tide
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Post by tide on Nov 9, 2023 13:39:22 GMT -2
Week 10 marked the end of the season for 7 of the 13 Bayside football programs. Three more schools will come to the end of the road over the next two nights. Action gets underway tonight with Cambridge hosting Kent County. The Trojans are coming off a pretty shocking upset of Snow Hill last Thursday, but don't expect lightning to strike twice. CSD is a program that annually plays their best ball come playoff time, they've won the last seven head to head meetings with KC, and they should cruise in this one similar to the tune of the 52-0 margin in the two teams Week 5 regular season meeting.
The top four finishers in the Bayside 2A Division will do battle on Friday night. Decatur and Queen Anne's will meet for the first time this season, after QA forfeited the two teams scheduled Week 1 matchup. Both squads are coming off dominant performances in Round 1. QA's strength has been on defense this season, while the offense has been spotty at times and has gone through a change at the QB position, now going with a sophomore starter. On the other hand, SD has been an offensive buzzsaw, having never scored fewer than 33 points in a game. Throw in the close to two hour bus ride, and what should be a big home crowd in Berlin, and the Lions have themselves a tall task. Massey has the Seahawks as a 28 point favorite, and it's tough to argue that given the two teams overall body of work. Look for SD to advance.
The best on paper matchup of the week will be in Ridgely. It's a rematch of the two teams Week 8 meeting, which North Caroline won 21-14. The key in that game was the Bulldogs big play capability, scoring twice on offense from beyond 80 yards, and also retuning an interception for six. Both teams pitched second half shutouts as all of the scoring came in the second quarter. Given the sort of fluky nature of that game overall, it makes this one an even tougher call. Both teams run the ball well, and are stout defensively. Neither has shown a ton in the passing game lately, so a two score lead for either team is probably ballgame. Massey shows KI as a 16 point road favorite, which seems pretty stiff. With that said, the Bucs return a good chunk of starters with playoff experience from their run to the 2A final a year ago. If KI can eliminate the back breaking Bulldog big plays, it's tough not to like their chances.
Thursday 11/9
1A East: #2 Cambridge-SD (8-2) vs. #6 Kent County (2-8)
Friday 11/10
2A East: #1 Stephen Decatur (10-0) vs. #4 Queen Anne's (6-4) #2 North Caroline (9-1) vs. #3 Kent Island (8-2)
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tide
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Post by tide on Nov 10, 2023 14:00:08 GMT -2
Thursday Night Final:
Cambridge-SD 51, Kent County 0
This one went as expected, with CSD easily taking care of business and advancing to the State Quarterfinals for the first time since 2019. At quick glance it looks like the Vikings have a decent shot to play at home next round as well. One domino fell last night with the Catoctin victory at Patterson Mill. The second one could come tonight in the form of a Havre de Grace win at Boonsboro, or a seemingly less likely Bo Manor win at Perryville. Either of those results would see CSD jump up to no worse than the 4 line after the reseed.
Another outcome of note came on the 2A side, with Walkersville smashing Damascus. That result looks to have locked in a home Quarterfinal game for the winner of tonight's North Caroline/Kent Island clash.
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Post by byrdstheword on Nov 10, 2023 19:19:29 GMT -2
Thursday Night Final: Cambridge-SD 51, Kent County 0 This one went as expected, with CSD easily taking care of business and advancing to the State Quarterfinals for the first time since 2019. At quick glance it looks like the Vikings have a decent shot to play at home next round as well. One domino fell last night with the Catoctin victory at Patterson Mill. The second one could come tonight in the form of a Havre de Grace win at Boonsboro, or a seemingly less likely Bo Manor win at Perryville. Either of those results would see CSD jump up to no worse than the 4 line after the reseed. Another outcome of note came on the 2A side, with Walkersville smashing Damascus. That result looks to have locked in a home Quarterfinal game for the winner of tonight's North Caroline/Kent Island clash. Tide, appreciate your work throughout the season on the Bayside
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tide
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Post by tide on Nov 11, 2023 13:48:13 GMT -2
Friday Night Finals:
Stephen Decatur 41, Queen Anne's 7 Kent Island 28, North Caroline 14
SD-QA started off messy, with the first three possessions of the game ending via INTs. QA grabbed two of them, and found some success with the ground game, but never found the scoreboard. The dam broke in the 2nd, with Decatur ripping off four unanswered scores to go into the break ahead 28-0. The Lions finally found paydirt with their opening possession of the 3rd, but the Seahawks responded with two more TDs to put it to bed. Queen Anne's finishes 6-5 under first year HC Mooney. Decatur advances to the 2A Quarterfinals for a third straight year, and at 11-0 will be on the #2 line once the reseed comes out. They'll host #7 Wilde Lake, who emerged from the 2A West.
