Football Recap: New Town, Owings Mills Secure Key Wins

Although had blown out its opponents in all five prior wins this season, the Titans proved against Sparrows Point on Saturday that they’re capable of winning a tight, and for the most part ugly, type of game.  

The Titans committed five turnovers, including two fumbles that were returned for Pointers touchdowns, and trailed 14-6 during the fourth quarter.

However, running back Darrell Wyche almost single handedly got his squad back into the game, carrying 30 times for 157 yards and tying the score with a touchdown run and an ensuing two-point conversion to force overtime.

In overtime (where each team alternates possessions starting at the 10-yard line), Wyche took a second down handoff in for a score and again followed up with a successful two-point try to earn the Titans an eight-point advantage.

With Sparrows Point (2-5) looking to answer, the New Town defense, which had come up huge virtually all game, sealed the victory when linebacker Jason Matthews pounced on a fumbled handoff to end the Pointers' comeback hopes on their first play of the possession.

Head coach Joe Holland had high praise for Wyche and his defensive unit as a whole.

“The defense played tremendously well,” Holland said of a unit that held the Sparrows Point offense to zero points. “They kept us in the game and stayed intense. They could have started the finger pointing game, but didn’t.

"They remained positive, and when we saw the passing game wasn’t open, we switch to the run and Darrell answered.”

With a Western Tech loss last weekend, the Titans stand alone in second place in the 1A North region, trailing only unbeaten Overlea for the top spot.

New Town hits the road to take on Bel Air (2-5) Thursday. 

Owings Mills Air Attack Hands Pikesville Homecoming Loss

The Eagles bounced back from a narrow 20-12 loss against Western Tech earlier this month, thumping Pikesville 35-13 to get back above .500 and remain on track for the playoffs with a 4-3 record.

Shane Gaines made his presence felt on both sides of the ball. The quarterback tossed three touchdown passes and intercepted two of his counterpart’s throws while on defense, one of which he returned for a score.

Gaines also made sure to spread the wealth, as his three touchdown strikes all went to different targets. Wide receivers Deante Keene and Corey Hill, as well as tight end Kevin Yrizzary, all hauled in touchdown passes.

Fullback Quran Briggs paced the Eagles on the ground offensively, finding the end zone on a 10 yard run and rushing for just over 100 yards on the game.

Despite the offensive outburst, Eagles coach Steve Lurz was particularly impressed with the performance from a consistently improving defense that, in addition to forcing turnovers, has been increasingly staunch in the red zone.

“Defensively, our scoring average is a lot better—we’re giving up a lot less points,” Lurz said. “We’ve been a bend but don’t break defense.”

Dominating on both sides of the ball, Owings Mills virtually put Pikesville away in one half of play, leading 27-0 at the break.

Although they won this week’s game, the Eagles were passed in the 2A North standings by a steaming hot Chesapeake (B.C.) squad that has won four straight after losing its first three games.

But Owings Mills is just a few hundredths of a point behind the Bayhawks for second place, and both teams trail Edmondson (also 4-3) for first place in the region.

The Eagles can distance themselves from one team trying to creep into playoff contention in their region when they face Lansdowne Friday at home.