Comets Outmuscle, Outlast Paint Branch, Advance to Region Final

In the 4^th quarter of Friday night’s region semifinal matchup against Paint Branch, Catonsville executed what head coach Rich Hambor is hailing as the Comets best offensive drive of the season—and it didn’t even result in points.  

After Paint Branch scored to pull within two at 30-28, the Comets took the field at their own 25-yard line with 7:32 on the clock.

The Panthers never even got the ball back.

Behind a power run game led by tailback DeAndre’ Lane, the Comets drove 70 yards over 14 plays, converted two crucial fourth downs and burned through all three of Paint Branch’s timeouts before Aaron Jones took two kneel downs to salt away the remaining time and preserve Catonsville’s first playoff win since 2007.

The Comets (11-0) now advance into the Class 4A North Final and will travel to take on Poly next week.

With Paint Branch (9-2) taking away the Comets outside run game, as well as their passing attack, Catonsville pounded the middle of the defense, rushing for 309 yards on 59 attempts as a team.

Lane gained 187 yards and scored three touchdowns on a season-high 42 rushes, including 12 carries—and both fourth down conversions—on the Comets momentous final drive.

“I said that this is the greatest drive of the year and we didn’t even score, but it was to win,” Hambor said he told his team after the game. “It was to say, we’re going to go out there, we’re going to take this ball down the field for seven minutes. We’re not going to punt, we’re not going to kick a field goal. We’re going to take it down and run this clock out or score—either one.”

Despite being renowned for his long, electrifying runs all season, Lane displayed his deceptive strength, trusted his offensive line (consisting of tackles Antoine Wright, Travis Davis, Mason Klompus, guards Jon Reymann and Brandon Dixon and center Nathan Reeves) and took what the defense gave him.

“I just had to take what I could get, but our line did an amazing job tonight by at least giving me a little hole to get three or four yards a pop instead of losing yards,” Lane said. “I’m hurting, cramps, I’m tired. But, I’ll live to fight another day.”

As will the Comets, who, despite some costly miscues, shook off slow starts to begin each half. In fact, of Paint Branch’s 28 points, 21 were scored in the first four minutes of both the first and third quarter.

The Panthers gained  a 9-0 lead just three minutes into the game after a blocked Eric Medinger punt set up Paint Branch for it’s opening score. On Catonsville’s ensuing drive, Lane mishandled a pitch to give the Panthers possession at the Comets 25-yard line. But, the Comets defense strengthened inside the red zone to hold Paint Branch to a field goal.  

The situation could have worsened even further after Catonsville went three plays-and-out on its following drive. However, defensive end Julian Jones and safety Joe Tebo weren’t about to let that happen.

On Paint Branch’s opening play, Jones delivered a crushing hit while quarterback David Smith carried out his throwing motion. As a result, the pass fluttered high into the air before dropping into the awaiting arms of Tebo, who raced 37 yards the other way to put Catonsville right back into the game at 9-7.

“It just motivated everybody to work harder and come back,” said Tebo, who reeled in another interception in the second quarter. “It drove everyone’s spirits up.”  

The Comets faced similar adversity in the second half when Paint Branch climbed in front by putting together back-to-back scores—including a pick six from linebacker Bene’t Willis—to go ahead 21-17.

For a second time, the Comets displayed their resiliency and their refusal to come apart as a team, despite the key mistakes.

“We had a team talk [earlier in the week] and we basically said that we’re all family and that this week is the playoffs,” Lane said. “We can’t dog anybody and bring them down and throw them off their game. We just got to tell them to forget about it, move on to the next play and that’s what we did.”

Behind Lane and fullback Julian Singletary (79 yards on five carries), the Comets answered with an eight-play, 69-yard drive to snatch the lead right back. Lane added his third score of the game on a cutback run from 17 yards out to put the Comets ahead 30-21 early in the fourth quarter.

Lane’s first touchdown run was set up in the second quarter when Joseth Hylton’s vicious hit of a Paint Branch running back dislodged the ball and it sent high into the air. Defensive tackle Antoine Wright inhaled the loose pigskin and eight plays later Lane crossed the end zone on fourth down from just inches out.

With a win over fellow unbeaten Poly, who demolished Perry Hall 50-21 in its region semifinal game, the Comets would advance to the state semifinals for the first time in school history.

BOX SCORE

Catonsville 30, Paint Branch 28

PB 9 0 12 7----28

C    7 10 6 7----30

1^st Quarter

PB - O. Jones 24 pass from D. Smith (kick blocked) (9:55)

PB – S. Stewart 23 field goal (6:39)

C - J. Tebo 37 interception return (E. Medinger kick) (5:18)

2^nd Quarter

C - E. Medinger 30 field goal (10:28)

C - D. Lane 1 run (E. Medinger kick) (2:13)

3^rd Quarter

PB - O. Jones 22 pass from D. Smith (pass failed) (9:40)

PB - B. Willis 53 interception return (pass failed) (7:59)

C - D. Lane 1 run (kick failed) (3:53)

4th Quarter

C - D. Lane 17 run (Medinger kick) (8:59)

PB - T. Handy 19 pass from D. Smith (S. Stewart kick) (7:37)

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