“If a kid had a chance, go ahead and take it.” he said. “Attack the space and get the ball on the ground in front of the goal.”

Kai Gibson heard his coach’s plea and stepped up, scoring two goals in the opening moments of the second half. The Huskies held on defensively, stalling the Mavericks’ offense to walk away with the 3-1 victory Monday night.

“They’re a solid program and they’ve got a good team,” Rich said. “This was a great win for us.”

After a slow start in the first half, the Huskies came out aggressive and active from the beginning of the second, keeping the ball moving with precise passes and leading one for good looks close to the goal.

“That’s how we’re going to generate chances this year,” Rich said. “Then, we need guys to be confident and fire away when they get a good look.”

Gibson had no issue taking open shots Monday. After Phil Toliver weaved through three defenders, his beautiful cross set up Gibson for a goal. Mere seconds later, the junior found the back of the net once again as the Huskies took control.

“I’m out here to finish,” Gibson said. “If they play the ball through, I’m just there to outrun the other team and score.”

After Benjamin Phillips scored the lone goal for the Mavericks in the first half, the chances became scarce for a young Manchester Valley team looking to find it’s rhythm and stamina. Passes became erratic and easily picked off by the Huskies. Alex Martinez had a good look in the second half, but sailed it over the crossbar as the Mavericks failed to convert.

“We played half a game today,” Mavericks coach John Woodley said. “We have a very young team and we need to come out and learn what it takes to get going for a full game.”

The early season matchup against an out-of-county opponent allowed both teams to learn a lot about themselves. No matter the result, Rich and Woodley each feel there is a lot to build on after Monday.

“We’ve got three new starters on defense, so there’s going to be mistakes.” Rich said. “We’re not going to let one mistake throw off our whole mentality. I think we’ll get better every game with that back four.”

For Woodley, he noted his young team showed promise in the first half. With a roster that boasts only six seniors and a schedule littered with tough battles left and right, he is confident his team will get better fast.

“There’s a lot to build off,” he said. “We just have to put together two solid halves, we do that and we’ll be OK.”

The Huskies will host Rising Sun on Thursday, while the Mavericks will look to bounce back with a road trip to Oakdale to face the Bears.

Patterson Mill 3, Manchester Valley 1

Goals: PM- Kai Gibson (2), Reza Mousavi (1). MV- Benjamin Phillips (1)

Field hockey

Francis Scott Key 5, Frederick 0: The Eagles blanked Frederick led by a hat trick from Jena Stambaugh. She scored once in the first quarter and twice in the third. Josie Bachtel and Dory Kelley also found the cage for FSK. Audrey Baugher had two assists, while Carley Topper and Bella Mazan also handed out helpers.

Westminster 3, Bel Air 2: Vivian Dunn scored the game-winner in the second overtime for the Owls. Ava Piluk tallied Westminster’s first two goals with Dunn assisting on both. Bel Air got a goal from Bella Leon to open the game, and another from Paige Feick on a penalty stroke that tied the game late in the fourth quarter. In goal, Natalie Schultz made six saves for the Owls and Sydney Kennedy made eight saves for the Bobcats.

South Carroll 3, Linganore 2: Megan Maynard, Emily Maynard and Olivia Carter all had goals as the Cavaliers held off Linganore. Alayna Enoff, Dakota Clemens and Kayla Janyska all had assists. In goal, Caelin Lopes made four saves.

Franklin 4, Winters Mill 2: The Indians went on the road and neither the Falcons, nor their grass field, could stop Nora Tromble. The junior scored all four goals in Franklin’s win. Riley Dell and Cici Coco scored for Winters Mill. Addy Vanlandingham made 10 saves in goal.

John Carroll 4, Mercy 2: Four Patriots scored in the win with Sara Shorts, Cate Bianco, Annie Minoglio and Mia Castellano all recording goals.

River Hill 3, Atholton 0: Katelyn Sauritch led the way for the Hawks (1-0) in the season-opening win with a goal and an assist. Carolyn Dzubak and Gabby Bergstrom also scored while Maya Chan had an assist. For Atholton (0-1), Adara Baldini made 24 saves.

Centennial 3, Howard 0: Caroline Cudzilo led the Eagles (1-0) in a season-opening win with a pair of goals. Claire Whipkey added a goal and an assist, while Jane Baldy pitched a shutout with four saves.

