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Gwynn Park High School football coach Danny Hayes and Frederick Douglass coach J.C. Pinkney knew there was a good chance their teams would meet again after their regular season game Oct. 19.
That meeting happens at 1 p.m. Saturday, with more on the line than a County 3A/2A/1A League crown. The winner of Saturday's 2A South Region championship punches a ticket to the state semifinals and moves one step closer to a state championship.
Brandywine's Gwynn Park won the first game 35-14, but both coaches agree that the atmosphere and buildup to this week's game is entirely different.
"We have to look at the first game because we have to see what we like and don't like, but Gwynn Park played a heck of a game," Pinkney said. "I thought that we played well at times, but they were the better team that day. I thought our guys gave a great effort, but they came out and beat us that day."
The biggest difference for Upper Marlboro's Douglass is the health of quarterback Richard Barber. The senior missed the Oct. 19 game and another game five days later against Forestville with an injured foot. The Eagles lost both games while Barber was sidelined and looked like they might miss the playoffs. But Barber, who has 1,556 combined yards rushing and passing, returned and guided Douglass to victories in the final two regular season games and a 24-12 playoff win at Glenelg High in Howard County.
Pinkney said Barber and the rest of his players are healthy for the regional championship. Even though the Yellow Jackets will have to defend Barber this time, Hayes said preparation for Saturday's game won't change much.
"We are going to do what we do and just keep going," Hayes said. "You got two good teams that are going to be fighting out there, and there will be a lot of respect for each other after the game. It's going to be a good game for the community to see."
But Gwynn Park doesn't have a lot of time to prepare for Douglass. The Yellow Jackets' semifinal game against McDonough was postponed from Saturday to Monday because of wet field conditions in Brandywine, leaving Gwynn Park four days to get ready. Douglass, meanwhile, played Friday night and has two extra days to prepare.
Gwynn Park beat Douglass through the air in the first meeting, as quarterback Marc Lucas threw three touchdowns to wide receiver Curtis Hardy. It was the same formula the Yellow Jackets used in their playoff victory against McDonough on Monday: Hardy caught three touchdowns and intercepted a pass to help the Yellow Jackets hold on for a 28-25 victory.
The senior wide receiver said despite the familiarity between the teams, there is a lot both can do to surprise each other.
"We've seen them before, so we just have to go out there and play," Hardy said. "We just have to stay positive and do the fundamentals. If we do those things, then we should be OK."
Regardless of the outcome of Saturday's game, both coaches said they are glad the 2A South championship will go to a Prince George's County team.
"The stakes are high, and our guys understand that it's win or go home," Pinkney said. "We have a tremendous amount of respect for coach Hayes and the Gwynn Park program. I am sure this is going to be a great game."
2A South Region Final
Douglass at Gwynn Park
When/Where: 1 p.m. Saturday at Gwynn Park High, Brandywine
Frederick Douglass Eagles (9-2)Leading rushers: Emmanuel Paul, 125 carries, 878 yards, 12 TD; Richard Barber, 80 carries, 525 yards, 8 TD
Leading passer: Richard Barber, 61 of 106, 1,031 yards, 14 TD
Leading receiver: William McKenzie, 33 catches, 540 yards, 9 TD
Gwynn Park Yellow Jackets (11-0)
Leading rusher: Khalek Shepherd, 166 carries, 1,146 yards, 21 TD
Leading passer: Marc Lucas, 82 of 149, 1,322 yards, 17 TD
Leading receivers: Curtis Hardy, 21 catches, 361 yards, 6 TD; Johnny Norris, 16 catches, 307 yards, 1 TD
E-mail Joshua Hudson at jhudson@gazette.net.
