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Game of the week
Lackey (0-1) at Patuxent (1-0)
Friday, 7 p.m.
This game pits the teams that fared the best on the field in SMAC action a year ago, though both are coming off of drastically different Week 1 results.
Patuxent came out on top in an emotionally-charged contest at North Point, while Lackey dropped a heartbreaker in the closing moments at Urbana. Friday night's encounter represents not just a chance to claim bragging rights for the year, but also represents one of the greater hurdles each team will have to face this season.
Despite last week's win, Patuxent is a team riddled with injuries. The Panthers entered the year without projected starting quarterback, Marcus Bullock, and one of their top receivers in Eric Farmer. Then came possibly the biggest blow early in last week's game when the team lost running back Ra'Joun Nelson to injury. With all of the injuries, the odds certainly would appear to be stacked against the defending SMAC champion.
Lackey lost a 6-3 game last week, and will need for quarterback Malcolm Willis and the rest of the offense to get moving. The Chargers came out on the downside of last year's 41-20 decision. After starting 0-2 a year ago, Lackey will be looking to bounce back from last week's loss and avoid a similar fate this year.
Other Games to Watch
Chopticon (1-0) at Huntingtown (1-0) -- Friday, 7 p.m.
Last week, Huntingtown was able to display how dangerous its offense can be, as it rolled up 41 points in a 41-24 win at McDonough. Peter Athens threw for a pair of touchdowns and D.J. Hooper and Greg Goodwin combined for 134 rushing yards to lead the Hurricanes' balanced attack.
Chopticon was a team that found great success in the late stages of games last year, and last week proved no different. The Braves nabbed a 20-14 overtime win from La Plata, with quarterback Leo Kyte tossing three touchdown passes.
Huntingtown won last year's affair 21-8. With both teams competing in the 3A South, this game could potentially have playoff-qualfication ramifications down the road.
North Point (0-1) at Northern (1-0) -- Friday, 7 p.m.
North Point earned its first varsity football win at the expense of the Patriots last year, 14-13. Northern went on to suffer its first losing season in over half a decade. Northern rolled over Great Mills 50-0 last week, while North Point came out on the bottom end of an 18-13 contest with Patuxent.
This could be a pivotal game for both teams. A win for Northern could catapault it back into the upper echelon in the SMAC, while the Eagles would like to bounce back from last week's heartbreaker.
Other games
McDonough (0-1) at Calvert (0-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
Westlake (1-0) at Leonardtown (0-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
La Plata (0-1) at Great Mills (0-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
Thomas Stone (1-0) at Linganore (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
