Takedown

Old Mill's Brent Layman didn't need any more incentive for last weekend's Chesapeake wrestling tournament than the name he heard people muttering under their breath."

Most of the attention in yesterday's 18th annual Overlea Invitational Wrestling Tournament was focused on the 152-pound final. It's a match Fallston's Nathan Bachmann would rather forget. Bachmann, a two-time defending state champion, was outlasted by Aric Fuhrman of Delone Catholic, 5-0. Delone, of Hanover, Pa., won the team championship by 34 1/2 points over runner-up Fallston. Host Overlea finished third. Fuhrman, who finished eighth in last year's Pennsylvania Catholic Championships, controlled the match from start to finish.

As they quietly filed out of the Harford Tech gymnasium, many Eastern Tech fans shook their heads in disbelief. For their Mavericks, the loss nearly defied description. But the scoreboard told the story: No. 4 Harford Tech 54, No. 10 Eastern Tech 9. "It was a really bad night," said a nearly speechless Chris Clark, a former state runner-up who was taken down with 26 seconds left in his 5-3 loss to unbeaten Josh Taylor. "They came with a lot of intensity," said Clark, ranked sixth at 152 pounds.

Three-time All-Metro Brandon Lauer, The Sun's two-time All-Metro Wrestler of the Year from River Hill High, defeated Clinton Hicks of New Jersey, 6-1, to earn fifth place at 119 pounds in the National High Schools' tournament at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Ranked No. 8 by the National High School Coaches' Association, Lauer, bound for West Virginia on a wrestling scholarship, earned High School All-America honors by finishing in the top eight of his 57-man bracket. Northeast heavyweight James Taylor went 4-2, coming within one bout of earning All-America honors.

With the 2A-1A South regional duals less than a week away, Centennial and top-ranked 145-pounder Mark Nakasone got just the preparation they needed yesterday against Fall-ston. Nakasone major decisioned third-ranked Nathan Bachmann in the most intriguing subplot of the nonconference match, which the eighth-ranked Eagles won, 39-26, over the 15th--ranked and host Cougars. "I'm glad we wrestled them when we did," said Centennial coach Todd DeCrispino, whose Eagles improved to 12-1 with the regular-season closing victory.

Robert Scott and Mike Weber were the area's Class 2A-1A saviors last night at Western Maryland College. While none of the area schools was in the running for a team title, Scott, a junior heavyweight from Oakland Mills, and Weber, a sophomore 112-pounder from Sparrows Point, turned in state championship performances. Northern Garrett captured its first state title, winning, 173-153, over runner-up Kent County. Williamsport was third with 116 points. Atholton's fourth-place finish (61)

When Chris Combs comes to wrestle, his opponent is usually back-pedaling."I like to dictate, dominate and control the match -- go right at the guy," said Combs, Old Mill's 112-pound sophomore county champ and region runner-up."

Before the wrestling season began, South Carroll figured that the road to a third consecutive county regular-season championship went through perennial powerhouse Westminster. Thanks to capturing six of the first seven weight classes, the fifth-ranked Cavaliers bulldozed the visiting Owls, 43-19, and grabbed their prize in Winfield last night. Four of those six wins came off pins, and senior 171-pounder Chris Currence's second-period pin put to rest any thoughts about a Westminster comeback.

Last night's highly-touted North Carroll-Francis Scott Key wrestling match was everything it was built up to be and then some.Two of the top teams in the state battled all night long for supremacy in Carroll County in front of a packed North Carroll gym. The match wasn't decided until North Carroll junior Chris Boog pinned Key senior Dale Bloom at 189 pounds.It gave the No. 3 Panthers (11-0, 4-0 in the county) a 31-18 lead, and they went on to claim a 31-24 decision over No. 5 Francis Scott Key (9-1, 3- 1)

TURNAROUND Bills WR Eric Moulds had 10 catches and no TDs in his first four games this year. Yesterday, after the Bills switched QBs and started Kelly Holcomb, Moulds had seven catches and his first touchdown in a win over Miami. WELL-PROTECTED The Colts went deep into their 18th quarter of the season before allowing the first sack of QB Peyton Manning. Blitzing from the corner, 49ers LB Andre Carter beat Jake Scott to get the season's first takedown of Manning. GROUNDED BY JETS Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden found out why he's got to give rookie RB Carnell Williams a breather once in a while after the Williams-less Bucs couldn't sustain a running game in a 14-12 loss to the Jets.