Kent Island turned the tables on North Caroline, scoring 21 unanswered 3rd quarter points to break open what was a 7-7 game at half and avenge a Week 8 loss on the same field. The Bulldogs were undone largely through two fumbles deep in their own territory, one of which came on a kickoff return. The Bucs capitalized by scoring TDs off both, and put Caroline into a hole they had no real chance to climb out of. NC finishes the year 9-2 under first year HC McMorris, who took the reigns of the program this year after the retirement James McCormick. KI improves to 9-2 and advances to the 2A Quarters for a third straight season. They will be the #4 seed, and host #5 Huntingtown in a rematch of a the two teams quarterfinal meeting a year ago.
A few other notes: If you exclude the covid spring season this is the fifth time in the last seven years that Kent Island and North Caroline have met in the playoffs. This was the third time over that span that the regular season winner failed to win the playoff game. NC leads the head to head over that timeframe 7-6 overall, while KI leads 3-2 in playoff meetings. KI-QA might still be considered the top rivalry in the conference, but it's inarguable that anything has been more tightly contested than KI-NC over the last decade or so.
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tide
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Post by tide on Nov 16, 2023 13:52:28 GMT -2
State Quarterfinals
Class 2A:
#2 Stephen Decatur (11-0) vs. #7 Wilde Lake (6-5) - Friday, 6:30pm
Fall of 1972 was the debut season of varsity football at both Stephen Decatur and Wilde Lake, but from everything I could find the two programs have never met each other on the gridiron over their 51 seasons of existence. Wilde Lake has battled other Bayside schools over the years, notably CSD in a few early/mid 90's playoff meetings. This is Decatur's third straight trip to the quarterfinals, while Wilde Lake makes their first appearance since 2019. The Wildecats come into the game off a 28-21 upset of 2A West #2 seed Glenelg, but it seems it may have been more decisive than the final score might indicate, as WL led 28-7 at one point. Massey has Decatur as a 35 point favorite, but to me this one is tough to handicap. The tricky thing about Howard County teams is they play exclusively Hoco competition throughout the regular season, and in WL's case have played them exclusively in the playoffs thus far as well. Have they encountered an offense like SDs? We've seen some glimpses of the blueprint to play SD tight, which is to pound the rock and limit the Seahawks offensive possessions, but so far no one has been able to do this for four quarters. The Wildecats will have a 2.5 hour bus ride before getting to take their crack at it. If I could bet on this game I'd be pretty confident taking the points, but I'm also pretty confident the Seahawks will be too much in front of a large home crowd.
#4 Kent Island (9-2) vs. #5 Huntingtown (9-2) - Friday, 6:30pm
While Decatur and Wilde Lake have never met, Kent Island and Huntingtown will be renewing acquaintances from their quarterfinal meeting just a year ago. On that night, the Bucs powered past the Hurricanes 34-11 behind Kasey Heath's 39 carries for 316 yards. Heath now plays Division 1 lacrosse at Lehigh, and KI has used more of a committee approach at RB this season, with senior Shane Bogardus emerging as the lead. This years Hurricanes finished two wins better in the regular season than the 2022 version did, while KI finished with one fewer win than a year ago. Huntingtown is no doubt battle tested coming out of the SMAC, as they played both Calvert and Patuxent tight. Massey is showing the Hurricanes as a 22 point favorite, but this one feels much more like a true toss up to me. KI as always makes you earn every yard, and the only two teams to beat them this season were both able to crack a few big plays. If Huntingtown can do that, they will likely leave Stevensville with a W. The only outcome that would shock me here is a blowout by either side. It might be the Bayside homer in me talking, but I'll take KI on their home field to win a nailbiter.
