Maryland high school football notebook (12/6/2023)

A pair of father-son duos make their mark at the state championships; Good Counsel finishes on top of the finals 2023 Maryland State Media Football Poll

Brycen Coleman fought back tears after being hugged by his coach after Stephen Decatur’s victory last Thursday evening at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Decatur’s coach, Jake Coleman, is Brycen’s dad. The duo completed a once-in-a-lifetime journey with the Class 2A/1A state championship.

“I’m unbelievably blessed. Brycen has been there for me through some tough times especially when my pops passed away. Our relationship has been unbelievable,” said Jake Coleman. “I’ve been so scared to disappoint him.”

It was an unforgettable night for Brycen Coleman (left) and his father Jake last Thursday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. With Jake as coach and Bryson at quarterback, Stephen Decatur completed a 14-0 season with the Class 2A state championship / Photo by Derek Toney

When the older Coleman, who guided his alma-mater Cambridge-South Dorchester for a decade and a half, decided to take the reins at Stephen Decatur in 2020, Brycen wanted to play for him despite opportunities at the private school level.

“He wanted to come here and felt like we could change the program…when he says something, you can’t doubt it,” said Jake Coleman.

The Seahawks reached the 2A/1A semifinals last year, losing in the final seconds to eventual champ Milford Mill. Decatur ended Milford’s reign with a 35-34 semifinal victory to earn its first state championship trip.

Stephen Decatur, which opened its door back in 1954, became state champions last Thursday with a 21-13 victory over Huntingtown. Brycen Coleman accounted for 298 yards and three touchdowns.

“It's been one hell of a ride,” said Brycen. “We’ve proved so many people wrong.”

Coleman said he didn’t play his best Thursday, dwelling on a fourth quarter interception that put Huntingtown in position to potentially tie the game late in regulation.

The Seahawks, who last had a winning season - before the Coleman’s arrival - in 2013, became the first Eastern Shore program in three decades to win a state championship.

The previous team was Cambridge-South Dorchester in 1996 (Class 1A) with Jake Coleman as a standout tight end.

Brycen plans to play the position next fall at Vanderbilt. He committed to the SEC program back in the spring.

He put together an impressive resume as “QB1” for Decatur with more than 7,000 yards (rushing and passing) and 95 touchdowns over 3 ½ seasons.

“He’s one of the best the state has ever seen, period. For him to cap off at 14-0, it’s unbelievable,” said Jake Coleman.

“That last hug, I’ve been waiting for that all season,” smiled Bryson. “I’m very blessed and fortunate to do this with him.”

After losing in the 2015 Class 4A state semifinals, Broadneck coach Rob Harris’ 10-year son Eli came up to him.

“Dad, you can’t win the big game,” Harris said. “That was tough.”

Harris, sitting inside the media room at Navy late last Friday evening after the 4A final, recounted that moment as Eli, now a Bruin senior, sat with a couple of his teammates.

“You know what, we won a lot of big games together,” Rob Harris said.

Eli Harris (left) helped Broadneck, coached by father Rob, reach the Class 4A state final last Friday at Navy. The Bruins fell to Wise / Photo by Derek Toney

It wasn’t the fairy tale ending the Harrises and Broadneck, playing just 10 minutes from its Anne Arundel County campus, hoped for. The Bruins were shutout by Wise, 21-0.

“In life you get some special moments with family and friends..how many people get to reach the pinnacle in any profession. For me as coach, the dream is to coach in a state championship, the dream is to win a state championship and to be able to share it with Eli…having that moment with Eli is amazing,” said the elder Harris, whose team reached the state final for the first time since 2003. “It’s heartbreaking that it’s over.”

Eli, who’s committed to Navy, led Broadneck with 56 receptions for 887 yards and 13 touchdowns. He completed his varsity career in the state Top 10 in career receptions (165), yards (2,164 yards) and touchdowns (32).

