Return Touchdowns Spark Catonsville in 39-17 Win Over Eastern Tech

With 9:05 to play in the first quarter Thursday night, the Eastern Tech defense took field for the first time—only it was already trailing 13-0. Catonsville’s special teams units didn’t even give them a chance to get their feet wet.

Josh Hylton opened the game with a dazzling 95-yard kick return and fellow senior Deniko Carter, following a Mavericks’ three-and-out, took a punt to the house from 65 yards out as the Comets stormed out to a 32-0 halftime lead and coasted for an eventual 39-17 victory to remain unbeaten at 6-0.

Catonsville’s DeAndre’ Lane led all rushers with 108 yards and two touchdowns, while Hylton added 85 yards on just four carries and a score of his own—a 70-yard scamper on the third play of the third quarter to put the Comets up 39-0.

Eastern Tech (1-4) was led by quarterback Kyle Bosserman who carried 10 times for 52 yards and scored twice on runs of 35 and three yards. Wing back Francis Massally added another 62 yards on seven rushes.  

However, the Mavericks offensive output came well after the game was out of reach.

“At the end of the day, if you don’t give up a punt return and kick return, maybe it’s different, [but] they are awfully good,” Eastern Tech coach Marc Mesaros said of Catonsville.

“I think we played hard until the very end and tried to put ourselves in the best position to win. I thought our quarterback played a great game, I thought our running backs played a great game and our o-line did a good job. We are getting better every week.”

While the Mavericks did get their offense rolling a bit in the second half, Catonsville’s defense was stout in the first two quarters, forcing three punts and one turnover which came when Lane jarred a ball loose from an Eastern Tech receiver and cornerback Josh Frazier scooped the ball up and, 63 yards later, set the Comets up inside the Maverick’s 20-yard line.

Two plays later, Aaron Jones rolled out and zeroed in on wide receiver Sean Lipscomb who caught the pass in the flat and turned up the sideline to put Catonsville on top 32-0 with about a minute to play before the half.

Although that score came from 14 yards out, of Catonsville 13 touchdowns in the past two games, ten have been at least 50 yards or more.  

“I mean, I just see at as football,” explained Hylton, who lays claim to three of those long distance scores. “I think we’re more aggressive and have a better IQ. We stay together as a family.”

A lot speed doesn’t hurt either.  

While Mesaros said his defense played well in practice against a scout offense mimicking the Catonsville playbook, he admitted there really is no way to prepare for the Comets’ quickness across the board.

“It’s hard to replicate what they do at practice,” Mesaros said. “It kind of gives you a fall sense of security because you stop it in practice but the game speed is a totally different level. Catonsville is a good team. They are impressive. We are going to have to pick it up a little more if we want to stay in games with teams like that.”   

Meanwhile, the Comets, who have rushed for over 650 yards in the last two games, continue rolling through a daunting schedule with only four regular season games left to play.

As far as how the campaign is going to finish up, Hylton offered this projection: I think we’re going to finish out the [regular season] strong,” he said, “get to the playoffs, finish that off strong, then win states.”