France

Historians note the American alliance with King Louis XVI sustained the American cause during the darkest days of the Revolution. The history is impossible to escape. But for the deal struck in February 1778, General Washington and his Continental Army would likely not have survived. Nevertheless, and despite a successful alliance in two world wars, taking the French to task has become a popular American sport. French resistance to U.S. foreign policy moves is one reason.

St. Frances junior Dwayne Morgan took a trip down I-95 last weekend to check out Maryland's game against Georgia Southern. Morgan, a five-star prospect and the No. 3 small forward in the country according to Scout.com, apparently enjoyed his time in College Park. “It was a great visit. He had a chance to speak with the coaches. He loves the campus,” said Dwayne Wise , the general manager of Under Armour B'more's Finest, Morgan's AAU program. “He's a big fan of [Maryland coach Mark Turgeon ]

St. Frances' football team needed some big plays to slip by Severn in Saturday's Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association C Conference championship and Khalil Stanfield made the biggest play of all. The junior linebacker intercepted a Ben Priddy pass with 2:20 left to seal a 30-25 victory and the second straight C Conference title for the Panthers (11-0) at Towson University's Johnny Unitas Stadium. With 7:33 left in a game that featured 10 turnovers, the Admirals (8-4) took a 25-24 lead on Brett Bedard's 14-yard touchdown run, but the Panthers answered with a 5-minute, 82-yard scoring drive capped by Mark Velasquez's 25-yard run with 2:26 remaining.

Colleges Ex-Terp Merriman to hold annual coat drive Saturday Shawne Merriman , a former Maryland standout who now plays linebacker for the Buffalo Bills, will hold his annual coat drive Saturday before the Maryland-Florida State game at noon at Byrd Stadium. Over the past 10 years, Merriman and his Lights On Foundation have collected more than 20,000 coats to benefit numerous communities in the region. This year, Merriman's efforts will be focused on those affected by the storm Sandy in New York and New Jersey.

During an offseason workout Wednesday, St. Frances baseball coach Brian Boles told his players he will not be returning as head coach next season. Boles will be replaced by Carey Cheek, a former player in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and a three-year assistant at St. Frances. "After much deliberation, I've decided to take on a new challenge," Boles said. "While it is a hard decision, because I've enjoyed my eight years with the kids here, I know Carey brings a wealth of baseball knowledge to the program and I'm looking forward to the team continuing to grow in the program he leads.

Dr. Frances H. Trimble, a gynecologist who had been medical director of Planned Parenthood of Maryland for nearly three decades, died Friday of pneumonia at Roland Park Place. She was 94. "She took Planned Parenthood from a highly criticized small organization at the time and made it into a force," said Dr. J. Courtland Robinson, who succeeded Dr. Trimble as medical director. "It was about women's rights and contraception, and she gave it the medical leadership to make it go. And it grew into a large, large organization.

The Loyola men's basketball team features five players from the Baltimore area on its roster this season. A year from now, Maurice White will be the sixth. White, a 6-foot-3 ½, 200-pound shooting guard, committed to the Greyhounds this week.  The St. Frances senior will team up with combo guard Dylon Cormier (Cardinal Gibbons), power forward Josh Forney (St. Frances), wing Jarred Jones (John Carroll), power forward Jordan Latham (City) and point guard R.J. Williams (St. Frances)

St. Frances' football team scored the final 30 points in a 52-31 victory at Severn on Saturday afternoon to take sole possession of first place in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association C Conference. Brett Bedard's 8-yard touchdown run gave Severn (5-2, 2-1 conference) a 31-22 lead late in the third quarter, before the Panthers (6-0, 2-0 conference) took off. Maurice Williams scored on a 9-yard run, Mark Velasquez scored twice - on a 39-yard run set up by Mike Bell's interception and an 80-yard run - and the Panthers added two more with a safety.

Sister Mary Loretto Evans, a former principal of the St. Frances Academy in East Baltimore, died Oct. 3 at her order's motherhouse in Halethorpe. She was 91. Sister Mary Clarice, a member of her order, said no medical cause of death was determined. Born Atlanta Dorothy Evans in Montgomery, Ala., she entered the Roman Catholic religious order the Oblate Sisters of Providence in 1939. She then received her new name, Sister Mary Loretto. She attended the Mount Providence Junior College in Halethorpe and earned a degree in education from St. Mary's College (now the University of St. Mary)

Loyola basketball coach Jimmy Patsos said Sunday that sophomore point guard R.J. Williams (St. Frances) has been suspended until mid-January for an unspecified violation of team rules. The length of the suspension was dictated by athletic department policy. "He is still on the team, he is still practicing, we are not going to turn our back on R.J.," Patsos said. Patsos would not say what Williams did to be suspended, but made it clear that it is not an academic issue. "He's worked hard in the classroom, he's doing well in school," Patsos said.