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

November 5, 2009

Dave Lomonico
MDHigh.com Publisher

Part IV ? 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.

Churchill vs. Whitman

There are three teams vying for the final two spots in the 4A West Region playoffs. Currently, Whitman (7-2) holds a slight lead over Churchill (7-2) for third pace. But fifth-place Springbrook is ready to vault into the final spot with a win. Thus, it's do-or-die, win-or-go-home for Churchill and Whitman.

If Churchill misses out, they have no one to blame but themselves. They started the season 7-0 but picked the worst time to fall apart. They fell to Sherwood two weeks ago, which is understandable, but they followed up with a 20-13 loss to Bethesda-Chevy Chase. Now they're behind the proverbial eight ball and need a win to make their first playoff appearance since 2004.

Churchill quarterback Alex Kantor needs to have a big day. Kantor, the leader of an offense that is scoring 25 points per game, has had an up-and-down season. His completion percentage is low (41 percent), but he's made big throws when he's had to and rarely throws costly interceptions. Kantor does a fair amount of damage with his feet; he's rushed for almost 600 yards and nine touchdowns. Meanwhile, running back Ryan Quinn has almost 1,000 yards rushing and five touchdowns. Those two need to produce because this offense fizzled out the last two weeks, scoring a total of 13 points.

The defense hasn't been strong either. Churchill is giving up 19 points per game and must step up against Whitman.

Whitman was a missed Danny Lee field goal away from falling into the same 0-2 skid as Churchill. This team lost to Springbrook, 13-8, two weeks ago before beating Seneca Valley in overtime, 16-13, last week. The win kept their playoff hopes alive, but it will be for naught if they can't beat Churchill.

Whitman's offense has struggled as of late. In the last four weeks they have scored six points, 12 points, and eight points before breaking out last week ?with 16 points. Perhaps playing an inconsistent Churchill defense will help quarterback Henry Kuhn get back on track. Kuhn has thrown for 1,180 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, but last week Seneca held him to just 47 yards through the air. His partner in crime, running back Kevin Cecala, is approaching 800 yards rushing and has seven touchdowns.

While the offense has declined, Whitman's defense is picking up. The defense has been solid all season, but ever since allowing 20 points to Bethesda-Chevy Chase in Week 4, they haven't surrendered more than 13 in any game since.

Forest Park vs. Lake Clifton

Amid all the major rivalry games is this clash between two small schools in Baltimore. Forest Park (9-0) finished 2-8 last year and may be the surprise team no one is talking about. They are looking to conclude their magical season with a win to finish undefeated in the regular season. They would also clinch the Baltimore City Division II championship.

Forest Park is guaranteed a playoff spot in the 1A South, but Lake Clifton's (7-2) position in the 2A North Region is a little less secure. They are currently in third place, percentage points ahead of City. But the fifth place team, Dundalk, is just one game back and could knock Lake Clifton out of the playoffs with a win and a Lakers loss.

Forest Park is coming off their most impressive performance of the season, a 43-14 romp over Douglass-Balt. Many of their games have been tight; in four of the last five weeks the Foresters have won by a touchdown or less. The 43 points almost doubled their previous high (28 against Lewis in Week 2).

This is not a team with many standouts. Quarterback Travis Fonseca, who is probably the face of the team, threw for a season-high four touchdowns last week. Running backs Angelo Lewis and Pat Makall are the team's top runners; Chidi Flowers and Evan Rose form the receiving corps; and linemen James Queen and Andrew Allen are leaders in the trenches. All of those players also line up on a defense that is surrendering just eight points per game.

Lake Clifton might have had a shot at a Baltimore City Division II title, but a loss to Southside Academy two weeks ago squelched that. The Lakers rebounded with a 26-6 win last week and need to beat Forest Park to secure their postseason playoff hopes.

The Lakers return 14 starters from last year and are a formidable foe. They are led by quarterback Dwayne Washington, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior. Sean Griffin, Jermaine Pompey and Isaiah Campbell anchor the line. And Dwayne Griffin, Sam McKay and Kevin Swann are terrific skill players.

Lake Clifton is scoring 27 points per game and giving up just nine. But after three early-season shutout victories, the Lakers came back down to earth in late October. They scored 26 against Maritime Academy last week, but another hiccup could cost them.

Weekend Watch Part I
Weekend Watch Part II
Weekend Watch Part III

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