Perry Hall eliminates Mervo in 4A/3A state football

The players stormed the field like it was the end of a state championship game. Coaches took pictures with the final score lighted brightly on the scoreboard. A player did a backflip.

“We shocked the world,” said another player in the celebration.

Perry Hall High football has had some nice moments the last couple of decades. But Friday night may have been the program’s finest.

Perry Hall 7, Mervo 6. The Gators advanced to the Class 4A/3A state quarterfinals by ending Mervo’s championship reign.

“We knew what we had…we had the athletes, we had the heart,” said Gator running back/linebacker Jacob Wagner. “We just had to go out and execute. It wasn’t an upset.”

Wagner’s touchdown, combined with a gritty defensive effort equaled the Baltimore County’s school first trip to the “round of eight” since the Gators lost in the 4A North Region final in 2013 when the state postseason tournament had four classifications (it’s now six) and the top four teams in each region qualified.

Next weekend, Perry Hall (7-3 overall) will play at No. 12 Dundalk or Frederick County’s Urbana, in a state quarterfinal match.

Friday, the Gators eliminated Mervo (6-4), which routed them, 42-3, in last year’s North Region second round in Baltimore City.

“Everybody was scared,” said Gators quarterback/defensive back Da’Shawn Conway, who played last year. “Today, we had that dog mentality.”

“Our whole mantra this year was: Shock the world,” said Perry Hall first-year coach Rocco Bruno. “We knew we weren’t given much of a chance. The kids played hard, we had a great week of practice and they brought into the system.”

The Gators went right at Mervo Friday with Wagner gashing the champs, mainly in the middle. Their first drive ended with a fumble on fourth down, but they weren’t hesitant on their next possession.

Wagner broke free for 32 yards, putting Perry Hall in the red zone. After a nine-yard run by Dallas Conway, Wagner burrowed across the goal line, giving the Gators a 7-0 lead with 3 minutes, 44 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Perry Hall’s defense held up, turning away the Mustangs twice inside its 10-yard line before halftime. Mervo finally broke through in the third quarter as junior quarterback Malik Woodrum hit

Kamren Vines for a 17-yard touchdown with 2:39 left in the third quarter.

The Mustangs failed to attempt an extra-point kick because of a high snap. In the fourth, Mervo had a punt blocked by Perry Hall senior Nathaniel Adama, giving the Gators possession at Mervo’s 19.

The Mustangs’ defense which kept Perry Hall’s offense under wraps after the opening two drives Friday, stopped them on downs. The Gators returned the favor, turning Mervo’s offense away on fourth down inside the Mustangs’ 40-yard line with four minutes left in regulation.

Perry Hall lost 20 yards on a recovered fumble on third-down play and punted the ball back to Mervo with 2:09 to play. Vines pulled down Woodrum’s bomb near the sidelines and was brought down at Perry Hall’s 11 with 1:45 left in regulation.

The Mustangs got to the four and called timeout with 31.7 seconds to play. Perry Hall dropped Mervo running back Bobby Johnson for a nine-yard loss and Mervo got to the line and spiked the ball with 11.3 seconds left.

After being whistled for delay of game, pushing the ball back to the Gators’ 18, Mervo opted to attempt a field goal from about 34 yards.

Makai Woodrum’s attempt landed a couple of yards short of the goal post with 1.7 seconds remaining.

Da’Shaun Conway took a knee out of the victory formation, and the Gators began celebrating one of their biggest victories.

Conway said no one outside the Gators’ locker room gave Perry Hall a chance Friday.

“They were talking like they were going to put 100 points on us,” said Conway. “They had no faith in us.”

Several Perry Hall players consoled their opponents, some who sat in disbelief on the field minutes after the final horn.

It was a stunning end to a difficult season for Mervo, which started with Jeremiah Brodgen, a varsity member, being gunned down after school, just hours before the opening game.

On the field, injuries, youth and inconsistent play proved too much for Mervo to overcome.

“We’ve been talking about this all year, Mervo vs. Mervo. We could not get out of our own way,” said Mustangs coach Patrick Nixon. “We had opportunities. If you don’t make plays in these moments, this is what happens.

It’s been an up-and-down season with injuries, losing one of our players, it’s been tough, but we’re resilient and going to right the ship.”

The Gators will have to get refocused after Friday’s landmark victory.

Perry Hall last reached the state semifinals in 1993.

“This game meant a lot more to the guys who played last year,” said Wagner. “We’re going to be underdogs and that’s cool. I like being counted out..we’re going to count us back in.”

CLASS 4A/3A NORTH REGION PLAYOFFS

SECOND ROUND

PERRY HALL 7, MERVO 6

Mervo 0 0 6 0 - 6

Perry Hall 7 0 0 0 - 7

First quarter

Perry Hall - Jacob Wagner 2 run (Joe Cook kick)

Third quarter

Mervo - Kamren Vines 16 pass from Malik Woodrum (kick failed)

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