More Than A Pfist-ful of Yards For Pfisterer

By Sheldon Shealer

Mike Pfisterer of North County (Glen Burnie, Md.) completed 20-of-27 passes for 254 yards Friday, moving past Lucas Phillips of Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) as the state all-time leader in career passing yards.

Pfisterer has 6,339 career yards, clipping the mark of 6,286 set by Phillips between 1993-1996.

Pfisterer's record-setting performance came in North County's 39-26 loss to Annapolis. North County fell to 3-6 on the season.

"I just feel normal," Pfisterer said, downplaying the accomplishment. "It doesn't affect me yet. Maybe when I wake up (Saturday) ... but now, I feel the same."

The public address announcer made note of Pfisterer's halftime numbers, showing he was within 75 yards of breaking the record. With North County's run-and-shoot offense, 75 was easy to gain. However, Pfisterer does not know exactly when the record was broken. He was officially informed of his accomplishment after the game.

"I never thought, playing high school football, I would break break a record," said the 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior. Pfisterer plans on playing college football and is getting interest primarily from NCAA Division II and III schools.

Pfisterer made North County's varsity as a freshmen and took over as starting quarterback midway through the season, ironically against Annapolis.

His one regret in high school football is he never guided North County, a Maryland Class 4A school, to the playoffs.

"That really hurts," he said. "I've been to playoff games (as a spectator) and there's a full house, and the band ... My whole time here, I wanted one chance. My coach said (the playoffs are) electric. It hurts not to get that chance."

IN CASE YOU WHERE WONDERING

The state poll will be released two days early this week because I will be leaving town on vacation Sunday. The poll will still be released to the A.P. on Tuesday to appear in Wednesday newspapers.

STREAK BUSTERS

The following winning or losing streaks ended last week:

Gilman's 29-game win streak ended with a 21-14 overtime loss to State College (Pa.) on Friday.

Westmar defeated Northern Garrett, 26-6, ending Northern's 17-game regular season undefeated streak.

South River had lost nine games in a row before knocking off Chesapeake-AA, 21-20, on Friday.

Damascus' 14-7 loss to Sherwood ended a 10-game regular-season win streak. It also marked the first time Damascus had lost to a team other than Seneca Valley in the regular season since 1997.

AROUND THE STATE (Week 9 Notes)

Imagine scoring 70 points and NOT winning with the running clock. Such was the case for Allegany on Saturday in a wild 70-41 victory over Victor Cullen Academy. The teams combined to set a record for points scored in a game by both teams. Allegany's Shannon Miller tied a state record with seven touchdowns -- six rushing, one receiving. He finished with 304 yards on 24 carries. Victor Cullen, meanwhile, racked up nearly 500 yards of total offense. Allegany had 541. ... Malcolm Ruff rushed a state-record 53 times for 269 yards in Gilman's 21-14 overtime loss to State College (Pa.). ... Eleanor Roosevelt will likely inherit the state's No. 1 ranking, marking the first time a public school from Prince George's County has been ranked No. 1 since High Point was No. 1 in Week 4 of 1991. ... South Hagerstown kept its playoff hopes alive while killing Middletown's 26-year streak of 7-3 or better seasons. The Rebels defeated the Knights 32-26, dropping Middletown to 5-4. South Hagerstown, at 6-3, remains in the Class 1A playoff race. ... Glenelg stunned Wilde Lake, 15-14, Saturday to stay alive in the Class 1A race.

LOOKING AHEAD

Gilman at McDonogh, Saturday. Gilman's win streak is over, yet the Greyhounds can secure their dominance in Baltimore with a win over undefeated McDonogh.

Parkdale at Eleanor Roosevelt, Saturday. What could have been a showdown of undefeated teams fizzled when Parkdale was upset by Bowie. Still, this matchup, with the P.G. County 4A title on the line, features a pair of state-ranked teams. Roosevelt has clinched at least a share of this year's league title.