SMAC Football Top 5 — Week 10
1. Huntingtown (9-1, 7-1)
Previous ranking: 2
The Hurricanes got a scare in the season’s final week, but hung on to defeat Leonardtown 28-24. With the win, Huntingtown, which took a piece of the SMAC title for the first time in history, clinched the top seed in the 3A South and with it home field thoughout its second appearance in the regional playoffs.
Huntingtown’s offense was among the more prolific and balanced in SMAC. Quarterback Peter Athens was the conference’s fourth-leading passer through the regular season with 1,376 yards, while Greg Goodwin rushed for over 1,000. The Hurricanes’ sole defeat in the regular season was a 20-14 loss to North Point in Week 4. The team rebounded with a one-point win at Patuxent the following week, and proceeded to finish the regular season on a six-game winning streak. This week provides a huge test, as defending 3A South champ Lackey comes to Huntingtown intent on making the Hurricanes prove they are deserving of the top seed.
This week: 3A South playoffs vs. Lackey, Friday at 7 p.m.
2. Patuxent (8-2, 7-1)
Previous ranking: 3
You’d be hard-pressed to find a team playing better football than the Panthers over the final weeks of the regular season. Unfortunately, Patuxent, which claimed a piece of the SMAC championship after winning the conference in 2007, ended up on the outside of the 2A South playoff field after Douglass’ Week 10 win at Gwynn Park. Despite opening the season severely hampered by injuries, the Panthers were the conference’s No. 2 scoring offense and also allowed the second-fewest number of points on the other side of the ball. Patuxent’s two losses came by a combined total of eight points.
Season complete
3. North Point (8-2, 7-1)
Previous ranking: 1
Up until meeting McDonough last week, the Eagles were just churning along, the owners of an eight-game winnings streak. But McDonough woke the Eagles up in last Friday’s 34-22 decision. Arlando Scott led the conference in rushing with just shy of 1,400 yards through 10 games, as the Eagles tied with Huntingtown and Patuxent at the top of the SMAC standings. Up until last week, the Eagles had not allowed more than 18 points in a game. North Point hopes last week’s loss serves to be a motivating factor that refocuses the team as Douglass heads to town this Friday in the first round of the 2A South playoffs, in which North Point is the No. 2 seed.
This week: 2A South playoffs vs. Douglass, Friday at 7 p.m.
4. Lackey (7-3, 6-2)
Previous ranking: 4
On the heels of three straight wins, it looks like the Lackey Chargers are now playing as the team most thought they would be all season — which could spell trouble for the rest of the 3A South. Lackey, the defending regional champ, earned the No. 4 seed in the region, meaning it will be on the road throughout the region. It starts this Friday at Huntingtown, a team it has not played the past two seasons.
This week: 3A South playoffs at Huntingtown, Friday at 7 p.m.
5. Westlake (8-2, 6-2)
Previous ranking: 5
With arguably the most explosive player in the conference, Devon Smith, leading the way the Wolverines accumulated a SMAC-high 359 points during the regular season. Westlake rebounded from a Week 9 loss to Lackey with a 28-19 win over Thomas Stone in the finale, but probably not in the manner it would have liked. Westlake earned the third seed in the 3A South, and will need to get its offense churning again with a trip to second-seeded Friendly in the cards this week.
This week: 3A South playoffs at Friendly, Friday at 7 p.m.
**DigitalSports’ SMAC Top 5 is selected by SMAC Content Manager Andy States. Please e-mail any questions or comments to astates@digitalsports.com.
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