Explosive Old Mill offense meets stout Wise defense in finals

One team plays defense like the Monsters of the Midway. The other plays offense like the Greatest Show on Turf. One team relies on bulk and power. The other thrives on speed and athleticism. One team has been around since 2005. The other since 1972. One team hails from Prince George's County. The other from Anne Arundel.

Neither team has won a state title.

Both will have a chance on Friday night at M&T Banks Stadium, where the Wise Pumas and the Old Mill Patriots square off in the 4A championship game.

"I'm really excited to be apart of this and to have an opportunity to fight for the school's first state championship," said Wise's fourth-year coach DaLawn Parrish. "It's been a rollercoaster ride these four years. In our area [in Prince George's County] there are private schools around and the young men here had opportunities to leave. But they stayed at Wise; they believed in the program. Now they have a chance to establish a tradition at Wise High School."

Patriots coach Damien Ferragamo is looking to deliver the school's first state title since Old Mill opened its doors 47 years ago. Ferragamo, like his counterpart at Wise, has been at the school for four years and has already built a proven postseason contender. Now, he's taken the team a step further.

"This is my fourth year so I saw all the kids as baby-faced freshmen," Ferragamo said. "So these are my guys; we've grown up together here. They've worked hard and they deserve a shot to prove what they can do."

Old Mill (11-2) has made the most improbable and surprising playoff run of any team vying for a state championship this weekend. They entered the postseason as a No. 3 seed in the 4A East after losing to Broadneck in the regular season finale. Thus, many critics dubbed them a "one-and-done" and predicted an easy victory for an undefeated North Point squad in the regional semifinals.

Old Mill won, 24-0.

Fine. So they got a little lucky. No way they beat powerhouse Arundel, the team favored to win the 4A title behind the state's best quarterback, Billy Cosh.

Old Mill won, 58-55.

OK, so the Patriots are for real. But Sherwood is the defending state champs. Their defense will shut down the Old Mill running game.

Old Mill won, 20-13.

"We're the only team that had to play two undefeated teams and a defending state champ, but we haven't lacked for confidence at all," Ferragamo said. "Honestly, we expected to make it here."

Wise (12-1) expected to make it here, too. The Upper Marlboro school opened in 2005, and after two years building a foundation, Parrish took the Pumas to the state semifinals last year. This season, Wise was favored to make another postseason run. But no one predicted a 12-1 record and a state championship. After all, Wise had to compete with the likes of C.H. Flowers, Suitland and Eleanor Roosevelt, perennial powers from PG County.

But Wise defeated Suitland in the regular season and then did the unthinkable: they beat Roosevelt and Flowers three out of four times. It's the equivalent of Maryland's basketball team sweeping Duke, North Carolina and Wake Forest right off Tobacco Road.

"These young men have bought into what I was selling and they execute what we do," Parrish said. "I demand respect from them, and they represent the program well and give 110 percent at all times. They've learned how to win … they've built an unrivaled defensive reputation."

That's not an overstatement. Wise's defense is the most fierce, ferocious bunch in Maryland. The Pumas have allowed a total of four touchdowns all season, which comes out to an average of two points per game. They set a Maryland state record earlier this year when they recorded eight straight shutouts. Then, in the postseason, they pitched two more no-hitters (against Flowers and Roosevelt no less), bringing their season total to 10.

"What really stands out about them is that defensive line," Ferragamo said. "They have two gigantic tackles inside and some really athletic defensive ends."

Just the defensive line, coach?

"They have a lot of speed with their linebackers and secondary, too," Ferragamo added. "No one can take a play off against these guys. We've got a hell of a test in front of us on Friday."

If Ferragamo sounds worried, he should be. Wise's vaunted line has produced 25 sacks and is holding teams to less than 80 yards rushing per game. Sam Burrell and Charles Owens are the two 300-pound space-eaters in the middle. Rahsaan Moore, Andrew Lowery and Anthony McDaniel (12 sacks) are the athletic defensive ends, who have 18 sacks between them.

