ESPN RISE

By Mike Loveday and Sheldon Shealer 

Game of the Week: Gilman at McDonogh

One game will decide the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) A conference championship. McDonogh is assured of at least a share of the title, but a win over its archrival would mean its first outright A conference championship. McDonogh had a share of the title in 2006 and 2001. Gilman shared that 2006 title (along with Loyola), but won it outright in 2005, 2004, 2000, 1999 and 1998. Both teams will look towards its quarterback to lead them to victory. McDonogh's Rudy Johnson
has thrown for 1,595 yards and 17 touchdowns. Gilman's Darius Jennings leads Maryland in rushing yards with 1,766 and 22 touchdowns this season. Gilman's defense has improved after allowing an average of 39 points through its first four games it has allowed an average of 12 points in its last five – shutting out Mount St. Joseph last week.

Most important: Hereford at Perry Hall

It is not entirely simple for Perry Hall, but if it hopes to make the playoffs this season it has to win. The Gators will need Frederick to defeat Thomas Johnson since TJ holds onto the fourth spot in 4A North. A win over Hereford would give Perry Hall 13 points plus whatever bonus points would add up to. Only two points separates Perry Hall from Thomas Johnson for the final playoff spot. If the Gators win on Friday night they will be pulling for Frederick on Saturday.

Best Matchup: Paint Branch vs. Springbrook

Paint Branch is in a position it has not been in the past few years – needing a Week 10 win to make the playoffs. Instead, the Panthers are in the playoffs no matter the outcome, but Springbrook needs the win and some help to make its first playoff appearance since 2003 when it was a 4A West semifinalist. Looking at some of their common opponents, the teams appear evenly matched. Both teams have dominant wins over Richard Montgomery and Magruder and a similar loss to Sherwood. Springbrook is
led by junior running back Devon Pestano (1,015 yards, 18 touchdowns). Quarterback Eric Freniere transferred to Springbrook from Paint Branch and is coming off a 121 yard, two-touchdown performance against Sherwood. Paint Branch quarterback Tracy Martin has thrown for 807 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 437 yards and four touchdowns this season. If Springbrook wins they will be waiting for the score of the Winston Churchill/Walt Whitman game. A Whitman win, combined with a Springbrook win could mean a playoff appearance for the Blue Devils.

Star Power Game: DeMatha at Bishop McNamara

Both DeMatha's Marcus Coker and McNamara's Hannibal Robinson missed games last week, but even without the star running backs each team still has plenty of star power. Daniel Tapscott has played well since the game against Good Counsel, throwing for three touchdowns in DeMatha's Week 8
victory over Bishop O'Connell (Va.). James Joseph has thrown for 2,100 yards and 17 touchdowns for McNamara this season. If Coker does not play again, Michael Meriwether has proven to be a more than adequate replacement – rushing for 234 yards and four touchdowns in the last two games. Joseph has options to throw to with Matthew Goldsmith (756 yards) and Brandon Coleman (659) leading the way.

MDVarsity.com High School Football Media State Poll

1. DeMatha (10-0) def. No. 16 Bishop McNamara, 10-7
2. Linganore (10-0) def. Urbana, 42-14
3. Good Counsel (9-1) def. Archbishop Carroll (D.C.), 51-6
4. Arundel (10-0) def. Southern-AA, 69-28
5. Wise (9-1) lost to No. 15 Flowers, 14-12
6. River Hill (10-0) def. Centennial, 41-21
7. Quince Orchard (10-0) def. No. 18 Sherwood, 22-9
8. Fort Hill (10-0) def. Allegany, 17-7
9. Suitland (9-1) def. Eleanor Roosevelt, 25-6
10. Gwynn Park (10-0) receives forfeit win from Crossland
11. McDonogh (8-2) lost to Gilman, 34-27
12. Huntingtown (10-0) def. Great Mills, 47-24
13. North Point (10-0) def. Thomas Stone, 34-14
14. Old Mill (8-2) lost to Broadneck, 44-38
15. Flowers (9-1) def. No. 5 Wise, 14-12
16. Bishop McNamara (8-2) lost to No. 1 DeMatha, 10-7
17. Damascus (8-2) def. Kennedy, 36-0
18. Sherwood (8-2) lost to No. 7 Quince Orchard, 22-9
19. Westlake (8-2) def. Lackey, 22-6
20. Joppatowne (10-0) def. C.M. Wright, 28-7
21. Paint Branch (8-2) lost to Springbrook, 20-0
22. Boys' Latin (10-0) def. St. Paul's, 40-27
23. Queen Anne's (10-0) def. Kent Island, 35-21
24. Landon (8-2) lost to Georgetown Prep, 23-18
25. Dunbar (9-1) def. Digital Harbor, 30-12

