Countdown to high school football: Week 11

Area squads look to advance to state quarterfinals; MIAA playoffs begin

Published 11/11/2022 6:50 a.m. EST, Updated 12/1/2022 1:32 p.m. EST

Calvert Hall senior quarterback Noah Brannock sets to throw during Friday's 33-22 loss to Mount St. Joseph in MIAA A Conference action.
Calvert Hall senior quarterback Noah Brannock sets to throw during last month's MIAA A Conference match with Mount St. Joseph. The No. 7 Cardinals travel to the third-ranked Gaels Saturday afternoon, with the winner claiming a spot in the MIAA A title game Nov. 18 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (John Bowers)

It’s full playoff mode as the area high school football season hits Week 11.

The state public tournament moves into the second round play with two teams from each region in the state’s six classifications advancing to next weekend’s state quarterfinals. The MIAA playoffs also begin with semifinal matches in the A and B conferences.

Here’s a look at some of the best games of the weekend followed by the complete schedule.

New Town (7-3) at No. 15 Hereford (9-1)

What: Class 2A North Region playoffs second round

When: Friday, 6 p.m.

The Bulls, who’ve quietly put together a solid season, look to advance to the state round of eight for the first time since 2017. Hereford put up a season-best 53 points in an opening round victory over Patterson last Friday.

Hereford has won eight straight since a week two loss at undefeated and fifth-ranked Milford Mill, 42-6. The Bulls allowed just 14 points and posted four on-field shutouts the remainder of the regular season including a 9-0 decision over New Town last month.

The Titans, who were last shutout in 2018 (35-0 loss to Glenelg in 2018 2A state semifinals), routed Overlea (46-8) in last weekend’s opening round. New Town seeks its first state round of eight berth since advancing to the 2A semifinals in 2019.

Edgewood (8-2) at No. 11 Westminster (9-1)

What: Class 3A North Region playoffs second round

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Mount Hebron

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Because of forecasted rain, the game site switches from Westminster’s grass field to Mount Hebron’s turf with a spot in the state quarterfinals at stake.

Edgewood handled Patapsco, 49-0, in the opening round last Friday. Cesar Travers threw for 136 yards and Darius Fleming and Elfred Segbe each returned a fumble for a touchdown.

Westminster posted a season-high 50 in a 50-0 rout of Aberdeen last weekend. The Owls, who shared the Carroll County Athletic League title with Liberty and South Carroll, have a dynamic offense led by junior quarterback Kyrece Walker (32 touchdowns accounted for; more than 2,200 yards passing and rushing).

The Owls look to return to the state quarterfinals after losing to eventual state champ Northern of Calvert County. Edgewood seeks its first round of eight berth since 2017.

Franklin (7-3) at No. 13 Bel Air (10-0)

What: Class 3A North Region playoffs second round

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Bel Air looks to continue its chase at perfection. The UCBAC Chesapeake champs overwhelmed Aberdeen in last weekend’s opening round.

Nate Furrow rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Jay Perez threw for a score and ran for another. The Harford County school has posted four 48-point games this season.

Franklin held off Manchester Valley, 28-25, in an opening round match last Friday. Anthony Gibson rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown, and Devin Rollins, Jamari Lewis and Tyler Richardson each added rushing scores.

The Indians have a ton of postseason experience with back-to-back state quarterfinal trips (2021 and 2019) following their third state championship in six seasons in 2018. Bel Air’s last round of eight berth was in 2014, and its last state semifinal appearance was in 2004.

McDonogh (4-6) at No. 2 Archbishop Spalding (9-1)

What: MIAA A Conference semifinal

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

The Eagles return to Whittles Field in Severn for the third time in less than a year. Last Saturday, McDonogh overcame a 13-0 deficit, scoring 34 unanswered points in the second half to beat Gilman to clinch the playoff No. 4 seed.

Jackson Exinor caught scoring passes of 87 and 63 yards from freshman quarterback Braeden Palazzo, and Chase Green added two rushing scores. Noah Onkst returned an interception for a score.

Spalding, the top-seed, completed a second straight undefeated regular season in MIAA A play with a 35-21 victory at No. 3 Mount St. Joseph last Saturday. Senior Hakeem Simms rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns and sophomore quarterback Malik Washington threw for a touchdown.

The Cavaliers have won nine straight since a season-opening loss at New Jersey’s Don Bosco Prep, including a 45-12 victory over McDonogh Oct. 21. In last year’s MIAA A semifinals, the Eagles ended Spalding’s bid for a perfect season with a 7-0 victory. The Cavaliers, who joined the MIAA A in 2011, have yet to win a postseason game (0-4).

No. 7 Calvert Hall (5-5) at No. 3 Mount St. Joseph (7-3)

What: MIAA A Conference semifinal

When: Saturday, 12 p.m.