Class 1A:
#4 Cambridge-SD (9-2) vs. #5 SEED School (6-4) - Friday, 6:30pm
I'll admit I know nothing about SEED. From a quick glance on Maxpreps it appears they're an independent who has played a variety of smaller schools both public/private. They were soundly beaten by both Hereford and Winters Mill early in the season, but no other results stuck out to me. Massey likes CSD by 29 points. No clue how accurate that may/may not be, but one thing I feel confident in saying is that the Vikings have a tradition of playing their best ball in the playoffs, and that has been carried forward the past few seasons under Coach Peer. They'll be ready to go in front of the home crowd. They've got plenty of offensive weapons, and probably the second best QB in the Bayside with Blake Labelle. SEED has a 90+ minute bus ride. Give me Cambridge to advance to their first State Semifinal since 2019.
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tide
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Post by tide on Nov 18, 2023 12:49:17 GMT -2
Friday Night Finals
Class 2A: Huntingtown 35, Kent Island 21 Stephen Decatur 52, Wilde Lake 7
Class 1A: Cambridge-SD 46, SEED School 8
The number of Bayside schools left alive drops from three to two as the quarterfinal round claims one victim. Huntingtown's QB-WR combo of Evan Kuntz and Roger Jones Jr. connected on three TD passes, two of which were sandwiched on either side of halftime, to flip what was a 14-7 KI lead into a 21-14 deficit. Altogether the Hurricanes ripped off 28 unanswered points, the final ones coming with about 5 minutes to play in the game to make it 35-14. KI finally answered about a minute later with a 56 yard TD strike to make it 35-21, but could do no further damage. The loss ends the Bucs quest for a return trip to the State Final. KI finishes the year 9-3 overall. For Huntingtown, they improve to 10-2 and exact a bit of a revenge on the same field where they saw their season come to an end a year ago. They'll get to return home for the semifinals, where they'll host red hot #8 seed Walkersville.
The notion that it could potentially be a tight game in Berlin turned out to be way off the mark. The Seahawks scored on each of their first seven offensive possessions, amounting to six TDs and one FG. They also added a late 1st quarter pick six which at the time made the score 21-0. The Wildecats only points came off a 50+ yard fake punt rushing score on the ensuing possession. Decatur led 38-7 at half, and the running clock kicked in at 45-7 about four minutes into the 3rd quarter. Brycen Coleman scored twice on the ground and twice more through the air. SD is now 12-0, and moves on to the State Semifinals for a second straight year, where they will host the #3 seeded defending champ Milford Mill. It will be a rematch of the two teams semifinal meeting a year ago, which Milford won 40-33 after what seemed like a couple dozen lead changes. Wilde Lake finishes the year at 6-6.
In Cambridge, the Vikings were able to get just about anything they wanted on the ground or through the air against an overmatched SEED. CSD jumped out to a quick 20-0 lead on the back of three Jaden Ferguson TD runs. SEED did get on the board once in the first half, but went into the break trailing 33-8. The Vikings improve to 10-2, and advance to their first State Semifinal appearance since 2019. Overall it will be the programs 21st appearance in the semifinal round, the most of any Bayside Conference school. They will have a massive challenge on their hands, travelling to face undefeated and two time defending 1A champ Fort Hill. SEED finishes the season 5-5.
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Post by lurker on Nov 21, 2023 7:18:08 GMT -2
Kent Island lost to Huningtown this season when the Bucs lost (graduated) #25 RB of last year.....
