Howard was at an all-too-familiar roadblock in the Class 4A-3A state semifinals this season, trailing defending champion South River 3-1 at halftime. The Lions' previous two seasons had ended in disappointing fashion against the same Seahawks, including the title game loss in 2014.
For a team whose attack produced an average of 19 goals per game this season, scoring just once in a half could have led to panic. But coach Jimmy Creighton showed none to his team during the halftime break — telling the Lions to play faster, to play their game and to have fun.
They did just that, outscoring the Seahawks 10-1 in the second half for an 11-4 win. They followed with a 14-6 win over Winston Churchill to complete a 19-0 season and earn the program's first state championship.
In five seasons, Creighton turned the program into a perennial power. The Lions are 78-14 in that span, winners of three straight South region titles and two straight Howard County championships. This season, they averaged 19 goals while limiting opponents to four, with their toughest test coming in an 8-7 win over previously undefeated Westminster in the region semifinals. Creighton, who enjoyed a fine playing career at Salisbury, also is a physical education teacher at Howard.