Week 11 Recap
November 17, 2024
The MIAA has crowned two champions, the WCAC has its all-Maryland final set, and the MPSSAA playoffs are in full swing as the state quarterfinals slate is finalized. Read about it all in our weekly recap!
MIAA Championships
It was a good weekend if your school had the word ‘Archbishop’ in its title. Both Archbishops, Spalding and Curley, were crowned champions of the A and B conference, respectively. Spalding reigned victorious for the third consecutive year with a 31-7 victory over McDonogh, and Curley picked up its first title since 2014, and sixth in school history, with a 21-7 win over St. Vincent Pallotti.
McDonogh did the unthinkable in the A conference game – they scored a touchdown on Spalding. Spalding had allowed only 3 points all season in MIAA play on a field goal by Loyola in their game on October 25. McDonogh scored first in the game and took a 7-0 lead. It was the first touchdown Spalding had allowed since their game against DeMatha on August 31.
Concordia Prep also finished up its season, securing the Lutheran Cup with a 35-18 victory over Long Island Lutheran (NY).
WCAC Semifinals
Both Maryland schools in the WCAC playoffs had successful weekends in their semifinal games. DeMatha, the 1-seed in the playoffs, picked up a dominant 42-6 win over St. John’s (DC). The Stags advance to the WCAC Championship game for the third consecutive season, and will play for the title for the 28th time in school history.
Good Counsel advanced to the championship game with a 26-14 victory over Gonzaga (DC). The Falcons will play in the WCAC title game for the 15th time in school history, looking to pick up its 7th trophy.
DeMatha and Good Counsel will play for the WCAC title for the second straight year. Both teams played on October 18, with DeMatha picking up a 35-7 win.
4A Regionals
The state quarterfinals round of the playoffs are set, and they offer some incredibly intriguing matchups. Quince Orchard is back into the state quarterfinals after 49-0 win over Churchill. The Cougars failed to reach the state round of the playoffs last season after being upset by Northwest in the second regional round. QO will play another Montgomery County opponent, as they host B-CC in the next round.
B-CC reaches the quarterfinals with a 20-7 win at Blair, and the Barons are into the quarterfinals round for only the third time in school history, and the second consecutive year.
Broadneck and Northwest will face-off in the quarterfinals for a second straight year. The Bruins defeated the Jaguars, 21-20, last year on their path to the 4A State Championship game.
Flowers advances to the quarterfinals with a 42-20 win over Eleanor Roosevelt. The Jaguars are in the quarters for the 5th time in school history, and will head on the road to play a Paint Branch team that is undefeated in games that it has actually played in this season.
Wise picked up a 50-0 win over Bowie on Friday night, which now marks three straight years in which the Pumas have not allowed a point in the regional round of the playoffs. Wise looks to defend its 4A state title from last year, and will host Dundalk which secured a solid 35-13 win over Annapolis.
4A-3A Regionals
The 4A-3A playoffs were turned upside down on Thursday night when overall number 1 seed Howard lost on its home turf, 21-12, to Leonardtown. It marks the second straight year in which a lower-seeded Raiders team has upset the Lions on the road in the playoffs. Howard’s loss means that Perry Hall is now the highest remaining seed, and the Gators are the top seed heading into the quarterfinals, after a 29-8 win on Friday over Digital Harbor.
Both teams from last year’s 4A-3A championship game are still alive in this year’s playoffs. 2023 champions Mervo earned a 54-7 win over Catonsville. It was the third straight year that Mervo and Catonsville faced off in the playoffs, and the third straight year Mervo defeated Catonsville in the playoffs. 2023 runner-up North Point defeated Great Mills, 42-13, and will now host a tough Old Mill team in the quarterfinals. Old Mill will look to advance beyond the quarterfinals round for the first time since 2019.
Before 2021, Blake had never played in the state quarterfinals round of the playoffs. But now, the Bengals are back in the quarters for the fourth consecutive season after a 21-7 win over Whitman.
Frederick defeated Frederick County rival Urbana, 42-12, to continue its recent run of success. The Cadets have reached the quarterfinals for the third time in the past four years, but only the sixth time in school history. Frederick has not played for a state title since 1985.
3A Regionals
The 3A is the first class guaranteed to have a new champion in 2024, as 2023 champion Oakdale was defeated by Sherwood, 35-0.
Top-seeded Linganore remains undefeated, and did so in relatively easy fashion, as the Lancers knocked off Westminster, 49-21, on Friday night. Linganore is no stranger to the quarterfinals, advancing to this round for the 18th time. The Lancers came up short in the title game last year, but Oakdale, who defeated Linganore in the 3A title game last year, was eliminated by Sherwood.
