GLEN BURNIE, Md. — On a rain-soaked evening on Senior Night at Glen Burnie High School (5-3), Old Mill (7-1) withstood an incredible comeback and retook the lead late in the game to hold on for a 27-26 victory on Friday. The Patriots, who at one point held a two-touchdown lead, saw the Gophers come all the way back and take the lead, and eventually regained the advantage to remain undefeated against MPSSAA competition.
Jockeying for playoff position in the 4A East Division, both Old Mill and Glen Burnie looked to retain the momentum they had entering the game, while also propelling them towards the postseason. Old Mill came into the game having one five consecutive games, while Glen Burnie had won three straight contests.
As the rain started to fall harder, Glen Burnie started the game aggressively on the ground. Running back Hebrew Norfleet broke two big runs to get the Gophers near the goal line, and Tim Shadare took it across for the initial score of the game. A bobbled snap on the extra point caused the Gophers to go for the two-point conversion, which was unsuccessful, and gave them a 6-0 lead.
Old Mill took its possession down the field and would get on the board first off of a screen pass from QB Trey Martini to Maximus Jones. Breaking through tacklers, Jones reached the ball across the end zone to give the Patriots a 7-6 lead.
Only a minute into the second quarter, Martini connected with wide receiver Jordan Penn for a long touchdown from around 80 yards. The extra point would extend the Patriots’ lead to 14-6. Old Mill would add a second touchdown in the quarter as a blocked Gophers punt was recovered in the end zone. The Patriots took a 21-6 lead into halftime.
Glen Burnie was the first team to strike in the second half as QB Romeo Edmonds found receiver Kayden Tasker who would run across the goal line. The Gophers were once again unsuccessful on their two-point attempt, and trailed Old Mill 21-12 midway through the quarter.
While the intensity of the rain started to lighten up, the intensity of the game picked up as it entered the final quarter of play. Edmonds led the Gophers downfield, capped off by a 30-yard touchdown run, to bring the score within just two at 21-19.
Old Mill drove down the field, attempting to secure its lead, but would come up short on 4th down from the Gophers 32-yard line. Martini’s pass to Penn was short of the sticks, thanks to a big hit from Glen Burnie’s Cyer Moyers.
With momentum squarely on their shoulders, the Gophers would once again turn to the playmaking abilities of Edmonds with the game on the line. This time, Edmonds used his arm to find receiver Bradeon Buchanan for a 35-yard score to take a 26-21 lead with 4:12 remaining to play.
But just as it seemed that Glen Burnie had its prayers answered, Old Mill came up with a miraculous play of its own. On 3rd down and long, backed up in its own territory with just over two minutes left on the clock, the Patriots setup a screen play. Martini found Penn once more who was able to elude defenders and sprint down the sidelines 68 yards for the go-ahead score. A two-point attempt was no good, and so the Patriots led by a single point, 27-26.
Needing only a field goal for the win, Glen Burnie looked to Edmonds once more to become the hero, but Old Mill stopped him on 4th down near midfield, and was able to secure a thrilling victory.
Old Mill will finish up its regular season next week as it faces Meade (5-3), while Glen Burnie will take on Severna Park (2-6) for its final game before the playoffs.