Saturday, Nov. 7

Baltimore City
* Poly 26, City 20
* Reginald Lewis 20, Maritime Academy 18
* Southwestern-Balt. 22, Douglass-Balt. 18

Baltimore County
* New Town 40, Lansdowne 0
* Parkville 41, Dulaney 0
* Randallstown 28, Patapsco 0
* Woodlawn 22, Milford Mill 10

MIAA
* Cardinal Gibbons 33, St. Frances 6
* Georgetown Prep 23, Landon 18
* Gilman 34, McDonogh 27: Gilman handed McDonogh its first loss against a Maryland school this season, and in the process, the teams finished with the same league record in the MIAA A Conference.
* St. Mary's-AA 40, Severn 0

MVAL
* Thomas Johnson 34, Frederick 10
* Linganore 42, Urbana 14: Linganore raced out to a 42-0 halftime lead in the I-70 showdown.

Prince George's County
* Bowie 26, Northwestern-PG 0
* Douglass-PG 30, Fairmont Heights 0
* DuVal 42, Laurel 0
* Gwynn Park win by forfeit over Crossland
* Flowers 14, Wise 12: Flowers spoiled Wise's shutout streak and its undefeated record in the season finale between a pair of teams that are both playoff bound.
* Forestville 31, Largo 6
* Friendly 40, Central 14
* Parkdale 52, Bladensburg 0: Marcus Kennedy completed 12 of 14 passes for 205 yards and four touchdowns -- two to Jeff Sallis -- as Parkdale ended its season with a victory.
* Potomac 26, Surrattsville 21
* Suitland 25, Eleanor Roosevelt 6

WCAC
* DeMatha 10, Bishop McNamara 7: DeMatha capped a perfect regular season with a win over McNamara, which is coached by a former DeMatha player.

Others
* Calvary Christian (Pa.) 28, Maryland Christian 26: Maryland Christian missed a field goal attempt in the final minute that would have won the contest.
* Fort Hill 17, Allegany 7: Fort Hill used a pair of long touchdown runs by Dakota Welsh and Sam Walker to win the annual homecoming clash in Cumberland.
* Georgetown Prep 23, Landon 18
* St. James 24, Hyde School (D.C.) 0

Friday, Nov. 6

Anne Arundel County
* Annapolis 41, North County 14: Annapoplis clinched a playoff berth with a victory over North County. Demond rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns. The Wildcats will be the No. 4 seed.
* Arundel 69, Southern-AA 28: R.J. Harris caught three touchdown passes to establish a new single-season state public school record with 24 as Arundel completed a perfect regular season. Arundel will be the No. 1 seed in the Class 4A East region playoffs next week.
* Broadneck 44, Old Mill 38: Despite an upset victory, Broadneck finishes just points shy of a playoff spot in Class 4A East. Old Mill, however, will be the No. 3 seed.
* Glen Burnie 19, Chesapeake-AA 14
* Meade 40, South River 15
* Severna Park 36, Northeast-AA 18

Baltimore City
* Carver 20, Mervo 6: Carver clinched a Class 1A South playoff berth with Friday night's victory.
* Dunbar 30, Digital Harbor 12
* Edmondson 40, IBE 10: Edmondson finishes 5-5 on the season. IBE ends 1-9 in its first season, but its only win was by forfeit.
* Forest Park 6, Lake Clifton 0: Forest Park finished the season undefeated for the first time since joining the MPSSAA in the early 1990s. Forest Park and Dunbar are neck-and-neck for the 1A South No. 1 seed.
* Patterson 43, Northwestern-Balt. 0: Patterson clinched a playoff spot and will face Woodlawn next week.
* Southside Academy 20, WEB DuBois 14

