Epps, Fields Power Wilde Lake Past Howard

They Combine for 178 Yards, Remain Undefeated

Wilde Lake running back Jarrel Epps knows backfield mate Mike Fields has some anger management issues on the field.

"He's got an attitude problem, but he's a tough player," Epps said, grinning. "He's always just getting mad and yellin' at somebody, but he's a tough player."

But Fields had plenty to smile about after Wilde Lake's 27-13 win over visiting Howard last night, as he and Epps combined for 178 yards rushing.

Epps's six-yard run gave the Wildecats (6-0, 6-0 Howard County) a crucial insurance touchdown early in the fourth quarter. And he did it after Fields practically flew past Lions defensive back Che Brown on his way to a 45-yard gain to put Wilde Lake in position for the score.

"In the second half, Jarrel led the charge," said Wilde Lake Coach Doug DuVall. "He came in and ran wild. That's a hard thing to do. The term we like to use is, he stepped into his own greatness."

For DuVall, it was a win against a coach, Bruce Strunk, who last year was under his tutelage as a defensive coordinator.

The Lions (4-2, 4-2) were hungry to avenge last season's loss to Wilde Lake in the Maryland 3A Eastern region finals. The Wildecats and the Lions split games last year, with Wilde Lake winning in a shutout in the playoffs. Howard beat the Wildecats in the regular season, 25-8.

And Strunk certainly wasn't above talking about his old team in the preceding week. Wilde Lake's defensive coordinator, Matt Clever, who teaches at Howard, served as a mole.

"[Strunk] was talking about all of us, trying to point little stuff out that we don't do," Epps said.

One thing Wilde Lake doesn't do much is pass. Quarterback Danny March's only completion came on a two-point conversion. He finished with 32 yards rushing and a touchdown.

The unbalanced offensive attack has DuVall concerned.

"We've got to throw more," DuVall said. "We're going to work on that in the next week or two. We can throw some. . . . When we get into the playoffs we're going to have to be able to air it out. We've got some stuff we could use; we just didn't want to take a chance on turning the ball over tonight."

Howard mustered just 41 yards of offense in the first half and one first down, yet went into intermission with a 13-12 lead, thanks in no small part to senior Mark Covington's 80-yard kickoff return to open the game.

Wilde Lake 27, Howard 13 Ground Gainers: Wilde Lake's backfield of Mike Fields (97 yards) and Jarrel Epps (81) were crucial for the Wildecats. Not Bad for Openers: Howard senior Mark Covington scored both of the Lions' touchdowns, including an 80-yard game-opening kickoff return, giving him a total of nine in the past three weeks.