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tide
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Post by tide on Nov 24, 2023 3:09:20 GMT -2
State Semifinals
Class 2A:
#2 Stephen Decatur (12-0) vs. #3 Milford Mill (9-2) - Friday, 6:30pm
This is a matchup that really needs no introduction. It's the rematch of what was easily the game of the 2A playoffs a year ago, where Milford Mill scored the knockout blow with under a minute remaining to flip a 33-32 deficit into a 40-33 win that sent the Millers to the state title game. While both sides boast some key returners and suffered some key graduation losses, what might be most different about this years version of SD-MMA is which side will be taking the 144 mile bus ride. Whether this years game can measure up to the classic from a year ago is anyone's guess. For SD, the emphasis will no doubt be on slowing down the Millers rushing attack, which gashed them for over 350 yards last time around. For MMA, they'll want to contain Brycen Coleman a bit better than a year ago, when he accounted for roughly 400 yards of total offense. As is typical by this point in the playoffs, handicapping this one is tough. Massey likes Milford Mill by 15. This Bayside homer will take the points and we'll see how things play out beyond that.
Class 1A:
#1 Fort Hill (11-0) vs. #4 Cambridge-SD (9-2) - Friday, 6:00pm
You've gotta go back a bit further to find the last meeting between Fort Hill and Cambridge-SD, but it is there. The two schools played a home and home series in the 2007 and 2008 regular seasons. The Sentinels swept the two meetings, by a score of 50-19 in 2007 in Cambridge, and 36-28 a year later in Cumberland. CSD actually led most of the afternoon in the 2008 meeting, and was inside the Fort Hill 10 yard line with a chance to tie the score in the final minute, before turning the ball over on downs. Unfortunately it's difficult to expect that same level of drama this time around. Today's Fort Hill squad is by most accounts a different beast from even the 10-2, 1A state runner-up 2008 group. The three and a half hour (assuming no traffic) Cambridge to Cumberland bus ride is icing on the cake. Massey has CSD catching 41 and the hook. The reality is it's a huge challenge, and the hope here is the Vikings acquit themselves well and find a way to keep the clock from running. Anything much beyond that would be a very pleasant surprise.
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Post by wagglepass on Nov 24, 2023 4:06:38 GMT -2
State Semifinals Class 2A: #2 Stephen Decatur (12-0) vs. #3 Milford Mill (9-2) - Friday, 6:30pm This is a matchup that really needs no introduction. It's the rematch of what was easily the game of the 2A playoffs a year ago, where Milford Mill scored the knockout blow with under a minute remaining to flip a 33-32 deficit into a 40-33 win that sent the Millers to the state title game. While both sides boast some key returners and suffered some key graduation losses, what might be most different about this years version of SD-MMA is which side will be taking the 144 mile bus ride. Whether this years game can measure up to the classic from a year ago is anyone's guess. For SD, the emphasis will no doubt be on slowing down the Millers rushing attack, which gashed them for over 350 yards last time around. For MMA, they'll want to contain Brycen Coleman a bit better than a year ago, when he accounted for roughly 400 yards of total offense. As is typical by this point in the playoffs, handicapping this one is tough. Massey likes Milford Mill by 15. This Bayside homer will take the points and we'll see how things play out beyond that. Class 1A: #1 Fort Hill (12-0) vs. #4 Cambridge-SD (10-2) - Friday, 6:00pm You've gotta go back a bit further to find the last meeting between Fort Hill and Cambridge-SD, but it is there. The two schools played a home and home series in the 2007 and 2008 regular seasons. The Sentinels swept the two meetings, by a score of 50-19 in 2007 in Cambridge, and 36-28 a year later in Cumberland. CSD actually led most of the afternoon in the 2008 meeting, and was inside the Fort Hill 10 yard line with a chance to tie the score in the final minute, before turning the ball over on downs. Unfortunately it's difficult to expect that same level of drama this time around. Today's Fort Hill squad is by most accounts a different beast from even the 10-2, 1A state runner-up 2008 group. The three and a half hour (assuming no traffic) Cambridge to Cumberland bus ride is icing on the cake. Massey has CSD catching 41 and the hook. The reality is it's a huge challenge, and the hope here is the Vikings acquit themselves well and find a way to keep the clock from running. Anything much beyond that would be a very pleasant surprise. Nice analysis. I remember the 2008 game that Cambridge had more than a few fans make the trip. Do you have any idea if they'll bring a decent number of fans? I think anyone who follows FH will tell you that this years team may go down as one of their all time best. I know when Coach Peer was at South Hagerstown they played Fort Hill in a home and home around the same time. So at least he'll have some idea of what the Sentinels do and possibly keep the game closer.
