ATHOLTON’S TUMBLE CAUSES JUMBLE

The Raiders’ upset loss to Marriotts Ridge, coupled with victories by Wilde Lake and Howard, should shift things around a bit in the Class 3A East Region. Oakland Mills defeated Mount Hebron for its second straight win after 24 consecutive losses.

But that’s going to change with last weekend’s results, as the Raiders were upended, 12-7, by a Marriotts Ridge team that was coming off of a 28-20 loss to Howard, which the Raiders defeated, 17-6, on Sept. 21.

Meanwhile, North Harford (5-1), Howard (5-1) and Wilde Lake (5-1), an earlier 28-10 winner against
Atholton, were all victorious. That’s going to cause some juggling when the new classification points are released early this week.

The state association’s playoff system awards a point — called a bonus –to a team every time a previously vanquished opponent wins a game. So, in this circumstance, Atholton’s loss awarded a point to Howard which the Lions otherwise would not have received.

Wilde Lake, an earlier 45-12 winner against Marriotts Ridge, was guaranteed a point since it has victories over both teams.

Marriotts Ridge over Atholton: Derek Coleman of Marriotts Ridge (4-2) scored twice against the Raiders — once on a 34-yard scoring reception from Kevin Seker in the first quarter, and, again in the third quarter, after recovering a fumble in the endzone, according to Atholton coach Chuck Fales.

In between, Atholton running back Odocha Kelechi ran for a 66-yard touchdown, followed by Rick
Rappaport’s extra point kick.

Marriotts Ridge, nevertheless, remains in a tight race in the Class 2A South Region, where Patuxent (6-0), River Hill (6-0), Southern (4-2), Douglass (4-2) and Gwynn Park (4-2).
 
Wilde Lake over Rerservoir: The Wildecats bounced back from its 25-8 loss to four-time county champ River Hill (6-0) with Saturday’s 25-7 victory over Reservoir (3-3), a loser for the third straight week.

The Wildecats, aiming to avoid missing the playoffs as they did with last year’s 8-2 record, received
scoring runs of 9 and 12 yards from Jarrell Epps; Vaughn Stamper’s 1-yard TD run as well as his two-point conversion run; Juma Richards’ 15-yard TD reception from Danny March; and an extra point kick from Graham Spicer.

	Howard 34, Hammond 21: Junior Jeff Kalsi was 6-for-10 for 84 yards and scoring passes of 16 and 35 yards to Taylor Landrum, with a 20-yarder to Jeff Javier. A.J. Bonavitacola had touchdown runs of 1 and 7 yards, and Kevin Ford was 4-for-5 on extra points and, defensively, recorded two sacks. Also playing well defensively for the Lions were Matt Randolp with three sacks; Brandon Yurechko and Aaron Jamison with fumble recoveries, and Javier and Mike Whyms with interceptions. Hammond is 1-5.
ALL SMILES: Howard High junior quarterback Jeff Kalski (left) threw two TD passes to Taylor Landrum, and a third to Jeff Javier in Saturday’s 34-21 victory over Hammond. The Lions, 3-7, and, 2-8 the past two seasons, are now sitting at 5-1.

Oakland Mills 22, Mount Hebron 14: The Scorpions overcame a 6-0 first-quarter deficit, but took a permanent lead, 14-6, at the half against the Vikings (0-6).

Quarterback Justin Sottilare was 19-for-33 for 334 yards and threw an 81-yard scoring pass to
Ricky Kersey (seven receptions, 176 yards).

Sottilare also ran for a two-point conversion, and Ramonte Crowder rushed for scores of 1 and 2
yards as the Scorpions (2-4) won for the second straight week.

The Scorpions play host to Glenelg (2-4), also a winner of two straight games, on Saturday at 1 p.m. for Oakland Mills’ homecoming.

The Scorpions ended a 24-game winning streak with last week’s 43-27 win over Hammond, a victory that came a week after Sottilare set a single-game passing yardage record with 448 yards and four TDs.