Baltimore County
* Chesapeake-BC 33, Overlea 12: Chesapeake-BC clinched the No. 1 seed in Class 2A North region playoffs.
* Dundalk 42, Owings Mills 6: Dundalk remains alive for the No. 4 spot in Class 2A North with a regular-season-ending victory.
* Eastern Tech 28, Patuxent 20: Emmanuel Gbor scored two touchdowns as Eastern Tech pulled out a non-league win to finish the regular season 9-1 and secured a home game in next week's region playoffs.
* Franklin 14, Kenwood 6
* Hereford 28, Perry Hall 8: Willie Williams rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, and Hereford rolled up 326 rushing yards in the program's second win over Perry Hall in five years. Hereford secured the No. 1 seed in Class 3A North.
* Pikesville 35, Sparrows Point 28: Pikesville made a goal-line stand to end the game and secure the program's first-ever conference title. Davon Gilmore scored four touchdowns for Pikesville.
* Towson 41, Catonsville 7
* Western Tech 18, Loch Raven 7

Bayside Conference
* Snow Hill 21, Stephen Decatur 14: Snow Hill secures the No. 2 spot in the 1A East region playoffs with the victory.
* Cambridge-S.D. 42, Easton 13
* North Caroline 41, Col. Richardson 6: North Caroline sealed the No. 3 seed in the Class 2A East playoffs with the victory.
* Parkside 17, Washington 14
* Poolesville 35, Kent County 6
* Queen Anne's 35, Kent Island 21: Queen Anne's sealed its second straight 10-0 regular season and the No. 1 seed in the Class 2A East playoffs. Queen Anne's scored three touchdowns in the final five minutes of the second quarter to take a commanding lead. Kent Island will be the No. 2 seed.
* Wicomico 42, J.M. Bennett 26

Howard County
* Atholton 14, Glenelg 13: Atholton already secured the No. 2 spot and will face Wilde Lake in next week's 3A East region semifinals.
* Hammond 32, Marriotts Ridge 21
* Howard 28, Mount Hebron 14
* Long Reach 34, Oakland Mills 0
* River Hill 41, Centennial 21: The Hawks completed their fourth straight undefeated regular season and will be the No. 1 seed in Class 3A East.
* Wilde Lake 28, Reservoir 7: E.J. Gilman and Khalil Viera each topped 100 yards rushing. Viera scored two touchdowns. Gilman had a touchdown and a two-point conversion. Wilde Lake secured the No. 3 seed with the victory.

MIAA
* Annapolis Area Christian 28, Baltimore Lutheran 13
* Archbishop Spalding 55, St. John's Catholic Prep 20: Scott Sharik had three rushing touchdowns to lead Spalding. Brian Cooper, Mike Petrick and Mike Kelly each had an interception.
* Boys' Latin 40, St. Paul's 27: Boys' Latin capped a perfect regular season and will next face Spalding in the MIAA B Conference championship game next Saturday at Mount St. Joseph at 1 p.m.
* John Carroll 27, Archbishop Curley 14: Steven St. Clair rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns, completed seven of 10 passes for 124 yards as John Carroll finished 7-3.
* St. Vincent Pallotti 36, Friends School 20

Montgomery County
* Blair 37, Northwood 20
* Clarksburg 22, Wootton 9: Clarksburg completed regular-season play with a win but ended up points shy of the playoffs in its first year in Class 3A.
* Damascus 36, Kennedy 0: Damascus secured the No. 3 spot in the 3A West region playoffs with a victory over Kennedy. The Hornets will face Linganore in the first round next week.
* Gaithersburg 10, Bethesda-CC 8
* Magruder 20, Northwest 8
* Poolesville 35, Kent County 6
* Quince Orchard 21, Sherwood 9: Quince Orchard likely wraps up the No. 1 seed in Class 3A West with the win over Sherwood. Sherwood, the defending champion in 4A, will be the No. 1 seed in the 4A West region playoffs.
* Rockville 28, Blake 7: Crusoe Gongbay rushed for 293 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries for Rockville as the Rams secured the 2A West No. 1 seed.
* Seneca Valley 21, Watkins Mill 15
* Springbrook 20, Paint Branch 0: Springbrook earned the No. 4 spot in the Class 4A West region with a victory over state-ranked Paint Branch. Paint Branch will be No. 3 in the 4A West playoffs and opens against No. 2 Walt Whitman.
* Walt Whitman 28, Churchill 24: Kevin Cecala rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner, as Whitman secured the No. 2 spot in Class 4A West. Whitman will face Paint Branch in next week's region playoffs.
* Walter Johnson 49, Richard Montgomery 0
* Wheaton 36, Einstein 25

