Mavericks

Eastern Tech had little trouble in routing its first three opponents. But the Mavericks found many more problems last night against the Calvert Hall football team. Quarterback Joey Jones capped off an 86-yard drive by running for a 2-yard touchdown with 27.6 seconds left, and Luke Horner kicked the extra point to give No. 6 Eastern Tech a 14-13 victory over Calvert Hall at CCBC-Essex. The Cardinals had taken a 13-7 lead when Patrick Fitzgerald threw a slant over the middle that Christian Cook turned into a 75-yard touchdown pass with 4:12 left.

Known for its football team in recent years, the Eastern Tech boys basketball team is etching its own mark these days, and nearly pulled off a huge upset in Irvington yesterday. The visiting Mavericks gave Baltimore Catholic League power Mount St. Joseph all it could handle before bowing, 67-61, as J.J. Outlaw led the Gaels with 29 points to overcome 24 points by the Mavs' senior point guard Ricky Benson. Eastern Tech has never been ranked as high in The Sun's top 20 than it was going into last night's game, at No. 11. The Mavericks dropped to 11-2 with the loss - their other loss was to undefeated No. 8 Dulaney - but still may have answered the skeptics.

This story has been updated. In 2009, Manchester Valley High School fielded its first-ever football team - and went winless in 10 games. Three years later, the Mavericks posted their first-ever winning season - and their first run for a playoff appearance. And while football is a team game, no single player has been more important to the growth and success of the program than senior quarterback Dominick "Dom" Frank. A three-year starter at quarterback, Frank's passing and running skills have been the key to Manchester Valley's steady improvement.

There's something to be said about helping your brother, and Eastern Tech's Anthony and Steve Lawston said it all in yesterday's 26-6 rout of No. 9 Milford Mill.Anthony (five receptions, 58 yards), a 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior, set up both touchdowns by Steve, a 6-foot, 190-pound sophomore who caught three passes for 48 yards and rushed four times for 72 more. The No. 6 Mavericks forged a three-way tie for the Baltimore County 3A-4A title with No. 10 Woodlawn, a 14-13 winner over Eastern Tech.

After a competitive preseason scrimmage with visiting Eastern Tech, C. Milton Wright coach Steve Harward said he recalled one of the visitors' players calling out, "See you in the playoffs," as he was getting on the bus.Three months later, that player has been proven prophetic as the two teams face each other in a Class 3A state semifinal at Kenwood tonight.The fifth-ranked Wright Mustangs (10-1), also the fifth seed in the tournament, bring a six-game winning streak into a contest, which also marks their ninth playoff appearance under Harward, who has been their coach 13 years.

Powell Cucchiella of Eastern Tech points skyward each time he scores or assists on a soccer goal in honor of his stepfather, John Mitchell, who died two weeks ago. The senior did it twice during last night's 2-0 win at host Perry Hall, in the Mavericks' ninth shutout of the season. "I used to come home and tell him when I scored and it made him feel good," said Cucchiella, whose goal and assist after a scoreless first half raised his totals to 11 each in goals and assists. "I know he is up there celebrating with me."

After chasing down a through ball, beating a defender and then getting around the goalkeeper for an early goal, Eastern Tech senior forward Brittany Rhodes was plenty excited yesterday at Catonsville, but just as relieved. The goal, coming in the game's 22nd minute off a nifty pass from senior midfielder Rachel Trageser, set the tone in what turned out to be a 2-0 win over the No. 12 Comets. It also helped the team forget about Saturday's frustrating scoreless tie in overtime against Loch Raven, a game in which the No. 4 Mavericks sent more than 20 shots either high, wide, off the post or at the goalie.

The No. 7 Eastern Tech football team is undefeated this year in large part because of a powerful running game and a stout defense. Senior quarterback Travis Crane proved that the Mavericks' passing game can't be taken lightly either, throwing for two touchdowns in a 27-0 victory over No. 12 Edmondson last night at CCBC-Essex. The win gave Eastern Tech (12-0) the Class 2A North title. "He's got nerves of steel," Mavericks coach Marc Mesaros said. "He's a tough kid, he doesn't fold under pressure, and we're real proud of him."

As one of only two starters from last year's Baltimore County championship squad, Eastern Tech's Bryan Moffa wasn't quite sure what to expect from this year's Mavericks. But last night at Perry Hall, the senior's two goals and two assists helped earn the 13th-ranked Mavericks (11-2-1) a 6-3 victory and their second straight county title over the same opponent - No. 2 Dulaney (10-4). The Mavericks shut out Dulaney, 3-0, a year ago. "Before every game, I tell our guys we're going to get rocked, and that pumps us up," said Moffa, whose Mavericks have beaten Dulaney by a combined 11-3, with three shutouts, in the past four meetings.

Franklin's girls soccer players could not help thinking they had let a golden opportunity slip away yesterday as the No. 11 Indians settled for a 2-2 double-overtime tie with No. 12 Eastern Tech. The Indians outshot Eastern Tech 18-7 in regulation but found themselves trailing for more than half of the game. Ashley Harris scored both Franklin goals, the second with two minutes left in regulation. "I don't think this was a good tie," said Indians goalie Aly Josephs. "We should have won that game, but that's the luck of the draw.