Sizing up the state finals
By Sheldon Shealer
While many will be stuffing their face with Thanksgiving Day leftovers this weekend, I'll be getting my fill -- of high school football!
This week marks the end of the Maryland high school football season. Four games remain -- four champions to be crowned.
Here is a game-by-game look at the finals, which will be played at Ravens Stadium in Baltimore:
Class 4A: Parkdale vs. Sherwood
Preseason Hype: Mark Thomas and I caught a little grief with our preseason pick of Sherwood at No. 6 in the state. After all, the Warriors were coming off a 5-4 season. But we liked what we saw at the camps and especially in the 7-on-7 passing tournament at Frederick. The question remained, would the line play be there for talented skill position players when "real" football started? The answer has been a definite "Yes!" We projected Sherwood No. 2 in the league behind Gaithersburg, and that's pretty much how it ended up. But Sherwood avenged that regular-season loss to Gaithersburg in the 4A semifinals to earn a spot in this week's final. In the preseason, we were off the mark on Parkdale. Anyone who follows football understands this as a universal truth: every year, there's another PG surprise. This year, it's Parkdale getting the honor over Flowers. Had Suitland made the final instead of Parkdale, we could have thumped our chest. (another 5-4 team we had high expectations for.) That's not the case. Instead, Parkdale, who we felt would place in the middle of the talented 4A pack in PG, has earned the right to play this weekend after taking out Suitland and Damascus.
Living For Today: Parkdale is a one-horse show, and they've ridden that horse -- namely Kevin Beverly -- to the state final. Beverly is one of three 2,000-yard rushers playing this weekend. A preseason area of concern was the QB spot, and Anthony Brown has responded with nearly 1,000 yards passing, and his favorite target has been Markus McFadden. Brown also has over 400 yards rushing. Parkdale shows both I and wing-T formations. One area of concern is special teams, and Parkdale often settles for the two-point conversion attempt, despite a PK who has five field goals. All sorts of grumbling occurred when Bob Milloy, the state's active all-time winningest coach, left for Good Counsel. Tom Crowell, Milloy's long-time assistant, has stepped in and put the program right back in familiar territory. Sherwood won back-to-back titles in 1995 and 1996. Bob Sheahin is a quality QB and he has two outstanding RBs in Romeje Richards and Josh Twyman to spark the offense. The trio has gained more than 3,000 offensive yards. Sherwood also has an advantage in the kicking game with All-State candidate Clayton Mollernhoff.
My Thoughts: The semifinals featured three teams from Montgomery County and one from P.G. (Parkdale!). Beverly must touch the ball 25 times if Parkdale, under Mike Rucker -- in his first full year as head coach, can take out another Montgomery County foe. If Sherwood can keep Parkdale off balance with a mix of runs and passes, the Warriors might be able to net their third title in seven years. Edge: Sherwood in a close one.
Class 3A: Linganore vs. Seneca Valley
Preseason Hype: Seneca Valley was our preseason No. 1 among public schools -- No. 3 overall and 3A state favorite, but after losing two out of three games in the midseason, it was looking possible that the Eagles might not even make the playoffs -- let alone the state final or a lofty state ranking. But like clockwork, here they are -- a win away from a staggering 12th state title trophy. After watching two Linganore scrimmages, we thought "good, but a year away." In fact, Mark said the Lancers were a Top 10 team -- in 2003! After this week, they might be a Top 10 team this year. Bringing in Rick Conner as head coach sparked the program, and the players have responded with a memorable season. We listed Linganore as the No. 3 team in the CMC for a couple of reasons: First, Urbana had earned the right to be considered No. 1 until someone could prove otherwise (which didn't occur until Linganore routed the Hawks in Week 10). Second, although we liked the Lancers, we felt it would be unfair pressure placed on a new head coach taking a over program that had only three wins the previous year. Therefore, Linganore was in our "Second 25" teams in the state.
