by Joe DiBlasi
Senior quarterback Travis Crane (click to see Eastern-Edmondson video) ran for a 19-yard touchdown and threw for scores of 6 and 41 yards to Rob Kyle and Thomas Edwards, who also ran for a 13-yard score as Eastern Tech dethroned Class 2A North Region champion Edmondson of Baltimore City, 27-0, on Friday night at CCBC-Essex to advance to next Friday night’s Class 2A state semifinals.
The Mavericks (12-0) also had four interceptions against Red Storm (9-3) quarterback Carroll Washington, who entered the game with 10 passing touchdowns (10 over two seasons) and seven rushing TDs (13 over two years).
The Red Storm, last year’s Class 2A state champs, drove right down the field on their game-opening drive only to be stopped at the Mavericks’ 1-yard line.
Later, the Mavericks’ Andre Hall caught one of his two interceptions in the endzone, and Aaron Wilson also had an interception. Hall now ranks second on the team with four interceptions behind Joe Jones, who has six.
Ryan Schlothauer registered his eighth and ninth sacks of the year, and Wilson also had a sack.
Darryck Davis had an interception, Bryan Watson disrupted three passes, Schlothauer and Emmanuel Gbor disrupted one pass each, and Devin Hardy recovered a fumble.
“Carroll Washington is an awesome player, and we were able to contain
him,” saisd Crane, who has passed for 533 yards and 12 touchdowns, and rushed for 374 yards and eight more scores. “All eleven guys played well. Our goal is to win two more and
capture a state championship.”
The Mavericks, next week, play host to the Clarksburg Coyotes (12-0), a second-year program out of Montgomery County that went 3-6 last year in its first season of football.
The Coyotes, 33-7 winners over Middletowne (7-5) in the Friday night’s Class 2A West Region final, are the owners of a 21-6 win over Lansdowne on Nov. 2 that came a week after the Mavericks had routed Lansdowne, 58-8.
“It was a great game. They’re a terrific team. I give lots of credit to their coaching staff. They had their guys ready to play, ands we’re very happy with what we accomplished,” said coach Mark Mesaros, whose Mavericks tied the school’s single-season record for victories.
“We didn’t do all of the things that are characteristic of our team, but we did step up in the second half when we had to,” said Mesaros, whose Mavericks shut out the defending Class 2A state champs. “We did a good job on containing their running game, and we got great field position that set up our scores.”
The Mavericks went 12-1 as Class 3A state runners-up in 1998, and, were Class 2A state semifinalists in 2003.
After a scoreless first period on a cold and bitter night, Crane hit Kyle, a junior wide receiver, with 3:35 left in the second quarter. Dave Spalt’s first of three extra point kicks made it 7-0.
The drive covered 49 yards, with more than half of that coming on a 24-yard run by Darian Conners.
“We’re usually a running team, but my line gave me lots of time tonight and the receivers got open,” Crane said. “Our defense played well, and we just seemed to put it all together.”
With 4:15 left in the third quarter, Edwards’ 13-yard run made it 13-0.
After stalling another Edmonson drive at the 10 yard line, the Mustangs drove 90 yards, ending with the 41 yard pass from Crane to Edwards at the 8:19 mark in the fourth quarter.
And with under two minutes to go, Crane and the Mavericks were simply trying to run out the clock when Crane broke free around the left side and dashed 19 yards for the final margin, 27-0.
“We fought hard, and I’m a little sore, but we were able to shut out a great football team. With four picks tonight, we now have 26 on the year,” said Edwards, part of a balanced running attack who has, for the season, seven touchdowns on 358 rushing yards and two receiving scores.
Davis has rushed for 718 yards and eight TDs, and Connors, 631 rushing yards and 11 TDs with one scoring reception.
“Our defensive backs dropped back, doing their job. And the line kept pressure on Carroll,” Edwards said. “We’ll soak this in, but get right back to work tomorrow, because it’s a new experience to get this far.”
Eastern Tech 27, Edmondson 0
Eastern Tech 0 7 6 14 27
Edmondson 0 0 0 0 0
ET– Kyle 6 pass from Crane (Spalt kick)
ET– Edwards 13 run (kick failed)
ET– Edwards 41 pass from Crane (Spalt kick)
ET– Crane 19 run (Spalt kick)
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