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tide
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Post by tide on Nov 24, 2023 14:48:36 GMT -2
No intel on how well represented Viking fans will be, but CSD has probably the richest football tradition of any school in the Bayside, so my guess is they’ll travel stronger than Kent County did when they were out your way for a semifinal six or seven years back.
I know Dorchester County athletic departments annually have to overcome some of the lowest funding levels of any of the Eastern Shore counties. I saw a couple social media posts earlier in the week where they were fundraising to help with costs for the road trip.
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tide
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Post by tide on Nov 27, 2023 4:31:32 GMT -2
Friday Night Finals
Class 2A: Stephen Decatur 35, Milford Mill 34
Class 1A: Fort Hill 38, Cambridge-SD 20
It's fair to say the rematch lived up to the hype. Stephen Decatur and Milford Mill played yet another thrilling one possession game, again with the home team coming out on top. While last years game was back and forth all night, this years version was much more about scoring runs. Following a 7-7 deadlock early on, Decatur scored 21 unanswered. After taking a 14-7 lead, the Seahawks forced a quick Miller punt on the ensuing possession. The snap sailed over the punters head, and SDs Careen Bolden recovered at the MMA 5 yard line for a walk in TD to make it 21-7. The Milford special teams ran into problems again after a Decatur stop on their next possession, having the punt blocked and recovered by SD at around the MMA 30. Three plays later Bolden scored for a second time, this one a 14 yard strike from Coleman. The ensuing PAT made the score 28-7 with about 1:30 to play in the first half. After a touchback, MMA used the next 80 or so seconds to get the ball to the SD 40, and then the momentum shift occurred. The Millers Deshawn Purdie found Oliver Redd, who somehow got behind the Seahawk defense, for a 40 yard score as the final seconds ticked off the 2nd quarter clock. The PAT was good and the score was 28-14 at the break.
The Millers momentum continued on the opening possession of the 3rd quarter, capping a 12 play drive with a one yard Purdie sneak. The PAT was blocked, but MMA forced a quick SD three and out and went right back to it on offense. This time it was a nine play scoring drive, highlighted by a 44 yard dime from Purdie down the sideline to the SD 15 on a 4th and 11 from their own 41. The two point attempt came up just short which left SD with a narrow 28-26 lead. Another SD three and out put the MMA offense back in business from their own 30. It was nine more plays before Purdie found Redd for the go ahead score early in the 4th quarter, this time on a 4th and 4 from 37 yards out. The two point try was successful to make it 34-28, and run the tally to 27 unanswered MMA points. SD then decided to change things up. They moved Coleman out to WR, the position he played full time his freshman and sophomore years, and put Bolden at QB. The move provided a much needed spark, hitting pay dirt with a 4 yard Bolden keeper to cap a nine play drive. The PAT was good to give Decatur a 35-34 lead with about 7 minutes to play. MMA then shanked a punt after a three and out on their next possession to set SD up at the 50, however the Seahawks went backwards 13 yards after a couple penalties and were forced to punt it away. MMA took over at their own 37, but three plays later were stopped a yard short on a crucial 4th and 2 from the 45. SD took over and got the one first down needed to ice it, a Coleman keeper on 4th and 1 in front of a frenzied crowd.
It was Decatur's fourth semifinal appearance in program history, and the first time they've punched a ticket to the big dance. It'll be the second straight season with a Bayside Conference representative playing during the final weekend. The last time that happened was when CSD won back to back 1A titles in 1995 and 96.
