FOOTBALL: Week 10 Power Rankings

By Andrew Conrad
Posted: November 6, 2008

Last week I said spots 1-2-and-3 were sure things. Then No. 4 Howard beat No. 3 Marriotts Ridge. I should have known that “sure thing” comment was going to come back to bite me in the bottom. No. 9 Reservoir also rallied to beat No. 6 Atholton on a two-point conversion on a botched extra-point attempt, 15-14. Like I said, spots 6 through 9 are too close to call. There don’t appear to be any close matchups in Week 10, so this may be the final rankings, pending playoff matchups.

Speaking of playoffs, here’s the latest: River Hill and Wilde Lake in, Marriotts Ridge out, Howard and Long Reach keeping their fingers crossed. Glenelg is in fifth place in the 1A South, but plays undefeated River Hill this week. If the Gladiators could manage that monumental upset, they would have a good chance of getting in to the dance. Like last week, all games are Friday at 7.

1. (1-last week’s ranking) River Hill. (9-0, 423 points scored, 28 points allowed)

There’s not much to learn when an undefeated team beats a team that hasn’t won a game. River Hill’s streak of shutouts ended at three? Hammond’s Golden Bears can say they’re one of only four teams to score on the state champs, so that’s a feather in their cap.

Last week: Beat Hammond (0-9), 51-6. This week: home against No. 9 Glenelg (4-5).

2. (2) Wilde Lake. (8-1, 246-123)

The Wildecats have scored exactly twice as many points as they’ve allowed. I like it when things work out nice and neat like that. After some close calls earlier in the season, Wilde Lake looks strong going into the playoffs.

Last week: Beat Centennial (4-5), 28-12. This week: at No. 6 Reservoir (5-4).

3. (5) Howard. (6-3, 262-160)

I almost want to punish the Lions with a low ranking for fouling up my precious rankings, but that would be petty. Two weeks ago, they lost to Glenelg; last week, they beat Marriotts Ridge. How am I supposed to make sense of all this? They played inspired football last week, and deserve this spot. It’s also starting to look as though they’ve earned a spot in the 3A East playoffs.

Last week: Beat Marriotts Ridge (6-3), 31-21. This week: home against No. 10 Mt. Hebron (3-6).

4. (3) Marriotts Ridge. (6-3, 271-151)

I really thought they would beat Howard. They have a more dynamic offense, they’ve been solid on defense, great special teams, and it was senior night at the Ridge. I think what it came down to was Howard was playing for a playoff spot and was more motivated. The Mustangs are going to be tested again this week at Centennial.

Last week: Lost to Howard (6-3), 31-21. This week: at No. 7 Centennial (4-5).

5. (4) Long Reach. (6-3, 213-166)

The Lightning have a chance to finish the season with a five-game win streak. Right now, they are fifth in the 3A East and only one point behind Stephen Decatur. Long Reach will be rooting for Snow Hill (6-3) to beat the 5-3 Seahawks.

Last week: Beat Mt. Hebron (3-6), 35-6. This week: home against Hammond (0-9).

6. (9) Reservoir. (5-4, 134-192)

I think I owe the Gators an apology. I had them at 6, then dropped them to 9, then they proved they should have been sixth all along. I faulted them for not beating anyone above them, but they also haven’t lost to anyone now below them (thought they don’t play Glenelg this year. It’s too bad because that would be a good game.) If only their offense could score some more points to match their excellent defense.

Last week: Beat Mt. Hebron (3-5), 22-17. This week: home against No. 2 Wilde Lake (8-1)

7. (7) Centennial. (4-5, 170-197)

Aside from a one-point loss to Atholton, everything on the Eagles’ record is about what it should be — and outside of River Hill (55-0), they’ve played everyone tough. I think they’ve even have a chance to make it close with Marriotts Ridge this week (I don’t expect them to win, though).

Last week: Lost to Wilde Lake (8-1), 28-12. This week: at No. 4 Marriotts Ridge (6-3).

8. (6) Atholton. (2-7, 171-238)

Chuck Fales has to be pulling his hair out. His Raiders have now had two one-point losses (one of them to Wilde Lake) a three-point loss, and a seven-point loss. Reservoir botched what would have been a game-tying extra point on Friday, but Andy Bushong picked up the ball and ran it in for what turned out to be the game winning two-point conversion. Atholton has won only two games, and the Raiders lost to No. 10 Mt. Hebron. So why are they ranked here? They beat Centennial and Glenelg.

Last week: Lost to Reservoir (5-4), 15-14. This week: at Oakland Mills (1-8).

9. (8) Glenelg. (4-5, 232-196)

Looking at their record, their points scored and allowed, and their win over Howard, the Gladiators really should be ranked higher. Heck, if they can somehow manage to beat River Hill this week (team-wide case of food poisoning, some sort of hare-and-tortoise scheme), they’ll even make the playoffs! But there’s just no way around their decisive losses to Atholton and Centennial.

Last week: Beat Oakland Mills (1-9), 42-7. This week: at No. 1 River Hill (9-0).

10. (10) Mt. Hebron. (3-6, 149-248)

Good ol’ Mt. Hebron. The Vikings beat Hammond and Oakland Mills to earn this spot, and then they haven’t gone and messed things up by beating any of the other teams (though they did beat Atholton in mid-September). The Vikings have been close a couple times, though (Centennial, Reservoir), and I expect them to give Howard a good fight this week. They’ve got something to build on for next year.

Last week: Lost to Long Reach (6-3), 35-6. This week: at No. 3 Howard (6-3).

On the bubble: Hammond (0-9), Oakland Mills (1-8).

Comment on this entry • No responses

A gallery of memories

By Carol Gralia
Posted: October 21, 2008

In a few days I will be heading back to my alma mater to help it take care of some unfinished business.

Butler University has decided to honor the female athletes who represented the school before its women’s sports teams there affiliated with the NCAA. Think pre-Title IX. The ceremony will take place during homecoming weekend, and I am looking forward to it.

I went to Butler to major in zoology, but quickly switched to physical education. Naturally, the PE majors were heavily involved in intramurals and intercollegiate athletics, including playdays. Participating in women’s sports then, even at the collegiate level, wasn’t like it is now. We practiced a few times a week and had just a handful of games. Our uniforms were hand-me-downs from previous years. No warm-up suits with our names on the back; no Under Armor or other high-tech synthetic fabric. On our feet, Puma and adidas had yet to edge canvas shoes like Sperry Topsiders or Keds as the footwear of choice.

There were inequities, and we knew it. Only once or twice were we women allowed to play on the “big” floor in our historic field house. That highly glossed surface was reserved for the men’s basketball team. Our gym was the West gym, an annex with dimmer lights, smaller scoreboards and no bleachers for fans to sit in — should any come to one of our games.

We knew we were separate, and not equal, but we accepted it because that’s simply the way it was. We hadn’t realized how liberating it would be to eventually burn our bras.

Still, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to represent our school. I remember playing  basketball, volleyball, field hockey and badminton. We played for the joy and camaraderie of it.

Our field hockey team made a deal with our coach. If we went undefeated she had to buy us tunics to replace the shorts that we wore as uniforms. Real field hockey teams then wore tunics. Since we were a start-up program, she thought she was safe. To her surprise, and ours too, we managed to eke out an unbeaten season as we learned to never underestimate the power of collective desire.

I’m sure when I’m back, standing among my former teammates, we will talk about these things and about how we wish that we had the opportunities now available to female athletes.

We’ll talk about how times have changed, and how lucky we were to be able to represent our school even if it has taken decades for Butler to officially recognize us.

Comment on this entry • No responses

30-second Time Out with …

By Brent Kennedy
Posted: October 16, 2008

… Matt Seinfeld, Wilde Lake boys soccer senior midfielder.

One of the team’s captains, Matt Seinfeld has been a big reason why Wilde Lake has produced a 7-3 county record (8-3 overall) so far this season. Already committed to the Virginia Military Institute to play soccer next fall, he has excelled offensively and defensively. Against Hammond on Oct. 15, Seinfeld scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick with 15 minutes left in the second half of what turned out to be a 2-1 Wildecat victory. A day earlier, he helped the Wilde Lake defense shut out Oakland Mills, 2-0.

TV show I can’t miss: SportsCenter
Best on-field moment: Winning state cup
Favorite pre-game song: Heart of a Champion -Nelly
Hobby no one knows that I currently or used to have: Playing Ping-Pong
If you weren’t playing soccer, what sport would you play?: Tennis
Top professional athlete role model: Tiger Woods
Favorite movie of all time: Animal House
Hardest class you ever took: Economics AP
When I grow up I want to: Play professional soccer
Pepsi or Coke: Coke

Got an idea for a ‘30-second Time Out’ question? Know a local athlete who would be an ideal candidate for a ‘30-second Time Out?’ Send your suggestions to the sports staff at howardcountysports@patuxent.com.

Comment on this entry • No responses

Coaching against familiar faces

By Brent Kennedy
Posted: October 15, 2008

Some interesting side stories have developed during the final week of the regular season for the River Hill boys soccer coaching staff.

Head coach Matt Shagogue has ties to both of the Hawks’ final two opponents, Reservoir and Howard. Shagogue is a full-time teacher at Reservoir and has taught several of the players on the Gators’ squad. He also is a graduate of Howard High School and played on the Lions’ soccer team.

His assistant coach, Derrick Jameson, also graduated from and played for Howard. Jameson was a second-team all-county goalie in 2001 for the Lions.

“I pull for those two (programs) every game except for when we play them,” Shagogue said. “It’s been especially nice to see the kids at Reservoir do so well this year, because they’re great kids and Ivan (Croft) is a great coach who really has put in a lot of time to get that program off the ground.”

River Hill did end up beating Reservoir, 4-0, on Oct. 14 to hand the Gators their fourth loss of the season, but Croft has already led his team to its best year in the school’s brief history.

That win, coupled with a Mt. Hebron loss to Atholton, enabled the Hawks to clinch a spot in the county championship game against Marriotts Ridge on Oct. 21. The teams met on Oct. 7 and the Mustangs won, 3-1.

A win over Howard on Oct. 16 would give River Hill some momentum.

Comment on this entry • No responses

30-second Time Out with…

By Brent Kennedy
Posted: October 13, 2008

…Sean Heintzelman, Reservoir senior golfer.

Heintzelman burst onto the golf scene this season after first picking up a club just over a year ago. He put together a round of 43 points to tie for seventh at the county tournament. Two days later, on Oct. 3, he fired a 76 to finish sixth at the District V tournament and qualify for states as an individual.

TV show I can’t miss: That 70s Show
Lowest 18-hole score you ever shot: 71
What’s harder, real golf or mini golf?: mini golf
How many holes-in-one do you think you’ll make in your life?: 3
Best movie I saw recently: Tommy Boy
Hardest class you ever took: English 12 Honors
When I grow up I want to: Live in Arizona and be an Engineer
Pepsi or Coke: Sprite

Note: 30-second Time Out with local high school athletes will be featured in Sidelines throughout the season.

Comment on this entry • No responses