Seeds: Catonsville - No. 3; Old Mill - No. 2

Conference: Catonsville - Baltimore County 4A ; Old Mill - Anne Arundel

Record: Catonsville (12-0) ; Old Mill (12-0)

Rank: Catonsville - No. 3 (4A/3A); Old Mill - No. 1 (4A/3A)

Last Week: Catonsville - Catonsville defeated Poly, 28-18 ; Old Mill - Old Mill defeated North Point, 28-7

Signature victories: Catonsville - Poly, Paint Branch, Franklin, Perry Hall, Boys' Latin, Parkville; Old Mill - North Point, South River (twice), Arundel

Current Streak: Catonsville - win 12; Old Mill - win 12

Points Scored: Catonsville -- 37; Old Mill -- 41

Points Allowed: Catonsville -- 13 ; Old Mill -- 7

Record Against Common Opponents: N/A

Previous Meeting: No meetings the last five years

Players to Watch: Catonsville - QB Aaron Jones, WR/DB DeNiko Carter, WR/TE/DE Julian Jones, WR/RB/DB DeAndre Lane, RB/LB Josh Hylton, RB/LB Joseth Hylton, RB Jerome Williams, FB Devin Ray, LB/FB Julian Singletary, WR/DB Joe Tebo, DT Josh Schmidt, OL/DL Jonathan Reymann, OL/DL Nathan Reeves, OL/DL Travis Davis, OL/DL Tyrone Parker, OL/DL Brandon Dixon, OL/DL Antoine Wright, DE/TE Sean Lipscomb, WR Tory Redd, WR Kevin Hendrix ;Old Mill -- QB Deonte Shields, RB Robert Chesson, OL David Dunn, OL Teddy Marshall, OL Mike Bolton, OL Josh Miller, DL Seth Holbrook, DL Nadhim Reghard, DE Devon McClain, LB Rafael Kess, LB Terrance Brownlee, LB D'Vonte Cromwell, LB Salaman Riddle, LB Zebby Atkinson, DB Torie Wagner, TE Ryan Kaufman, WR Dominic Wallace, DB Denzel Bibbs, DB Brian Demby,

Key Matchup: Catonsville RB DeAndre Lane vs. Old Mill LBs -- DeAndre Lane is Catonsville's version of DeSean Jackson. A 5-foot-8, 170-pound scat 'back/H-back/slot receiver/kick returner, Lane can flat out move. He boasts a 4.4 40-yard dash and has totaled 1,675 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Lane has recently become a statewide "name to know" thanks to his performance in the playoffs. In two postseason games he has rushed for 464 yards and six touchdowns, including a 281-yard, three-score game last week against a stout Poly defense. Lane is one of those rare runners who can pull away from a defense and has a chance to score anytime he touches the ball. He's helped along by a smallish yet tough O-line with Antoine Wright, Jon Reyman, Travis Davis, Nate Reeves, Brandon Dixon and Julian Jones, who specialize in pulling and zone blocking. Old Mill counters with what's widely regarded as the best public school defense in Maryland. They have given up just 86 points all season and have pitched five shutouts. The heart and soul of the Patriots' unit is their five linebackers (they run a 3-5 scheme), a versatile, physical and athletic group that prides itself on shutting down the run. Despite facing some of the state's top runners (South River's Lavon Chaney, Meade's Calvinaugh Jones, Southern's Rehvon Bryan, Glen Burnie's Brandon Walker) they still have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this season. Last week they went up against North Point's three-headed monster (DJ Briscoe, Frank Marshall and Blake Monroe) and held them to 85 combined yards. Inside linebackers Rafael Kess (70 tackles, 6 sacks), Terrence Brownlee (65 tackles, 5 sacks) and Zebby Atkinson (5 sacks) are a hard-charging, downhill group that loves to bring pressure up the middle. What's more, they're quick enough to track runners down on the edge and readjust to cutbacks. Outside linebacker D'Vonte Cromwell is more of a pass-coverage guy, but Salaman Riddell brings it off the edge; he leads the team with 11 sacks this season. What makes this group special, however, isn't the sack or tackle totals. It's that all five of them have their assignments down pat, know how to read an offense and trust each other to make a play. That's why you'll never see Old Mill's 'backers out of position. They know if they can just funnel a runner inside one of their teammates will be right there to clean up.

Catonsville wins if …: Their defense plays fast and physical. Despite allowing Poly QB Darrell Milburn to hit on a few big plays, Catonsville was one of the only defenses that was able to limit the Engineers' misdirection offense (they held dynamic RB Jamal Chappell to less than 100 yards). Like their running back Lane, the Comets' defense can fly. They boast an active, aggressive front four led by defensive ends Julian Jones and Sean Lipscomb, who have combined for 19 sacks this season. The Comets' linebackers aren't as big and tough as Old Mill's, but Joseth Hylton, Josh Hylton and Julian Singletary are sinewy, fast and can track down 'backs all over the field. In back, hard-hitting safety DeNiko Carter is always around the football, and DeAndre Lane plays corner almost as well as he does running back. The only problem is, sometimes the Comets can get out-physicaled up front, while their speedy linebackers haven't always maintained their gaps. Thus, they've been prone to the occasional big play (see: three 20-plus-yard TDs last week against Poly and three more the week before against Paint Branch). That can't happen against Old Mill's Robert Chesson.

