Guilford Park Uses Late Surge to Beat Howard and Win County Championship
October 25, 2025
JESSUP, Md. — Guilford Park (8-0) used an explosive 25-point fourth quarter to pull away late and defeat Howard (6-2) on Friday night in our Game of the Week.
Behind a strong defensive effort, the Panthers tallied four touchdowns in the final quarter of play to create some separation from the Lions, and also secure at least a share of the Howard County Championship.
But the final score does not tell the whole story about how closely both sides played in this game throughout the initial three quarters. Guilford Park held just a six-point lead heading into the final period.
The Panthers started the scoring after a long drive to start the game was capped on a 9-yard pass on 4th down from quarterback A’Yar Reed-Wright to Anthony Griffin. Kicker Edduan Perez added the extra point to give Guilford Park a 7-0 lead.
After one quarter, the score would remain the same, but Howard scored early in the second quarter as quarterback Donte Jones broke loose and scored on a 62-yard run. The extra point was added to tie the game.
Both teams traded blows, punts, penalties, and possessions, until the Panthers found the end zone shortly before halftime on an 11-yard run by running back Tyler Lee. The extra point was missed, and Guilford Park took a 13-7 lead, which it would take into halftime.
Howard received the kickoff to start the second half and embarked on a drive that chewed up nearly 7 minutes of the clock, but they were unable to make it even inside the Panthers 30-yard line, and came up short on 4th down.
Guilford Park was driving deep into Howard territory as the 4th quarter began, and Lee added his second touchdown of the game on a 3-yard rush. The Panthers attempted a two-point conversion to try and extend to a two-score advantage, but it was unsuccessful, giving them a 19-7 lead. The Panthers added another touchdown a few minutes later as Reed-Wright connected with Griffin for the second time in the game, this one from 46 yards, and Guilford Park started to pull away, taking a 25-7 lead.
With time winding down, Guilford Park forced a Howard fumble, and the loose ball was scooped up and returned over 60 yards by Sig Kamara for a third Panthers score of the quarter. Immediately on the first play of Howard’s next drive, the Lions once again fumbled, and Guilford Park recovered and initially returned it for another score. However, the touchdown was called back due to an illegal block during the return, but the Panthers retained possession. Moments later, Lee scored his third touchdown of the game from 22 yards out, and the Panthers would take a 38-7 lead they would not relinquish.
The win secures at least a tie of the Howard County Championship for Guilford Park, their first in school history. The Panthers remain undefeated and will finish the season next week with a road game at Long Reach. Howard drops its second consecutive game, and will return home to face a strong Oakland Mills team in its final game of the regular season.
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