Reservoir 8, Oakland Mills 0: The Gators offense exploded in the season-opening win. Freshman Sam Feher netted a hat trick and added an assist in her first varsity action. Senior Claire Kimnach added two goals, while senior Sandra Salkini had a goal and a game-high three assists. Junior Annie Riley scored the game’s first goal, while Madi Ellis also scored on a feed from Radhika Shah.

Football

Patterson Mill 25, Digital Harbor 12: In the conclusion of a game suspended Friday because of a lighting issue, the Huskies scored the final 18 points. Digital Harbor went up 12-7 before RJ Wilhelm scored a touchdown for the Huskies and the extra point put them ahead, 13-12. Mason Hemelt had a pick-six for a touchdown and Brycen Hunter closed out the scoring with a 1-yard run.

Patterson Mill boys soccer gets 2 second-half goals from Kai Gibson in 3-1 win over Manchester Valley

Boys soccer

North Harford 4, Elkton 0: Matthew Deily scored twice and assisted on a third goal in the Hawks’ shutout win. Ryder Taylor and Sebasteyan McNally also scored, while Jamail Holmes tallied two assists.

Pikesville 2, Western Tech 1: Anderson Marquez hit the back of the net with less than five minutes remaining to like Pikesville to the win. Ablante Fesseha scored for the Panthers in the first half. In goal, junior Josh Kaplan made four saves.

Towson 5, Franklin 1: Zach Shrager scored twice, while Will Heacock, Jacob Martinez and Mason Westfall also tallied goals in the win. The Generals built a 3-1 lead by halftime.

Girls soccer

Catonsville 2, Mount de Sales 1: Ella Lesniewski scored off an Elin Mellendick assist for the Comets and Kaitlyn Bachtel scored the team’s second goal off a free kick.

Bel Air 3, North East 2: The Bobcats surged ahead after a 1-1 halftime tie. Ally Mace hit the back of the net twice to lead Bel Air to the win. Eve Krout also scored. Sarah Ravadge, Aubrey Blackburn and Kaitlyn Primus had assists and Emerson Schiller made three saves in goal.

Harford Tech 8, Elkton 2: Laney Weaver and Brooke Pollack each recorded hat tricks in the Cobras’ blowout win, and Abby Downes scored twice.

John Carroll 4, Elizabeth Seton 0: Clara Madore had a hand in all four Patriots goals, scoring two and assisting on two. Bella Ottone and Cali Fridel also hit the back of the net. Lily Baumgartner had an assist.

Severn 5, Glenelg Country 2: The Admirals jumped out to a 3-0 halftime lead. Five players scored in the win: Tessa Patel, Layla Epps, Sophia English, Madison Watson and Irelyn Beaulieu. Patel, Eliza Grace Beard, Carys McKenzie and Nina Ambro all had assists.

Westminster 2, Dulaney 0: Clara Kemp (6 saves) and Andi Zaslow (4) split time in goal to combine for the shutout over the Lions. For the offense, Emmerson Hill and Jenny Vasquez scored goals with Riley Taylor and Mikayla Britz handing out assists.

Golf

Dulaney 161, Western Tech 216: The Lions topped the Wolverines led by Quinn Collins with a 37 and Eli Mace with a 39.

Boys volleyball

Patterson Mill 3, Edgewood 0: The Huskies cruised, 25-8, 25-13, 25-10. Cullen Young led the win with eight kills and five aces. Jake Rakaczky also served fived aces for the Huskies. Aidan Mackowiak chipped in four kills.

North Harford 3, C. Milton Wright: The Hawks swept the Mustangs, 25-11, 25-12, 25-16. Mike DeJesus picked up 21 digs in the win and Jackson Armiger tossed up 23 assists. Chance Kobus and Jordan Bogarty shared the team lead with eight kills each.

Girls volleyball

Annapolis 3, Frederick Douglass 0: Christen Brisbane put down 12 kills to lead the Panthers in their sweep. McHale Hughes tossed up 15 assists while getting three kills of her own. Lindsay Lyman had four kills and six blocks, and Carolin Heyder chipped in four aces and three kills.

Century 3, Francis Scott Key 1: The Knights won, 25-21, 23-25, 27-25, 25-16. Stephanie Villanueva had nine aces and served the match’s final nine points with the set tied at 16. Corinne Zepp added six aces. Gabby Zajaczkowski and Hannah Heffernan each put down 11 kills. Heffernan added 15 digs for a double-double. Zepp led the defense with 28 digs. Julia Boone set up a balanced Eagles offense with 20 assists. Samantha Miller led with six kills. Ripleigh Maring and Kiersten Johannes each added five kills and Maring adding six blocks and Johannes five.

