1 reply to this topic

[BSLWillieSeanCoughlan]

4A Semifinals

5 Broadneck (10-2) @ 1 Churchill (11-1)

- The last time Churchill played in a state final, their seventh in twenty seasons, was 1995, when the Dawgs fell just short of Dunbar in overtime of the 3A state final, 30-28, thanks to a two-point reception by future NFL vet Tommy Polley. The Dawgs were led by future NFL vet Dhani Jones, who edged by Crossland, led by future NFL vet Julian Peterson, 12-9, in the 4A state semifinals. 1995 was also the last time the Dawgs played in a state semifinal game.

- Dawgs coach Joe Rydzewski took over a Churchill program following a 1-8 season in February of ‘21, just before COVID caused havoc throughout the country. Rydzewski boasts a 29-8 record in his three-plus years at Churchill. Rydzewski, who led Watkins Mills for four seasons more than a decade ago, was a two-time All-Conference defensive tackle at McDaniel, where he played with his brother John, a three-time All-Conference offensive tackle.

- Dawgs assistant Dave Mencarini coached ten seasons at Quince Orchard, leading the Cougars to their first state title in 2007, and two seasons and a game at Urbana. Mencarini’s career win percentage of .818 (127-21) ranks tenth in MPSSAA history.

- Senior David Avit - 6’0 215 - became the 23rd player in MPSSAA history to score 60 career touchdowns in the Dawgs 27-13 win over Bethesda Chevy Chase in the quarterfinals. Avit scored ten touchdowns at Urbana as a sophomore in ‘21, 17 last season at Churchill, and has scored 33 this season. Avit ranks second in the MPSSAA this season in both rushing yards, with 2,269, and touchdowns. Avit has totaled 2,669 all-purpose yards.

- This is the first time in the Bulldogs’ program’s storied history to win three playoff games in one post-season. The Dawgs won back-to-back AA (now 4A) state championships in ‘76 and ‘77.

- Broadneck and Churchill met in the 4A quarterfinals in last year’s post-season, with the Bruins running away with a 39-7 victory. It was the Bruins who owned the ground game, rushing for 287 yards and four touchdowns. The Bruins then ran into the eventual state champion, Quince Orchard in the semis, 42-9.

- The Bruins have been one of the most consistent 4A programs for a while. The Bruins have had just two coaches over the last 34 seasons, Jeff Herrick (165-78 in 22 seasons) and current coach Rob Harris, producing 268 wins (8 Ws per season) in that time. Coach Harris holds a 103-33 record in his twelve seasons with the Bruins.

- Coach Harris’ son, Eli, a Navy commit, caught eight passes for 83 yards and a touchdown in the Bruins 21-20 victory over Northwest in the quarterfinals, moving into eighth place on the MPSSAA’s career receiving yards list, with 2,654, and ninth on the career receptions list, with 163.

- Junior quarterback CJ Watkins has won out in a three-way competition for ‘QB1’ status for the Bruins, and has been very effective, throwing 14 touchdowns versus just one interception. As a team, in twelve games, the Bruins have thrown 23 touchdowns and four interceptions. Junior running back leads the Bruins in touchdowns, with 14. Harris has scored 13 touchdowns.

- Broadneck’s only state title game appearance came in 2003, when the Bruins fell to Damascus, 13-7, as coach ‘Moo’ Makosy won his first of three state championships with the Swarmin’ Hornets, and their fifth overall. The Bruins are 1-7 in the state semifinals.

7 Eleanor Roosevelt (10-2) @ 3 Wise (10-1)

- Wise has won 13 straight games versus the Raiders since the start of the 2015 season, including five in a row in the post-season in that time. Overall, the Pumas are 9-0 versus the Raiders in the post-season. Raiders won the first three in the series, the Pumas have won 21 of 23 ever since, losing league games in ‘11 and ‘14.

- Wise coach DaLawn Parrish became just the second coach in MPSSAA history to claim 40 post-season victories in the Pumas 42-14 win over Walter Johnson in the quarterfinals. Parrish’s .816 career post-season win percentage ranks fifth in MPSSAA history, behind Lawrence Smith (873), Todd Appel (.833), Terry Changuris (.833), and Al Thomas (.821), just ahead of John Kelley (.806).

