It's Time to Unite, Expand Playoffs

By Sheldon Shealer

Five classes. Sixteen teams advancing. Three playoff games in two weeks. Starting early. Ending late.

In recent years, regarding playoff expansion for football, we've heard it all. Now, however, it's time to act.

Wednesday, the football committee held a scheduled meeting and the guidelines were set forth. It's up to the coaches association to help form a plan of action.

There really isn't too much objection to expanding the playoffs, but how to do it is the hold-up. After all, other teams sports now have an open playoff format -- allowing even the winless teams a chance at competing for a region title. Of course, football isn't going that crazy, but you can understand the coaches' sense of frustration since football, one of the state's great moneymakers and most widely followed sport, has seen only one expansion -- in 1985 -- in the nearly 30-year history of postseason play.

So what needs to be done to expand the playoffs?

The coaches association, which then reports to the football committee, must choose one playoff expansion option. So far, many of the proposed plans have flaws and the coaches have not been unified in putting their support behind one option. Although the end result may not resemble the starting point, it is important for the coaches to rally around one expansion plan, one that has the blessing of local principals and ADs. It is hoped this can be accomplished within the month so the football committee can make a formal proposal to the MPSSAA by Oct. 25, the last day to submit bylaw changes for this school year. At the earliest, any change could not be enacted until the 2002-2003 school year.

"There was a lot of good information going back and forth," MPSSAA executive director Ned Sparks said about Wednesday morning's meeting. "What the challenge is is to craft a plan that speaks to the objections they might here."

The following is a brief outline of some of the playoff expansion options:

Five Classes

The idea is to allow football to maintain a 13-week schedule by creating five classifications for football only. This will result it Class 4A, 4A/3A, 3A/2A, 2A/1A and 1A groups. Eight teams advance in each group. Pros: It keeps the season within the 13 weeks. Cons: Only adds eight teams to the playoff mix and waters down the chase for the state title. Outlook: Highly unlikely road that the committee would travel.

Sixteen Teams Per Class

This is the fan and coaches' favorite, but it requires a lot of work. Instead of eight teams advancing in each class, 16 will go, thus adding a 14th week. However, there in lies the problem. Where is the 14th week going to come from? Starting Aug. 8 instead of the 15th? Ending Dec. 8 instead of Dec. 1? Pros: Every team that deserves to make the playoffs will get a chance to play if 16 go. Cons: Winter coaches will complain they are getting their football players back too late with a late end. An early start means football staff's summer vacation might be reduced to five weeks. But the real issue seems to be money. An earlier start, later finish will mean coaching contracts might have to be reworked from county-to-county. Another issue with an earlier start could come in the form of other fall sports desiring an earlier start. (If that occurs, I've got a whole column regarding that issue!). Outlook: If soccer, field hockey and volleyball got two extra games (via optional tournaments), and all of those sports got an open playoff format, football should be allowed one more week. This is the plan that I feel the coaches will support, in some modified fashion. Look for this to be the direction the football committee goes, although it will require rewriting a lot of current bylaws and drumming up support from non-sports factions.

Condensing the Playoffs

Seldom talked about, but at least a remote option. The idea is to allow 16 teams to advance to the playoffs, yet keep the potential 14-game season within the current 13 week schedule. After the standard 10-game season, the playoffs will begin the following Thursday with the first round, followed by the quarterfinals on Tuesday and the state semifinals that Saturday. The championship will be held the following week. Pros: Meets the objective of expanding the playoffs without expanding the season. Cons: Three playoffs games in two weeks -- enough said. Outlook: Another unlikely move, but it is interesting to consider if all else fails.

Summary

There have been other plans to tweak the system, eliminating the region concept ... changing the point values ... etc., etc., etc. But all of those topics should take a back seat while the football coaches of the state unite and show they are serious about expanding the playoffs.

TOP PERFORMANCES

Joe Benson, McDonogh. The senior quarterback completed 13-of-19 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for a score, kicked a PAT, punted and played defense in McDonogh's 30-7 victory over Calvert Hall.