Perry Hall 3, Oakland Mills 1: Abbie Znamirowski had 10 aces and Addison Dunlap was close behind her with eight as the Gators won, 25-14, 23-25, 25-12, 25-17. Dunlap also tossed up 13 assists. Milana Scaccio had six kills and three aces.

To submit scores and stats, email mdscores@baltsun.com with a full box score, including first and last names of the players.

When the final whistle blew, the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference powers settled on a 2-2 draw that both sides felt was a fair result.

McDonogh senior goalie Jason Broome impacted the game the most with a sensational 11-save performance, the last stop on a point-blank shot from senior Sammie Walker with 3:10 to play.

Both teams finish the opening week of league play with 1-0-1 marks.

“I think 2-2 is fair. They’re a good team, we knew that. We wanted to prove today to everyone around that we’re in the conversation, and I think we did that,” McDonogh coach Brandon Quaranta said. “Jason made four or five phenomenal saves that he’s going to need to make against a team like that. We could play perfect defensively and they’ll still generate a few really good chances and you need your goalie to make plays. He came up with them today, and I’m really proud of him.”

The host Eagles came out stronger.

Javier Brown took a short pass from Blake Lloyd and finished from 12 yards to give McDonogh a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute. After Broome dove to his right to make a fine save on Dan Klink’s penalty kick 30 seconds later, the Eagles made it 2-0 minutes later when Austin Roberts finished a quick one-touch pass from Valentino Quaranta in the 13th minute.

But the Dons were persistent in getting the ball forward and were rewarded with two more penalty kicks in the second half. For a second time, Broome guessed correctly to stop another from Klink, who pounced on the rebound for an easy tap-in to cut the Eagles’ lead to 2-1 with 26 minutes left in the half.  With 6:10 before the break, Broome took down Joseph Molina deep inside the penalty area for another penalty kick. Molina cleanly found the right corner to tie the game at 2.

The second half brought a slower pace — in part because several Dons were dealing with leg cramps through the final 40 minutes — but both teams had chances. With 13 minutes to play, McDonogh’s Maddox Christian got behind the Dons’ back line and hit a firm shot from 12 yards that goalie Drew Mattingly stopped with a fine reaction save, his fourth and final of the game.

Broome saved his best work with 8:15 to play when he got his fingertips on a clean left-footed strike by Molina that was perfectly aimed for the corner from 16 yards.

“It’s probably the two best teams in the league and it’s a team result — I was just doing my job,” Broome said. “I just want to win the game and am disappointed we didn’t get the win, but 2-2 against a good team early in the season is something we can hopefully build on.”

Coming off a sensational 7-0 win over No. 5 Archbishop Spalding in their season opener on Wednesday, the Dons weren’t able to finish off their chances as well on Saturday. Credit the Eagles, who, along with Broome’s fine play, changed formations with an extra midfielder in the second half to keep the ball a little more.

“They’re a really good opponent and they’re going to be right there in the end with a lot of talented players. We weren’t surprised by the game they gave us,” Loyola coach Geaton Caltabiano said. “I thought we responded very well [after trailing 2-0], but definitely second half our fitness was a bit of an issue.”

Both teams return to league play Wednesday afternoon with home games. Loyola hosts Gilman at 4 p.m. and McDonogh takes on Archbishop Spalding at 4:15.

Goals: LB — Klink, Molina; M — Brown, Roberts

Assists: M — Lloyd, Quaranta

Saves: LB — Mattingly 4; M — J. Broome 11

Half: 2-2

Few teams have been as dominant against county competition the past couple of years and Denean Koontz’s program is no exception. Entering her 31st season, Koontz once again enjoys an embarrassment of riches as she glances at her roster. Now a sophomore, Taylor Fique is back along with fellow Player of the Year candidates Sophie Baer and Amanda Herrold to lead one of the county’s deepest lineups. The Mavericks are back and ready defend their undefeated county championship.

After a 15-1 campaign, but a 2A state semifinal finish, the Mavericks look to take things a step further and raise a state championship trophy in the air at the end of the season, something only one team in Carroll County was able to do a year ago.

That team, the South Carroll Cavaliers, is led by returning Player of the Year Alana Enoff, who turned heads after one of the best playoff runs in recent memory last season en route to winning the Class 1A state title. With Danielle Gabrish taking over as coach, can the Cavaliers return to the state title game, but this time as a county champion?

Francis Scott Key and Westminster will surely have a say in the matter as both are coming off good seasons of their own. The Owls are not to be overlooked after winning their region and reaching the state semifinals in impressive fashion. Like Koontz, coach Laurie Nail boasts a deep roster of her own as Westminster once against appears to be one of the top teams in their region.

Here’s a preview of teams heading into the season: Editor’s note: Not all teams responded to requests for information.

Century

Coach: Terry Duryea, 17th season

Last season: 7-7

Top returners: Natalie Opatovsky (Shenandoah University commit), Aubrey Geist, Azhuh Ponte (St Mary’s) and Abby Kristian.

Newcomers to watch: N/A

Coach’s outlook: “We are looking forward to a great season with 11 seniors who have experience and love the game.”

Liberty vs Manchester Valley field hockey

Francis Scott Key

Coach: Becky Bachtel, second season

Last season: 9-3, regional finalist

Coach’s outlook: “The team is looking really good right now. The girls are gelling and are extremely focused. This is a wonderful group of girls who are coachable, smart, and enjoyable to be around.”

Liberty

Coach: Brenda Strohmer, 14th season

Last season: 3-12

Top returners: Elena Cucci, Claire Kim, Tori Schmitz and Hannah Schmitz.

Newcomers to watch: Gwen Yeager, Clara Robbins and Taylor Trudden.

Coach’s outlook: “We are a mix of young and experienced players. We should be competitive in this very tough county.”

Manchester Valley

Coach: Denean Koontz, 31st season

Last season: 15-1, county champions, regional champions, state semifinalists

Top returners: Sophie Baer, Liz Syzbalski, Shelly Wurzburger, Amanda Herrold and Taylor Fique.

Newcomers to watch: Freshman Lily Brookhart

Coach’s outlook: “Trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together to best suit our personnel. Carroll County is one of the best in the state, any team could emerge as champions.”

FSK vs South Carroll regional field hockey final

South Carroll

Coach: Danielle Gabrish, first season

Last season: 14-3, regional champion, Class 1A state champions

Top returners: Alayna Enoff (2023 Player of the Year), Caelin Lopes, Megan Maynard and Rowan Miller.

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Cat Yankle, Dakota Clemens and Afton Miller.

Coach’s outlook: “With the majority of last year’s championship squad back, we are determined to defend our title and secure back-to-back championships. This year’s roster is packed with seasoned veterans and a few promising newcomers, all united in their pursuit of maintaining the team’s dominance.”

Catonsville vs Westminster regional field hockey final

Westminster

Coach: Laure Naill, sixth season

Last season: 7-7, regional champion, state semifinalist

Top returners: Stevie Schultz, Natalie Schultz, Vivian Dunn, Gabi Thomas and Kylah Nowosielski.

Newcomer to watch: Camilla Dunn

Coach’s outlook: “This year, our team is focused on building consistency and making a strong push in the league. We’ve got a mix of seasoned players and rising stars who are ready to step up and make a significant impact.”

Winters Mill

Coach: Christine Bradley, ninth season

Last season: 4-8

Top returners: Olivia Pollard, Cici Coco, Addison Vanlandingham and Sydney Schertz.

Newcomers to watch: Kiera Youngling and Kennedy Ellis.

Coach’s outlook: “This year is going to be a rebuilding year for us. All my seniors were strong and held the team. I think we have some good communication and we have good ball movement working together. And we’ll have good defense; we’ve always had strong defense.”

It was his 32nd year with the program, but what was different was that it was his first as a head coach. The host Comets kept the coach undefeated as the big cheese with a 37-18 victory over the Lions.

Senior Tyler Boyd rushed 16 times for 134 yards and three touchdowns and classmate Gunnar Gemmell was 7-for-11 passing for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Gemmell couldn’t have been happier for his head coach.

“It’s awesome, I’m just so happy for him right now,” he said. “After all the things that has happened with us with the coaches and everything, it’s really good to start off with a win, especially with him as head coach.”

Youngberg took over the head position from former Comet and the school’s all-time leading rusher Jaren Maybin, who was there for six years, and the new leader continued his familiar role calling the plays.

“They executed their plays well,” Dulaney coach Paul Thompson said. “They’ve been running those plays for over 20 years, so they executed those plays well and if you don’t key the guard and don’t do what you are supposed to do that’s what happens.”

Behind Boyd, four other Comets rushed for 29 yards or more. 

“The line was really good today, creating big holes great for our running backs finding them. It was a great day for us offensively running the ball,” said Gemmell, whose third-and-8 connection with Khamari Chase keyed a nine-play scoring drive on the Comets’ first possession. Boyd scored on a 7-yard run, but the extra point was blocked by Bishop Owolabi.

Dulaney recovered a botched punt after its first drive stalled and the Lions tied the game at 6 on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Angelo Shuler to Jayden Corley-Pugh early in the second quarter.

An 8-yard touchdown run by Paylor and two-point conversion pass from Gemmell to Jeff Lemon put Catonsville back ahead, 14-6. It extended the lead with a defensive gem. A swarm of Comets, including Colin Fox, Peyton Lily and Trae Sears, earned a sack and safety with 1:17 left in the half.

On the last play of the half, the Comets stretched the lead to 23-6 on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Gemmell to Lemon.

“It was a little post corner,” Gemmell said. “We’ve run that a couple times at practice and we knew we were going to see man out of them and I knew I could put it up and he would get there.”

“It’s something with how a lot of teams play us, many opportunities for that exist and it’s really just calling it at the right time,” Youngberg said.

Thompson said it was a mix of a defensive lapse and a well-executed play.

“They caught us in a bad coverage a little coverage bust and the kid threw a perfect ball and a great catch,” Thompson said.

A 7-yard touchdown run by Schuler and 38-yard TD pass from Schuler to Dajun Rudolph were the Lions’ only scores of the second half. Schuler passed for 127 yards in the final two quarters.

Boyd, who had 99 yards rushing in the second half, also had the Comets final two touchdowns.

“He’s a tough running back, tough as nails,” Thompson said.

Meanwhile, Youngberg praised his entire squad.

“This is our first real contest for this year and they outperformed my expectations, really and I’m very proud of them. They did a great job,” he said.

Thompson is looking forward to developing his squad that includes junior playmakers Kaijiri “JJ” Kaiser (four receptions, 41 yards) and Rudolph (four receptions, 52 yards)

“We are very young, they are all juniors,” he said. “We are going to be OK, little growing pains right now, but we will be alright.”

Just as it took a team effort to overcome the deaths of two teammates and all the emotions and events off the field, coach Anthony Burgos was able to get something out of every player in all three phases as the Indians defeated Westminster, 24-14, on Friday night.

“Obviously we had a lot of emotions going into this game,” Burgos said. “These guys showed resiliency and came out and played some good football.”

It was the running back duo of Dylan Eaton and Gerret Boyd that led the way as Eaton broke free on a 78-yard run for the game’s first touchdown. Eaton not only broke off huge gains, but often was relied upon to do the dirty work inside, rushing for some tough yards against a stout Westminster defense.

“I told myself to just keep going,” said Eaton, a sophomore who finished with 129 yards on 15 carries. “This was my first varsity game and I know I’ve done the work to play well at this level.”

Much like in the first moments following tragedy, Burgos looked to his senior leadership to set the example and lead the way. When Westminster answered, his top dogs would be ready.

Quarterback Zander McCracken found senior Tristan Richardson for a 48-yard score for a two-touchdown lead. Even when completed passes were hard to come by, receivers Anthony Gibson and Christian Watson didn’t pout. Instead, they turned their attention on impacting the running game, providing key blocks for several outside runs that turned into big gains.

“We told them all week, the running game and the passing game goes hand in hand,” Burgos said. “They did a great job of buying in.”

The Owls did what they could to slow down the Franklin offense, sending defensive duo Isaiah Taylor and Cooper Whitcomb up the field to disrupt the rhythm of the Indians explosive unit.

“They are both great football players,” Westminster coach Chris Bassler said. “We kind of tailored or defense to showcase them. We want to create scenarios where we can unleash them and let them take over.”

Franklin football honors beloved fallen teammates in season-opening win over Westminster

After a slow start, the Owls’ offense started to pick up as quarterback Rory O’Conner threw 72- and 24-yard touchdown passes to keep Westminster within striking distance.

“We made some plays,” Bassler said. “Ultimately, they made one or two more and that was the difference. We hung with a good team”

After already turning the ball over on downs to Westminster earlier in the second half, Franklin still needed a couple of first downs to seal the deal and halt the Owls’ momentum. Burgos turned to Boyd, who finished off a 12-carry, 68-yard day with the touchdown that finally put the game out of reach.

“Sometimes, high school kids don’t understand sharing time, especially when one’s a senior and one’s a sophomore.” Burgos said. “With [Boyd], I challenged him on leading by example and he came up big for us.”

The Indians (1-0) will take their senior leadership and running back duo on the road next week as they travel to Overlea.

The Owls (0-1) will look to bounce back as they hit the road once again to face Frederick. Bassler acknowledged his offense might be behind his defense, but that is to be expected. However, based on what he was able to see in Game 1, he knows it won’t be long before his team is playing up to its high potential.

“We did a lot of good things,” he said. “The more we go and the more reps we get, we’ll be executing at a high level.”

After an 8-1 junior varsity season last year, Friday night marked the Panthers’ first football game as a varsity program. Hosting Hammond, 2,133 people packed the stands. Guilford Park exploded for 28 second-half points to satisfy the crowd with a 34-8 win.

“I’m ecstatic about it,” Guilford Park coach Thomas Montag said. “Last year, they probably hated me because I’d tell them, ‘Hey, I don’t care who we’re playing, the success we’re seeing, this is junior varsity. This isn’t the end goal, right?’ All of the kids we have this year, a majority of them were playing last year for us. I’m just proud of them because it shows me that they’re listening, and they’re bought in. They understand that we’ve got to wake up.”

It was a long journey to get to Friday night. Both junior Khadea McDonald and sophomore Tyler Lee described a mix of excitement and nerves as the regular season moved closer. However, the Panthers underwent consistent hard practices to prepare themselves for that jump in levels.

Friday’s action wasn’t just long awaited for the football team, but the entire school community. Tickets sold out for the game shortly after 1 p.m. and the Panthers faithful showed out in full force, including the packed student section with a mix of white and neon T-shirts.

“It made me feel like I’m an NFL player,” McDonald said. “I’ve got to put on for the people.”

The capacity crowd roared on the Panthers’ opening drive after quarterback A’Yar Reed-Wright connected with McDonald on a swing pass for a 46-yard touchdown. While the play was negated due to a holding penalty, that sequence showcased the community’s passion, just waiting to erupt.

The game remained scoreless for much of the first half until Lee broke through for the program’s first varsity score. The sophomore running back sprinted in from 7 yards out and put Guilford Park on the board.

“I was hyped,” Lee said. “First touchdown, we drove all the way down the field for it. Everybody was hype, everybody was screaming.”

However, Hammond answered right back on quarterback Lazaro Ribalta’s touchdown run and took an 8-6 halftime lead after the two-point conversion. Despite fielding a roster without any seniors, the young Panthers didn’t hang their heads.

Halftime proved to be a valuable reset as Guilford Park opened the second half by recovering an onside kick. While that possession didn’t end in a touchdown, it proved to be a pivotal momentum swing. Guilford Park scored touchdowns on each of its next four possessions as McDonald and Lee both finished with two touchdowns on the ground.

“We’re competitive,” McDonald said of the running back group. “We’re brothers, but we’re working for the same spot. Even though we’re friends, it’s one spot. We’re both going to work hard for it and if you don’t get the ball, you don’t cry about it. You wait until it’s your turn and when it’s your turn, you show up.”

Following the victory, the Panthers sprinted toward the end zone with a sea of smiling faces. Montag expressed how proud he was of the group and while he recognized the magnitude of the milestone, also emphasized that there was a long season ahead. He hopes the performance builds collective confidence and also reinforces the value of responding to adversity and playing for one another.

“For us to come out with a win, it’s such a huge thing for our community,” Guilford Park athletics and activities manager Mike Lerner said. “I just couldn’t be happier with the way things turned out. We’ve got great kids. We’ve got great coaches. I’m fortunate enough to be a part of this community.

“To win the first one, you don’t ever expect that. The history in Howard County shows that it takes a long time to get that first varsity win in most sports, football even more so without seniors. It’s just a testament to our kids, our coaches and all the hard work they put in.”

The Indians were together, playing a game they love and, for 48 minutes, able to fully turn their attention toward beating visiting Westminster.

The picture-perfect night in Reisterstown started with anticipated emotion. Two of the home team’s own — 2024 graduate JaJa Williams and junior guard Leslie Noble IV — were honored after their tragic deaths this summer. Hanging on each side of the press box were the players’ jerseys — No. 19 for Williams and No. 74 for Noble. In between, a banner donated by the Baltimore Ravens read “In Loving Memory.”

