Here are four takeaways from Week 4 of the high school football season we’re calling “Four Downs,” plus more from across the county:
First down: The Division I gauntlet
After weeks of nonconference success, the county’s top Division I teams are beginning to face off in a series of season-defining games. Last Friday, Perry Hall stayed unbeaten while handing Dundalk its first loss in the process. Meanwhile, Milford Mill held off Franklin in a defensive battle, 16-3.
A week ago we said Perry Hall’s come-from-behind victory over Franklin would only help the Gators against Dundalk. True enough, after Dundalk jumped ahead, 20-19, early in the third quarter, Perry Hall powered back, took the lead and held down the Owls in the fourth quarter for a 32-27 win. The road though for Perry Hall doesn’t get any easier with a trip to 4-0 Catonsville on hand tonight.
Milford Mill took a different approach in its win. While the Millers up to this point have been running opponents off the field, it was its defense that took center stage to beat the Indians. Milford Mill ran into the first opponent that could hold it in check. Coming in averaging more than 41 points a game, Franklin held the Millers to only 16. But Milford Mill showed its more than just firepower as its defense held the Indians to 148 yards of offense. On the season, Milford Mill has only given up 20 total points. It welcomes Dundalk to town tonight.
Second down: Owings Mills grinds out another win
One bad quarter is all that separates Owings Mills from being 4-0. The Eagles gave up 20 points in a flurry Week 1 against Randallstown leading to a loss, but since then, they’ve righted the ship.
Owings Mills has won its three games since in workmanlike fashion, including one-possession wins over Loch Raven and New Town. This past week they posted a comfortable 24-0 win over Overlea in a gritty performance.
Workhorse back Neveah Elliott carried the ball 22 times for 105 yards and three touchdowns, while Ty Simpson added a burst of explosiveness with two carries for 66 yards and a score. Quarterback Rashad Williams added 74 yards rushing.
Third down: Big rivalry win
A rivalry doesn’t have to be Ohio State-Michigan to be meaningful. Just about any high school in the country has a rival it marks down on its calendar every year.
Leading into its game last week against Sparrows Point, Patapsco’s social media would only list its next opponent as “The Team Down the Road.” The passion and intensity is clearly there and helped lift the Patriots to their first win Saturday afternoon. Nick Adkins caught a go-ahead touchdown pass late and Brandon Tuck’s sack sealed Patapsco’s 16-13 win.
Patapsco looks to make it two in a row when it travels to Chesapeake on Saturday afternoon.
Fourth down: Big rivalry win part 2
At the same time Patapsco was getting its rivalry win, Western Tech was topping its rival in a way no other team previously had.
Western Tech became the first team this season to stop Lansdowne’s offense. Vikings quarterback Sean Lippman entered ranked second in the county in passing, averaging 226 yards a game. The Wolverines limited him to 56 and intercepted him twice. Offensively, Western Tech rushed for 256 yards, including 118 from quarterback Micah Viner in the win.
After two straight losses to Forest Park and Perry Hall to open the season, Western Tech has righted the ship with back-to-back wins over Pikesville and now Lansdowne by a combined score of 80-12.
Numbers game
3 — Randallstown players that scored at least two rushing touchdowns in a win over Pikesville: Delano Todd, Byran Bonds and Jermaine Armstrong.
4 — 100-yard rushing games through four weeks for Catonsville’s Tyler Boyd.
5 — Sacks so far this season for Franklin’s Jaidon Williams.
11 — Consecutive quarters Milford Mill held teams scoreless before Franklin kicked a field goal in the second quarter Friday.
99 — Yards rushing for both Towson’s Bubba Jensen and Armondo Villnuava last week against Eastern Tech.
Stat leaders
Rushing yards
1. Tyler Boyd, Catonsville, 475
2. Damon Ferguson Jr., Milford Mill, 479
3. Elijah Lee, Randallstown, 439
4. Neveah Elliott, Owings Mills, 380
5. Bubba Jensen, Towson, 304
6. Armondo Villnuava, Towson, 254
7. Dylan Eaton, Franklin, 249
8. Phillip Jones Jr., Dundalk, 236
9. Tyree Commodore, Lansdowne, 230
10. Marvin Jones, Loch Raven, 215
Passing yards
1. Terrell Hearn, Perry Hall, 815
2. Owen Newberns, Milford Mill, 805
3. Sean Lippman, Lansdowne, 734
4. Angelo Schuler, Dulaney, 582
5. Chris Hamilton, Kenwood, 558
6. Micah Williams, Dundalk, 466
7. Zander McCracken, Franklin, 362
8. William Pinkett, Randallstown, 341
9. Rashad Williams, Owings Mills, 279
10. Gunnar Gemmell, Catonsville, 263
Receiving yards
1. David Matthews, Lansdowne, 376
2. Corey Costner, Perry Hall, 360
3. Darryl Giles Jr., Kenwood, 336
4. Vernon Allen, Perry Hall, 310
5. Malachi Bryant, Owings Mills, 273
6. Jesse Faulkner, Dulaney, 241
7. Derrell Pierson, Milford Mill, 225
8. Romero Ison, Milford Mill, 219
9. TJ Lambirth, Dundalk, 196
10. Kaijiri Kaiser, Dulaney, 151
Quotable
“I was trying to get my first touchdown for the season. When I got the ball thrown to me at the beginning of the season I dropped the ball, so that was my first touchdown. It’s exciting, I haven’t had a touchdown since my freshman year.” — Catonsville’s Neil Lewis after catching a touchdown pass Friday against Woodlawn.
“We just like to be good at run first, because we know that once we start that run off everything is going well. If we are dominant up front first, [Micah Viner] hands me the ball and I just make things happen.” — Western Tech’s Steve Jones, who had two touchdowns Saturday against Lansdowne.
Week 4 results
Milford Mill 16, Franklin 3
Randallstown 48, Pikesville 0
Catonsville 34, Woodlawn 6
Eastern Tech 37, Towson 29
Loch Raven 20, Chesapeake 14
Perry Hall 32, Dundalk 27
Owings Mills 24, Overlea 0
North Harford 35, Kenwood 12
Western Tech 44, Lansdowne 0
Patapsco 16, Sparrows Point 13
New Town 56, Parkville 16
Hereford 42, Dulaney 13
Week 5 schedule
Friday’s game
New Town at Dulaney, 3:30 p.m.
Perry Hall at Catonsville, 6 p.m.
Maret School at Woodlawn, 6 p.m.
Randallstown at Western Tech, 6 p.m.
Lansdowne at Loch Raven, 6 p.m.
Kenwood at Franklin, 6 p.m.
Towson at Owings Mills, 6 p.m.
Eastern Tech at Hereford, 6:30 p.m.
Pikesville at Sparrows Point, 6:30 p.m.
Milford Mill at Dundalk, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Patapsco at Chesapeake, noon
Overlea at Parkville, 1 p.m.
