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Check out Washington County's Week 9 football matchups and predictions

andy mason, the herald-mail
·6 min read

It’s Week 9 of the Washington County football season, which means it’s rivalry week for most teams and the end of the regular season for everyone but Saint James.

The playoffs start next week for Maryland’s public-school teams, and this week’s results will have the final say on the first-round matchups.

Football: Washington County Week 8 roundup

Here are the Week 9 games with predictions. (Last week, we correctly picked the winners in all seven games, improving our season record to 40-13.)

North Hagerstown receiver Ryder Johnston runs for yards after a catch during the Hubs' loss at Boonsboro last week.
North Hagerstown receiver Ryder Johnston runs for yards after a catch during the Hubs' loss at Boonsboro last week.

Friday’s games

South Hagerstown Rebels (4-4) at North Hagerstown Hubs (3-5), 6 p.m.

Series record: Rebels lead, 34-31-1.

Last meeting: South 28, North 0 (Oct. 28, 2022)

Last week: South won 27-24 over Francis Scott Key; North lost 42-13 to Boonsboro.

Notes: The Rebels have won the last two Hub City Gridiron Classics, outscoring North 56-7 the last two years. … This game features two of the best pass-catch duos the rivalry has ever seen. … North senior Ryder Johnston owns school records for career receptions (116), receiving yards (1,966) and TD catches (21) after setting single-season school records this year in receptions (49), receiving yards (975) and TD catches (14). … Hubs senior QB Luke Kercheval is closing in on four school records set by Jaynaz Melendez in 2019, needing 187 passing yards to break Melendez’s career record (3,265), 245 passing yards to beat his single-season record (1,885), 10 completions to break his career mark (224) and two TD passes to break his single-season record (22). … Stats are based on regular-season games. … For South, senior QB Lance Ford set the school record for single-season TD passes (16) last week, and is closing in on two school records set by Timmy Townsend in 2018. Ford needs 53 passing yards to break Townsend’s single-season record (1,477) and two TD passes to break his career mark (33). … South senior Damon Breland has set single-season school records this year for receiving yards (628) and TD catches (eight). … In the MPSSAA points standings, South is No. 5 in Class 3A West, while North is No. 7.

Prediction: South 35, North 28

Williamsport Wildcats (2-6) at Manchester Valley Mavericks (4-4), 6:30 p.m.

Series record: Wildcats lead, 3-2.

Last meeting: Williamsport 27, Manchester Valley 7 (Sept. 2, 2022)

Last week: Williamsport lost 45-8 to Mountain Ridge; Manchester Valley lost 10-7 to Winters Mill.

Notes: After opening their seasons against each other in five of the past six years, the Wildcats and Mavericks are meeting for the regular-season finale this time. … The teams have had two common opponents this year — North Hagerstown and Winters Mill. Manchester Valley beat North 24-21 and lost 10-7 to Winters Mill. Williamsport fell 38-14 to the Falcons and 70-34 to the Hubs. … Wildcats senior Nolan Raley, a first-year starting QB, has set the school record for single-season passing yards (1,699). … Williamsport junior Ceonta Wilmore has set school records for career receiving yards (1,354) and TD catches (16) and single-season receiving yards (707). … All stats are based on regular-season games. … In the MPSSAA points standings, Williamsport is No. 4 in Class 2A-1A West, while Manchester Valley is No. 6 in 3A West.

Prediction: Manchester Valley 31, Williamsport 14

Boonsboro's Chad Wyand takes a handoff from quarterback Colin Telemeco (12) during the Warriors' 42-13 win over North Hagerstown last week. Wyand ran for over 100 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
Boonsboro's Chad Wyand takes a handoff from quarterback Colin Telemeco (12) during the Warriors' 42-13 win over North Hagerstown last week. Wyand ran for over 100 yards and two touchdowns in the game.

Smithsburg Leopards (3-5) at Boonsboro Warriors (6-2), 7 p.m.

Series record: Warriors lead, 35-21.

Last meeting: Boonsboro 31, Smithsburg 0 (Oct. 28, 2022)

Last week: Boonsboro won 42-13 over North Hagerstown; Smithsburg lost 40-6 to Tucker County.

Notes: The Warriors have won 12 straight against the Leopards and are on a four-game win streak this season, having outscored opponents 162-34 in the stretch. … Boonsboro leads the county in rushing yards (1,858) and rushing touchdowns (25), led by Chad Wyand (684 yards, six TDs), Parker DeBaugh (333 yards, five TDs), Dan Dodson (256 yards, six TDs) and Dash Mussolino (254 yards, four TDs). … DeBaugh and Mussolino also each have a pair of TD catches. … The Warriors’ defense is allowing a county-low 16.6 points per game. … Smithsburg’s defense is No. 2 in points allowed (23.3) and No. 1 in turnovers (20), led by Ashton Redman, who has three interceptions, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. … If the Leopards pull off the upset, they’ll have their most season wins since going 4-5 in 2017. … In the MPSSAA points standings, Boonsboro is tied for No. 3 in Class 1A North, while Smithsburg is No. 6 in 1A West.

Prediction: Boonsboro 42, Smithsburg 14

Clear Spring Blazers (3-5) at Hancock Panthers (1-6), 7 p.m.

Series record: Blazers lead, 12-5.

Last meeting: Clear Spring 61, Hancock 0 (Oct. 28, 2022)

Last week: Clear Spring won 29-22 over Tussey Mountain; Hanock lost 47-7 to Paden City.

Notes: The Blazers have won seven straight over the Panthers. … Another victory would give Clear Spring its most season wins since going 5-5 in 2019. … The Blazers’ offensive leaders this season include Hayden Hodge with 636 passing yards and four TD throws, Alex Matthews with 377 rushing yards and five total TDs and Will Bennett with 19 receptions for 305 yards and two TDs. … Hancock’s offensive leaders include Aiden McCarty with 601 rushing yards and eight TD runs, Isaiah Demory with 247 yards passing and two TD throws and Shawn Thomas with 13 receptions for 139 yards and a TD. … In the MPSSAA points standings, Clear Spring is No. 5 in Class 1A West, while Hancock is No. 7.

Prediction: Clear Spring 48, Hancock 14

Saturday’s game

Potomac Panthers (1-6) at Saint James Saints (4-3), 1 p.m.

Series record: Panthers lead, 16-15.

Last meeting: Saint James 28, Potomac 25 (Oct. 22, 2022)

Last week: Saint James won 49-8 over ConneXions; Potomac lost 43-21 to Maret.

Notes: Each team is looking for its first MAC win. .. They’ve had two common opponents this season — Kiski and Maret — with similar results. Potomac beat Kiski 27-0 and lost to Maret 43-21. Saint James beat Kiski 31-0 and lost 51-21 to Maret. … For the Saints in their win over ConneXions last week, Sammy Stonebraker ran for two touchdowns, Liam Hall had a TD run and returned an interception 65 yards for a score, and Trevor Owens had a TD catch and starred on defense with 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked punt.

Prediction: Saint James 28, Potomac 21

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Washington County high school football Week 9 preview, predictions