Washington County high school football Week 10 preview, predictions
It’s Week 10 of the Washington County football season, which means it’s the first week of the Maryland public-school playoffs.
Boonsboro is the only county team that earned a first-round home game, while the others hit the road as underdogs. Hancock opted out of the postseason.
For Saint James, the county’s lone private school with a football program, one game remains in the regular season.
Here are the matchups with predictions. Last week, we correctly picked the winners in all five games, improving our season record to 45-13.
Thursday’s game
3A West first round
South Hagerstown Rebels (5-4) at Sherwood Warriors (6-3), 6:30 p.m.
Last week:South won 28-6 over North Hagerstown; Sherwood lost 64-6 to Quince Orchard.
Notes: This will be the first meeting between the programs. … The Rebels are seeded No. 5 in the region, and the Warriors are No. 4. ... The winner will face either No. 1 Oakdale or No. 8 North Hagerstown next week. … South is 2-7 all-time in the playoffs. … The Rebels’ last playoff win was in 2019, 49-18 over Blake in the 3A West first round. … Sherwood advanced to the 4A-3A state quarterfinals last year after going to the state semis in 2021. … The Warriors have won three state titles, most recently in 2008. … South is on a three-game win streak. … Sherwood lost last week to Quince Orchard (9-0), the two-time defending 4A state champion. … South’s season leaders on offense include Lance Ford, who’s passed for 1,576 yards and 17 touchdowns and run for 817 yards and eight TDs; Damon Breland, who has 31 receptions for 648 yards and eight TDs; JoJo Davis, who has 661 yards rushing and six TDs; and Cahauri Alford, who has eight total TDs.
Prediction: Sherwood 28, South 21
Friday’s games
3A West first round
North Hagerstown Hubs (3-6) at Oakdale Bears (9-0), 6:30 p.m.
Series record: Hubs lead, 2-1.
Last meeting: Oakdale 53, North 0 (Nov. 3, 2022)
Last week:North lost 28-6 to South Hagerstown; Oakdale won 56-3 over Tuscarora.
Notes: The Hubs are seeded No. 8 in the region, and the Bears are No. 1. … The winner will face either No. 4 Sherwood or No. 5 South Hagerstown next week. … This is a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff game, which Oakdale dominated on its way to a 3A state runner-up finish. … North is 2-7 all-time in the playoffs. … The Hubs’ last playoff win was in 2006 — 27-7 over Francis Scott Key in the 2A West semifinals. … The Bears’ offensive leaders this season include Evan Austin, who’s passed 1,367 yards and 13 touchdowns and run for 625 yards and 10 TDs; Cole Swinimer, who’s rushed for 749 yards and 12 TDs; and Hunter Thompson, who has 44 receptions for 943 yards and 11 TDs. … For North, Luke Kercheval has passed for 1,739 yards and 21 TDs, Luke Bragunier has run for 942 yards and four TDs, and Ryder Johnston has 53 catches for 1,022 yards and 14 TDs.
Prediction: Oakdale 42, North 7
2A-1A West first round
Williamsport Wildcats (2-7) at South Carroll Cavaliers (3-6), 7 p.m.
Series record: Cavaliers lead, 3-0.
Last meeting: South Carroll 27, Williamsport 7 (Nov. 19, 2021)
Last week: Williamsport lost 16-14 to Manchester Valley; South Carroll won 24-16 over Francis Scott Key.
Notes: The Wildcats are seeded No. 5 in the region, and the Cavaliers are No. 4. … The winner will travel next week to No. 1 Winters Mill (8-1), the only team in the region with a winning record. … The last time Williamsport and South Carroll met was in the 2A-1A state quarterfinals in 2021. … The Wildcats returned to the state quarterfinals last year, the furthest they’ve ever gone. … Williamsport is 5-4 all-time in the playoffs, with all of its wins coming since 2019. … The Cavaliers enter the postseason on a three-game win streak, while the Wildcats have lost five straight. … South Carroll’s offensive leaders include Caleb Evans, who’s passed for 1,277 yards and six touchdowns, Anthony Rodrigues, who’s run for 500 yards and five TDs, and Ian Straley, who has 21 receptions for 365 yards and a TD. … For Williamsport, Nolan Raley has passed for 1,864 yards and 15 TDs, Corry Nelson has run for 464 yards and six TDS and has 29 receptions for 479 yards and five TDs, and Ceonta Wilmore has 34 catches for 746 yards and five TDs.