Old Mill wins if…: They ride the Chesson train to victory. Robert Chesson topped the 2,000-yard mark last week (he's at 2,237) and is now the leading rusher in Maryland. To boot, he has 41 touchdowns, which is also a state high. Chesson has topped the 200-yard mark in back-to-back weeks and has seven such games this season. The 5-10, 175-pounder has breakaway speed -- as he showed last week when he burst through the North Point secondary for a 71-yard run - as well as uncanny power thanks to his stout legs and strong base. Moreover, Chesson is a true workhorse who has toted the rock 288 times this year and still seems to get stronger and stronger as the game goes along. Last week he tied a season high with 35 carries, but capped off his night with a 49-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.

Key Stat: 21. Yards per catch (28 receptions, 586 yards) Old Mill WR Torie Wagner is averaging this year. Wagner is known for his cornerback skills, but the 5-8 speedster is a true downfield threat who can take the top off a defense that stacks the box against Chesson. He has 12 touchdown catches this season and had at least one in nine straight games at one point.

Seeds: Flowers - No. 4 ; Quince Orchard - No. 1

Conference: Flowers - PG County 4A; Quince Orchard - Montgomery County 4A

Record: Flowers (9-3) ; Quince Orchard (12-0)

Rank: Flowers - No. 10 (4A/3A); Quince Orchard - No. 2 (4A/3A)

Last Week: Flowers - Flowers defeated Suitland, 14-7 ; Quince Orchard - QO defeated Churchill, 23-21

Signature victories: Flowers - Roosevelt, Suitland; Quince Orchard - Sherwood, Paint Branch, Seneca Valley, Clarksburg, Churchill

Current Streak: Flowers - win 3 ; Quince Orchard - win 12

Points Scored: Flowers -- 25; Quince Orchard -- 32

Points Allowed: Flowers -- 11; Quince Orchard -- 8

Record Against Common Opponents: N/A

Previous Meeting: No meetings in last five years

Players to Watch: Flowers -- QB Jonathan Holland, RB/DB Edwin Walker, RB/DB Daequan Davis, RB/DB Shawn Elliot, RB Brendan Hylton, WR/DB Larry Smith, WR/DB Armani Jenkins, TE/DE Monte Taylor, OL Chris Simms, OL/DL Gregory Levi, OL Raymond Jeffries, OL/DL Ekanem Ekanem, LB Austin Jacques, LB James Brown, DB Keith Payne; Quince Orchard - RB Mark Green, RB/LB Tyrell Williams, LB Marcus Newby, LB Carlo St. Regis, LB Marty Heyn, QB Lucas Bogart, TE/DE Kieran Gregory, OL Brandon McDowell, OL Matt Luke, OL Austin Trach, OL Spencer Trach, OL/DL Darnell Leslie, DL James Farmer, DB Kenny Lang, WR Sean Greenspan, WR Matt Choi, WR/DB D'Andre Johnson, CB Isaac Ankomah, DB Billy Plante, DE Laquan Wilkerson, DL Tejon Carroll

Key Matchup: Quince Orchard DL vs. Flowers OL -- Quince Orchard has one of meanest, toughest defenses in the state. They've allowed a total of 99 points this year; only Old Mill has allowed less in class 4A. The Cougars' linebacker corps - Tyrell Williams, Carlos St. Regis, Marcus Newby, Matty Heyn - grabs the headlines, but one of the main reasons this defense is so successful is the play of their front four. QO features a pair of D-I-caliber linemen in tackle/end Darnell Leslie (6-2, 225) and end Kieran Gregory (6-3, 205). Those two have combined for 12 sacks and countless QB pressures this year. The Cougars also feature Laquan Wilkerson (4 sacks) out on the edge and big 300-pound space-eater Tejon Carroll in the middle, who does a great job keeping opposing linemen off the linebackers. Besides those three, QO rotates in a variety of other linemen - James Farmer, Darren Stone, Paul Aguila, Brandon McDowell, Austin Trach -- to keep those big boys fresh all game long. That said, QO had some problems with Churchill's triple-option last week, allowing Bulldogs RB Curtis Kamara to rush for 102 yards and QB Lansana Keita to pass for 185. Fortunately for the Cougars, Flowers doesn't run a triple option. But they do have one big, tough group of O-linemen who can blow defenders off the ball. The Jaguars, who average over 250 pounds up front, are a power-running team that's picked up more than 2,100 yards this year. They like to run right over their best linemen, right tackle Ekanem Ekanem (6-1, 270), who is one of the most dominant drive blockers in PG County. Center Darnell Spencer (5-11, 250) is solid at the point of attack and allows Flowers' 'backs to grind up the middle or cut back in the hole. Mammoth 300-pound left tackle Greg Levi moves fairly well for a player his size, but he can be a bit slow-footed at times. He'll have to raise his game this week for Flowers to be successful.

Flowers wins if …: Cornerback/receiver Keith Payne continues to make plays. Payne is just a junior but he's already become one of the most important/clutch players on the Jaguars' roster. Last week he had an interception in the red zone to kill a Suitland drive. Better yet, Payne shadowed Suitland's top receiver Taivon Jacobs, holding him to one catch for 9 yards. What's more, he caught the game-winning TD pass from QB Jon Holland (another clutch performer who needs to come up big) on fourth down with time running out. Last week was no fluke either. Payne has become one of Holland's top targets, hauling in a team-high seven touchdown passes this year (see: Hail Mary reception against Bladensburg). He also leads the team in interceptions and is their No. 1 cover corner.

