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Sports |
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| Prep Football, Week 6: Some extra motivation for Winters Mill |
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| By Patrick Stoetzer, Times Staff Writer |
Friday, October 09, 2009 |
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Leave it to the senior quarterbacks to be vocal leaders for both Century and Winters Mill.
Last week, David Blackwell made sure his Falcons teammates knew they were the chosen homecoming opponent at North Carroll. Using that as motivation, WM won 26-14.
At Century, Josh Bordner helped spearhead a new outlook on practice after three straight losses. The Knights responded with two straight county wins, the most recent being a 26-6 romp at previously unbeaten South Carroll.
Tonight, Century (2-3) hosts Winters Mill (4-1) in another pivotal county matchup.
Both teams are 2-0 in county play. Both are battling for a Class 2A West playoff spot, with WM sitting second and Century in seventh. Each side has three wins in their all-time series.
But tonight’s game has another aspect to it. Once again, Winters Mill comes to a Carroll rival as the homecoming foe.
Blackwell said the Falcons want nothing more than to spoil the festivities a second week in a row.
“I’ve been reminding everybody all week about it,” said Blackwell, who threw for two touchdowns in WM’s win at North Carroll. “We kind of took that personal that [NC] picked us … that’s in the back of our minds again this week.”
Blackwell (599 passing yards, eight touchdowns) shined on defense, too, hauling in an interception as Winters Mill kept the Panthers scoreless in the second half.
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His Century counterpart, Bordner, was solid in the Knights’ victory at SC. Bordner rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another on offense. As a defensive end, he collected 10 tackles, a pair of sacks and an interception.
The stats were nice, but Bordner said notching another win was more important. And the wins are coming, he said, thanks to everyone raising their level of work ethic and concentration during practice.
“It’s definitely shown,” he said. “We’re playing with intensity and guys are stepping up. It’s taken a little while, finding the right people for the right positions. Some people are still fighting for starting jobs.”
Bordner said a handful of starters missed practice time this week because of illness, but the thought of losing homecoming — and ground in the county standings — should be enough to have everyone healthy.
For Winters Mill, junior running back Josh Wike recently returned to practice. Wike has been out since Week 2 with a shoulder injury. Blackwell said he hopes Wike (142 yards, 6.8 per carry) can be back for next week’s game at Francis Scott Key.
Not that the Falcons couldn’t use Wike’s services tonight against Century, which dominated last year’s game in a 28-7 victory.
“We know they’re capable of making some big plays,” Blackwell said. “They’re a good team, we’re not knocking them. It’s going to be two good teams going at it.”
With all the homecoming hoopla, Bordner said Century coach Jim Holzman called this the toughest task of the season. Focus is critical, Bordner said, especially this week. And especially against a quality opponent.
“This is a big game for us,” Bordner said. “If we want to make it to the playoffs, we’re going to have to win this one and keep it going.”
Tonight's Games
All kickoffs at 7
Liberty at North Carroll
Westminster at Manchester Valley
Tuscarora at Francis Scott Key
Winters Mill at Century
So. Carroll at Frederick
Reach staff writer Patrick Stoetzer at 410-857-7894 or pat.stoetzer@carrollcountytimes.com.
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jajjal6 wrote on Oct 9, 2009 8:49 AM: