Instant Replay Downs

FIRST DOWN

Hawkins Airs It Out

Quince Orchard senior Travis Hawkins, a Maryland-bound running back-defensive back, returned to offense Friday for the first time since spraining his ankle on Oct. 18. But he didn't do his damage running the ball. In a 54-14 win over Richard Montgomery, Hawkins was 7 for 9 for 252 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions at quarterback, a far cry from his last performance under center: 3 for 11 for 57 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a state semifinal win last season. Quince Orchard's starting quarterback, Kevin Adams, broke his collarbone on Oct. 18 and Cody Shecter (4 for 6 for 69 yards and a touchdown last Friday) had been the Cougars' lone quarterback until Hawkins returned to split those duties.

SECOND DOWN

Honors for Landon

It was difficult to give too much credit to any one player after Landon captured the Interstate Athletic Conference title with a 20-14 victory over St. Albans on Saturday. RB Jeff Izon rushed for a season-high 208 yards and two touchdowns in the victory and finished the season just eight yards short of 1,000. But even his success was due in part to other players, Landon Coach Rob Bordley noted, pointing out that both of the Bears' guards -- Nick Vassos and Evan Dodson -- joined Izon on the all-IAC team picked yesterday by the league's coaches. "That buck sweep is our number one play," Bordley said. "It's built on guards and a tailback who follows his guards." Landon QB Sam McDonough also made the all-league team, along with DEs Tommy Hart and William Leighton, DT David Amaro and LB Jon Umanzor. It was a nice reward for going 9-1, the team's best season since going 8-0-1 in 1993.

THIRD DOWN

Eagles Take Flight

Douglass Coach J.C. Pinkney likes to run the ball. In his first two seasons as a head coach, the Eagles did not throw a touchdown pass. Now in his seventh season, Pinkney is getting a bit more comfortable passing, and that paid off Saturday in a must-win game against Gwynn Park. QB Richard Barber threw three touchdown passes to Maurco Bradley as the Eagles claimed a Maryland 2A South region playoff berth with a 26-12 win. "They didn't give us much of a choice," Pinkney said. "They had a lot of guys stacked up front." The victory gave Douglass (8-2) a Friday game at North Point. Meanwhile, Gwynn Park (8-2) dropped to the fourth seed in the 2A South and will play Friday at No. 5 River Hill, the defending state champion and winner of 24 straight.

FOURTH DOWN

A Model Offense

With a 56-15 win over Fishburne Military on Saturday, Model Secondary School for the Deaf won its first Capital Area Football Conference championship a year after going 2-7. Under first-year coach Mark Burke, the Eagles scrapped their old Wing T offense and installed the spread, which produced 39.5 points per game and a 7-3 record. QB Anthony Palmer threw for 1,895 yards and 30 touchdowns (including five on Saturday) against just six interceptions.