Broadneck runs the Wing-T offense and doesn't worry much about passing the ball. But two big passes from quarterback James Mullis to Darnell Solomon on Friday night helped the Bruins avenge last week's loss to host Old Mill and end the Patriots' bid to repeat as 4A state champions.
Mullis threw a pair of touchdowns to Solomon in the final 19 minutes, the last one a 39-yard pass down the right sideline with 3:37 left that gave No. 5 Broadneck a come-from-behind 16-14 victory over No. 4 Old Mill in a Class 4A East regional semifinal.
Broadneck (9-2) advances to the regional final against No. 3 Arundel next Friday. The Wildcats beat North Point, 28-17, in a first-round game Friday night.
Old Mill (9-2) rolled to a 31-7 rout of Broadneck last Friday night. But seven days later on the same field, the Bruins were a different team. They completed only five passes, but the two big ones made the difference.
"Once you hit the playoffs, anything can happen," said Broadneck coach Jeff Herrick. "When you play good teams, it comes down to having a chance and being lucky. I think we had a chance, and we were lucky."
Old Mill appeared in command when it jumped to a 14-3 lead in the third quarter. The Patriots took a 7-0 lead when Rob Chesson scored on a 5-yard run on their opening drive. He made it 14-3 on a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter.
But three plays later, Mullis threw a long pass to Solomon down the left sideline. Old Mill cornerback Caleb Brown tipped it up into the air, but the 6-foot-4 Solomon grabbed it and ran for a 67-yard touchdown to make it 14-10 with 6:14 left in the third quarter.
Solomon used his height again on the second scoring pass. Mullis threw the ball high, and Solomon outjumped Torie Wagner for the ball and ran 39 yards for the touchdown and a 16-14 lead.
"It was designed to me," Solomon said. "I just went up at the highest point to get it."
Said Mullis: "He does a great job of going out there and jumping and getting the ball. That's him. That's not me."
Old Mill coach Damian Ferragamo said he wasn't bitter about Broadneck getting a little bit of luck on this night. He said his team got some en route to last year's state title.
"I don't begrudge anybody their luck," Ferragamo said. "The football gods shine on some people some days and someone [else] on other days. We're going to take them in the locker room, tell them how much we love them and how much we were happy that they played for us and let them know that there are bigger and better things out there for them."
B;0;3;7;6;—;16
O;7;0;7;0;—;14
O—Chesson 5 run (Sears kick)
B—A. Greene 37 FG
O—Chesson 55 punt return (Sears kick)
B—Solomon 67 pass from Mullis (A. Greene kick)
B—Solomon 39 pass from Mullis (pass failed)