More News

One year after completing a Cinderella run to its first 4A South Region title, the Henry A. Wise High School football team defended its title and earned the right to host a 4A state semifinal game. The Pumas will play host to Frederick's Thomas Johnson High at 1 p.m. Saturday in Upper Marlboro.

Wise (11-1) recorded its 10th shutout of the season by blanking Charles H. Flowers, 26-0, last Saturday, avenging a 14-12 setback two weeks earlier when the Jaguars ended the Pumas' bid for a perfect season and snapped their state-record eight-game shutout streak. Wise fourth-year coach DaLawn Parrish had plenty to beam about on Saturday. But by Tuesday afternoon, at a press luncheon for state semifinal coaches at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, he was focused on the next task at hand.

"They have a lot of speed on the outside," Parrish said of Thomas Johnson. "They like to run the football, and if they're successful that can set up their play-action passes. They run a Wing-T offense and their quarterback is an excellent field general. They're a lot like teams that we see every week during the season. They want to come out and establish the run, so we have to take that away from them. It just comes down to who wins the battle up front."

Whoever wins the battle will advance to the 4A state title game Dec. 4 at M&T Bank Stadium against the winner of the other 4A state semifinal between Sherwood and Old Mill.

Thomas Johnson (8-4) earned the 4A West Region title with road victories against Urbana and Patterson, so the squad has become accustomed to traveling. Thomas Johnson coach Ben Wright can see the similarities between his team and the Pumas. Since both teams thrive on running the ball and stopping the run, winning the battle of the trenches on both sides of the ball and eliminating turnovers will be huge determining factors in the outcome.

"They're a very physical, athletic team," Wright said of Wise. "They have a lot of great athletes. They're probably going to be the most physical team that we've faced. They're the typical Prince George's County football team, strong and athletic. Their coach has done a great job building that program. It's like a lot of playoff games: Whatever team can run the ball and avoid the mistakes is going to win."

Wise will look to establish the ground game with its three-headed backfield of Jabril Baldwin, Deontre Johnson and Rahsaan Moore. The Patriots feature tailback Nick Forbes, a University of California, Berkeley recruit, has carried most of the load on offense, rushing for 1,445 yards and 16 touchdowns. Thomas Johnson quarterback Ryon Lynch only averages 5.3 pass attempts per game.

Wise came through the County 4A League schedule, beating playoff teams Suitland and Eleanor Roosevelt before beating Roosevelt again in the playoffs and then avenging the regular season loss to Flowers. Thomas Johnson lost to Urbana, Fort Hill, Martinsburg (W.Va.) and undefeated Linganore, which is playing in the 3A state semifinals. The Patriots then beat Urbana two weeks ago in the region semifinals. Thomas Johnson reached the 4A state semifinals two years ago, but has not won a state title since 1982.

4A state semifinal

Thomas Johnson at Wise

When/Where: 1 p.m. Saturday at Wise High, Upper Marlboro

Thomas Johnson (8-4)

Leading passer: Ryon Lynch 34 of 64, 432 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT

Leading rusher: Nick Forbes 136 carries, 1,445 yards, 16 TD

Leading receivers: Marquis Woodyard 7 catches, 243 yards, 4 TD; Victor Walker 7 catches, 123 yards, 1 TD

Leading tackler: Nick Forbes, 178 total tackles

Wise (11-1)

Leading passer: DeAndre Smith 32 of 72, 528 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT

Leading rushers: Jabril Baldwin 113 carries, 784 yards, 9 TD; Rahsaan Moore 66 carries, 405 yards, 13 TD

Leading receivers: Thomas Tabbs 11 catches, 157 yards, 2 TD; Trevon Butler 9 catches, 218 yards, 4 TD

Leading tackler: Justin Coles, 86 total tackles

E-mail Ted Black at tblack@gazette.net.