Oakland Mills and Atholton will face-off in an all-Howard County matchup in the quarterfinals. The Scorpions narrowly defeated Oxon Hill, 29-26, while the Raiders won 20-0 over Marriotts Ridge. Oakland Mills and Atholton played in the regular season on October 10, and the Raiders won 27-20. An Oakland Mills win would mean only the second appearance in the state semis since 2001, while Atholton would move beyond the quarterfinals for the first time in school history.
Arundel was held to its lowest point total in a win all season, winning 34-14 over St. Charles. The Wildcats will host Northern in what promises to be a high-scoring affair. The Wildcats average 52 points per game, while the Patriots average 37 points per game.
2A Regionals
Top-seeded Stephen Decatur remains undefeated and can still advance to defend its 2A title from last year, but the Seahawks received a scare from Bayside rival Wicomico, winning only 19-14 on Friday night. Decatur will host Walkersville who will make the long drive to Ocean City from Frederick County after defeated Glenelg, 26-15, to advance to the quarterfinals for the third straight year.
Under new head coach DaLawn Parrish, Westlake earned a 28-0 win over Potomac, and a spot in the quarterfinals round for the first time since 2008, when the Wolverines won their only state championship. Westlake will host perennial power Damascus, which defeated Wilde Lake, 31-0, and is in the quarterfinals for the 24th time in school history. The Hornets last made it this far in 2022, when they won their 12th state title. When the Hornets make it this far in the playoffs, they generally win it all. Damascus has not had its season come to an end in the quarterfinals since 2001, despite 13 appearances during that time.
Easton knocked off higher-seeded Kent Island, 28-21, and finds itself in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1993. The Warriors get rewarded by getting to head on the road to face Milford Mill. The Millers, who defeated Hereford, 42-7, are into the quarterfinals for the fifth straight playoffs, and sixth time in the last seven years.
New Town avenged a regular season loss to Owings Mills by upsetting the Eagles, 12-6, to advance to only its fourth quarterfinal round in school history. The Titans will hit the road to play Huntingtown. The Hurricanes had a dominant 35-0 victory over Gwynn Park. Huntingtown has reached the quarterfinals round for the sixth straight year.
2A-1A Regionals
The top heavy 2A-1A playoffs saw all of its top teams advance to the next round. Patuxent, Douglass, and Dunbar all remain undefeated, and all earn the top-three spots in the quarterfinals.
Patuxent beat Calvert County rival Calvert, 37-12. The Panthers will host an Elkton team that upset Harford Tech, 24-20. The Cobras lost only two games all season, and both were at the hands of the Elks. Elkton is accustomed to deep playoff runs, reaching at least the quarterfinals round for the 19th time.
Douglass defeated Lackey, 22-13, to make it back to the state round of the playoffs for the first time since its state championship victory in 2021. The Eagles will host Liberty, who beat Williamsport, 36-28. The Lions advance to the quarterfinals for just the second time in school history.
Dunbar dominated Western Tech, 52-0, knocking the Wolverines out of the playoffs for the second straight year. The Poets have been in the playoffs 28 times in school history, and have advanced to at least the quarterfinals in 27 of those appearances, with 2013 being the only exception. Dunbar will face Fallston, who beat Sparrows Point, 38-0. Fallston is in the quarterfinals for only the second time in school history.
Randallstown narrowly defeated Forest Park, 17-14, to move to 10-1 for the season and head back to the quarters for the first time since 2019. A tough home game against Middletown awaits the Rams. The Knights had to come from behind to beat Francis Scott Key, 35-20.
1A Regionals
Top-seeded and undefeated Cambridge-South Dorchester survived a scare from Colonel Richardson, winning 14-7 on Friday night. The Vikings are into the quarterfinals for the 25th time in school history and have a home game awaiting with Fort Hill, which defeated Clear Spring, 55-20, and has won the last three 1A state titles.
Perryville earned a dominant win over Bohemia Manor, 49-3, and secured a spot in the quarterfinals for the fifth straight playoffs. The Panthers will host Patterson Mill in the next round. The Huskies shut out Havre de Grace, 42-0, in their regionals matchup. Perryville and Patterson Mill met in the regular season back on September 20, with the Panthers winning, 37-14.
Boonsboro picked up its 10th win of the year, defeating Brunswick for the second time this season, 34-22. Boonsboro is in the quarterfinals for only the third time since 1994. The Warriors will host Northern Garrett, who beat Mountain Ridge, 23-13. The Huskies are back in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2000.
We’ve got an all-Baltimore County matchup in the final quarterfinals game between SEED School and Green Street. SEED beat Surrattsville, 36-6, on Thursday night. In only their third overall appearance in the MPSSAA playoffs, the Sabers advance to the quarterfinals for their second time. Green Street bounced back from a regular season loss to Reginald F. Lewis to defeat the Falcons, 32-6. The Chargers are in the quarterfinals for the first time in school history.
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