Football: A Look Ahead

Click HERE to see video highlights from each of the SMAC playoff teams

3A South
No. 4 Lackey (7-3) at No. 1 Huntingtown (9-1), Friday at 7 p.m.
A year ago, Lackey lost its opening two games and then won eight straight on the field to go into the postseason with momentum. Subsequent game forfeitures dropped the Chargers’ seed and ended the opportunity to host any playoff games, but the Chargers remained hot and ripped through the region on the road. A similar task awaits Lackey this year, as the Chargers go in the region’s lowest seed.

Top-seeded Huntingtown, which tied for the SMAC championship to earn the first conference banner in program history, is making its second consecutive playoff appearance after opening in 2004. The Hurricanes scored 302 points on the season, good for the third-highest total in the conference. Peter Athens quarterbacks the offense, which has been as balanced as they come. Athens has thrown for 1,376 yards and 14 touchdowns thus far, against just five interceptions. Greg Goodwin paces the ground attack, with 1,017 yards rushing on the regular season.

Remaining balanced will be a challenge for the Hurricanes, as Lackey’s secondary, which features Penn State commits Darrell Givens and Malcolm Willis, makes passing difficult for anybody.

No. 3 Westlake (8-2) at No. 2 Friendly (8-2), Friday at 7 p.m.
These two teams have danced around potential playoff matchups for years, but will meet in the first round this Friday. Westlake will bring the top-scoring offense in SMAC, averaging 35.9 points a game, while Friendly’s defense has surrendered 11 points per contest.

Devon Smith paces the Wolverines’ offense, having rushed for over 1,300 yards and scored a conference-leading 22 touchdowns. The Penn State commit averaged over 13 yards per carry and is also a weapon through the air and in the return game. Evan Harris offers a bruising complement on the ground, and added 660 yards on the ground through the regular season.

Friendly has not shown itself to be the explosive offensive team of the past few years, but did average 21.5 points per contest this season. The Patriots could look to attack Westlake through the air, with quarterback Sherrod Baltimore leading the way. Baltimore was one of the leading passers in the Prince George’s 3A/2A/1A with 732 yards on the year. His favorite target was Alex Blake, who hauled in 36 balls for 510 yards and five touchdowns.

2A South
No. 3 Douglass (8-2) at No. 2 North Point (8-2), Friday at 7 p.m.
These two teams look quite similar on the surface. Both physical up front and strong on defense.

North Point, in just its second varsity season, makes its first playoff appearance. The Eagles’ defense ranked third in SMAC in points against, allowing 13 per game, though that figure was skewed by last week’s 34-22 loss to McDonough — the only time all season the Eagles surrendered more than 18 points in a game. Arlando Scott emerged as one of the SMAC’s top rushers, and has topped 200 yards in three of the last four weeks.

A perennial playoff participant, Douglass shut out six opponents this season and has not allowed more than 17 points in a game all year. On offense, Douglass has been known primarily as a running team but has shown an ability to throw the ball with quarterback Richard Barber, notably in last week’s 26-12 win over Gwynn Park.

Other game
No. 4 Gwynn Park (8-2) at No. 1 River Hill (10-0), Friday at 7 p.m.