Quince Orchard wins if…: QB Billy Plante builds off of last week's performance. Plante, who took over the starting role in early October, has been a solid game manager for QO. Other than one four-interception debacle against Paint Branch, he hasn't thrown one pick in his other seven starts. On the season Plante is 64 for 108 with six touchdowns. But last week was his best performance yet; he threw for a season-high 170 yards on 11 of 18 passing, helping the Cougars eke out a win over Churchill. Plante doesn't have a rocket arm, but If he can complete a couple downfield throws it will help open up the running game for beast RB Mark Green.

Key Stat: 6. That's the number of times this year Quince Orchard RB Mark Green has carried the ball 25 or more times in a game. A true workhorse who loves to grind out tough yards, Green has 249 carries and 1,562 yards this season. Look for QO to pound the ball early and often, hoping Flowers will wear down late.

Seeds: Thomas Johnson - No. 4; Huntingtown - No. 1

Conference: Thomas Johnson -- MVAL; Huntingtown -- SMAC

Record: Thomas Johnson (9-3); Huntingtown (11-1)

Rank: Thomas Johnson - No. 9 (4A/3A); Huntingtown - No. 4 (4A/3A)

Last Week: Thomas Johnson - TJ defeated Damascus, 42-6 ; Huntingtown - Huntingtown defeated Westlake, 32-7

Signature victories: Thomas Johnson - Urbana, Seneca Valley, Damascus ; Huntingtown - Westlake (twice), Chopticon (twice), Patuxent

Current Streak: Thomas Johnson - win 4 ; Huntingtown - win 7

Points Scored: Thomas Johnson -- 32; Huntingtown -- 30

Points Allowed: Thomas Johnson -- 16; Huntingtown -- 12

Record Against Common Opponents: N/A

Previous Meeting: No meetings the last five years

Players to Watch: Thomas Johnson -- RB/DB Richie Anderson, RB/LB Brandan Berney, RB Doug Sponyoe, WR/DB Nico Johnson, QB Heath Dahlgren, WR/DB Nathan Hairston, WR/DB Terrence Stafford, OL Wayne Schultz, OL/DL VJ Davey, OL/DL Ralph Ivascu, DE Jaime Munoz, OL Richard Pearch, OL Dave Smith, OL Jeremy Kline, DB Danny Medina; Huntingtown -- RB/LB Nick Ersoy, RB Davonte Fletcher, RB/DB Rasheed Berry, RB/DB Gabe Stewart, RB/DB Carl Riffe, RB/DB Steve Noonan, LB/TE Josh Woodburn, OL/DL Joe Heying, OL Riley Cannon, OL Ricky Donaldson, OL Zach Walker, OL/LB Brandon Washington, RB/LB Tyler Sullivan, TE/DE Ricky Donaldson, DB Jules Lucas, RB/LB Colton Rowe, WR/DB Matt Roller, QB Zach Piazza, DB Robert Baczynski, OL/DL Irwin Jones, LB Kolby Taylor

Key Matchup: Thomas Johnson DL vs. Huntingtown OL -- For the last four games, Thomas Johnson's hulking D-line has been living up to their preseason hype. Ralph Ivascu (6-4, 250), VJ Davey (6-3, 260), Jaime Munoz (6-0, 210) and Dave Smith are a key reason why TJ hasn't allowed any opponent to rush for more than 155 yards as a team over that stretch. What's more, those four TJ trenchmen are putting constant pressure on the quarterback, even if they're not recording sacks. Last week they held Damascus' top RB, Trevor Patton, to just 79 yards, while QB Eddie Williams threw for just 35. The week before, they allowed Seneca's electric junior RB James Jones-Williams, to rush for just 69 yards. Huntingtown's line isn't quite as big and strong as Thomas Johnson's, but this is a tough group that executes their scheme well. They excel at opening holes for lead RB Davonte Fletcher and backups Nick Ersoy and Gabe Stewart., who combine to average about 217 yards rushing per game. Left tackle Joe Heying (6-3, 245), the team's top linemen, is potent at the point of attack and is a terrific run blocker. Meanwhile, Zach Walker, Riley Cannon and Ricky Donaldson do a solid job gaining leverage up front as well as pulling out in space, giving Fletcher room to cut back.

Thomas Johnson wins if …: Their glut of playmakers take over the game. TJ has an embarrassment of dynamic skill players who can take over a game. They have power runners (Brandan Berney, Doug Sponyoe), track stars (Richy Anderson, Nico Johnson), deep treats (Nate Hairston, Anderson) and a gunslinging quarterback (Heath Dahlgren). Last week against Damascus, Berney smacked the Hornets in the mouth, while Anderson burned them deep. The two combined for 240 total yards and three touchdowns. Indeed, TJ likes to use Berney to wear down a defense before unleashing their speed. On the season, the Patriots' running game is averaging over 7 YPC, while their two downfield receiving threats, Anderson and Hairston, are averaging 22 YPC and 19 YPC, respectively. Dahlgren, meanwhile, who hit a road bump in the middle of the year (seven interceptions), turned it on against Damascus, throwing for 133 yards and a TD against no picks.

Huntingtown wins if…: Fletcher takes over the game. Every week Huntingtown comes in with the same gameplan - run the football and play tough, physical defense. Fletcher, the Hurricanes' bell cow, has carried the ball an eye-opening 257 times for 1,768 yards this year. He's been over 100 yards in every game save three and is coming off a 29-carry, 189-yard effort against Westlake. Fletcher has the power to push the pile forward and the speed to bust by a secondary (see: 98-yard TD run last week). He's scored 28 touchdowns on the year and has accounted for over 65-percent of his team's scoring output. The only time Fletcher was stopped this year (38 yards against North Point) was the only time Huntingtown lost a game. As Fletcher goes, so go the Hurricanes.

