No. 4 Wilde Lake (9-1) at No. 2 Eastern Tech (10-0)
When: 7: 30 tonight
Where: Kenwood High School
Outlook: This Class 3A semifinal has Howard County champ Wilde Lake, ranked No. 16 in the state and winner of ifs fifth state title last year under coach Doug DuVall, visiting the state's 14th-ranked team, which is coming off its best regular-season record. Wilde Lake boasts All-Metro DB-RB Danny Bayron (1,000 rushing yards, 14 TDs), All-Metro LB Luke Vanderwagon (five sacks) and RB Jimmie Levins (1,432 yards, 25 TDs). Eastern Tech, in its second playoffs, counters with All-Metro WR-DB Anthony Lawston (eight TD catches, four interceptions), second-team All-Metro OL-DL Ralph Henry (23 sacks) and RB-LB Ray Jones (1,538 yards, 26 TDs, eight sacks). Look for a very physical contest.
Einstein (9-1) vs. No. 2 Randallstown (10-0)
When: 7: 30 tonight
Where: Catonsville Community College
Outlook: Coach Ed Ashwell's Einstein, ranked No. 16 in the Washington area, is having its best season and is in its first playoff. Coach Bruce Strunk's Randallstown makes its second straight Class 2A playoff appearance. The Rams, ranked No. 13 in the state, are led by QB Archie Trader (three rushing TDs, four passing TDs), OL-DL B.J. Thomas (6-5, 320), RB-DB Marshall Contee (1,000 yards, 14 TDs), LB-Mykal Bouie (six sacks) and DB Dieter Munz (six interceptions). Einstein boasts several Division I prospects, including QB Serge Sejour (6-2, 190), who has rushed for 620 yards and passed for 1,243 for 18 TDs, mostly to 6-7, 240-pound WR-DE-LB Victory Sesay (28 receptions, 603, eight TDs) and WR Vern Sumner (25, 580, eight).
No. 6 C. Milton Wright (9-1) at Damascus (9-1)
When: 7: 30 tonight
Outlook: Harford County co-champ Wright, ranked No. 18 in the state, is in its ninth Class 3A playoff in coach Steve Harward's 13 years at the school. Montgomery County power Damascus, ranked No. 13 in the Washington area, edged Einstein in overtime last weekend before a crowd of 5,000. Led by QB Matt Manza (1,031 yards, 13 passing TDs), WR Brian King (29 receptions, 638 yards, seven TDs) and RB Ken Shaver (568 rushing yards, three TDs), Damascus has come from behind to (( win five games. Wright's offensive leaders include 6-4, 200-pound QB Grant Burrough (912 passing yards, 12 TDs) and RB-DE Jerrance Carter (1,005 yards rushing, 13 TDs). Defensively, Wright is led by LB Mike Rye (five blocked punts), OL-DL John Kost (6-0, 270) and LB Sean Bantner.
No. 7 Bel Air (9-1) at Friendly (10-0)
When: 7: 30 tonight
Outlook: Harford County co-champ Bel Air, in its first Class 3A playoff appearance of the decade, visits Friendly of Prince George's County, ranked third in Washington and in the state. Friendly employs 127 plays and has won a county-record four state titles. Bel Air is led by QB Adam Rafalski (12 rushing TDs, 11 passing), RB-LB Justin Amrein (700 yards, eight TDs), DE Rob Coffren (eight sacks), LB Tony Cavallio (60 solo tackles) and LB Brian Archis (6-5, 245). The Bobcats, ranked 20th in the state, have outscored opponents on average, 29-5.Friendly's leaders include QB Keith Ferguson (894 passing yards, 11 TDs), WR Tra Tribble (32 receptions, 692 yards, five TDs), 6-4, and 240 pound WR Jason Snyder (16, 180, seven TDs).
Northwestern-PG (9-1) vs. No. 9 Patterson (10-0)
When: 7: 30 tonight
Where: Utz Twardowicz Field, Patterson Park
Outlook: Patterson enters its fifth Class 4A playoff in six seasons against the hard-hitting Prince George's countians, who are ranked No. 11 in the state and enjoying their best season, having allowed only 5.5 points with five shutouts. Defensive leaders include LBs Ricardo Dickerson (6-1, 210), Duane Henry (6-0, 240), Kurt Coy (6-0, 205). OL-DLs Reginald Kemp (6-4, 325) and Matt Leigh (6-5, 330) are two-way players, and DB Danny Whitaker has five interceptions. The Clippers, City East Division champs, run the triple-option/wing-T with QB Tremayne Lyle (five passing TDs, three rushing), RB-LBs Michael Crawford (707 yards, 13 TDs), Brenden Williams (940, 11 TDs) and RB-S Brian Hopson (715, nine TDs) going behind OL-DLs Matt Williams (6-4, 312) and Matt Belcastro (6-3, 308). Defensively, L Tyrell Ray (14 sacks) and DB Dino Alger lead the Clippers.
Forest Park (6-4) at No. 10 Hereford (9-1)
When: 7: 30 tonight
Outlook: This intriguing Class 1A matchup puts hard-hitting Forest Park against defending Class 1A champ Hereford, which graduated all but offensive starters Adam Hendrix (OL), RB Reg Cavender (13 TDs) and Jeremy Hundertmark (OL), and defensive starter DB Brenden Klekner. Hereford has had to come from behind to win five games, and Forest Park, led by RB Chris Cummings (15 TDs) and LB-DE Joshua Smith (eight sacks), rebounded to overcome four deficits. Foresters' coach Obie Barnes, whose team has lost four games by a touchdown or less, has an assortment of trick plays.
Edgewood (8-2) at Urbana (10-0)
When: 7: 30 tonight
Outlook: Edgewood, the only team to beat No. 6-ranked C. Milton Wright, faces a juggernaut in Urbana, which is ranked No. 8 in the state and is winning by an average 39-5. Urbana is led by 6-3, 180-pound QB Zack Mills (1,665 yards, 23 TDs), WR Greg Hill (10 TD receptions), WR Brian Klem (five TD receptions) and RB Thomas Parrish (seven rushing TDs). Urbana's line, featuring Jeff Santacroche (6-4, 260), averages 250. Edgewood has allowed 6.8 points with 6-4, 215-pound LB Shannon Maynard (six sacks), 6-foot, 200-pound LBs Lee Putney (two INTs) and Mike McIntosh (two interceptions) and DBs David Burman and Tony Harris (three sacks). RB Randy Bufkin (976 yards, six TDs) and Maynard (three TD receptions) lead the offense.
Fort Hill (8-2) at Poly (8-2)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Outlook: Watch for a possible matchup of Poly WR Eddie Henry (10 receiving TDs) and Fort Hill DB Jared Fradiska, whose 13 interceptions entering last week's win over Allegany was tied for state record. Poly will likely need heroics similar to what it got in last weekend's come-from-behind 13-12 win over City, as well as big games from Kenneth Rogers (nine sacks) and Marcus Coleman (five sacks). The Allegany County power goes for its second straight state title -- and third overall -- having won last year's Class 2A crown over Dunbar. Expect the Sentinels -- ranked No. 19 in the state -- to bring a massive crowd of more than 5,000 from Cumberland.
Pub Date: 11/13/98