Frederick (0-6)

at Liberty (2-4)

When: 7 tonight

Outlook: Liberty goes for its third straight win after beating Thomas Johnson for the first time since 1988. A tough defense was complemented by Calvin Stacey's 181 rushing yards and four TDs, boosting his season totals to 928 and nine, respectively, and a total of 66 points. The Lions totaled 26 points for three of their opening four losses but have now scored 61 in the two victories. Frederick became only the third team to score on unbeaten Urbana when Jermaine Williams ran an interception back 50 yards. However, the Cadets were restricted to 10 yards rushing as their record sank to 0-6 for the first time since the 0-10 1982 season. This is a young, inexperienced team that lost third-year starting QB Pat McGovern to a shoulder injury last week. His availability is uncertain.

North Carroll (4-2)

at Linganore (4-2)

When: 7 tonight

Outlook: Both teams are 2-1 in the Central Maryland Conference, tied with Liberty, and behind 3-0 Urbana. North Carroll showed it was more than a one-man gang when it got strong performances from senior backs Chad Lettau and Greg Bair and solid two-way line play in beating South Carroll last week. Senior RB Steve Suter continues to lead the county and CMC statistics with 76 points, 12 touchdowns, and 931 rushing yards. Also, he has 286 yards on 14 pass receptions. In Linganore's win over Westminster last week, Joey Bradshaw, one half of a set of twins who excel both ways, scored second-half TDs on runs of 63 and 67 yards, and John McGraw added TDs on a pass and a punt return. Joey Bradshaw has totals of eight TDs and 760 yards and brother Billy five TDs and 489 yards.

South Carroll (4-2)

at Thomas Johnson (2-4)

When: 7: 30 tonight

Outlook: Both teams have lost their last two games, and $H once-dominant Thomas Johnson, its string of Class 3A playoff appearances destined to end at five, is struggling. South Carroll registered at least four TDs in each of its first four games but has been held to two in each of its losses. SC's top scorers are RB Mike Muller, with five TDs, and WR David Keefer, with four. Clarke Griffin leads with 485 rushing yards, backed by Muller's 267. Keefer is the county's top receiver with 212 yards on 20 catches. The Cavaliers top the county in offense and defense, pTC having scored 163 points and allowed 116. TJ's defense was dented for 34 points at Liberty last week, and its offense, prone to turnovers earlier in the season, continues to try to replace injured RB/DB Leroy Ambush. Against Liberty, coach Ben Wright used three quarterbacks, and two of them, Pat Truxillo and Robert Staley, threw for TDs.

Walkersville (4-2)

at Francis Scott Key (1-5)

When: 7: 30 tonight

Outlook: Key will be chasing a second straight win after last week's 26-14 victory at South Hagerstown ended a nine-game )) losing streak. The 26 points (three TDs by 5-foot-6 senior RB Jason Richardson and one by Brandon Schaffer on a pass from Jeff Eyler) equaled the Eagles' points for their previous four games. Richardson and Chris Lagunas have combined for eight of Key's 11 TDs. Eyler and Paul Mullins anchor a defense that was at its best last week. Walkersville, which has lost to Linganore and Boonsboro, comes in having beaten South Hagerstown, 54-14, and Brunswick, 7-6 in OT, in its last two starts. RBs John Pelletier and Brett DeMeza have rushed for a combined 800 yards, and Pelletier has eight TDs, including one in OT, a fourth-and-game diving catch of a 14-yard pass from QB Craig Bauguess. Lane Strobel's extra point provided the winning margin. On the year, Strobel has kicked 20 points-after and a FG.

Westminster (4-2)

at Urbana (6-0)

When: 7 tonight

Outlook: For the first time in recent years, a Westminster game against a Frederick County foe has playoff implications for both teams. The Owls' three-game sweep of Class 4A East rivals North County, Severna Park, and Old Mill has helped boost the team to the top of the 4A East playoff standings with a rating of 6.66, ahead of Annapolis (6.00) and Meade (5.16), who play tonight. Urbana is third in Class 2A West (8.54), behind Einstein (8.83) and Fort Hill (8.55). Of late, Westminster has been on a yo-yo, sandwiching a win over Frederick between losses to TJ and Linganore. A 10-yard run by Bill Arnold was the team's only TD against Linganore (25-7). For the season, Arnold (559 rushing yards, 4 TDs) and WR Jemal Smalls (county leader in receiving yards, 315, and TDs, 5, and second in receptions, 18) are offensive leaders. Inside linebackers Manny Rivera and Nick Farver had 13 tackles apiece against Linganore. Rivera has sprained tendons in his left foot but will start. A former two-way starter, he has gone only on defense the last couple weeks. For Urbana, Thomas Parrish is the top rusher with 385 yards and five TDs. Greg Hill is top receiver, 19 for 345 yards and eight TDs, and QB Zack Mills runs the show. The Hawks average 39 points and have given up only three TDs. "Balance, consistent, methodical," says Westminster coach Scott Tobias of his opponent. "They sustain drives on offense and stuff people on defense."

Pub Date: 10/16/98