Key Stat: 41. Turnovers Huntingtown's defense has forced this year, including six last week against Westlake. That could be a problem for a TJ team that has developed a reputation for coughing the ball up.

Seeds: Aberdeen - No. 3; River Hill - No. 2

Conference: Aberdeen - Upper Chesapeake Bay ; River Hill - Howard County

Record: Aberdeen (10-2) ; River Hill (10-2)

Rank: Aberdeen -- unranked ; River Hill - No. 5 (4A/3A)

Last Week: Aberdeen - Aberdeen defeated North Harford, 38-20; River Hill - River Hill defeated Atholton, 21-12

Signature victories: Aberdeen - North Harford, Franklin, Fallston; River Hill - Atholton, Howard (twice), Glenelg, Long Reach

Current Streak: Aberdeen - win 6 ; River Hill - win 8

Points Scored: Aberdeen -- 33; River Hill -- 30

Points Allowed: Aberdeen -- 14; River Hill -- 8

Record Against Common Opponents: N/A

Previous Meeting: No meetings the last five years

Players to Watch: Aberdeen -- QB Kenny Faulcon, WR/DB Christian Carpenter, WR/DB Chavez Cheatham, RB/DB Austin Bonsall, RB/LB Quintel Kelly, RB/LB Dante Warfield, RB/DB Trashon Turner, WR/DB Traveres Payton, OL/DL Brenton Barnes, OL/DL Anthony Russ, OL Marshall McCLain, LB Kory Sampson, OL/DL Phillip Peregino, OL/DL Devin Kossakowski, LB Olajuwon Brown, LB Maurice Harris; River Hill -- QB Raamah Vaughn, RB/DB Aaron Wells, RB/DB Evan Griffin, RB/DB Randall Lawson, RB/DB Auctavius Bennett, RB/LB Stephan Osong, TE/LB Riley Davis, WR Walt Moody, WR Nick Ball, LB Davis Grove, LB Terrance Howell, LB Emmett Brew, LB Ryan Doyle, LB Ryan Higgins, DB Justin Arn, OL/DL Logan Kirby, OL/DL Matt Greben, OL/DL Tommy Testoff, OL Reinner Malenab, OL/DL Karrs Johnson, OL Justin Nestor, DL Alex Rau, DL Jason Johnson, DB Noah Carter

Key Matchup: Aberdeen WRs Chavez Cheatham & Christian Carpenter vs. River Hill CBs Randall Lawson and Noah Carter -- Aberdeen's two deep threats have combined for 96 receptions this season. Cheatham (32 catches), a smallish wide-out, has routinely been able to beat secondaries deep with his speed and downfield acceleration. He's averaging 22 yards per catch; last week he hauled in a 44-yard touchdown, and the week before he had a 50 yarder against Franklin. Carpenter, meanwhile, has Division-I potential with his size-speed combination. The 6-2, 185-pounder leads Harford County with 64 receptions for 1,112 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has shown the ability to work the middle of the field, make clutch catches in traffic as well as stretch the defense long. Carpenter caught a big touchdown in the regional semifinals to ignite Aberdeen's offense. But River Hill counters with a pair of white-hot corners who are brimming with confidence. Randall Lawson and Noah Carter had a tough task last week and more than held their own against Atholton. Lawson (5-11, 175), who has seven picks this year, held dynamic WR Dequan Ellison to just four short catches. Carter (5-8, 170), meanwhile, recovered a fumble and was one of the main reasons big-armed QB Brian McMahon only threw for 50 yards total. On the season, River Hill has allowed just one team to top 100 passing yards on them - Atholton the first time they played them in Week 3. Granted, the Hawks face mainly running teams in Howard County, but Lawson's seven picks and Carter's speed and ball skills speak for themselves.

Aberdeen wins if …: Their defense continues to click. Much has been made of Aberdeen's personnel changes on defense (on this site at least), and rightfully so. Ever since the Eagles let QB Kenny Faulcon play linebacker, moved Quintell Kelly and Donte Warfield to outside linebacker and rotated in two new D-linemen to play alongside mainstays Brenton Barnes (109 tackles) and Olajuwon Griffen, Aberdeen has won six straight games. They're holding teams to less than 200 yards per game and are allowing about 10 points per night over that stretch. What's more, they've shut down spread offenses and power running-games alike. In the regional semifinals they held Franklin's wide open spread to less than 200 total yards, and last week they stymied North Harford's vaunted triple-option attack (230 total yards). But now the question is, Can Aberdeen contain River Hill's glut of skilled 'backs?

River Hill wins if…: Their O-line keeps opening up holes. In order for River Hill's array of jet sweeps, stretch plays, pitches, options and zone reads to work, they need their O-line to be able to pull, trap and seal off the edge. These guys have to be strong enough to tangle with physical defensive linemen and quick enough to pick off linebackers in space. So far, they've done a great job of that., paving the way for a ground game that's picking up 260 yards a night. They've had four 300-yard rushing games this season, and last week they put up a 200 spot on Atholton's tough defense (lead RB Aaron Wells had 134 yards). Tackles Matt Greben (6-1, 240) and Eric King (5-11, 205), guards Karrs Johnson (6-0, 245) and Reinner Malenab (5-8, 185) and center Tommy Testoff (5-10, 225) make up a unit that starts four seniors and one junior (King). The Hawks don't have one linemen over 250 pounds, but they all execute their blocks well and know how to read defensive keys.

