Falcons

Kevin Cowherd Ravens 24, Falcons 21: Ravens coaches overcome short week of preparation by buying 16 cases of Red Bull at Sam's Club. Jamison Hensley Falcons 21-10: The power running of Michael Turner and the home dominance of Matt Ryan (he's 17-1 at the Georgia Dome) are too much for the Ravens to overcome. Edward Lee Falcons 23, Ravens 20: The Ravens should remain competitive for a majority of the game, but a physical win against the Miami Dolphins and a short week of recovery will be enough for the host Falcons to escape with a narrow decision.

In the end, Matty Ice proved a little hotter than Joe Cool. In the first battle of first-round quarterbacks from the 2008 draft, Matt Ryan outdueled Joe Flacco last night at the Georgia Dome, leading the Falcons to a wild last-minute, 26-21 win over the Ravens. His controversial 33-touchdown pass to Roddy White with 20 seconds left came after a major comeback from the Ravens and completed a drive where the Falcons moved the ball 80 yards in 45 seconds. White was left wide open after cornerback Josh Wilson fell after making contact and essentially cruised into the end zone.

Olivia Ravadge hit a sacrfice fly to left field and Alex Braun scored the winning run as visiting No. 15 Chesapeake-AA upset No. 1 Severna Park, 5-4, on Wednesday. The Cougars (10-5) trailed 4-0 before Danielle Myers and Deja Sutton homered in the three-run fourth inning. Chesapeake-AA tied the game in the sixth on a wild pitch. The Falcons fell to 12-2. No. 2 Eastern Tech 13, Sparrows Point 0: Winner Jordan Cargile pitched a five-inning four-hitter and struck out seven as the host Mavericks (14-2)

Site: RFK Stadium, Washington. Time: 12:30 p.m.TV: Channels 11, 9Radio: WBAL (1090 AM), WMAL (630 AM)Records: Falcons, 11-6. Redskins, 14-2. Line: Redskins by 11Last week: The Falcons upset the Saints, 27-20, in their first-round playoff game. The Redskins had a bye.Last meeting: The Redskins beat the Falcons, 56-17, on Nov. 10 as Mark Rypien threw 6 TD passes although the Falcons were missing 3 key starters -- QB Chris Miller, CB Deion Sanders and OT Mike Kenn.The series: The Redskins have an 11-3-1 edge in the series, have won 5 of the past 6 meetings and are 7-0 at home against the Falcons.

CATONSVILLE -- No one said getting in position to win another state championship would be easy, even for the Severna Park girls lacrosse team. But this was a bit much.First came a Dulaney team that proved more stubborn than it was skilled. What followed were heavy rains, occasional flashes of lightning, a lengthy delay with three minutes remaining and, finally, word that the game would be resumed.Premature word, that is. The officials reversed their decision as players and coaches hurried toward the field, giving Severna Park a rain-shortened, 17-9 win over the second-seeded Lions in the Class 4A/3A state semifinals Friday at Catonsville Community College.

Ravens C Jeff Mitchell vs. Falcons LB Jessie TuggleRavens center Jeff Mitchell saw a pretty good imitation of Atlanta Falcons middle linebacker Jessie Tuggle every day in practice last week. His name is Ray Lewis.Today against the Falcons, Mitchell will plan on seeing Tuggle on many occasions. Although Mitchell will get help from either of his guards, Everett Lindsay or Jeff Blackshear, or fullback Chuck Evans, he knows on most running plays, he will find Tuggle. And the 13-year veteran will be trying to do what he does best -- disrupt and destroy plays.

With his team having just lost a marathon second game in the regional volleyball finals, evening the match at 1-1, Severna Park coach TimDunbar gathered his players and issued a little reminder."

Given a choice, Broadneck volleyball coach Glenn Braine would have preferred to meet Severna Park later in the season, after his younger players had gained some valuable experience.Instead, his Bruins learned a valuable lesson; Taking the first game from Severna Park, even in the most dominating fashion, doesn't ensure a victory.The visiting Falcons shook off an early drubbing -- perhaps their worst ever -- to rally past Broadneck, 0-15, 15-6, 15-6, 15-9 yesterday.Julie Kasprzak, a 5-foot-9 junior making her first start, had 10 kills and was 15 of 16 serving with two aces to lead top-ranked Severna Park (3-0)

Now Severna Park goalie Chad Roberts must figure out what to do for an encore.Roberts made his first start of the season a memorable one, making 12 saves as No. 15 Severna Park shut out visiting and No. 8 Broadneck in the second half for a 7-3 victory last night.The 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior did not find out until warm-ups that he would start for Severna Park (3-1). But he started hot and stayed that way."I was nervous but I used that to get myself in a zone," said Roberts. "I think we came out ready to play."

For the opening 60 minutes, the Old Mill-Severna Park girls soccer match wasn't what most people thought it would be.The visiting Patriots were supposed to be one of the teams threatening to end the Falcons' stranglehold on the county.Unfortunately for Old Mill, those plans have been put on hold for a little while longer, as their hosts registered three first-half goals on their way to a 3-1 win."I think we had a case of opening-game jitters," said Old Mill head coach Bruce Sponsler. "That's why I hate playing a team like Severna Park in the first game of the year.