Prediction: Williamsport 28, South Carroll 21
1A West first round
Smithsburg Leopards (3-6) at Allegany Campers (6-3), 6 p.m.
Series record: Campers lead, 5-0.
Last meeting: Allegany 33, Smithsburg 0 (Sept. 30, 2022)
Last week:Smithsburg lost 35-0 to Boonsboro; Allegany lost 47-21 to Fort Hill.
Notes: The Leopards are seeded No. 6 in the region, and the Campers are No. 3. … The winner will travel to No. 2 Mountain Ridge next week. … The Leopards are 22-19 all-time in the playoffs, although they’ve lost seven straight postseason games. … Smithsburg’s last playoff win was in 2004 — 54-0 over Hancock in the 1A West semifinals. … The Campers reached the second round of the playoffs each of the last two years. … The Leopards enter the postseason on a three-game losing streak. … Allegany had won five straight before falling to Fort Hill last week. … Smithsburg’s offensive leaders include Carter Nesbitt, who’s passed for 472 yards and five touchdowns; Ashton Redman, who’s run for 751 yards and eight TDs; and Ayden Weakfall, who has 21 receptions for 228 yards and four TDs.
Prediction: Allegany 35, Smithsburg 7
Clear Spring Blazers (4-5) at Northern Garrett Huskies (5-4), 7 p.m.
Series record: Huskies lead, 13-0.
Last meeting: Northern 46, Clear Spring 8 (Sept. 17, 2021)
Last week: Clear Spring won 44-27 over Hancock; Northern won by forfeit over Southern Garrett.
Notes: The Blazers are seeded No. 5 in the region, and the Huskies are No. 4. … The winner will play next week at No. 1 Fort Hill (9-0), the two-time defending 1A state champion. … Clear Spring is 0-2 all-time in the playoffs, falling in the 1A West first round to Boonsboro 44-13 in 2019 and to Allegany 43-7 last year. … Northern has reached the second round of the playoffs each of the last two years. … The Blazers finished the regular season the same way they started it, on a two-game win streak. … Alex Matthews has scored six touchdowns this year for Clear Spring, while Will Bennett has scored five.
Prediction: Northern 42, Clear Spring 14
1A North first round
Joppatowne Mariners (2-6) at Boonsboro Warriors (7-2), 7 p.m.
Last week:Boonsboro won 35-0 over Smithsburg; Joppatowne lost 42-12 to Bel Air.
Notes: This will be the first meeting between the programs. … The Warriors are seeded No. 3 in the region, and the Mariners are No. 6. … The winner will face either No. 2 Brunswick or No. 7 Havre de Grace. … Boonsboro is 10-17 all-time in the postseason. … The Warriors reached the second round of the 2A-1A West playoffs each of the last two years. … Joppatowne reached the 1A state semifinals last year after making it to the state quarterfinals in 2021. … Boonsboro ended the regular season on a five-game win steak, while the Mariners finished with three straight losses. … The Warriors’ offensive leaders include Colin Telemeco, who’s passed for 483 yards and eight touchdowns; Chad Wyand, who’s run for 823 yards and seven TDs; and Parker DeBaugh, who has 436 rushing yards, 188 receiving yards and eight total TDs.
Prediction: Boonsboro 35, Joppatowne 14
Saturday’s game
Saint James Saints (5-3) at Flint Hill Huskies (6-2), 12:30 p.m.
Series record: Huskies lead, 15-6.
Last meeting: Flint Hill 51, Saint James 7 (Oct. 8, 2022)
Last week:Saint James won 37-28 over Potomac; Flint Hill won 47-37 over Maret.
Notes: This is the regular-season finale for both teams. … Flint Hill is on a five-game win streak, including a 10-point win last week over previously unbeaten Maret (8-1), a team that beat Saint James 51-21 on Oct. 14. … For the Saints this season, sophomore QB Jayden Yates has passed for 936 yards and 11 touchdowns and run for 868 yards and 11 TDs, including 277 yards rushing and four TD runs against Potomac last week. … Saint James senior Trevor Owens has 23 receptions for 367 yards and five TDs and, on defense, he has eight sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two blocked punts.
Prediction: Flint Hill 42, Saint James 21
