SMAC Football Preview — Week 4
Game of the Week
Huntingtown (3-0) at North Point (2-1)
Friday, 7 p.m.
In a matchup pitting the youngest programs in the conference, Huntingtown heads to North Point on Friday armed with the first 3-0 record in the program’s five-year history. Through three weeks the Hurricanes have looked to possess one of the more capable and balanced offenses in the conference, with Peter Athens leading the passing game and Greg Goodwin heading up the rushing attack.
North Point, in the second season of varsity competition, enters 2-1 and nearly defeated defending SMAC-champion Patuxent in the opening week. The Eagles’ defense could provide Huntingtown with a stiff test. North Point defeated La Plata 40-17 a week ago and shut out Northern 10-0 in Week 2.
With a win, Huntingtown could take another step towards establishing itself in the conference’s upper tier and keep it moving towards a second straight 3A South playoff berth. A victory for the Eagles could serve to announce the squad’s intention to be a major player in the conference as the season unfolds.
Other games to watch
Stone (1-2) at Chopticon (2-1), Friday at 7 p.m.
Chopticon enters the winners of two of three, with the lone blemish on its record a narrow loss to Huntingtown. But the Braves were sluggish in last week’s win over Leonardtown, and will hope for a stronger showing this week.
Stone is coming off a tough two-week stretch which pitted the team against state powers Linganore and Lackey. The Cougars dropped both, including last week’s 25-0 loss to Lackey, but figure to be competitive this week. Stone was in position to defeat Chopticon a year ago before a late Braves’ rally culminated with a game-winning field goal in the final minute.
Calvert (0-3) at La Plata (1-2), Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Through three weeks, Calvert and La Plata have combined for just one win, but that total may not be completely indicative of the teams’ ability. Calvert has proven capable of moving the ball all three weeks, but dug itself holes it could not get out of in losses to McDonough and Huntingtown the last two weeks. La Plata lost to Chopticon in overtime in the season’s first week.
Recent history suggests this game could go down to the wire. The past three meetings have been decided by a combined 11 points, with La Plata winning two of the three.
Other games
Friendly (2-1) at McDonough (1-2), Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Northern (1-2) at Lackey (2-1), Friday at 7 p.m.
Great Mills (0-3) at Westlake (3-0), Friday at 7 p.m.
Leonardtown (0-3) at Patuxent (2-1), Friday at 7 p.m.
Processing your request, Please wait....
