Laramore

A team needs the football to score, and Frederick Douglass of Prince George's County had it for less than three minutes in the final period, falling victim to host Annapolis, 26-14, in a Class 3A semifinal at Al Laramore Field last night. Annapolis meets Calvert, a 35-0 victor over Chopticon, in next weekend's 3A final at Byrd Stadium. The host Panthers dominated with their ball-control wing-T. Junior Eric Venerable rumbled for 201 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries and set four Anne Arundel County records, Kevan Simms got the call 16 times for 72 yards and two scores and Davon Watkins chipped in with 71 yards rushing.

ANNAPOLIS -- Randallstown is probably not quite the team it was with graduated all-everything running back Larry Washington, but the Rams had enough -- barely enough -- to get by host Annapolis last night.Donte Boyd's 1-yard touchdown run with five seconds to play lifted Randallstown over the Panthers, 18-17, in the season opener for both teams.Boyd's score capped Randallstown's rally from 11 points down in the last 8 minutes, 46 seconds. The Rams netted two touchdowns, both set up by Annapolis turnovers.

What a game Friday night at Severna Park between two unbeaten teams renewing the county's oldest rivalry in the 40th year as No. 5 Annapolis squeaked by No. 14 Severna Park, 21-17.The Fighting Panthers' dramatic victory came on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Mike Phaneuf to playmaker Rayvon Johnson with 34 seconds left. The stunning strike came after the Falcons had taken the lead at 17-14 on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Chris Odom to Paul Gillette with 1: 50 remaining.The game was played in front of one of the three largest crowds ever at Severna Park, including many former players among them like Johnny Venizelos, who was the Falcons QB in the 1960 inaugural that ended in a 0-0 tie."

When Andy Borland became head football coach at Severna Park High inthe fall of 1973, Gerald Cager Jr. was just 4 months old.That baby now stands 6-foot-5, weighs 210 pounds and wears a Falcons uniform.In Saturday's 35-10 victory over Queen Anne's, Cager helped Borland -- who once coached Cager's father -- to win his 100th career victory."Mr. Borland's the man. I look up to him so much," said Cager, who rushed six times for 105 yards, including an 85-yard third-quarter touchdown to give the Falcons a 28-3 lead.

Rayvon Johnson, arguably the greatest running back in Anne Arundel County high school football history, has become only the third player to earn the prestigious Jim Rhodes Memorial Trophy back-to-back.Awarded annually by the Annapolis Touchdown Club, the 41-year-old Rhodes Trophy goes to the county's best football player as voted on by the Anne Arundel coaches and media.Playing only two varsity seasons at Annapolis High, Johnson rewrote the school and county record books and also became The Sun's first Offensive Player of the Year repeat winner.

All right, sports fans, here it is, the first batch of "Q's and A's"for the new school year.If you know answers to the questions without answers that appear here, please call the 24-Hour Sportsline, 647-2499.* Let's start off with a very special dedication that will take place Friday evening in the Cap City.If you played for the late AlLaramore, don't you owe it to the coach and his family to be there 7:15 p.m. Friday at Annapolis High for the official naming of the football field at Richard G. Ensor Stadium in honor of the former Panthercoach who died two years ago?

Before I round third and dive head-first into a pile of "Q's withoutA's," let me start today with a "great news" question and also urge you to call the 24-Hour Sportsline, 647-2499, any time with your questions, answers or remarks.* Didn't the Maryland Scholastic Football Coaches Association make two superb choices for inductees into theState High School Football Hall of Fame in local legends Al Laramoreof Annapolis and Joe Papetti of South River?Laramore, the county's all-time winningest football coach (156-67-2)

With the induction of five more outstanding people Thursday evening, the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame honor roll now stands at 10.Toots Barger, Doc Bartlinski, the late Al Laramore, Jim Spencer and Dr. Stuart Walker were enshrined Thursday at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, joining last year's inductees: Charlie Eckman, Betty Hallmark, Daffy Russell, Lloyd Keaser and Gordon "Babe" Phelps.All 10 now have plaques with their likenesses and jTC accomplishments hanging in the county Hall of Fame shrine room at Michael's.

A home-grown Gold Glove first baseman, a world champion duckpin bowler, two inspirational football coaches and an internationally renowned yachtsman make up the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame class of 1992.The five, who will be inducted at the second annual banquet Oct. 22 at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, include Jim Spencer, the former Andover High standout who played first base for 15 seasons in the major leagues.Also to be honored and join the five who went in last fall are 13-time world champion bowler Toots Barger of Pasadena and longtime youth/high school football coach Doc Bartlinski, a sports medicine pioneer.

There aren't too many public school teams in Anne Arundel County willing to step on the field with St. Mary's.Last night at Annapolis, the top-ranked Saints showed why.Competing in the sixth annual Al Laramore Lacrosse Tournament, St. Mary's opened a 13-1 lead over the host Panthers en route to a 19-3 victory."