The linebackers are physical run stuffers who fly to the ball. Deontre Johnson, Rayshaud Shields, Tyrone Gaither and Justin Coles all have upwards of 85 tackles. In the secondary, Jabril Baldwin, Andre Makell, Thomas Tabbs and the human eraser, Titus Till, have combined for eight interceptions.

"Defense is what we do," Parrish said. "We're going to get to the ball, we're going to hit and we're going to try to be the most physical team on the field."

The Pumas' defense is physical, but don't forget about their offense. Wise's power-running game, led by Baldwin, Moore and Johnson, has produced close to 3,000 yards and 44 touchdowns this season. They're averaging over six yards a carry and 222 yards per game. Quarterback DeAndre Smith has rushed for almost as many yards (469) and he's thrown for (600). Needless to say, Smith won't be doing much passing on Friday night.

"We're going to run the football and see if they can stop it," Parrish said. "That's what got us here. Why change that?"

Running the ball is what got Old Mill to this point, too. Albeit, the Patriots' offense is quite different from Wise's. Rather then run straight at defenses -- punching them in the mouth -- Old Mill prefers to stretch the field and tire out the linebackers.

The catalyst? In Anne Arundel County, he's known simply as "The Beast." Josh Furman is 6-feet-3, 200 pounds and runs a 4.3 40-yard dash. He ranks third in the state with 2,272 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns. Furman has rushed for over 200 yards in every game this postseason, including a 400-yard, six-touchdown deluge against Arundel.

"All Furman needs is a crease and he can go the distance," Parrish said. We're not going to do anything differently, but we understand we've really got to get to the ball and corral the ball-carrier."

For Furman and fellow running back Jason Clements (1,144 yards, 17 touchdowns) to succeed, Old Mill's miniscule offensive line must play like giants on steroids. The Patriots' front five -- Colby Richardson, Justin Mullins, Adam Palmer, Corey Beall and David Lee -- averages about 200 pounds on a good day. The line never wins one-on-one battles up front, so they pull out in space and hope to give Furman a shard of daylight. Needless to say, it won't be easy against Wise's defense.

"Our offensive guards aren't going to kick those kids' butts," Ferragamo said. "We're tiny. But if we can execute our blocks on the edge, there are big plays to be made out there."

There are also big plays to be made in the passing game. Old Mill could try and unleash quarterback Joe Thorton, who struggled early (six interceptions) but has progressed exponentially in his first year as a Patriot. Thorton (59-of-124 for 897 yards and six touchdowns) has two deep threats in Dominic Gibson and Chad Hicks.

With Furman, Clements and Thorton, Old Mill's offense is averaging 35 points per game. The problem is their defense gives over half of it back. Opponents can expect to score about three touchdowns on the Patriots, mainly because Old Mill lacks power up front.

"Our defense linemen all look like linebackers and our linebackers all look like defensive backs," Ferragamo said. "But we try to use our athleticism to our advantage."

The secondary has been the most consistent unit with Furman, Dwayne Goddard, Markell Pratt and Deon Briggs. But Lee Hoening is the only true defensive tackle, and he's just 215 pounds. Avery Taylor, Seth Holbrook and Khilah Davidson are all sub-200-pound linemen. The linebacker corps, anchored by Randy Spann who has a team-leading 95 tackles, is also undersized. The consolation is they are quick enough to get to the holes and wrap up 'backs out in space.

Despite Old Mill's defensive deficiencies, Ferragamo is confident. Critics have doubted his team all year, but all they've done is go 11-2 and slay three Goliath's in the playoffs. Can they take down a fourth?

"I truly believe we're going to be the best team Wise has faced this year," Ferragamo said. "But either way, a good football team is going to lose on Friday night. What's important is you don't have any regrets."

It's safe to say there will be no regrets. These are two veteran teams pitted against one another. They know what it takes to win.

"Both teams understand the magnitude of this situation," Parrish said. "It's two teams fighting for their lives. They're ready to get it on and have a tremendous game on Friday night."

Prediction: A big part of me wants to pick Old Mill in this game. The Patriots continue to rise up week after week and no one seems to be able to stop Josh Furman. But Furman and that smallish offensive line hasn't played against a defense like Wise's. And defense, after all, wins championships. Wise 20, Old Mill 14.