Eli Harris said he wanted to play for his father since he started playing football in rec league.

“He treated no differently than anybody else, if not worse,” said Eli. “He coached me like a normal coach would, but it’s great to have that guy when you go back home. You can still complain to him because he’s not a coach anymore, he’s your father.”

No. 1 for Good Counsel

After winning its first Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship since 2019, Good Counsel claimed the top ranking in the final Maryland State Media Poll.

The Falcons (10-1) received all 12 first-place votes to finish ahead of DeMatha (9-2). The Stags’ only two losses came at the hands of Good Counsel.

Archbishop Spalding, which repeated as MIAA A Conference champs, placed third, followed by Class 4A state champ Wise, and St. Frances. St. Frances was No. 1 in the state poll the previous five seasons.

The rest of the Top 10 features Class 3A state champ Oakdale, MIAA B champion Concordia Prep, three-time reigning 1A champ Fort Hill, IAC tri-champ Georgetown Prep and McDonogh, which reached the MIAA A final.

FINAL MARYLAND STATE MEDIA FOOTBALL POLL

1. Good Counsel (10-1; 300 points)

Season result: Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Capitial Division champions

2. DeMatha (9-2, 284)

Season result: Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Capital Division finalist

3. Archbishop Spalding (10-2; 273)

Season result: Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference champions

4. Wise (12-1; 257)

Season result: Maryland Class 4A state champions

5. St. Frances Academy (5-6; 241)

Season result: Playing an independent schedule, St. Frances lost to three of SBLive’s national Top 5 teams in No. 3 IMG Academy (Fla.), No. 4. Chaminade-Hollywood (Fla.) and No. 5 Mater Dei (Calif.)

6. Oakdale (14-0; 239)

Season result: Maryland Class 3A state champions

7. Concordia Prep (11-1; 227)

Season result: Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference champions

8. Fort Hill (13-0; 213)

Season result: Maryland Class 1A state champions

9. Georgetown Prep (8-2; 195)

Season result: Interstate Athletic Conference tri-champions

10. McDonogh (7-3; 188)

Season result: Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference finalist

11. Loyola Blakefield (6-4; 181)

Season result: Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference semifinalist

12. Dunbar (11-0; 162)

Season result: Maryland Class 2A/1A state champions & Baltimore City Division I champions

13. Mervo (13-1; 146)

Season result: Maryland Class 4A/3A state champions

14. Broadneck (11-3; 129)

Season result: Maryland Class 4A state finalists

15. Northwest (9-3; 124)

Season result: Maryland Class 4A state quarterfinalists

16. Quince Orchard (9-1; 117)

Season result: Montgomery County 4A champions & Maryland Class 4A West Region finalists

17. North Point (13-1; 112)

Season result: Maryland Class 4A/3A state finalists & Southern Maryland Athletic Conference champions

18. Linganore (12-2; 111)

Season result: Maryland Class 3A state finalists

19. Calvert (12-2; 82)

Season result: Maryland Class 2A/1A state finalists

20. Stephen Decatur (14-0; 75)

Season result: Maryland Class 2A state champions

21. Perry Hall (12-1; 64)

Season result: Class 4A/3A state semifinalists & Baltimore County Division I champions

22. Patuxent (11-2; 48)

Season result: Class 2A/1A state semifinalists

23. Mount St. Joseph (7-5; 44)

Season result: Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference semifinalists

24. Bishop McNamara (6-4; 32)

Season result: The Mustangs started 6-0, but lost all four WCAC Capital Division games to miss postseason.

25. Winston Churchill (11-2; 17)

Season result: Maryland Class 4A state semifinalists

Others receiving votes: Riverdale Baptist (6-4; 12), Huntingtown (10-3; 6), Mountain Ridge (11-2; 6), Old Mill (10-3; 2), Blake (11-1; 1), Milford Mill (9-3; 1), St. Mary’s Ryken (7-5; 1)