Tomorrow
No. 5 Howard (7-1) at No. 15 Oakland Mills (6-2)
Time: 2:15 p.m.
Outlook: This is the game that most likely will decide the county championship, and only the winner will have a shot at making the playoffs. Both teams are 5-0 in league play. Both have balanced attacks and stingy defenses. Defending county champion Howard has outscored its opponents, 239-55. Oakland Mills, which hasn't won a county title since 1987, has outscored its opponents, 221-56. The Scorpions have four shutouts; Howard has two. Oakland Mills has played a tougher schedule, losing to Linganore and Thomas Johnson. Each team has allowed a total of three touchdowns in league competition. Oakland Mills must figure out a way to stop All-America quarterback DaLawn Parrish, who game after game has produced the big plays. Oakland Mills has a highly physical defense -- tougher than Howard has seen so far. And Parrish, who also plays defensive back, will be challenged at that spot by the passing of Irving Conwell and the running of Jake Daft (1,321 yards, 14 touchdowns). Whether Parrish can hold up physically and remain effective while playing both ways is a question that remains to be answered. Oakland Mills operates mainly from a wing-T formation, but also can employ both an I and a wishbone. Eamon Gallagher is a talented Scorpion pulling guard. Defenses tend to overplay against Oakland Mills, and Howard must display discipline. Both teams have been penalty prone. Conwell, a first-year quarterback, has had trouble taking snaps; he fumbled six snaps against Hammond.
Centennial (6-2) at Atholton (5-3)
Time: 2:15 p.m.
Outlook: Centennial's loss to Wilde Lake last week, 31-20, cost the Eagles a shot at the playoffs and the county championship. From here on they'll be playing for pride. Atholton should be pumped up after a 41-20 victory over Glenelg in which six different players scored touchdowns. Since neither team has a strong defense (each is allowing three touchdowns per game against league opponents) a high-scoring game is expected. The Raiders must stop a balanced Centennial attack that features the area's leading rusher, Robbie Hauff, who has 1,448 yards on 201 carries. Hauff has scored 150 points. Quarterback Brian Dowell is 42-for-94 passing for 745 yards and eight touchdowns. The Eagles must stop running back Ricky Trott (112 carries, 676 yards) and quarterback Jamie Burford (42-for-109, 746 yards, nine touchdowns). Trott had 94 yards on 11 carries last week.
Glenelg (2-6) at Wilde Lake (4-4)
Time: 2:15 p.m.
Outlook: The Gladiators have lost three straight since defeating Mount Hebron for their only league victory, and they'll be facing a much-improved Wilde Lake squad that knocked off Centennial last week. Wilde Lake now seems to have everything in gear and appears ready to tackle the Class 1A playoffs on a winning streak. The 'Cats have won two straight after losing to Howard, 20-0. Glenelg's big gun is quarterback Sean Lookingbill, who owns the county's strongest passing arm. Lookingbill is 106-for-202 for 1,225 yards and eight touchdowns. Wilde Lake received outstanding performances last week from quarterback Jeff Johnson (6-for-11, 160 yards), running back Dain Lewis (22 carries, 148 yards) and running back Sean Jefferson (11 carries, 73 yards). It was Johnson's first game at quarterback.
Mount Hebron (0-8) at Hammond (3-5)
Time: 2:15 p.m.
Outlook: Hammond played Howard tough last week before bowing, 28-7. The Bears had several chances against Howard, but Lions quarterback and defensive back DaLawn Parrish turned the game around with his clutch tackling and running. Bears quarterback Tim Spruill was 10-for-32 for 142 yards passing, but he had six passes dropped. Spruill also rushed 10 times for 102 yards. Ron Gamble was the leading receiver against Howard with three catches for 39 yards.