Poly rallies past FS Key for 34-31 win
McDonogh, Boys’ Latin coast to wins
Francis Scott Key built a double-digit lead against Poly in the first quarter Friday, and the home team looked to be making a big statement in its season opener.
The Eagles couldn’t hold it, however, and the Engineers rallied for a 34-31 victory to spoil Will Thompson’s first game as FSK’s coach.
This matchup came together in a hurry – Key was set to play Mount Carmel at Eastern Regional Park, but the game was postponed because the private school didn’t have enough players to field a full roster. School officials found an opponent from Baltimore City, and the Eagles didn’t waste much time putting together a 16-0 lead on two touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions.
The Engineers regrouped behind quarterback Jordan Matthews, who came in and for injured starter Cortney Davis and helped his team overtime the deficit. Matthews’ 19-yard touchdown run, on fourth-and-goal, with 4:25 to play, gave Poly a 32-24 lead.
The Engineers converted a two-point play to go up by 10, but Francis Scott Key didn’t go away.
The Eagles made it 34-31 with 61 seconds to go on an 11-yard scoring pass from Reese Sauter to Ryan Bennett, and Sauter added a point-after kick.
The onside kick dribbled out of bounds, however, and Poly took over at its own 45. Tykeem Valentine picked up a first down into Eagles territory, and the Engineers escaped.
Linganore 35, Liberty 7: Liberty and Linganore met for the first time since 2004 at Liberty in the season-opener for both teams and Liberty on Friday.
The Lancers came out on top in the last meeting between the two squads, 45-8, and Friday brought a bit more of the same as the Lancers defeated the reigning Carroll County Athletic League champions.
No. 1 St. Frances 64, American Collegiate (Fla.) 0: Sophomore quarterback John Griffith threw for four touchdowns and senior running back and Michigan commit Blake Corum rushed for two touchdowns, with his longest coming on a 56-yard burst.
“He’s [Griffith] mature beyond his years,” Saint Frances co-head coach Henry Russell said of the sophomore. “John is an incredibly hard worker. We’ve never had a sophomore for us and that says a lot about who he is as a person and his character.”
Saint Frances (3-0) will take on Mater Dei next Saturday at St. John Bosco High School.
McDonogh 38, Berks Catholic (Pa.) 7: The host Eagles (1-0) built a 17-0 lead with 3:21 left in the first quarter and rolled past the Saints (1-2). McDonogh hosts No. 5 Franklin Friday at 6 p.m.
Boys’ Latin 35, Severn 3: The visiting Lakers (1-0, 1-0 Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference) built a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and rolled past the Admirals (0-2, 0-1). Severn made a field goal in the fourth quarter to avoid a shutout.
Loyola Blakefield 37, Georgetown Prep 27: The host Dons (2-0) trailed 21-14 at the half before surging past the Little Hoyas (1-1). Loyola’s Noah Bull made an interception and ran to the 5-yard line to set up the go-ahead score in the second half. The Dons host Dulaney Friday at 4 p.m.
River Hill 33, Atholton 8: The Hawks (1-0) scored 26 points in the second half to pull away and win their season opener. The Raiders (0-1) turned the ball over 10 times in the defeat.
The Hawks fumbled twice, threw an interception and turned it over on downs all in the first 28 minutes. Yet, they held a 7-0 lead at the intermission thanks in large part to their defense, which forced six Raiders turnovers.
North Point 55, No. 11 Arundel 32: North Point furthered its reputation as the tamer of Wildcats, forcing the home squad to open its season with a loss the same way it ended Arundel’s run in the playoffs last year – by a wide margin.
The Eagles’ first-half avalanche spelled defeat for the hosts.
The loss spelled more bad news for Arundel as its starting senior quarterback Austin Slye went down with ten seconds remaining, holding his ankle.
No. 4 Archbishop Spalding 56, Bishop Moore (Fla.) 14: Quinton Young scored three touchdowns and the visiting Cavaliers (2-0) beat the Hornets (1-2). Spalding’s defense got an interception on their first play of the game.
Potomac 30, No. 12 Broadneck 27: Corey Dyches caught an 8-yard touchdown pass with 46 seconds left in the game to lift the host Wolverines (1-0) over the Bruins (0-1). Josh Ehrlich went 21-for-33 for 264 yards and four touchdown passes for Broadneck.
Meade28, Annapolis 20: Meade’s offense gave it a nice cushion in Friday’s game with Annapolis.
It was a pair of plays by its defense that helped preserve the victory.
Darin Taylor’s late fumble recovery and an interception from Calvin Harrison helped the Mustangs hang on for a 28-20 victory over the Panthers in the seasonopener for both teams on Friday night at Rifenburg Field on the Meade campus.
It was the first career win for new head coach Mike Francis, who played football and graduated from Meade in 1987.
“I’m glad the guys can taste some success,” Francis said. “They earned it. They worked hard all summer, so I’m very happy for them.”
Sophomore quarterback Calvin House finished 13 for 21 for 283 yards and four touchdowns for the Mustangs, who never trailed. House threw touchdown passes of 19, 87, 8 and 44 yards.
No. 14 Howard 19, Reservoir 14: Connor Hawkins’ 18-yard touchdown pass to Will Simmons early in the fourth quarter led the host Lions (1-0) over the Gators (0-1).
The sophomore quarterback struggled for most of the night, but he perfectly executed the play fake and threw a strike to his tight end for the game-winning score.
Howard defensive back Colin Hunter sealed the victory with an 89-yard interception return for a touchdown on Reservoir’s next drive.
--Jacob Meyer, Baltimore Sun Media Group