Here are four takeaways from Week 3 of the high school football season we’re calling “Four Downs,” plus more from across the county:
First down: Champions find a way
Throughout last year’s Division I championship season and run to the Class 4A/3A state semifinals, Perry Hall more often than not bludgeoned opposing teams. Outside of divisional showdowns with Dundalk and Milford Mill, the Gators didn’t face much adversity.
Friday night, the Gators got what a lot of coaches call “character-defining wins.” Perry Hall had its back against the wall, down 17 to Franklin late in the third quarter. Corey Costner put his team on his back, catching touchdowns of 43 and 74 yards. Vernon Allen took a screen pass 17 yards into the end zone with just over a minute remaining to cap it off.
A win like Friday’s will be a monumental help for Perry Hall the rest of the way. Coach Ryan Pittillo got to see his team’s heart on display and now knows that they are capable of fighting back no matter the situation. There are more big games ahead — more on that later — and the Gators will face them battle-tested.
Second down: Hereford rallies for OT win
Hosting unbeaten Parkville last Friday, it wasn’t a must-win for Hereford, but a loss to a division rival and dropping to 1-2 would’ve been really detrimental for the Bulls. That’s why it had to be so frustrating to see a late lead slip away when Parkville completed a pair of long passes and tied the game late in the fourth quarter.
But first, the Bulls stopped a two-point conversion that would’ve put the Knights ahead, sending the game into overtime. Hereford got the ball first, scored a touchdown and added a two-point conversion. Then, the defense rose up, stopping Parkville on its OT possession and sealing a 22-14 win.
Third down: Randallstown not just a one-man team
Running back Elijah Lee was instrumental in the Rams’ Week 1 win over rival Owings Mills, rushing for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The University of Richmond commit added 125 yards in Week 2 against Stephen Decatur.
But with Lee out for last week’s game against Patapsco, the Rams showed they have more in their arsenal. In a 48-0 win over Patapsco, quarterback William Pinkett went 10-for-11 for 169 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed in a score. Delano Todd rushed for 62 yards and two touchdowns.
As the Rams continue their quest for a division title and a playoff run, there’s a growing arsenal of weapons they can deploy to make them all the more dangerous.
Fourth down: Division I showdown weekend
It was mentioned earlier that Perry Hall only had a handful of real tests last season. One of them was a 14-7 win over Dundalk. This Friday is the rematch.
Both teams have aspirations of not only claiming the county championship, but making long playoff runs and each have shown their capabilities to do that through three weeks. Both teams come in 3-0 and have explosive playmakers capable of taking a game over.
It would be easy to say that the winner has the inside track to the division title, but … on the other side of the county, 3-0 Milford Mill is hosting Franklin, which no doubt will be looking to shake off the disappointment of the Perry Hall loss.
Two games, two epic showdowns that will likely change the face of the division race.
And oh by the way, there’s still Catonsville, also 3-0 and sporting the county’s leading rusher, eager for its turn to go against the other top teams.
Numbers game
7 — Minutes left when Sparrows Point’s Noah Horton intercepted a Loch Raven pass at the Pointers’ 1-yard line with his team holding a 7-0 lead. The Pointers never gave the ball back.
8 — Total touchdowns for Catonsville’s Tyler Boyd through three games.
17 — Points Perry Hall trailed Franklin by late in the third quarter Friday before rallying for a 27-24 win.
28 — Second quarter points for Randallstown in its win over Patapsco.
116 — Combined margin of victory for Dundalk in wins over Crofton, New Town and Woodlawn.
Stat leaders
Rushing yards
1. Tyler Boyd, Catonsville, 363
2. Elijah Lee, Randallstown, 347
3. Damon Ferguson Jr., Milford Mill, 337
4. Neveah Elliott, Owings Mills, 275
5. Bubba Jensen, Towson, 205
6. Phillip Jones Jr., Dundalk, 191
7. Tyree Commodore, Lansdowne, 186
8. Dylan Eaton, Franklin, 163
9. Marvin Jones, Loch Raven, 157
10. Armondo Villnuava, Towson, 155
Passing yards
1. Owen Newberns, Milford Mill, 721
2. Sean Lippman, Lansdowne, 678
3. Terrell Hearn, Perry Hall, 660
4. Chris Hamilton, Kenwood, 398
5. Micah Williams, Dundalk, 361
6. William Pinkett, Randallstown, 341
7. Angelo Schuler, Dulaney, 280
8. Gunnar Gemmell, Catonsville, 250
9. Rashad Williams, Owings Mills, 246
10. Zander McCracken, Franklin, 213
Receiving yards
1. David Matthews, Lansdowne, 348
2. Corey Costner, Perry Hall, 286
3. Vernon Allen, Perry Hall, 260
4. Malachi Bryant, Owings Mills, 251
T5. Romero Ison, Milford Mill, 217
T5. Darryl Giles Jr., Kenwood, 217
7. TJ Lambirth, Dundalk, 196
8. Derrell Pierson, Milford Mill, 168
9. Jesse Faulkner, Dulaney, 156
10. Amauri Patterson, Milford Mill, 150
Quotable
“Coaches told me to make a play so that’s really what I did. We needed big players to make big plays, and that’s what I did.” — Perry Hall’s Corey Costner after Friday’s come-from-behind win over Franklin.
“We knew coming into this game that it would be a dogfight and aggression would win this game for us.” — Sparrows Point coach Nicholas Burkhardt after Friday’s 7-0 win over Loch Raven.
Week 3 results
Randallstown 48, Patapsco 0
Catonsville 27, Northeast 6
Dulaney 35, Eastern Tech 7
Perry Hall 27, Franklin 24
Western Tech 36, Pikesville 12
Sparrows Point 7, Loch Raven 0
Hereford 22, Parkville 14
Milford Mill 48, Kenwood 0
Dundalk 45, Woodlawn 6
Lansdowne 36, Chesapeake 16
Owings Mills 14, New Town 12
Overlea 47, Towson 7
Week 4 schedule
Friday’s games
Franklin at Milford Mill, 6 p.m.
Randallstown at Pikesville, 6 p.m.
Catonsville at Woodlawn, 6 p.m.
Towson at Eastern Tech, 6 p.m.
Chesapeake at Loch Raven, 6 p.m.
Dundalk at Perry Hall, 6 p.m.
Owings Mills at Overlea, 6:30 p.m.
Kenwood at North Harford, 6 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Western Tech at Lansdowne, noon
Sparrows Point at Patapsco, 12:30 p.m.
New Town at Parkville, 1 p.m.
Hereford at Dulaney, 1 p.m.
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