key Games:
South
Favorites:
In The Running:
What To Watch For: This is certainly the most difficult region to
project for the 1999 season. The 12-team region includes XXXXXXXXXX
Key Games:
East
Favorites:
In The Running:
What To Watch For: This region is another tough call.
Key Games:
Class 1A
West
Favorite: Allegany
In The Running: Beall, Williamsport, Southern Garrett
What To Watch For: Allegany is clearly the favorite, but the Campers also
face the most difficult schedule of any team in this region. Allegany plays XXXXXX.
Williamsport has four crucial league games, and must win at least two in order to
stay in the playof picture.
Key Games:
North
Favorites: Elkton, Forest Park
In The Running:
What To Watch For: With Hereford moving to Class 2A and leaving the 1A North
region, the mantle of region favorite returns to Elkton, which made playoff appearances
XXXXX.
Key Games:
South
Favorites: Oakland Mills, Forestville, Brunswick, Boonsboro
In The Running: None.
What To Watch For: There are four teams clearly ahead of the pack in the South
region, including the defending champion Oakland Mills and last year's runner-up
Forestville. Brunswick and Boonsboro should finish in the upper half of the Monocacy
Valley League, and the winner of their head-to-head meeting should be primed for
a playoff spot.
Key Games: Brunswick XX Boonsboro, XXXX;
East
Favorites: Cambridge-South Dorchester
In The Running: Snow Hill
What To Watch For: C-SD has speed, power and size. The Vikings could very
well be playing for the 1A title for the fourth time in the 1990s come early December.
The Vikings won 1A state crowns in 1995 and 1996, and reached the semfinals the past
two years. Snow Hill has posted a good record the past two seasons, but failed to
make the playoffs in 1998.
Key Games:
Private Schools
Washington Catholic Athletic Conference
Favorites: DeMatha
In The Running: Bishop McNamara, Good Counsel
What To Watch For:
Key Games:
MIAA A Conference
Favorites:
In The Running:
What To Watch For:
Key Games:
IAC
Favorites:
In The Running:
What To Watch For:
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Favorites:
In The Running:
What To Watch For:
Key Games: