The Friday after Thanksgiving has long been known as a day for the ravenous purchasing of merchandise or a day for traveling the interstate to visit family or friends. For the River Hill football team, in recent years, it has become a traditional day for playing a state semifinal game on its home field.

This year, however, the Hawks will be joining other holiday travelers on the highways as they travel south to visit Huntingtown, of Calvert County, for a Class 3A state semifinal.

"It's a little different, a long bus ride (about an hour and 15 minutes), but the way we focus and prepare each week, that's going to stay the same,"  River Hill coach Brian Van Deusen said.

River Hill and Huntingtown have 12-0 records, but because Huntingtown beat six 3A schools and one 4A school during the regular season, it earned the No. 2 seed over River Hill, which defeated five 3A schools.

"They ended up playing a couple bigger schools than us, and that got them the home game," Van Deusen said. "Fortunately, we play pretty well on the road. We've had some big games on the road this year and in the past. Our kids will be ready to go."

The last time River Hill played an away game in the playoffs — not including the state championship, which is held at M&T Bank Stadium — was in 2005, when the Hawks lost to Gwynn Park in the 3A state semifinals. Since then the Hawks have played 11 straight non-state championship playoff games at home, and won them all. In fact, they have won 40 consecutive games, including two state titles, dating back to a 2006 state championship loss to Friendly.

"Our fans (have been) pretty supportive the past couple years and we'll bring a good crowd. I'm sure (Huntingtown is) going to have a good crowd, too. Hopefully, our side will be just as loud as their side," Van Deusen said.

Huntingtown coach Jerry Franks isn't overly concerned about where the game is played.

"From my standpoint ... I don't even hear the crowd," Franks said. "The game's over and I ask my wife if there were many people there. So as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter to me. It's always a comfort. You're familiar with the locker rooms, you're familiar with the surroundings ... but somebody once told me a long time ago, 'The field is the same size no matter where you are,' and that's all that matters."

What he is concerned about is slowing down River Hill on that field.

River Hill's Kevin Johnson (1,187 yards, 9.6 per carry, 15 touchdowns) and Brent Kluge (1,046, 8.2, 9) will be running behind Thomas Erdman (6 feet 2, 230 pounds) and tight end Nick Bonhag, when Bonhag isn't catching passes from quarterback Harry McLaughlin.

"No. 4 (Johnson) is a good player, No. 29 (Kluge) is a good player. Their quarterback (McLaughlin) is a very talented player. They have not thrown a large amount, but I think (he) is capable. They've got some size up front. You're looking at No. 89 (Nick Bonhag), the tight end, No. 75 (Thomas Erdman) ... so what are we concerned about? We're concerned about trying to find a way to slow them down, cause they're explosive," Franks said.

Meanwhile, River Hill will be tasked with slowing down Greg Goodwin, Huntingtown's senior running back. Goodwin, who is listed at 5-9, 175 pounds, has carried the ball 326 times for 2,428 yards (7.45 per carry) and 33 touchdowns.

"He's the key to that offense ... he's either getting the ball or a lot of times they're faking it to him and doing some play action, so a kid like that is going to be tough to stop," Van Deusen said. "We just hope to contain him a little bit ... and just force them to pass a little bit more than they're accustomed to doing.

"He's averaging 200 yards (and almost three touchdowns) a game, so they've been able to pretty much ride him all year. Even though it's one guy carrying the load most of the time, with all the different formations and shifts they do, it's still a complicated game plan this week."

Huntingtown is able to spread out defenses by passing the ball.

Quarterback Justin Bittner has completed 70 passes for more than 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns, with receivers Chaz Hall (19 catches, 364 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Dave Stanley (12, 195, 1) as two of his top targets.

Defensively, River Hill has allowed 79 points (6.58 per game) and shut out five teams, while Huntingtown has allowed 93 (7.75) and shut out four.

"Defensively, their inside linebackers are their strength," Van Deusen said. "They've got three very good inside linebackers (Andrew Bose, Conor Stueckler and DaShawn Torney) that all have over 100 tackles, so we've got to make sure that we try to get those guys blocked."

In the other 3A state semifinal, Hereford (10-1) will visit top-seeded Linganore (12-0), of Frederick County.

For directions to Huntingtown from River Hill, click here.

"We're excited to be in the playoffs and excited to be hosting the game," Franks said. "This is a treat. Everybody doesn't get to do this every year."

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