Key Stat: 2,250. Passing yards for Aberdeen QB Kenny Faulcon this year. He's 129-for-189 and has tossed 26 touchdowns.

Seeds: Douglass-PG - No. 3; Kent Island - No. 2

Conference: Douglass-PG - PG County 3A/2A/1A; Kent Island -- Bayside

Record: Douglass-PG (10-2) ; Kent Island (11-1)

Rank: Douglass-PG - No. 5 (2A/1A); Kent Island - No. 6 (2A/1A)

Last Week: Douglass-PG - Douglass defeated Glenelg, 40-20; Kent Island - Kent Island defeated Wicomico, 20-17

Signature victories: Douglass-PG - Glenelg, Patuxent, Gwynn Park; Kent Island - Decatur, Wicomico (twice), Patterson Mill

Current Streak: Douglass-PG - win 8 ; Kent Island - win 2

Points Scored: Douglass-PG -- 32; Kent Island -- 33

Points Allowed: Douglass-PG -- 12; Kent Island -- 10

Record Against Common Opponents: N/A

Previous Meeting: No meeting in last five years

Players to Watch: Douglass-PG -- QB Taitor Reynolds, RB/DB Josef Hinnant, RB Charles Davis, RB/DB Chris Wilson, RB/LB David Lawrence, WR/DB Paul Harris, WR/DB Daman Robinson, WR/DB Kyle Smith, LB Matthew Paul, LB/OL Malcolm McCoy, DB Marquette Moorefield, OL/DL Montez Lee, OL/DL D'Sean Cummings, DL/OL Billy Canty, DE/OL Davon Duncan, OL/DL Gary Gross, OL/DL James Fenwick, DL/OL Quincey Sutton; Kent Island -- QB Ben Goodrich, RB/DE Matt Malecki, RB/LB Kyle Boone, RB/DB Steven Sweet, RB/DB Steve Golis, WR Matt Tayman, WR/DB Cameron Rich, WR/DB D.J. Plummer, OL/DL Brady Dove, OL/DL Matt McQuinn, OL Ryan Leonardi, OL Tyler Whitby, OL/DL Erik Narvesen, OL/DL Mason Phoenix, DE Chase Persons, LB Brandon Wolf, LB Mitch Walters, LB Corey Pessagano

Key Matchup: Douglass RBs Josef Hinnant & Emmanuel Smith vs. Kent Island's front seven -- The Hinnant-Smith one-two punch was on full display once again last week. The two diminutive speedsters, who boast sub-4.5 40-yard-dash times, combined for 173 yards on just 23 carries. On top of that, Hinnant took a kick back 86 yards to the house. On the season the two have totaled just over 1,500 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. In the last two weeks alone the duo has proven they can torch big, physical and disciplined defenses (Glenelg) as well as ultra-quick defenses that match their speed (Patuxent). But Kent Island will have one of the tougher - if not the toughest - front seven they've seen this season. Undersized nose tackle Brady Dove has an astounding 16 sacks and over 30 TFLs this year; he can single-handedly bust up a line and destroy a running game. Dove is joined by fellow linemen Matt Malecki and Chase Persons, who are small but quick edge rushers. They do a good job pursuing out in space and making sure runners can't hit the edge. The key, however, will be linebackers Mitch Walters and Corey Pessagano -- the team's two top run stuffers -- and outside 'backer Kyle Boone, a great open-field tackler who can press the line as well. The Bucs did allow Wicomico to rush for 243 yards last week, but they did stuff top RB Dontea Ayres, holding him to 28 yards.

Douglass-PG wins if …: WR Paul Harris takes the top off the defense. For the second week in a row Harris will be facing a secondary that can't match his size or speed. Against Glenelg the 6-foot-5, 200-pound former DeMatha prospect hauled in seven passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns. Both totals were a season high. On the season, Harris is Douglass' leading receiver with 25 receptions for 543 yards (17 YPC) and nine touchdowns. He's still a little raw with his route running, but there's no denying his talent. If Harris and QB Taitor Reynolds, a 1,000-yard passer, can connect deep it will only provide more room for Hinnant and Smith to work their magic.

Kent Island wins if…: Their offensive line holds up. Like their D-line, Kent Island's O-line - Brady Dove, Matt McQuinn, Ryan Leonardi, Tyler Whitby and Mason Phoenix -- isn't especially big up front. But this is a quick, athletic group that blocks well out in space and creates outside lanes for the 'backs. Better yet, they have good pass-blocking technique and have given QB Ben Goodrich (over 1,300 yards) plenty of time to throw. But last week Wicomico's equally physical, fast defense sacked Goodrich three times and held leading rusher Kyle Boone to less than 70 yards rushing. Two weeks prior, a similarly talented Queen Anne's defense did nearly the same thing in the season finale. Kent Island still found a way to beat Wicomico thanks to a gimmick play and a few clutch throws from Goodrich, but it won't be easy solving a hard-hitting Douglass defense if the line doesn't come together.

Key Stat: 8. Combined interceptions for Douglass QB Taitor Reynolds (three) and Kent Island QB Been Goodrich (five). Both signal callers do a terrific job managing the offense, making good decisions and hitting a few big plays when they have to.

Seeds: Edmondson -- No. 4; Middletown - No. 1

Conference: Edmondson - Baltimore City Division I; Middletown -- MVAL

Record: Edmondson (8-4) ; Middletown (11-1)

Rank: Edmondson -- unranked; Middletown - No. 1 (2A/1A)

Last Week: Edmondson - Edmondson defeated Chesapeake, 45-0 ; Middletown - Middletown defeated Walkersville, 27-21.

Signature victories: Edmondson - Patterson, City, Chesapeake-Balt. ; Middletown - Walkersville (twice), Linganore, Thomas Johnson, South Carroll, Brunswick

Current Streak: Edmondson - win 2 ; Middletown - win 6

Points Scored: Edmondson -- 22; Middletown -- 37

Points Allowed: Edmondson -- 10; Middletown -- 12

Record Against Common Opponents: N/A

Previous Meeting: No meetings in the last five years

Players to Watch: Edmondson -- QB Tyjuan Eaton, RB Steve Everette, RB/WR Lawrence Jackson, WR Grayling Harrison, OL Denzel Robinson, OL Rashaad Williams, OL/DE Keonte Connelly, OL Chris Bullock, OL Shelton Fuller, OL Cameron Johns, DL Mike Thomas, DL Shaquil Rogers, DL Kwantez Moore, DL Derrick Tate, LB Kendell McNair, LB Deyquan Cooper, LB Dakwon Menefee, DB Tony Jones, DB Anton Christian, DB Jamel Nesbit, DB Josh Patterson; Middletown -- QB Mike Pritts, FB/LB Collin Delauter, RB/DB Zach Welsh, RB Joey Meighan, WR/LB Ben Lewis, WR/DE Nick Rabat, RB/LB Jess Powell, WR/DE Matt Lloyd, OL Judd Zeigler, OL Brooks Warrenfeltz, OL Mike Gallagher, OL Dave Buchanan, OL/DL Justin Falcinelli, DL Nate McCartney, DL Eli Moser, LB Sean Wenner, LB Dan Goldstein, RB/DB Weston Barrett, WR/DB Brady Rinehart

Key Matchup: Middletown OL vs. Edmondson DL -- Physically, this looks like a mismatch. Middletown's line is bulkier, stronger and maybe even tougher across the board compared to Edmondson. That's not meant to be a knock on the Red Storm; it's just that the Knights have taken on some of the most imposing public-school defensive lines in the state and emerged unscathed (or at least with a "W" in the win column). Linganore's active front? Knocked them off, 33-0. Thomas Johnson's physical front four? Destroyed them, 49-12. Walkersville's big, bulky D-line with three I-AA prospects? Got those puppies twice. Behind a veteran front five that averages about 250 pounds, Judd Zeigler, Brooks Warrenfeltz, Mike Gallagher, Dave Buchanan and Justin Falcinelli are paving the way for a ground attack that's rushing for 261 yards per game and providing QB Mike Pritts with a nice pocket. Edmondson's D-line has really come together the last few weeks, however. After Patterson racked up some yards on the Red Storm in Week 9, Edmondson has responded with three straight dominant defensive efforts, allowing a total of 12 points. One of the main reasons for that is the play of their D-line, which has been generating pressure without needing to send extra blitzers. Big tackle Kwantez Moore (280 pounds) anchors the middle of the line and can bust through double-teams. Out on the edge, Keonte Connelly (215 pounds) and Derrick Tate (180 pounds) have combined for double-digit sacks and have been consistent, steady forces all season. The likes of Chesapeake, Dundalk and even Digital Harbor - Edmondson's opponents the last three weeks -- couldn't match Edmondson's speed off the ball. But Middletown can. How will the Red Storm respond?

Edmondson wins if …: QB Tyjuan Eaton takes the pressure off RB Steve Everette. The only way Edmondson's going to win this game is if they control the clock and force Middletown to drive the length of the field. But clock management and a bend-but-don't-break defense isn't going to put points on the board against a relentless Middletown defense. The Red Storm will need to connect on at least a couple downfield plays so the Knights can't load the box against their 1,400-yard rusher, Everette. Junior QB Tyjuuan Eaton (103-for-205 for 1,150 yards, 16 TDs) doesn't throw the ball a ton, but coach Dante Jones insists he's maturing and coming into his own as a passer. Last week Eaton found 4.4 speedster Lawrence Jackson on a 47-yard bomb as the Red Storm routed Chesapeake. Look for Edmondson to send Jackson - who doubles as a running back/H-back - deep a couple times on Friday.

Middletown wins if…: They don't beat themselves. If Middletown just plays their game they should be able to wear down Edmondson and emerge with a somewhat comfortable victory. That means they have to play disciplined, gap control defense, give the ball to RB Zach Welch (1,481 yards, 24 TDs) and let QB Mike Pritts (998 yards, 16 TDs) throw a couple well-timed, safe passes. On the season, Pritts has only thrown six picks in 131 attempts, and two of those interceptions came in one bad game (a loss to Urbana). Moreover, Welch and the rest of the 'backs have only put the ball on the ground around five times this season. Meanwhile, the defense rarely gives up a big play, forcing teams to put together long, methodical drives in order to score. And when high school offenses are forced to drive, mistakes inevitably ensue. (Which is why Middletown has 30 takeaways this season.)

Key Stat: 210. Points Zach Welch has scored this year for Middletown. He is a true triple-threat. Welch has rushed for 24 TDs, kicked six field goals and nailed 48 extra points. What's more, he's picked off four passes on defense.

Seeds: Overlea - No. 2 ; Dunbar - No. 3

Conference: Overlea - Baltimore County 3A/2A/1A; Dunbar --

Record: Overlea (12-0) ; Dunbar (11-1)

Rank: Overlea - No. 10 (2A/1A) ; Dunbar - No. 3 (2A/1A)

Last Week: Overlea - Overlea defeated Northwestern-Balt., 39-10 ; Dunbar --

Signature victories: Overlea -- New Town, Havre de Grace, Lewis, Northwestern-Balt.; Dunbar - City, Edmondson, Patterson

Current Streak: Overlea - win 16; Dunbar -win 4

Points Scored: Overlea -- 35 ; Dunbar -- 29

Points Allowed: Overlea -- 10; Dunbar -- 8

Record Against Common Opponents: N/A

Previous Meeting: No meetings the last five years

Players to Watch: Overlea -- Tevin Berry, RB/LB Alexander Wells, WR/DB Dequan Pettway, WR/DB Fyne Ndukwe, OL/DL Bryant Tinsdale, OL/DL Bailey Hobst, OL/DL Schanaka Emmanuel, OL/DL Randolph Sturdivant, OL/LB Austin Newcomb, LB John McCargo, LB TJ Ajibola, LB Monte Dennis, DB Ashanti Washington; Dunbar -- WR/DB Deontay McManus, LB/FB Charles Brown, LB/RB Lavar Highsmith, LB/TE Ernest Hawkins, DB/RB Paki Brown, QB William Crest, OL/DL Dariz Hill, OL/DL Michael Carter, OL/DL Malik Jones, DB/WR Terrence Williams, OL/DL Josh Davis, WR/DB Aaron Haynes, DE Marvin Gross, ATH Leland Lassiter, RB Jaquan Holt, RB/DB Coleman Blackston, DE Aaron Holloway, OL Nicholas Bonaparte, DL Byron Williams, DL Ray Jackson

Key Matchup: Overlea RB Alexander Wells vs. Dunbar's front seven -- Alexander Wells is the best player you've never heard of. The 5-11, 195-pounder, who holds multiple I-AA offers, has a rare power-speed combination that no defense has been able to stop this year (when he's healthy). Wells has topped the century mark in every game save one. Last week he only received a few touches because he was nursing a nagging injury, but Wells should be back to full strength for this one. Two weeks ago, Wells had the game of his life against Lewis in the regional semifinals. He totaled a career-defining 503 yards and four touchdowns, including a kick return for a score and an interception return. On the season Wells has 1,503 rushing yards and 30 total touchdowns. Overlea has a few other weapons - QB Tevin Berry threw for over 100 yards last week -- but no one as dynamic as Wells. But he may have just met his match this week. Dunbar has one of the most ferocious defenses in the state and has allowed just 95 points all season, including a total of 12 in two playoff games. Last week they held Surrattsville to just 64 total yards. Naturally, Dunbar's defense starts with their front seven, an attacking, relentless group that comes hard for four quarters. Up front, mammoth tackles Byron Williams and Ray Jackson do a great job occupying blockers and collapsing the pocket. By the fourth quarter, their sheer girth seems to wear down opposing lines. Those two are complemented by a pair of D-I edge rushers in Marvin Gross and Lavar Highsmith, who have combined for 26 sacks this season. The talent doesn't end there, either. Two D-I-caliber linebackers, Charles Brown and Ernest Hawkins, control the middle of the field and specialize in firing forward and filling gaps. The only team to have any success running the ball on these guys was Poly, who used a misdirection offense that seemed to catch the Poets off-guard. Overlea runs no such offense.

Overlea wins if …: Their front seven continues to bring the pain. In the last three weeks of the regular season Overlea dominated Pikesville, Lansdowne and Havre de Grace, shutting out all three. On the season the Falcons have surrendered just 115 total points, an average of about 10 a night. Alexander Wells leads the way with 107 tackles, followed closely by fellow 'backers John McCargo (85 tackles), Dequan Pettway and Fyne Ndukwe. All four are quick, athletic, sideline-to-sideline defenders. But the key to the defense is the line. Baily Hobst, who leads the team with nine sacks, Schanaka Emmanuel and Randolph Sturdivant anchor an active unit that devastated Northwestern's backfield last week, holding them to less than 100 yards. But while the Falcons have played well in spots, the line hasn't always been consistent. Overlea did surrendered 129 rushing yards to Lewis two weeks ago and has allowed a few 100-yard rushers this season.

Dunbar wins if…: Their offensive line overwhelms Overlea. Dunbar's O-line is downright massive. Guards Dariz Hill and Josh Davis tip the scales at over 370 pounds and can simply impose their will on smaller D-lines like Overlea's. Last week these guys paved the way for a ground game that picked up about 150 yards (it would have been more if not for a running clock). Tackles Nicholas Bonaparte (360 pounds) and Malik Jones (230 pounds) are fairly athletic and can move out on the edge. Center Mike Carter (255 pounds) is a stalwart in the middle of that line and does a good job drive blocking. This group had a few fundamental problems at the beginning of the season, but ever since Week 8 the Poets' one-ton front (OK, not quite) has been a brick wall. The running game is averaging over 170 yards a night during the five-game stretch.

Key Stat: 3. Touchdown passes for Dunbar QB William Crest last week; he also threw for 166 yards and did not have an interception. Crest has had an up-and-down season, but he seems to have found his groove (he's thrown for 1,289 yards and 13 TDs this year). If so, it just gives the Dunbar offense another threat to worry about.

