Even though the Ravens are out of town this weekend, there will still be some great football being played at M&T Bank Stadium.
The four high school state football championships will be this weekend, and three of the games will feature schools from the Baltimore metro area. With one game on Friday night and three on Saturday, the weekend will be packed with the top high school football in the state, all in the friendly confines of the Ravens’ home stadium.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Class 4A Championship: Quince Orchard (13-0) vs. Old Mill (13-0), 7:30 pm kick-off
Quince Orchard of Montgomery County travels to Baltimore to take on Old Mill of Anne Arundel County. Both teams come into the title contest undefeated and highly ranked in the state. MaxPreps ranks Old Mill as the third best team in the state, while Quince Orchard slots in at #9. Old Mill has a prolific offense, featuring running back Rob Chesson. Chesson, a senior, has broken the state record for touchdowns in a season by reaching the end zone 49 times this year. If I had to recommend only one game to attend all
weekend, this one would be it. The winner can stake a claim as the top public school team in Maryland this year.
SATURDAY
Class 1A Championship: Dunbar (11-2) vs. Perryville (13-0), 12 pm kick-off
Don’t let Dunbar’s two losses fool you. One was a forfeit, and the other was at the hands of 4A city powerhouse Poly, who went undefeated during the regular season. The Poets have some serious star power, led by wide receiver/defensive back Deontay McManus, a West Virginia commit who is a force in the return game. Perryville enters the game on the heels of an impressive overtime victory at Cumberland juggernaut Fort Hill. Dunbar comes into the game looking to win their fifth state title in six years, while Perryville is making their first appearance at M&T Bank Stadium. While Dunbar was previously considered an obvious favorite, Perryville’s win over Fort Hill means this game has the potential to be a great one.
Class 2A Championship: Douglass-PG (11-2) vs. Middletown (12-1), 3:30 pm kick-off (approximate)
While neither of these teams are considered to be in the Baltimore metro area, the matchup is still a compelling one. Middletown has been a powerhouse in a tough Frederick County league this season, and Douglass of Prince George’s County (not the Douglass in Baltimore) has made an impressive run in the state playoffs. MaxPreps ranks Middletown fourth in the state, and Douglass eleventh, meaning that the 2A title game promises to be another exciting one.
Class 3A Championship: River Hill (11-2) vs. Thomas Johnson (10-3), 7 pm kick-off (approximate)
River Hill has become a mainstay in the Baltimore-area high school football scene. The Howard County powerhouse won state titles in 2007 and 2008, and was the state runner-up in 2009. After a disappointing loss in the regional tournament last season, the Hawks (ranked #5 in the state) take on Thomas Johnson (ranked #11), another Frederick County power. Thomas Johnson picked up three losses over the course of the season, but can contend with any team in the state. This game should be close to the 4A championship in terms of competitiveness and overall quality of play.
TICKETS AND TV
Tickets will be available on site before each game. However, tickets can be bought in advance on the MPSSAA’s website. Tickets are $8.00 for the Friday night game, and also $8.00 for Saturday’s games, although the Saturday ticket is good for all three games.
For the second year in a row, the state championships will be televised. In the Baltimore area, all four games can be seen on The CW-54. If you’re in the DC area, the games can be seen on The CW-50.