Living For Today: Two masters of strategy -- Seneca Valley's Terry Changuris and Linganore's Rick Conner -- clash this weekend in a game full of story lines and subplots. As for the general overview, Seneca Valley altered its offense to accommodate an option QB -- Brandon Chapman. The addition of Pa. transfer Justin Warren was the missing link. Warren has rushed for more than 1,700 yards to spark an offense that has gotten away from its play-action, downfield passing attack of the past. Seneca Valley's defense is led by NCAA Division I recruit Devin Kennedy. At times, the Eagles have surrendered an unusually high number of points (42 vs. Gaithersburg, 27 vs. Calvert). Linganore counters with a more balanced offensive attack -- set up behind the running of Matt Castor and Eric Yeroshefsky. Just when the Lancers lull you to sleep with the run, they've got big-play potential with QB Zach Hayes throwing deep to WR Jon Moravec. Northwest learned that lesson last week. Defensively, Linganore swarms to the ball. Jeff Rollins leads the team in tackles, but Justin Grubby might be the defensive star. Also, Moravec chimes in on defense, as well. As for all the little side stories -- for the second straight year, Seneca Valley is facing a talented CMC foe. Can we get another game like last year's triple-overtime thriller between SV and Urbana? How about Seneca Valley is 11-0 in state final games. Linganore has won 13 of its last 14 games (under three different coaches). The lone Lancers' setback in that run was to Seneca Valley in the 1992 final. The last seven CMC teams that reached the playoffs were either the champion or runner-up. Conner, after helping Urbana to four straight state titles as an assistant coach, is a win away from a five straight state titles. Changuris has never lost to Linganore. Should I go on?
My Thoughts: We could play this game, Linganore beat Northwest, who beat Seneca Valley and claim the Lancers as the favorite. But just to show how meaningless that connection is, try Linganore lost to TJ, who lost to Middletown, who lost to FSK, who lost to Walkersville, who lost to South Hagerstown, who lost to DuVal, who lost to Forestville, who lost to Central. That wouldn't make 3-6 Central a 97-point favorite over the Lancers now, would it? It's hard to go against the Eagles in a state final, but this might be the best time (if ever). This SV team is not as effective through the air as past champs, and Linganore defends the run well. If SV can find some sort of short passing game or reach back for a few gimmicks, the Eagles might bag title No. 12. Otherwise, I like Linganore in a close one.
Class 2A: Hereford vs. Middletown
Preseason Hype: We projected Hereford as the 2A champ, but purposely gave them a low preseason state ranking, simply because of a regular-season schedule that poses almost no challenge. This team is legitimately strong and it's a shame Hereford's regular-season schedule is wasted on a series of running-clock Baltimore County contests instead of watching this team line up against some of the state's best from other counties. Middletown was our preseason pick to win the MVAL. Much like Hereford dominating its league, Middletown has had the run of the MVAL for most of the last 20 years! While we didn't project Middletown to be a state finalist, we certainly had these two schools ranked among the best in 2A this year.
Living For Today: How about this coaching matchup -- Hereford's Steve Turnbaugh, on pace to become the fastest public school coach in Maryland to reach 100 career wins (currently 85-10) vs. Middletown legend Tim Ambrose, the state's third active winningest coach who's in search of his first state title. Hereford has become "Little Urbana," running a wing-T offense and a similar 5-2 defense with great success. Turnbaugh and former Urbana assistant and current Linganore head coach Rick Conner are close friends and have traded a lot of secrets in recent years. When Urbana left 2A for 3A, Hereford has been right there to inherit the throne. Hereford teams have been potent on offense the past six seasons, and this year is no different. Adam Goloboski, a 2,000-yard rusher, also has 1,270-yard rusher Pat Butt and 850-yard rusher Ryan Shupert in the backfield. And just to show this team can do more than run, Andrew Depaula has passed for more than 900 yards. Middletown, a I-team, has also relied on its ground attack to reach the state final. Bruising back Josh Keeney leads the state with more than 2,300 rushing yards and 40 TDs. Defensively, Middletown also employs a 5-2 with Ryan Cutsail leading the team in tackles. The kicking game is a wash with Hereford's John Dinkins and Middletown's Will Gawler. As an interesting side note, Hereford won last year's 2A title after defeating three Baltimore Metro area teams. This year's Hereford squad advanced to the final after playing two more Baltimore Metro area teams. The Bulls' meeting with Middletown marks the first time Hereford has played a team outside the Baltimore area since losing to Urbana in the 2000 state semifinals.
My Thoughts: Middletown faces the wing-T just about every week in the MVAL, so Hereford probably won't bring anything to the table the Knights haven't seen. Traditionally, it's been difficult to run against the middle of Middletown's defense. But then, Middletown has never faced an offense this potent with so many weapons. Give the advantage to Hereford in its quest for a second straight title and 26-game undefeated streak.
Class 1A: Beall vs. Bohemia Manor
Preseason Hype: Class 1A seldom lives up to any preseason expectations. The reason, it's such a volatile classification. Every year teams that would be title contenders (chime in Allegany!) get left out of the playoffs while a host of unexpected, and sometimes undeserving, teams reach the dance. Beall and Bohemia Manor are very deserving playoff teams, but neither were considered title threats in the preseason. Heck, in fact, neither were considered title threats at midseason. Beall was 3-2 and still smarting from a 13-point loss to Allegany. Bo Manor started 3-1, but the projected "tough" part of the schedule (Easton, Rising Sun and North East-Cecil) remained ahead. We projected Bo Manor fourth in a very strong Cecil County League. It finished third, yet advanced to the state final with a victory over Cecil County regular-season champ North East. We didn't project a preseason order for western Maryland teams, but given that Allegany made our "Second 25" shows we didn't expect Beall to be playing in Week 13.