Seeds: Perryville - No. 4; Fort Hill - No. 1

Conference: Perryville - Upper Chesapeake Bay; Fort Hill -- Independent

Record: Perryville (12-0) ; Fort Hill (12-0)

Rank: Perryville - No. 7 (2A/1A); Fort Hill - No. 2 (2A/1A)

Last Week: Perryville - Perryville defeated Cambridge, 21-10; Fort Hill - Fort Hill defeated Boonsboro, 26-7

Signature victories: Perryville -- Havre de Grace (twice), Patterson Mill, Cambridge; Fort Hill - Keyser, Perry Traditional, Mountain Ridge, Boonsboro, Brunswick

Current Streak: Perryville - win 12 ; Fort Hill - win 12

Points Scored: Perryville -- 41; Fort Hill -- 44

Points Allowed: Perryville -- 9; Fort Hill -- 6

Record Against Common Opponents: N/A

Previous Meeting: No meetings the last five years

Players to Watch: Perryville -- QB Gabe Sherrod, RB/LB Joe Peaker, RB/DB Ethan Griffin, RB/DB Eddie Escobar, WB/LB Nehemiah Wallace, WR/DB Brian Matthews, WR Jesse Ellis, OL/DL Daryl Johnson, OL/DL Jake Morgan, OL Dave Doring, OL Randy Bannon, OL Matt Owens, OL Trevon Wilson, TE/LB Trent Neary, DB Gaige Padgett; Fort Hill -- QB Michael Austin, RB/DB Garrett Clay, RB/DB Dylan Clay, RB/DB Jaron Watkins, RB/DB Lance Fullwood, RB Ryan Briner WR Garrett D'Atri, TE Jairus Chaney, TE Chandley Gulck, OL/DL DJ Jolley, OL Ethan McDermott, OL/DL Nick Greise, OL/DL Bryce Lowery, OL Adam Kegg, DL Wesley Wills, LB Cody Dolly, LB Austin Lee, LB Zac Elbin

Key Matchup: Fort Hill ATHs Garrett Clay & Dylan Clay vs. Perryville LBs -- The Clay brothers are two of the fastest, most dynamic athletes that have ever slipped on a Sentinels uniform. This season the two 4.4 track stars have combined for 2,838 yards and 42 touchdowns, which is about 55 percent of Fort Hill's scoring output. Garrett Clay, who is the team's lead RB, is up to 1,908 yards and 29 touchdowns this year. Dylan Clay, meanwhile, lines up at quarterback (Wildcat), running back, H-back and receiver. He's totaled 930 yards and 11 TDs. Both are averaging about 13.8 yards per carry. But Perryville has a stifling defense that's held both of their playoff opponents, Cambridge and Havre de Grace, to less than 200 total yards. Last week Cambridge tried to pound the ball 48 times behind their huge offensive line but managed just 149 yards, which works out to 3 yards per carry. Perryville's linebacker corps keys the unit. In fact, coach Chris Johnson called his three mainstays "the best group of linebackers I've ever coached .,. and I've been around a long time." Trent Neary is only 5-8, 190, but he hits like a truck. He leads the team with 92 tackles, 31 more than his next closest teammate. Jake Morgan is second on the squad with 61 stops, while Joe Peaker and Nehemiah Wallace have combined for 60 more tackles. The group also has six combined sacks, nine pass breakups and countless TFLs.

Perryville wins if …: QB Gabe Sherrod keeps flinging it. Perryville's wing-T offense is averaging 311 yards rushing per game, but physical defenses like Cambridge last week and Fort Hill this week will make it difficult to run all game long. Basically, the Panthers can't afford to be one-dimensional against a defense like Fort Hill's. No worries. Gabe Sherrod (6-4, 210) is more than just a game manager. When Perryville wants to throw they scrap their wing-T and go to a wide-open spread to take advantage of Sherrod's arm. He's averaging about a dozen attempts and 115 yards per game. Last week, Sherrod was 6 of 11 for a season-high 226 yards and two touchdowns against Cambridge. On top of that, he's thrown 19 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions all season.

Fort Hill wins if…: Their stifling defense does its thing. Fort Hill has given up just 77 points this year, one of the bottom three totals in the state of Maryland. The Sentinels run a scheme not many teams are used to seeing: a 6-2. With six down linemen, Fort Hill is able to put immense pressure on the quarterback while stuffing runners before they can get moving. Nick Greise (6-2, 200) and nose guard Wesley Wills (6-0, 222) anchor the front six and have a combined eight sacks between them. Meanwhile, big tackles DJ Jolley (6-3, 270) and Ethan McDermott (6-0, 242) excel at gaining leverage and eating up opposing linemen, which allows the two Sentinels' linebackers to make tackle after tackle. Indeed, LB Austin Lee, a 5-10, 180-pound blue-collar defender, is the key to the defense. Lee's (105 tackles) ability to fill gaps and read runs is the main reason why teams have had such a difficult time running on Fort Hill. His partner in crime, Cody Dolly, has 98 tackles and four sacks. The only real question for the Sentinels is their secondary. Sure, Garrett and Dylan Clay have nine interceptions between them, but Fort Hill has allowed a couple 100-yard passers this season. Against a team like Perryville, which can put the ball in the air, they might need extra help. Look for Fort Hill to drop versatile defensive end Lance Fullwood back to safety.

Key Stat: 8. Total turnovers this year for Perryville. This is not a team that will cough the ball up, although they did lose a fumble last week. That can't happen against an opportunistic defense like Fort Hill's.