The Cardinals officially start their bid for a second straight MIAA A championship. Calvert Hall has momentum, following an epic fourth quarter comeback victory over McDonogh two weeks ago with an efficient 21-0 win over St. Vincent Pallotti last Friday in Laurel.

Senior running back Daniel Harper rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown and Dawon Dorsey added a rushing score for Calvert Hall, the No. 3 seed. Senior quarterback Noah Brannock threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Kaden Barmer.

Mount St. Joseph had its five-game winning streak snapped in a 35-21 loss to No. 2 Archbishop Spalding last Saturday at home. Junior quarterback Winston Watkins threw two scoring passes for the second-seeded Gaels, who led 14-0 in the first quarter.

The Gaels won at Calvert Hall, 33-22, on Oct. 21 as Bryce Cox scored three second half touchdowns. The Cardinals upended Mount St. Joseph, 31-26, in last year’s semifinals after losing the regular season meeting.

FRIDAY

TOP 15

MIAA B Conference semifinal - Archbishop Curley (6-3) at No. 8 Concordia Prep (8-2), 4 p.m.

Class 2A/1A North Region playoffs second round - Fairmont Heights (3-7) vs. No. 4 Dunbar (9-0) at Sugar Cain Field, 6 p.m.

Class 2A North Region playoffs second round - Owings Mills (6-4) at No. 5 Milford Mill (10-0), 6 p.m.

Class 2A North Region playoffs second round - New Town (7-3) at No. 15 Hereford (9-1), 6 p.m.

Class 4A West Region playoffs second round - Meade (5-5) at No. 9 Broadneck (8-1), 6:30 p.m.

Clarkston North-Canada (2-3) vs. No. 1 St. Frances (7-0) at University of Maryland, 7 p.m.

Class 3A North Region playoffs second round - Edgewood (8-2) vs. No. 11 Westminster (9-1) at Mount Hebron, 7 p.m.

Class 3A North Region playoffs second round - Franklin (7-3) at No. 13 Bel Air (10-0), 7 p.m.

Class 3A South Region playoffs second round - Marriotts Ridge (4-6) at No. 10 Atholton (9-0), 7 p.m.

Class 4A/3A North Region playoffs second round - Dulaney (5-5) at No. 12 Dundalk (8-1), 7 p.m.

Class 4A/3A South Region playoffs second round - Leonardtown (6-4) at No. 14 Arundel (7-2), 7 p.m.

MIAA A Conference semifinal - McDonogh (4-6) at No. 2 Archbishop Spalding (9-1), 7 p.m.

MIAA B Conference semifinal - John Carroll (5-5) vs. No. 6 St. Mary’s (10-0) at Pascal Field, 7 p.m.

MPSSAA PLAYOFFS

Region second round

Class 1A East - Bohemia Manor (6-4) at Colonel Richardson (7-3), 6 p.m.

Class 1A North - SEED School (5-4) at Joppatowne (9-1), 6 p.m.

Class 1A North - Brunswick (7-3) at Patterson Mill (8-2), 6 p.m.

Class 3A East - Long Reach (8-2) at Chesapeake-Anne Arundel (8-2), 6 p.m.

Class 3A North - Franklin (7-3) at Bel Air (10-0), 6 p.m.

Class 4A/3A North - Mervo (6-3) at Perry Hall (7-3), 6 p.m.

Class 4A East - Glen Burnie (6-4) at Old Mill (7-3), 6 p.m.

Class 2A/1A East - Parkside (4-6) at Harford Tech (6-4), 6:30 p.m.

Class 2A South - Northeast (6-4) at Potomac (8-1), 6:30 p.m.

Class 2A West - Oakland Mills (5-5) at Middletown (7-3), 6:30 p.m.

Class 3A South - Wilde Lake (5-5) at River Hill (7-1), 6:30 p.m.

Class 3A West - Mount Hebron (4-6) at Urbana (9-1), 6:30 p.m.

Class 3A West - Seneca Valley (7-3) at Howard (7-2), 6:30 p.m.

Class 2A/1A East - Elkton (5-5) at Rising Sun (6-3), 7 p.m.

Class 2A/1A West - Boonsboro (7-3) at South Carroll (9-0) at Glenelg, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

TOP 15

MIAA A Conference semifinal - No. 7 Calvert Hall (5-5) at No. 3 Mount St. Joseph (7-3), 12 p.m.

MPSSAA PLAYOFFS

Region second round

Class 1A East - Perryville (6-4) vs. Green Street Academy (6-3) at Poly, 12 p.m.

Class 1A South - Douglass (6-2) vs. Lake Clifton (6-3) at Mervo, 12 p.m.

Class 1A South Edmondson (3-6) vs. Forest Park (6-3) at Dunbar, 12 p.m.

Class 2A/1A North - Sparrows Point (7-3) at Largo (8-2), 1 p.m.

Class 2A/1A West - Williamsport (7-3) vs. Liberty (7-3) at Marriotts Ridge, 6 p.m.