Down The Stretch: Recapping The Week In Playoff Sports

When it comes time to give thanks later this month, several local athletes may think of their teammates, coaches and parents. Several teams are putting bows on successful seasons, and they couldn’t do it alone.

A Special Streak For Severna Park Cross Country

The Severna Park girls cross country team outpaced the competition last Saturday at Hereford High School, finishing atop Class 3A for the fourth straight year. It was a dominant performance as they won with a score of 35, comfortably ahead of second-place Centennial, which had 105.

Leading the charge for the Falcons were Josie Kamas (third place, 19:09.53), Lexi Fitzsimmons (fifth, 19:38.70), Mari Matthews (seventh, 20:01.49) and Kathryn Murphy (10th, 20:12.89).

The Severna Park boys placed fourth in their Class 3A final, with senior Ty Maddox finishing sixth overall.

Girls Soccer Seeks A Threepeat

Cross country isn’t the only team looking to make a mark in the state record books. Severna Park girls soccer is one game away from a third title in as many years.

In a rematch of last year’s Class 3A girls soccer championship, Towson and Severna Park squared off last Saturday in the state semifinals at North County High School. Addison Murphy fired in a low cross from the left, Ava Scott hammered it past Towson’s goalie to break the deadlock, and the Falcons never looked back en route to a 1-0 win. They advanced to play Oakdale in the state final this Saturday at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Field Hockey Finishes Strong Season

Reigning champions, the Falcons field hockey team came up short in their bid for a repeat. Sophia Weber scored Severna Park’s only goal as her team lost to Leonardtown, 3-1, on Saturday. That win marked the Raiders’ first field hockey championship in 31 years.

Broadneck Volleyball One Win Away From A Title

The Bruins beat Winston Churchill in straight sets in the 4A state semifinals at Urbana High School on Tuesday.

Behind strong serving from setters Sydney Lawrence (23 points served) and Barrett Bolter (20 points served), Broadneck strung together several long scoring runs to win 25-13, 25-22, 25-18. Anna Graves provided the firepower with a 14-kill, 14-dig double-double.

They will compete for the school’s seventh volleyball championship and first since 2009 when the team won their last of three consecutive titles.

Football Teams Move Closer To States

With a 21-16 win over Crofton on Friday, Severna Park football notched their first playoff win since 2008. Quarterback Blake Howell threw two touchdowns, one apiece to Cole Cavanaugh and Graham Guenther, and ran for another. Noah Croghan helped close out the game for the Falcons as he tallied three sacks in the second half. He now has 17 sacks this season.

The Falcons move on to a rematch with Old Mill this Friday for a trip to the state quarterfinals. Because Old Mill’s facilities are being renovated, the game will be played at Severn Run. Croghan had four sacks in Severna Park’s 17-14 win against Old Mill earlier this fall.

Fresh off a playoff bye, Broadneck will host Annapolis in the 4A East region playoffs on Friday. Both teams will likely try to establish their running games. For the Bruins, the tandem of Aaron Foote and Gabe Denius have rushed for a combined 1,118 yards and 10 touchdowns this fall. Annapolis has relied on a three-headed rushing attack of Zyhir Neal, De'myen Gray and Nysean Harris Johnson, who have collectively amassed 1,254 yards on the ground to go with 13 scores.

Broadneck quarterback Nate Kropkowski has added 1,408 yards passing with 10 touchdowns. For him to be successful, the Bruins will have to handle a relentless Annapolis pash rush led by Rion Jackson (10 sacks this season) and Zach Boyd (seven sacks).