- Since 2015, the Pumas boast an 86-2 record versus Prince Georges County opponents, suffering both of those defeats to Flowers last season. Only four PG County teams have come within single-digits of the Pumas in those 86 wins since ‘15 - Flowers in ‘21, and Roosevelt three times - in ‘17, ‘21, and this season, 22-16, in week two.

- Pumas senior DeCarlos Young - 5’11 220 - is the team’s leading rusher, team’s leading scorer, and team’s leading tackler. Young has 20 rushing touchdowns on less than 100 attempts (98), and delivered a back-breaking 87 yard kickoff return in the Pumas 17-14 overtime win over Flowers. Young has totaled 79 tackles in 11 games, including 13.5 for loss.

- Sophomore quarterback Eric Wedge has thrown for 11 touchdowns without an interception in 96 attempts. Senior defensive lineman Ronald Hull - 6’1 320 - boasts 17.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, and four forced fumble.

- The last time Eleanor Roosevelt advanced to the semifinals was 2003, their fifth trip in eight post-seasons from ‘96-03. The ‘03 Raiders were led by Derrick Harvey, who registered 142 tackles and 31 sacks in ‘03. The then 12-0 Raiders lost to Damascus 21-14 in the 4A semifinals. That Raiders also featured defensive end and Maryland commit George Covington, and a junior that would become the top recruit in the country, Derrick Williams. Rivals.com named Williams their national Junior of the Year.

- While Wise has dominated league competition since 2015, it’s been the Raiders that have come within single-digits three times of the five times it’s happened among the Pumas 86 wins versus county opponents over that span.

- Raiders coach Thomas Green is 119-48 in 15 seasons at Roosevelt, including an 11-9 in the post-season.

- Five of the Raiders 11 games played on the field (one forfeit win) this season were decided by ten points or less, including both of their losses to Wise (22-16) and New Town (14-13), and three wins versus Oxon Hill (24-21), Bowie (24-14), and last week’s victory over Old Mill (30-28).

- Raiders senior Donte Howard has led the Raiders in rushing and touchdowns in each of the last two seasons, scoring 32 touchdowns in 22 games, including a pair in the win over Old Mill in the quarterfinals. Senior defensive end Favor Bate, who holds an offer from Temple, has recorded 11 sacks this season, after registering nine last season.

[85Knight]

4A Semifinals

5 Broadneck (10-2) @ 1 Churchill (11-1)

- The last time Churchill played in a state final, their seventh in twenty seasons, was 1995, when the Dawgs fell just short of Dunbar in overtime of the 3A state final, 30-28, thanks to a two-point reception by future NFL vet Tommy Polley. The Dawgs were led by future NFL vet Dhani Jones, who edged by Crossland, led by future NFL vet Julian Peterson, 12-9, in the 4A state semifinals. 1995 was also the last time the Dawgs played in a state semifinal game.

- Dawgs coach Joe Rydzewski took over a Churchill program following a 1-8 season in February of ‘21, just before COVID caused havoc throughout the country. Rydzewski boasts a 29-8 record in his three-plus years at Churchill. Rydzewski, who led Watkins Mills for four seasons more than a decade ago, was a two-time All-Conference defensive tackle at McDaniel, where he played with his brother John, a three-time All-Conference offensive tackle.

- Dawgs assistant Dave Mencarini coached ten seasons at Quince Orchard, leading the Cougars to their first state title in 2007, and two seasons and a game at Urbana. Mencarini’s career win percentage of .818 (127-21) ranks tenth in MPSSAA history.

- Senior David Avit - 6’0 215 - became the 23rd player in MPSSAA history to score 60 career touchdowns in the Dawgs 27-13 win over Bethesda Chevy Chase in the quarterfinals. Avit scored ten touchdowns at Urbana as a sophomore in ‘21, 17 last season at Churchill, and has scored 33 this season. Avit ranks second in the MPSSAA this season in both rushing yards, with 2,269, and touchdowns. Avit has totaled 2,669 all-purpose yards.

- This is the first time in the Bulldogs’ program’s storied history to win three playoff games in one post-season. The Dawgs won back-to-back AA (now 4A) state championships in ‘76 and ‘77.

- Broadneck and Churchill met in the 4A quarterfinals in last year’s post-season, with the Bruins running away with a 39-7 victory. It was the Bruins who owned the ground game, rushing for 287 yards and four touchdowns. The Bruins then ran into the eventual state champion, Quince Orchard in the semis, 42-9.

