Class 1A semifinals
Cambridge (10-1) at No. 13 Oakland Mills (10-1)
When: 1 p.m. tomorrow
Outlook: Cambridge is an option team with speed that emphasizes running. The Vikings have passed only 36 times this season, completing 17 for 264 yards and five TDs. FB Tyrone Smith has 1,654 yards on 158 carries, a 10.4 average. He has 17 TDs. Cambridge has won 10 straight games since losing its season-opener to Wicomico. Cambridge has appeared in the state playoffs 17 times, the most of any school, and won state titles in 1979, 1995 and 1996. Oakland Mills, making its ninth playoff appearance and fourth semifinal, has yet to win a state title, getting to the final only in 1982. The Scorpions must contain Cambridge's outside running game and avoid giving up big plays. Brian Holly leads the Scorpions with 115 tackles. Joey Ellis has 104 and Jay Frizzelle 98. QB T. J. Welsh broke the school single-season passing record with 1,641 yards on 92-for-183. He has thrown 15 TD passes and seven interceptions. Tom Browne has caught 39 passes for 851 yards and nine TDs. Ellis is a multi-purpose RB with 607 yards rushing and 489 yards receiving. He also has eight interceptions, keying a defense that set a school-record with 22.
Forestville (9-2) at No. 9 Hereford (10-1)
When: 7: 30 tonight
Outlook: Forestville coach Michael Mayo says his team's strength is speed, which Hereford coach Steve Turnbaugh acknowledges is a huge edge for the visiting Knights. Top rushers for defending Class 1A champ Hereford, which runs a wing-T offense, are RBs Reg Cavender (755 yards, 16 TDs), Matt Curtis (890, nine) and Ryan Vogel (520, seven). Other contributors for Hereford, winner of 33 of its past 35 games, include TE Rob Bateman (five receiving TDs), DB Luke Gilbert (four interceptions) and DLs C. J. Feldheim (nine sacks) and Jason Armacost (seven sacks). Also operating out of the wing-T, Knights' RBs Damien Jackson (795 rushing yards, nine TDs), Ed Walker (1,309, 14) and QB DeAngelo Bullock (580 rushing, three TDs) have ripped the opposition for an average of 33.6 points a game behind linemen who average 240 pounds. WR-KR Gary Morgan (10 TDs) and Derrell Parker also are scoring threats for Forestville, which edged six-time state champ Allegany, 39-36, last weekend.
Class 2A semifinals
Fort Hill (9-2) vs. No. 3 Randallstown (11-0)
When: 7: 30 tonight
Where: Catonsville Community College
Outlook: Fort Hill, from Allegany County, are ranked No. 19 in the state and played like the defending Class 2A champs they are in last week's quarterfinal, overcoming two deficits to defeat Poly, 14-13. Randallstown's second-year coach Bruce Strunk witnessed the poise of the visitors, whose coach, Mike Calhoun, has a 121-30 career record. RB-DB T. J. Powell (947 yards, 10 TDs) and RB-DB Jordan Hamilton (632, eight) leads the Sentinels' offense, with DB-WR Jared Fradiska (a state-record 14 interceptions) leading the defense. For Randallstown, ranked No. in the state, QB Archie Trader (seven passing TDs, three rushing) and RB-DB Marshall Contee (15 rushing TDs) will need big games offensively. Fort Hill has good size on its line, as well. The Sentinels are in their 16th playoff appearance; the Rams are in their 12th.
In Western Maryland, Middletown visits Urbana in tonight's other Class 2A semifinal.
Class 3A semifinals
No. 5 C. Milton Wright (10-1) vs. No. 2 Eastern Tech (11-0)
When: 7: 30 tonight
Where: Kenwood High School
Outlook: Harford County champ C. Milton Wright is ranked No. 18 in the state. Baltimore County Class 3A-4A champ Eastern Tech is ranked 14th statewide. This game is a rematch of a hard-fought preseason scrimmage. Eastern has won 18 of its past 19 games but is making its first semifinal appearance, coming off last week's upset of last year's 3A champ, Wilde Lake. WR-DB Anthony Lawston (seven receiving TDs, eight interceptions), RB-LB Ray Jones (26 rushing TDs, 14 sacks) and OL-DL Ralph Henry (23 sacks) are the leaders. Eastern WR-DB Steve Lawston (eight TD receptions, six interceptions) and QB Scott Pearce (16 TD passes) have improved, and Aaron Weissner (6-6, 270) and Frank Shannon (6-5, 245) are among Eastern's massive linemen. But the Mustangs, coming off last week's upset of four-time champ Damascus, of Montgomery County, also are bulky in the trenches, with OL-DL John Kost (6-0, 270) and OL Joe Brown (6-3, 330). The Mustangs also boast do-everything DB-RB-WR Hardy McSpadden, who has nine rushing TDs, seven receiving, booted several field goals and averages nearly 40 yards a punt. LBs Sean Bantner and Mike Rye rank Nos. 1 & 2 in team tackles, and RB-DE Jerrance Carter (6-0, 190) has 1,228 yards and 15 TDs.
No. 4 Broadneck (11-0) at Friendly (11-0)
When: 7: 30 tonight
Where: Fort Washington, Prince George's County
Outlook: Broadneck's first playoff appearance ended at this site last year in a 34-20 loss to the Patriots in the 3A quarterfinals. The Bruins won their first playoff game last week, 22-21, over Westlake; Friendly beat Bel Air, 41-7. Both teams had strong second halves. Friendly last appeared in a state final in 1983 but is a perennial playoff team. Ranked No. 3 in the Washington area, coach George Earley's Patriots boast several NCAA Division I prospects. RB Bobby Lane has run for 1,622 yards and 21 touchdowns. "Lane is very good and is the guy who breaks games open for them," said Bruins coach Jeff Herrick. Other top Friendly players include WRs Tra Tribble (35 receptions, 725 yards, seven TDs) and Jason Snyder (20-215-7); 6-foot-1, 207-pound LB Leon Joe and 6-2, 310-pound, two-way lineman Matthew Leigh. Friendly also has two outstanding senior QBs, Keith Ferguson and Jamal Strong, the latter considered the backup. But Strong tossed two touchdown passes in last week's romp over Bel Air. Broadneck will counter with a hard-hitting defense led by LB/SS types Sam Strother and Tremayne Williams (five interceptions), lineman Jeff Logan and DB Dorian Watkins (five interceptions). Offensively, Lehrman Dotson has efficiently executed the Bruins' option and run-and-shoot attack, throwing for five touchdowns and running for eight. Workhorse Martel Threadgill has gained 1,836 yards this season for an Anne Arundel County career best 3,922 and scored 26 of his 50 career touchdowns this fall.
Class 4A semifinals
One game is a Montgomery County battle, Sherwood visiting Seneca Valley at 7: 30 tonight. The other is a Prince George's County matchup, Northwestern-PG visiting Suitland at 7: 30 p.m. tomorrow.
Pub Date: 11/20/98