Maryland 4A football semifinals preview: Northwest-Wise, Broadneck-Howard

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/maryland-4a-football-semifinals-preview-northwest-wise-broadneck-howard/2015/11/25/e1e6cc4e-92ed-11e5-a2d6-f57908580b1f_story.html

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MARYLAND 4A SEMIFINALS

No. 12 Northwest at No. 4 Wise

Friday, 7 p.m.

At stake: A berth in the Maryland 4A final Dec. 4 at M&T Bank Stadium.

Watch for: Wise lineman John Daka leads a powerful defense with 25 sacks and 41 tackles for loss this season and is flanked by Division-I cornerbacks Myles Wolfolk (Virginia Tech) and Damon Hayes (Rutgers) on the outside. Wolfolk doubles as a big-play wide receiver and tailback C.J. Rainey has rushed for more than 1,400 yards this fall, when the Pumas were rarely challenged. But Northwest senior quarterback Mark Pierce is undefeated in the postseason as a starter, and the two-time defending state champions are averaging nearly 45 points over the past five games, incuding a 50-point outburst in last week’s region final win at Quince Orchard.

Skinny: Wise (12-0) got a scare from Eleanor Roosevelt last week, but emerged as a state championship favorite after two other top seeds couldn’t avoid upsets in the region finals. The Pumas are making their first state semifinals appearance since winning the state title in 2012. Though Northwest (9-3) experienced more bumps along the way than the past two years, a three-peat would be its best feat under Coach Mike Neubeiser. Aside from Pierce, the Jaguars mostly feature new faces spearheading this playoff run.

No. 9 Broadneck at No. 8 Howard

Friday, 7 p.m.

At stake: A berth in the 4A championship game on Dec. 4 at M&T Bank Stadium.

Watch for: Howard running back Malik Anderson. What the senior back lacks in stature — he’s 5-foot-6 and 160 pounds — he more than makes up for in production. Anderson is eighth in the area with 1,661 rushing yards and tied for fifth with 21 rushing touchdowns. His soft hands and sharp routes also make him a threat in the passing game. He’ll force linebacker Ali’i Niumatalolo Broadneck‘s defense, which just pitched a shutout against previously unbeaten Old Mill, to be on the top of its game once more.

Skinny: Broadneck (10-2) stumbled out of the gate with an opening-week loss to South River but responded by winning 10 of 11, including a 4A East region-clinching win against then-undefeated Old Mill. Howard (12-0) has won every game since Week 6 by at least 19 points. Broadneck’s calling card is a veteran defense that hasn’t allowed a point in more than six quarters, but its quickness and physicality will be put to the test against the Lions.