MVAL
* Boonsboro 28, Smithsburg 15: The Warriors clinched the No. 3 seed in the Class 1A East region playoffs with this rivalry victory. Boonsboro will face Allegany in the region semifinals. Despite the loss, Smithsburg still qualifies for the 1A West playoffs as the No. 4 seed and will face Fort Hill next week.
* Catoctin 46, Brunswick 0: Catoctin capped its first undefeated regular season since back-to-back 10-0 seasons in 1981 and 1982. The Cougars will be heavily favored to win the 1A North region playoffs.
* Century 63, Francis Scott Key 12: Century secured the No. 3 seed in the 2A West region playoffs.
* Middletown 42, Walkersville 26: Middletown's win, coupled with Winter Mill's late-loss to Westminster on Friday, allowed the Knights to snag the No. 4 seed in next week's Class 2A West region playoffs.
* North Carroll 42, Manchester Valley 0
* North Hagerstown 44, South Hagerstown 0
* South Carroll 27, Liberty 7: South Carroll will be the No. 2 seed in the Class 2A West region playoffs.
* Tuscarora 28, Riverdale Baptist 0: Tuscarora secured the No. 4 spot in the Class 3A West region playoffs with a win over Riverdale Baptist. Matt Scott rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns for Tuscarora. Bobby Stup added 159 rushing yards and a score, and the senior linebacker had 15 tackles.
* Westminster 19, Winters Mill 18: Westminster's fourth-quarter, come-from-behind win bounced Winters Mill from the playoff race.
* Williamsport 20, Clear Spring 6: Williamsport bounced Clear Spring from the playoff chase.

Prince George's County
* Oxon Hill 34, High Point 0

SMAC
* Calvert 38, Northern Calvert 14
* Chopticon 48, Leonardtown 17
* Eastern Tech 28, Patuxent 20: Emmanuel Gbor scored two touchdowns as Eastern Tech pulled out a non-league win to finish the regular season 9-1 and secured a home game in next week's region playoffs.
* Huntingtown 47, Great Mills 24: Huntingtown finished regular-season play undefeated for first time in the school's brief history.
* McDonough 38, La Plata 6
* North Point 34, Thomas Stone 14: North Point secured its first perfect season with a win over Thomas Stone. North Point will be in the No. 2 seed in the 4A East region playoffs next week.
* Westlake 22, Lackey 6: Westlake finishes regular-season play with an 8-2 record and presently holds the No. 2 seed in the Class 3A South region playoffs.

UCBAC
* Bel Air 20, Aberdeen 14
* Bohemia Manor 49, North East-Cecil 0
* Havre de Grace 45, Fallston 24
* Joppatowne 28, C.M. Wright 7
* North Harford 6, Elkton 3
* Perryville 20, Edgewood 6
* Rising Sun 47, Patterson Mill 22: Despite a win and a 6-3 record, Rising Sun just misses the playoffs in large part due to Wicomico picking up a forfeit victory Thursday.

WCAC
* Good Counsel 51, Archbishop Carroll (D.C.) 6

Others
* Bishop Ireton (Va.) 43, St. Mary's Ryken 21
* Bishop Walsh 48, Hancock 22: Bishop Walsh secured its first back-to-back winning seasons since 1985 with a victory over Hancock. Trey Walters scored three touchdowns.
* Central Maryland Christian 28, Frederick County Eagles 6
* Disciples of Christ (Va.) 41, Leonard Hall 12
* Episcopal 34, Bullis 7
* John Paul the Great (Va.) 24, Avalon School 18
* Keyser (W.Va.) 41, Mountain Ridge 14: Mountain Ridge suffers its first losing season since coming into existence three years ago.
* MSD 56, Silver Oak 18
* Northern Garrett 14, Southern Garrett 12
* Tuscarora 28, Riverdale Baptist 0