Cardinals halt Wise’s streak with late stand on defense
Calvert Hall stops 43-game winning run of three-time defending state champs
Calvert Hall needed a big defensive stand in the final 2:30 Saturday night to seal a 19-14 victory over Wise and end the Pumas’ 43-game winning streak.
The Pumas, three-time defending Class 4A state champions, came to Calvert Hall tied for the longest active winning streak in Maryland and the second longest in the country.
The No. 9 Cardinals’ defense set the tone, but was especially stingy in the fourth quarter. Although Calvert Hall (3-0) turned the ball over twice in the last quarter, the defense didn’t give up any points.
“I think their defensive line is an excellent defensive line,” Wise coach DaLawn Parrish said. “Their linebackers did some great jobs today. They play hard. They had some good one-on-one matchups they were able to exploit. We had to double people instead of getting people out in our routes and things of that nature, but they played tremendously.”
Junior running back Sean Tucker scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run with 2:37 left that gave the Cardinals the lead for good.
While the Cardinals kept the Pumas’ explosive offense in check most of the game, Wise quarterback Quinton Williams, who has committed to Morgan State, was capable of an explosive big play at any time. With 40 seconds left, the 6-foot-4, 187pound senior tossed the ball to Kiysean Clardy, who threw to Isaiah Hazel for a 37-yard gain.
That set up the Pumas (1-1) at first-andgoal from the 10-yard line with 30 seconds left.
Only a pass interference call against Calvert Hall moved the Pumas to the 5-yard line. The Cardinals stifled their final three plays. On his last attempt as the clock wound down, Williams made a desperation pass just before linebacker Mike Johnson tackled him, but the ball fell to the ground.
The Cardinals (3-0) began chanting, “43-1. 43-1,” after they went through the handshake line.
On the final drive, Calvert Hall linebacker Kahlil Glover made several tackles and lineman Nick Lenon had a sack.
“It all started with our D-line,” Glover said. “This was a confident win... We talked about it yesterday that this was going to be the day we shocked the world.”
A veteran defensive line gave the Pumas trouble.
Lenon, Billy Wooden, Keenan Sumler and Anthony Anderson started with Keith Powers coming off the bench.
“It’s four starters but five seniors,” Calvert Hall coach Donald Davis said. “Those guys are just tremendous… They’re the best defensive line I’ve ever coached collectively.” W CH W—Bell 1 run (Chofong kick) CH—Moore 21 FG CH—Moore 23 FG CH—Tucker 30 run (Moore kick) W—Bell 3 run (Chofong kick) CH—Tucker 2 run (kick failed)