Having gone the entire 2010 season without winning a game, the Aberdeen Eagles started their 2011 football campaign on a completely different note, beating the visiting Edgewood Rams, 51-20, Friday night.
The game marked Aberdeen's first victory under new head coach Johnny Brooks, who ran the Havre de Grace Warriors' program for 13 years before deciding to take over the Eagles earlier this year.
Aberdeen posted eight points in the opening frame, then scored three touchdowns in the second frame, and heading into the half-time break the hosts were leading, 32-12. The Eagles outscored the Rams, 13-8, in the third quarter and 6-0 in the final frame.
Leading the way for the Eagles were receiver Christian Carpenter and quarterback Kenny Faulcon, who connected on touchdown passes of 60 and 20 yards.
Faulcon scored once on his own, making it to the end zone in wild, 30-yard scramble in which he broke three tackles.
The Eagles had a pair scored on the ground, with Dante Warfield scampering in from 18 yards out for the Eagles' final touchdown of the night, while Olajuwon Brown busted through the line for a five-yard touchdown.
The Rams' leading offensive force was Quron Ewell, who broke off a 28-yard touchdown run for his team's initial points, then scored on an eight-yard run in the third frame.
In the second quarter, Ricky Dangerfield made a diving catch of Edgewood quarterback Gene Miller's throw for an eight-yard touchdown reception.
HAVRE DE GRACE beats Elkton
The Havre de Grace Warriors treated first year head coach Greg Long to career win number one Friday night with a 8-7, come-from-behind win over visiting Elkton on the turf of James R. Harris Stadium.
Havre de Grace, which didn't see Elkton's side of the field until the second half, got its offense clicking in the fourth quarter.
Trailing, 7-0, the Warriors moved inside the Golden Elks 20-yard line, but sophomore quarterback Lavell McCullers' touch pass intended for receiver Justin "Goose" Gosnell, was too short and intercepted by Elkton's Curtis Buckland at his own 11.
McCullers, who threw three picks on the night, atoned for the miscue moments later when the Warriors took back possession after an Elkton fumble and a recovery by Gosnell at the Elkton 38.
On first down from the shotgun formation, McCullers threw deep to Gosnell down the right sideline. Gosnell caught the pass inside the 10-yard line, stutter-stepped one defender and darted into the end zone with 2:19 to play.
McCullers then pushed the ball across the goal line on the conversion keeper to push the Warriors ahead, 8-7.
"The kids fought hard, I'm happy," Long, the former Havre de Grace High School football star and long-time assistant, said after his team won its first game with as head coach.
Elkton's last-minute desperation drive from its own 35 resulted in a run for no gain, two incomplete passes and a three-yard sack by Andy Meiselwitz.
Elkton had taken the 7-0 lead in the final seconds of the first half. The Golden Elks moved 69 yards in six plays, capped by a 20-yard scoring strike from Javin Taylor to Ronnie Young with just 12.3 seconds left in the half.
JOPPATOWNE beats HARFORD TECH
Visiting Joppatowne scored touchdowns by the long pass and by the short run Friday night as the Mariners slid past Harford Tech, 14-10, in a varsity football season opener for both.
The pass covered 66 yards from John Pace to Deon Holloman, while the run came from two yards out by Jamil Lee, who finished with 170 yards on 27 carries. Lee also converted the successful two-point conversion.
Tech countered with a six-yard touchdown run by Dennis Pink and a 43-yard field goal by Colon Riley. Riley also had a extra-point.
Dylan Nicodemus had eight tackles and Anthony White had six for the Mariners.
JOHN CARROLL crushes Bo Manor
John Carroll ventured into Cecil County and came away with a 35-0 shutout of host Bo Manor Friday night. The Patriots piled up 283 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries.
Kicker Alex Gambrell started the scoring with a 41-yard field goal before quarterback Brandon Lewis hit Montell Martin with a 36-yard touchdown pass.
Gambrell added a 25-yard field goal in the second quarter and Martin ran 47 yards for his second touchdown of the half. Gambrell's two PATs gave the Patriots a 20-0 halftime lead.
Fullback Gus Lane opened the third quarter scoring with a 12-yard run and Lewis added a two-point conversion run. Lewis then closed out the scoring with a one-yard keeper and Gambrell added his third extra point kick.
NORTH HARFORD beats Hereford
North Harford also won on opening night, winning at Hereford, 28-23.
Josh Welsh scored three times, two on the ground and one through the air, while Ryan Stinar completed 9-of-21 passes for 309 yards and the touchdown. Stinar also ran for a score and Brady Maguire had four receptions for 175 yards.
C. MILTON WRIGHT thumps Rising Sun
The C. Milton Wright Mustangs opened their 2011 football season in style, beating Rising Sun, 40-19.
BOYS SOCCER