Anthony Davis, Bishop McNamara. The junior quarterback threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns in the Mustangs' 27-14 victory over St. John's (D.C.).

Josh Keeney, Middletown. The senior back rumbled his way to 184 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries in the Knights' 41-7 victory over Catoctin.

Antonio Lewis, Thomas Stone. The junior quarterback scored five touchdowns, passed for one and was involved in two two-point conversions in Stone's win over Leonardtown. Lewis had 360 all-purpose yards, including 198 rushing.

Bill Looney, DeMatha. Looney pulled down three interceptions in DeMatha's 40-7 win over Bishop O'Connell (Va.).

Brad Stonesifer, Francis Scott Key. Stonesifer rushed 11 times for 204 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-13 victory over North Hagerstown. Stonesifer also had a TD receiving and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a fifth TD.

John Zabel, Mount Hebron. Zabel caught eight passes for 174 yards and all three of his team's touchdowns in a 23-22 victory over Long Reach.

IN CASE YOU WHERE WONDERING

Linganore has been granted special permission by the football committee to divide the number of points it collects this year by eight, when factoring its playoff point average. The Lancers had a nine-game schedule to start the season, and it lost a contest when Damascus could not honor its commitment to play when Montgomery County canceled games the weekend following the terrorist attacks. The state rules outline that the minimum divisor is nine. Had that rule applied, it would have severely hampered Linganore's hopes of a playoff spot. Although more than 25 schools lost games that week, Linganore was the only team that had a nine-game schedule before the incident.

STREAK BUSTERS

Edmondson's 27-game regular-season win streak was halted in an 8-6 upset loss to winless Southwestern. ... Col. Richardson ended a five-game losing streak with a 49-6 victory over Victor Cullen, earning the first win for rookie head coach Neil Lambert.

AROUND THE STATE (Week 3 Notes)

Paint Branch had worked all week on a fake punt play, but coach Bob Windsor didnít expect it to be used, especially not on fourth-and-20 at its 1 yard line. Of course, it wasnít designed to be a fake punt, either. Paint Branch punter Chris Brew had Walter Johnson defenders bearing down on him, and it appeared a blocked punt would be the likely outcome. So Brew, recalling the fake punt design, tucked the ball and ran -- untouched -- for a 99-yard touchdown in the teamís 24-8 victory. It was reported as a 108-yard scoring run, but since the line of scrimmage was established before the play, it is officially a 99-yard touchdown run. It was Brewís first varsity carry. ... Bishop Walsh's 33-14 victory over Hancock marked only the second time since 1996 that BW has put together back-to-back wins. ... Archbishop Spalding was penalized 15 times for 123 yards in a 25-13 loss to Friends School. For Friends, it was the program's first varsity victory over a school other than Harford Tech, and the program's first MIAA win. ...

LOOKING AHEAD

Eastern Tech (3-0) at Hereford (3-0), Friday. It might only be Week 4, but this showdown will likely decide the Baltimore County 2A/1A League championship. Both teams are undefeated, and a bevy of bonus points should befall the winner.

Urbana (3-0) at Thomas Johnson (0-3), Friday. TJ is much better than its record indicates. Their first three opponents have a combined record of 6-2. Urbana, meanwhile, will be going for consecutive victory No. 41, which would match Seneca Valley's streak as the longest accomplished completely during the playoff era. City College had a string of 54 straight wins from 1934-1941 and Howard put together 47 in a row during the early 1970s -- a streak that began before playoffs existed and ended in a state final loss.

Mount St. Joseph (4-1) at Gilman (2-2), Saturday. The MIAA A Conference race will be greatly influenced by this contest. Only the winner will likely have a shot at McDonogh for league honors.

Gonzaga (D.C.) (3-1) at DeMatha (3-0), Saturday. DeMatha's charge to the top of the WCAC would get a big boost with a win over this archrival.