MDHigh.com - Week 11 Weekend Watch (Part III)

November 5, 2009

Dave Lomonico
MDHigh.com Publisher

Part III ? The final week of the regular season features an array of rivalry games, potential playoff matchups and several games with teams fighting for postseason spots. Check out all the week's best action inside.

Bishop McNamara vs. DeMatha

Could this be the year that Bishop McNamara goes toe-to-toe with DeMatha and gives the Stags a game? Since 2004, DeMatha has won all seven matchups, and not one of those games was close. But No. 21 McNamara is 8-1 this season with their only loss coming to Good Counsel by a respectable 21-7 score.

Quarterback James Joseph (2,100 passing yards, 17 touchdowns), running back Hannibal Robinson (1,205 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns) and receivers Brandon Coleman (686 receiving yards, nine touchdowns) and Matt Goldsmith (756 receiving yards, six touchdowns) lead an attack that is putting up 30 points per game.

Defensively, the Mustangs have excelled the last three weeks. Ever since winning a 38-35 shootout against St. John's (D.C.) a month ago, McNamara has pitched two shutouts and allowed seven points to Paul VI.

Of course, numbers usually are rendered negligible against No.1 DeMatha (9-0). The Stags are the most dominant team in the state and have more talent on both sides of the ball then any other team in Maryland. Once in awhile they have an awkward moment - just to see how it feels (tip of the cap to the Dos Equis man). Thus they let Gilman run all over them, coughed up 24 points against Gonzaga and allowed a few big plays to Good Counsel. But make no mistake, when this team is right they can't be stopped ? and no one can stop them.

The Stags, which have won six straight Washington County Athletic Conference titles, are scoring 37 points per game and surrendering just 11. But in the last three weeks they've given up a total of 14 points and recorded a shutout in a 44-0 win over Archbishop Carroll.

Running back Marcus Coker, who is back and healthy, has rushed for 1,340 yards and 17 touchdowns. Backups Mike Meriwether and Pat Harbeson are more than capable of starting for any other team. Quarterback Danny Tapscott has thrown for 1,108 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. And DeMatha's offensive line, with Arie and Cyrus Kouandjio and Shane Johnson, is the best in the state.

Looking for a great matchup? Watch what DeMatha's star-studded secondary, led by Kyrrel Latimer, Michael Coley, Jeff Knox and Lorenzo Waters, does against McNamara's two big receivers, Coleman (Maryland) and Goldsmith. Also watch how linebackers Austin Phillips and Elbie Williams fend off blockers and pursue Robinson.

Queen Anne's vs. Kent Island

This is the most anticipated matchup in the Bayside Conference. Undefeated Kent Island (9-0) meets undefeated No. 24 Queen Anne's (9-0) in a battle for 2A East and conference supremacy. Queen Anne's has ruled this rivalry, winning each of the last five games. Could this be the year Kent Island pulls the upset?

The Kent Island defense, led by captain and leading tackler Joey Buckley, has given up just 68 points all season. Linemen Matt Anderson, Derrick Rasinski, Jason Proctor and Vince Carchedi have been solid up front and control the line of scrimmage.

Kent Island's double-wing, spread offense is putting up 38 points per game; they have scored 42 in each of the last two weeks. The Bucs' vaunted rushing attack features elite running back Joey Kirby, who has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the season. Quarterback Ben Schaffle is a solid passer, and his receivers, Matt and Luke Baxter and Glenn Watkins, are primetime playmakers. Add to that a veteran offensive line, and Kent Island can roll against any defense.

Anything Kent Island can do, Queen Anne's can do better - so far. The Lions have given up just 23 points total this season and have pitched five shutouts. Offensively, the Lions' spread attack is gouging opponents to the tune of 44 points per game.

Quarterback Tyler German is coming off his best performance of the season, a five-touchdown game in a 54-0 victory over Easton. But Queen Anne's is all about running the football. Jake and Quinn Haley lead the attack along with Matt Fitzgerald and Keith Rich.

On defense, Jeremy Keith has been dominant up front. Fitzgerald, Brandon Wilson, Zach Russell and Matt Steffers form the best linebacker corps in the conference. And the Haley brothers are no slouches in the secondary.

Broadneck vs. Old Mill

All season it's been a two-horse race in Anne Arundel County. Arundel is clearly the top dogs, followed by Old Mill (8-1). But Broadneck (7-2) is trying to prove they belong in that same category. The Bruins were no match for Arundel, but perhaps they can hang with No. 13 Old Mill in the season finale. The Bruins will need to step up because they are currently in fifth place in the 4A East, one spot out of a postseason berth. A win over a ranked team and an Annapolis loss would give them the final spot.

Broadneck is coming off a 38-0 win over Northeast and has put up at least 38 points in the last three games. They are averaging 34 for the season. The key for the Bruins are running backs Ron VanMeter and Deontray Lee (115 yards and three touchdowns last week) and quarterback Nick Storey. But Broadneck's motor is fueled by a dependable offensive line, anchored by Hussam Ouri.

Defensively, the Bruins have pitched two shutouts in the last three weeks. Linebackers Va'a Niumtalolo, Brooks Wiggins and Ryan Stump are solid, Ouri and Ryan Kroll are forces on the line, and Travis Skaggs and Taquan Colbery hold down the secondary.

Old Mill's only loss this season came against Arundel in the season opener. Since then they've run off eight straight victories and have rarely been tested. The offense, especially, has been clicking. Running backs Jason Clements and Josh Furman lead a group that has put up 45 points or more in each of the last four games. Joe Thornton has a big arm and is getting better as the season wears on. The offense line, led by Randy Spann, has been opening up holes all season.

Old Mill's athletic, attacking defense had been solid up until the last two weeks, when they gave up 27 and 25 points respectively. They must revert back to mid-season form in time for the playoffs ? and in time to stop the Bruins' rushing attack.

Weekend Watch Part I
Weekend Watch Part II
Weekend Watch Part IV

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