Speaking of CSD, their trip to Allegany County went about as expected. Fort Hill scored the games first 38 points, before the Vikings did some late damage in the back half of the 4th quarter after the FH bench had been cleared. CSD finishes 9-3 in Toby Peer's third season as HC. It's the highest win total for the Vikings since they won 10 games en route to a 2019 semifinal appearance. They had two wins over 2A opponents (a rare feat for Bayside 1A's in this day and age), and were on their way to a third before the Easton game was called early and ultimately ruled a no-contest thanks to some some fan altercations in the stands. All in all a strong season for CSD, where they earned the opportunity to measure themselves against Class 1A's best. Tough to ask for a whole lot more.
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Post by wagglepass on Nov 27, 2023 5:09:47 GMT -2
Friday Night Finals Class 2A: Stephen Decatur 35, Milford Mill 34 Class 1A: Fort Hill 38, Cambridge-SD 20 It's fair to say the rematch lived up to the hype. Stephen Decatur and Milford Mill played yet another thrilling one possession game, again with the home team coming out on top. While last years game was back and forth all night, this years version was much more about scoring runs. Following a 7-7 deadlock early on, Decatur scored 21 unanswered. After taking a 14-7 lead, the Seahawks forced a quick Miller punt on the ensuing possession. The snap sailed over the punters head, and SDs Careen Bolden recovered at the MMA 5 yard line for a walk in TD to make it 21-7. The Milford special teams ran into problems again after a Decatur stop on their next possession, having the punt blocked and recovered by SD at around the MMA 30. Three plays later Bolden scored for a second time, this one a 14 yard strike from Coleman. The ensuing PAT made the score 28-7 with about 1:30 to play in the first half. After a touchback, MMA used the next 80 or so seconds to get the ball to the SD 40, and then the momentum shift occurred. The Millers Deshawn Purdie found Oliver Redd, who somehow got behind the Seahawk defense, for a 40 yard score as the final seconds ticked off the 2nd quarter clock. The PAT was good and the score was 28-14 at the break. The Millers momentum continued on the opening possession of the 3rd quarter, capping a 12 play drive with a one yard Purdie sneak. The PAT was blocked, but MMA forced a quick SD three and out and went right back to it on offense. This time it was a nine play scoring drive, highlighted by a 44 yard dime from Purdie down the sideline to the SD 15 on a 4th and 11 from their own 41. The two point attempt came up just short which left SD with a narrow 28-26 lead. Another SD three and out put the MMA offense back in business from their own 30. It was nine more plays before Purdie found Redd for the go ahead score early in the 4th quarter, this time on a 4th and 4 from 37 yards out. The two point try was successful to make it 34-28, and run the tally to 27 unanswered MMA points. SD then decided to change things up. They moved Coleman out to WR, the position he played full time his freshman and sophomore years, and put Bolden at QB. The move provided a much needed spark, hitting pay dirt with a 4 yard Bolden keeper to cap a nine play drive. The PAT was good to give Decatur a 35-34 lead with about 7 minutes to play. MMA then shanked a punt after a three and out on their next possession to set SD up at the 50, however the Seahawks went backwards 13 yards after a couple penalties and were forced to punt it away. MMA took over at their own 37, but three plays later were stopped a yard short on a crucial 4th and 2 from the 45. SD took over and got the one first down needed to ice it, a Coleman keeper on 4th and 1 in front of a frenzied crowd. It was Decatur's fourth semifinal appearance in program history, and the first time they've punched a ticket to the big dance. It'll be the second straight season with a Bayside Conference representative playing during the final weekend. The last time that happened was when CSD won back to back 1A titles in 1995 and 96. Speaking of CSD, their trip to Allegany County went about as expected. Fort Hill scored the games first 38 points, before the Vikings did some late damage in the back half of the 4th quarter after the FH bench had been cleared. CSD finishes 9-3 in Toby Peer's third season as HC. It's the highest win total for the Vikings since they won 10 games en route to a 2019 semifinal appearance. They had two wins over 2A opponents (a rare feat for Bayside 1A's in this day and age), and were on their way to a third before the Easton game was called early and ultimately ruled a no-contest thanks to some some fan altercations in the stands. All in all a strong season for CSD, where they earned the opportunity to measure themselves against Class 1A's best. Tough to ask for a whole lot more. Coach Alkire was very complimentary of CSD in the Cumberland paper. Said they were a young team and definitely one to watch next year. Gave them credit for playing till the end. Coach Peer left some not so subtle comments in the Dorchester county paper on how he feels that the team needs to hit the weight room in the off season in order to compete with the likes of Fort Hill.
