Public school teams in the Baltimore metropolitan area are widely known and respected for their dominance in a wide variety of sports, including cross country, baseball, basketball, field hockey, soccer and lacrosse.
But when it comes to football, the area, save for a few squads, has found itself on the sidelines when it comes to winning state championships.
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Since the inception of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association football tournament in 1974, Baltimore City and its many surrounding counties ? Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard ? have compiled a total of 23 state titles among the region?s 83 schools, a rate of only .74 titles per year.
That figure pails in comparison to Montgomery County?s total of 41 crowns, including 12 from Seneca Valley and six each by Damascus and Springbrook. Damascus won the 2005 Class 4A state title against Montgomery County rival Sherwood.
“Montgomery County has that history, and they?ve got some pretty awesome teams,” River Hill coach Brian Van Deusen said.
Prince George?s County, and its current amount of 22 schools, has brought home 17 championships, including two last year.
So what has caused the disproportionate amount of titles among the different regions of the state? According to some of the Baltimore area?s best coaches, the reasons are many and varied. Some pointed to Baltimore City?s self-imposed exclusion from the state playoffs until 1992, as well as football?s delayed arrival to Baltimore County in 1965, many years after Montgomery and Prince George?s teams first took to the field.
“In the early days of Baltimore County, it was settled by people from Western Pennsylvania, who were not football people,” said Hereford coach Steve Turnbaugh, whose squad has won three state titles in four tries since 1997. “They wanted everything equal. Football was de-emphasized, but that has changed over time.”
Another key factor is the strong youth programs in other areas, especially in Montgomery County, giving coaches players who are well past the fundamental learning stage of the game.
“Most every school in our county has a ? Pop Warner team, so you get a lot of kids who have played football before,” Sherwood coach Al Thomas said.
Broadneck coach Jim Herrick, who reached the state playoffs in 2003 and 2004, thinks a disparity in overall talent also plays a role. Certainly, some of the Baltimore area?s teams are hurt by the huge success of lacrosse, which draws athletes away to private schools, including powerhouse Severn.
“Montgomery County certainly has a lot of really good athletes with speed and size,” Herrick said. “Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County don?t have quite that many athletes on a team.”
The recent addition of more postseason teams and the inclusion of regional tournaments has also helped both Montgomery and Prince George?s, which are guaranteed at least one team each in the 4A state playoffs since the 4A West is all-Montgomery and the 4A South is all-Prince George?s.
Still, the Baltimore area?s football future looks promising. It has won three titles since 2003 and had eight teams reach the state semifinals last year.
“The playing field is becoming more level,” Turnbaugh said. “We?re closing the gap.”
