Comets Dispose of Poly, Capture First Region Title in School History

Friday night’s Class 4A North Championship may have been played at Poly, but it sure didn’t feel like it.

The Comets fan base started packing the stadium bleachers more than 45 minutes prior to game time. During the game they drowned out any semblance of an Engineers home field advantage. Afterwards, the Catonsville players sprinted over to them in celebration.

It was the embodiment of mutual appreciation.

Behind another dominant rushing attack, and a defense that stepped up to make key plays when it had to, Catonsville defeated Poly, 28-18, for its first region title in school history.

“It means a lot to them and it means a lot to me too. I’m so happy for Catonsville to say that they’re region champs,” head coach Rich Hambor said after the game. “The thing I’m really most happy for the kids is that they’re the first ones and that’s never going to change. Hopefully we’ll get some more, but they can always say they’re the first ones.”

For the second straight week, the Comets (12-0) ended the game in the victory formation on offense as some players turned toward the crowd to pump it up once more before the final kneel down.

Left guard Brandon Dixon summed up the jubilation as well as anyone could.

“To be with the ball and see the clock run out—there’s no better feeling than just walking off the field and seeing that score,” Dixon said.

“We started off the season with a whole new division. We really didn’t know what to expect. But, you put in your time in practice. This is the fruits of your labor, it really is.”

Dixon and the rest of the offensive line carved holes for a ground game that tallied 416 yards on 61 carries. Tailback DeAndre’ Lane eclipsed the 40 carry mark for the second week in a row, racking up 281 yards on 45 attempts and scoring on touchdown runs of 24, 25 and 3 yards.

Fullback Julian Singletary gashed the Engineers (11-1) for 106 yards on 11 carries and his 15-yard touchdown romp on the game’s opening drive earned the Comets a lead they would never relinquish.

On its ensuing drive, Poly would answer as quarterback Darrell Milburn broke free for a 25-yard touchdown. But, as the Comets have done successfully in both postseason games, they halted the Engineers on its two-point conversion attempt to keep lead at 7-6. In fact, opposing playoff teams are 0 for 5 against Catonsville when going for two.

Trailing 14-6 at the half Poly found a much needed big play on its second drive of the third quarter when Milburn found wide receiver Orville Keize deep down the middle of the field for a 57-yard touchdown strike.

However, the Comets again came up big on the two-point try when defensive back Jerome Williams undercut Engineers tailback Jamal Chapell just inches from the goal line to preserve a 14-12 lead.

Williams, Catonsville’s starting tailback before a shoulder injury cut into most of his regular season, drew high praise from Hambor for his humility and willingness to step into a different role with Lane excelling in his old position.

On top of that, Williams ability to play corner is allowing Lane—who’s started on defense most of the year—ample time to rest while the Comets are on defense.

“I’ll give Jerome all the credit in the world,” Hambor said. “Being a senior, coming in as the featured back and then having to suffer through seven, eight weeks with an injury and then to have him, with no ego, say I’ll come back and do whatever you want me  to do to help this team. That’s an unsung here if I’ve ever seen one.”

Chalk up senior kicker Eric Medinger in the unsung hero category as well. While the Engineers faltered on their two point tries, Medinger calmly split the uprights on all four of his extra point attempts. His third make followed a Lane touchdown run on 4^th-and-1 to put the Comets ahead by two scores, 21-12, late in the third quarter. 

As the ball was snapped, Hambor shouted for a timeout, but fortunately for him and the Comets, one was not awarded.  

Poly answered two drives later when Aaron Jones’ failed quarterback sneak gave the Engineers prime field position near midfield. Three players later, Milburn connected with receiver Jordan Garrison to cut into the lead at 21-18.

Looking to get the ball back, Poly opted for the onside kick, but failed to let it go the required 10 yards before attempting to recover. Set up at the Engineers 45-yard line, the Comets needed just five successive Lane runs to find the end zone and pad their lead at 28-18. With Poly crowding the line of scrimmage, Lane broke to the outside through a hole opened up by left tackle Travis Davis, tight end Julian Jones and wide receiver Deniko Carter to gain 28 of those yards on the first play of the drive.

“We execute the plays every practice and our coach said it the best, we’ve run these plays 1,000, 2,000 times,” Dixon said. “We know them. We hear the play, we know exactly where it’s blocked, and we just put our heart into it.”

With Poly desperately looking to get back into the game, the Comets found a little more heart to seal the deal.

Facing 4^th-and-8 on the Engineers’ ensuing drive, Milburn—whose shifty moves helped him elude defenders all evening—escaped the pocket and frantically scampered for first down yardage. However, defensive linemen Josh Schmidt and Antoine Wright fought off their blocks and lassoed Milburn a yard from the marker.

“That’s a big play,” said Schmidt, who tugged at Milburn's jersey to eventually help bring him down. “I don’t think me and [Wright] realized it the second that we stopped him right there a yard short. But, when we got to see [the yard sticks], it was amazing.

“You’ve got to play this game together and have heart. This team has heart. We’re a family and football is life to us. When we just have heart and work hard we can do anything.”

The Comets will travel to take on 12-0 Old Mill (the No. 1 seed from the 4A East region) for the right to play at M&T Bank Stadium for the Class 4A Championship in two weeks.

BOX SCORE

Catonsville 28, Poly 18

C 7 7 7 7 --- 28

P 6 0 6 6 ---18

1st Quarter

C—J. Singletary 15 run (E.Medinger kick)

P—D. Milburn 25 run (run failed)

2nd Quarter

C—D. Lane 24 run (E. Medinger kick)

3rd Quarter

P—O. Keize 57 pass from D. Milburn (run failed)

C—D. Lane 25 run (E. Medinger kick)

4th Quarter

P—J.Garrison 20 pass from D. Milburn (pass failed)

C—D.Lane 3 run (E. Medinger kick)