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Post by lionatheart on Nov 27, 2023 11:05:40 GMT -2
Coach Alkire was very complimentary of CSD in the Cumberland paper. Said they were a young team and definitely one to watch next year. Gave them credit for playing till the end. Coach Peer left some not so subtle comments in the Dorchester county paper on how he feels that the team needs to hit the weight room in the off season in order to compete with the likes of Fort Hill. A coach making a weigh room challenge to his team is not always well received even though it is total truth. I recall Liberty coach saying the same in 2016. The facts are in, a good weigh lifting program makes teams competitive year in and year out. Elite talent to win it all is rare, but overall team strength is developable. Hats off to coach Peer. Take a week or two off ... then all underclassmen, see me in the weight room.
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tide
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Post by tide on Nov 27, 2023 13:52:33 GMT -2
Coach Alkire was very complimentary of CSD in the Cumberland paper. Said they were a young team and definitely one to watch next year. Gave them credit for playing till the end. Coach Peer left some not so subtle comments in the Dorchester county paper on how he feels that the team needs to hit the weight room in the off season in order to compete with the likes of Fort Hill. A coach making a weigh room challenge to his team is not always well received even though it is total truth. I recall Liberty coach saying the same in 2016. The facts are in, a good weigh lifting program makes teams competitive year in and year out. Elite talent to win it all is rare, but overall team strength is developable. Hats off to coach Peer. Take a week or two off ... then all underclassmen, see me in the weight room. Peer took the job literally about a week before summer camp began for the fall 2021 season, after CSD went through sort of a messy coaching carousel during covid. So this will just be his third offseason involved with the team. The program wasn’t necessarily in a bad place when he took the helm, but I think a lot of football programs suffered during covid, and I imagine having no clear head man throughout most of that time could not have helped. They’ve been back on a positive trajectory since he came to town, so hopefully that’ll continue.
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tide
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Post by tide on Nov 30, 2023 13:21:07 GMT -2
Class 2A State Final
#2 Stephen Decatur (13-0) vs. #5 Huntingtown (10-2) - Thursday, 7:00pm
The first and to date only gridiron meeting between these two schools occurred two years ago, in the 2021 Class 2A Quarterfinals. The then #1 seeded Hurricanes hosted the #8 Seahawks in a game that was scoreless at halftime. Huntingtown led 13-7 through 3 quarters. Decatur had the ball inside the Huntingtown 10 yard line with a chance to tie or go ahead in the 4th, but an INT returned deep into SD territory followed by a quick Hurricanes score essentially ended the drama for the night, and Huntingtown went on to win 28-14.
The stakes are significantly higher this time around, as both schools are playing to win their first state title in program history. Decatur is making it's first ever appearance in a title game, while Huntingtown has come up empty in two previous appearances (2009, 2012). Looking at this matchup, it has all the makings of a very competitive game to kick off the state championship weekend in Annapolis. Both teams have experienced senior QBs who like to throw the ball around, have the weapons on the outside to do it, and can make plays with their legs. Both squads average under 11ppg allowed defensively, and solid special teams. HT looks to have the size advantage in the trenches, but SD should be familiar with that at this point, and thus far they've been able to counter a regular size disadvantage with speed and athleticism. The one common opponent for both teams is Kent Island, SD winning 33-15 in Week 6, while HT downed KI 35-21 in the quarterfinal round.
Massey has Huntingtown as an 18 point favorite. Similar to last week, this Bayside enthusiast says take the points and let's see how things play out from there. Looking forward to a great game. Here's hoping Decatur can bring home the Bayside's first state title since CSD's last one in 1996.
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