After the public address announcer led a moment of silence, the Indians honored their fallen teammates with a character-filled 24-14 win over the Owls.

Considering everything the team has been through in the three-plus weeks since Noble died after collapsing at practice, Franklin coach Anthony Burgos could not have been prouder of the focus and execution he got from all of his players in a complete team win against a quality opponent.

“Everybody contributed — offensively, defensively and special teams — they all came up big,” he said.

“I think this can carry the team and help them understand to keep pushing. We understand as a group that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, so let’s just stay in the moment and use it to understand that we got to love one another, take care of one another and we just go play the best football we can play.”

After two defensive stops, the Indians opened the scoring with a scintillating 78-yard touchdown run by sophomore Dylan Eaton, who found the left sideline in front of the home team’s bench. Up 14-7 in the third quarter, Burgos showed confidence in junior kicker Tanner Hutchins, who showed plenty of leg on a 34-yard field goal that made it 17-7.

When the Owls cut the lead to 17-14 with 5:23 to play in the game, senior running back Gerret Boyd got around the same left corner, going down the sideline for a 46-yard score to secure the victory.

It was a special performance on opening night.

“JaJa meant a lot to me. He was a funny, loving person to be around. And Leslie was such a great loving person as well. It was very heartbreaking to see all that happen,” Boyd said. “Tonight, I felt like the adversity, when it came, we faced it very well and it was 100% — all gas, no brakes.”

The Indians made it past the first practice after Noble’s death. Next was the first week and the vigil and service and the hard feelings that came with it all. Friday’s fine work was their chance to honor their fallen teammates and get past another hurdle.

“As we got through, there’s a lot of closures,” Burgos said. “So there was a lot of different things I’m learning and working with different people spiritually to see how I can lead these young men to where they need to be. They just did a great job tonight and I’m glad we were able to get the win tonight and get the season rolling.”

Senior tackle Caleb Hunley, who played a big role in helping spring Eaton and Boyd on the long touchdown runs, was thinking a lot about Williams and Noble throughout the night. Williams, 18, died after riding a utility task vehicle off a cliff on July 6 while at a family gathering in West Virginia.

“So proud. I’m just glad we could do it for them, their memory and just have something so special to play for,” Hunley said.

And then his excitement turned to football and what had just transpired. Hunley raved about his team.

“I’m telling you, man, this season can be real special if we can put it all together. Keep doing this week in, week out,” he said. “I’m so happy we got this first one out of the way.”

The Indians get into Baltimore County play next week, traveling to Division II Overlea at 6:30 p.m. Friday before hitting the defining stretch of their season. In Division I play, the Indians will host defending champion Perry Hall at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 and then visit perennial state power Milford Mill at 6 p.m. Sept. 27.

Each year for the last four, Bel Air vs. Fallston football has been decided on the last drive — sometimes the last play. Every meeting winds up a thriller. “This is 29 million years in a row, it feels like,” Bel Air coach Eric Seigel said. “It’s always a one-score game.”

Last year, the Bobcats won, 22-21, when JT Ouandji Nana rushed up the middle for a 2-point conversion. Friday night, it was an interception from senior Michael Graham on fourth down that foiled Fallston’s two-minute drill and sealed Bel Air’s 27-20 win.

Graham aside, it was Bel Air’s sophomores and juniors who protected home turf for a team that arrived at Week 1 dreadfully depleted. The Bobcats were without their upperclass core quartet because of injuries. That meant no Julien Horton, Ouandji Nana, Patrick Sullivan or Evan Freeney — all difference makers on both sides of the ball.

Conversations of making up for lost production entering Friday were simple.

“It’s try to do the little things great,” Siegel said. “One of those philosophies we try to install.”

The Harford County preseason favorites fended off the Cougars because younger talent stepped up and, as their coach says, were great at the little things.

First, the help came from an unexpected source. Kayden Blaine nearly lived out every lineman’s dream. The 6-foot, 260-pound sophomore who sees reps on both sides of the trenches, undercut a dump-off pass from Fallston quarterback Dom Foster. As much as anything, Blaine was in the right place at the right time to make the catch inside the Cougars’ 20-yard line and scramble down to the 1. His extended reach landed a yard shy of a pick-six but he was still showered with love back on the sideline for his unexpected forced turnover in the second quarter.