- The Bruins have been one of the most consistent 4A programs for a while. The Bruins have had just two coaches over the last 34 seasons, Jeff Herrick (165-78 in 22 seasons) and current coach Rob Harris, producing 268 wins (8 Ws per season) in that time. Coach Harris holds a 103-33 record in his twelve seasons with the Bruins.

- Coach Harris’ son, Eli, a Navy commit, caught eight passes for 83 yards and a touchdown in the Bruins 21-20 victory over Northwest in the quarterfinals, moving into eighth place on the MPSSAA’s career receiving yards list, with 2,654, and ninth on the career receptions list, with 163.

- Junior quarterback CJ Watkins has won out in a three-way competition for ‘QB1’ status for the Bruins, and has been very effective, throwing 14 touchdowns versus just one interception. As a team, in twelve games, the Bruins have thrown 23 touchdowns and four interceptions. Junior running back leads the Bruins in touchdowns, with 14. Harris has scored 13 touchdowns.

- Broadneck’s only state title game appearance came in 2003, when the Bruins fell to Damascus, 13-7, as coach ‘Moo’ Makosy won his first of three state championships with the Swarmin’ Hornets, and their fifth overall. The Bruins are 1-7 in the state semifinals.

7 Eleanor Roosevelt (10-2) @ 3 Wise (10-1)

- Wise has won 13 straight games versus the Raiders since the start of the 2015 season, including five in a row in the post-season in that time. Overall, the Pumas are 9-0 versus the Raiders in the post-season. Raiders won the first three in the series, the Pumas have won 21 of 23 ever since, losing league games in ‘11 and ‘14.

- Wise coach DaLawn Parrish became just the second coach in MPSSAA history to claim 40 post-season victories in the Pumas 42-14 win over Walter Johnson in the quarterfinals. Parrish’s .816 career post-season win percentage ranks fifth in MPSSAA history, behind Lawrence Smith (873), Todd Appel (.833), Terry Changuris (.833), and Al Thomas (.821), just ahead of John Kelley (.806).

- Since 2015, the Pumas boast an 86-2 record versus Prince Georges County opponents, suffering both of those defeats to Flowers last season. Only four PG County teams have come within single-digits of the Pumas in those 86 wins since ‘15 - Flowers in ‘21, and Roosevelt three times - in ‘17, ‘21, and this season, 22-16, in week two.

- Pumas senior DeCarlos Young - 5’11 220 - is the team’s leading rusher, team’s leading scorer, and team’s leading tackler. Young has 20 rushing touchdowns on less than 100 attempts (98), and delivered a back-breaking 87 yard kickoff return in the Pumas 17-14 overtime win over Flowers. Young has totaled 79 tackles in 11 games, including 13.5 for loss.

- Sophomore quarterback Eric Wedge has thrown for 11 touchdowns without an interception in 96 attempts. Senior defensive lineman Ronald Hull - 6’1 320 - boasts 17.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, and four forced fumble.

- The last time Eleanor Roosevelt advanced to the semifinals was 2003, their fifth trip in eight post-seasons from ‘96-03. The ‘03 Raiders were led by Derrick Harvey, who registered 142 tackles and 31 sacks in ‘03. The then 12-0 Raiders lost to Damascus 21-14 in the 4A semifinals. That Raiders also featured defensive end and Maryland commit George Covington, and a junior that would become the top recruit in the country, Derrick Williams. Rivals.com named Williams their national Junior of the Year.

- While Wise has dominated league competition since 2015, it’s been the Raiders that have come within single-digits three times of the five times it’s happened among the Pumas 86 wins versus county opponents over that span.

- Raiders coach Thomas Green is 119-48 in 15 seasons at Roosevelt, including an 11-9 in the post-season.

- Five of the Raiders 11 games played on the field (one forfeit win) this season were decided by ten points or less, including both of their losses to Wise (22-16) and New Town (14-13), and three wins versus Oxon Hill (24-21), Bowie (24-14), and last week’s victory over Old Mill (30-28).

- Raiders senior Donte Howard has led the Raiders in rushing and touchdowns in each of the last two seasons, scoring 32 touchdowns in 22 games, including a pair in the win over Old Mill in the quarterfinals. Senior defensive end Favor Bate, who holds an offer from Temple, has recorded 11 sacks this season, after registering nine last season.

Thanks for filling me in.