Living For Today: I'll kick off this preview with a totally useless fact: the Beall-Bo Manor matchup marks the fourth time since 1979 that two schools starting with the same letter have met for the Class 1A (formerly C) state title. The others were Smithsburg vs. Southern Garrett in 1979, Snow Hill vs. Southern Garrett in 1980 and Beall vs. Boonsboro in 1993. Beall has a habit of finishing strong. The 2001 team won its last five games, but failed to reach the playoffs. This Mountaineers squad has won its last six games to reach the state final for the third time in the last nine years. Beall runs a wishbone offense (always fun to watch!) led by Mahlon Harper and Eric Parker. Bohemia Manor counters with a balanced Pro-I attack led by QB Joe Graf (over 1,000 yard for the second straight year) and RB Shane Hines (also over 1,000 yards for the second straight year). Graf has seven INTs, but don't look for him to add to that number unless Beall is forced into a passing situation. The star of Bo Manor's defense is Rusty Jagoe, with more than 170 tackles.
My Thoughts: Why does it always seem there is a Sloan(e) on either Beall or Westmar's roster? Just wondering. (Inside joke for us western Marylanders!) In a rare situation, the Beall-South Hagerstown and Bohemia Manor-North East-Cecil semifinal round gave us a true east and a true west champion. It also left for little comparison between the two winners. I did not see either team this season. (Often in the past, I have gotten to see Bohemia Manor scrimmage and Beall play Victor Cullen Academy. With VCA gone and Bo Manor scrimmaging closer to home this year, my first look at these two will be during Saturday's final.) The only point of reference is that both teams played Elkton. In the playoffs, Beall throttled Elkton, 33-6, in an outcome that was protested due to a uniform infraction. Beall won the game and the protest. Elkton had handed Bo Manor a 14-13 setback early in the season. Based on that one point of comparison, I'll make Beall a favorite to keep the 1A title in western Maryland.
POWER RATINGS
Here are the Massey rankings for the Week:
MASSEY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RATINGS
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jon Moravec, Linganore. Talk about coming up big. Moravec caught the game-winning TD pass in Linganore's 13-6 thriller over Northwest in Class 3A playoffs. On defense, he had three interceptions. With the game tied at 6, Zach Hayes threw a perfect pass into the wind that Moravec, who beat his defender, hauled in for a 57-yard score on the first play of the fourth quarter.
IN CASE YOU WHERE WONDERING
Correction! Hereford is the only team that can finish undefeated in the public schools this year. If Hereford loses, there will not be an undefeated state champion for the first time since 1995 and only the fifth time since the state playoffs were formed in 1974. Seven of eight finalist have taken at least one loss during the regular season. In that 1995 season, Sherwood, Dunbar, Linganore and Cambridge-S.D. were the champions. Sherwood and Linganore could pull it off again this year. On the flip side, the only time all four state champions finish undefeated was 1997. In that year, two of the undefeated teams were Seneca Valley and Hereford.
AROUND THE STATE (Playoff Notes)
Gonzaga (D.C.) dethroned DeMatha as the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champion
in a 12-7 contest Monday night at Blair. DeMatha finished 7-3 and all three losses
(one to Gilman and two to Gonzaga) were to teams that finished the year undefeated.
... Bank on points in the Class 2A final. The last eight 2A state champions have
put an average 32.7 points on the board in the final. ... Four of the last seven
1A state finals have ended with a team getting shut out. ... There have been 112
state finals and only three of them ended with only one score in the contest (Friendly's
6-0 win in 1983, Linganore's 3-0 win in 1989 and Wilde Lake's 7-0 win on 1997). ...
A single extra point has determined seven of the 112 state finals. ... Montgomery
County has claimed at least one state champion in 10 of the last 11 seasons. ...
Frederick County has never won two state titles in the same year.
LOOKING AHEAD
MPSSAA STATE FINALS
Class 2A, Middletown vs. Hereford, Friday, 3 p.m.
Class 4A, Parkdale vs. Sherwood, Friday, 7 p.m.
Class 1A, Beall vs. Bohemia Manor, Saturday, 3 p.m.
Class 3A, Linganore vs. Seneca Valley, Saturday, 7 p.m.