Siegel played the same position when he was in high school and wanted so badly to see Blaine cross into the end zone. But “like the linemen do,” Siegel said, “you get tackled at the 1.”

Fellow sophomore Dylan James finished the job on the next play with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. That was James’ first of two scores. The second of which came on a pass from quarterback Michael Moore, a sophomore seeing his first taste of varsity action in Sullivan’s absence.

Ouandji Nana has historically been Bel Air’s power back; Horton is the team’s speedster. Junior Nathan Finnigan, playing his first game on varsity, filled in for both in the second quarter of Friday’s win. He parted the sea with an eye-popping 57-yard rush, tackled down a yard shy of a house call – just like Blaine.

“After the first half all the jitters went away and I was able to play to the best of my ability,” Finnigan said. “I hit one move on one guy and the safety was the only guy left to beat. That was all my O-Line.”

Fallston defended the goal line thrice following Finnigan’s explosive run. But on fourth down, Siegel went back to Finnigan for a short rushing touchdown, his first of two.

“I absolutely love the effort that Dylan James and Nathan Finnigan gave,” Siegel said. “Just that little one-two punch, those two kids have been fantastic.”

The Cougars hung around with a few big plays of their own.

There was a trick play that resembled the Philly Special finding Oliver Rueckert for a touchdown in the third quarter that trimmed Bel Air’s lead to eight. Then in the fourth, sophomore quarterback Mike Griffin Jr. aired one out to Zach Loewe for a 65-yard touchdown that again, brought Fallston within one score.

Every meeting between the two goes this way. One team edges out the other in the waning minutes, leaving every fan clenching their jaws and gripping the edge of their seats. The difference this time was the Bobcats’ depth. What does this win say about them?

“Watch out for Bel Air,” James said.

Lee rushed for touchdowns of 72 and 43 yards and a 2-point conversion, totaling 165 yards on 10 carries, to lift the visiting Rams over Owings Mills, 34-14, in the opener for both Baltimore County schools.

Before the win, the Eagles had beaten the Rams six straight times.

“It feels good to finally beat them,” said Lee. “We played with more heart. I just trusted my coaches and my line and the holes were there. Our game plan was to stop their run, and we did that. It was a team effort.”

Lee made sure it didn’t take long for Randallstown to jump out on top. On the first play from scrimmage from his own 28-yard line, he took a handoff from quarterback William Pinkett and found a lane on the right side of the field. He juked a few defenders and found himself running untouched in the end zone for a 72-yard score. After the extra point, the Rams led 7-0 just eight seconds into the contest.

Owings Mills used a 20-yard pass to Malachi Bryant from Anthony Bland to cut the lead to 7-6 in the closing seconds of the first quarter. A failed conversion run left the Eagles behind by a point.

With Randallstown holding a 14-6 lead early in the third quarter, Owings Mills put together its best drive of the day. The Eagles went 54 yards in nine plays before quarterback Neveah Elliott scored from 3 yards out. After a successful conversion run by Elliott, the game was tied at 14 with 3:51 left in the third quarter.

The Rams responded on their next possession, putting together a nine-play drive to retake the lead. On a fourth-and-goal at the Eagles 5, Pinkett found senior Joel Herron alone in the back of the end zone with a lobbed pass. After a Lee run, the Rams had a 22-14 lead with 11:00 left in the game.

The Rams held Owings Mills to only three yards on the Eagles’ next possession, getting the ball back quickly. They wasted little time as Lee took off for his second touchdown, a 43-yard scamper on the first play to make the lead 28-14 with 7:36 left in the game.

Randallstown put the game away on the next play. After receiving the ensuing kickoff at his own 22-yard line, Owings Mills’ Allen Robinson broke to the left. He was met by Randallstown’s Davon Sawyer, who stripped him of the ball at the Owings Mills 30. Sawyer picked up the ball and ran it in from there for a 34-14 lead with 7:21 left.

“He tried to run past me,” Sawyer said. “I couldn’t really wrap him up, so I just punched at the ball and it came out. I saw it bounce and I picked it up and took off with it.”

The Rams hope the win is something they can build on this season after going 8-3 last year.

“Our goal is to go 1-0 every week, but it feels good to start off the year with a win,” Randallstown coach Jamari McCollough said. “They came to our field last year and beat us there, so it was our goal to return the favor this year. Now we have to face [defending state champion] Stephen Decatur next week. Hopefully this is the start of something for us.”