Mallard Creek digs deep to top out-of-state challenger

The Mallard Creek Mavericks had to go deep into their roster to beat another challenging out-of-state opponent on Friday night.

With several starters missing because of injuries, the Mavericks (4-1), ranked No. 1 in the Observer’s Sweet 16, had to get contributions from a few first-time starters to defeat the visiting McDonogh School Eagles of Owings Mills, Md., 28-7 in their final non-conference game.

Junior quarterback Larry Matkins ran for one touchdown and passed for another in his first varsity start. And junior wide receiver Ryan Jones ran for a 60-yard touchdown and caught a 70-yard pass to set up another score.

“We try to prepare all 50-60 kids that we have,” Mallard Creek coach Mike Palmieri said. “There’s nobody on our roster that we don’t count on to come in and contribute.”

That was especially the case at quarterback where senior starter James Smith took only one snap, albeit a big one – the long strike to Jones which set up a big fourth-quarter touchdown.

But mostly the signal-calling was left to the backup, who guided the victory against the Eagles (2-1), a Baltimore-area private school that entered the game at No. 4 in Maryland’s all-classification rankings.

“We thought (Smith) was a little sore still from the Byrnes game (the Mavericks only loss two weeks ago in South Carolina). Larry is hard runner and can throw the ball.”

McDonough scored on its first possession on a 37-yard run by Mylique McGriff but the Mavericks matched it on a 13-yard scoring run by Matkins late in the first quarter.

The 7-7 score stood at halftime, and Mallard Creek grabbed the lead for good on a leaping 13-yard touchdown reception by Thaddeus Moss of a Matkins pass to the end zone with 3:49 left in the third quarter.

The Mavericks defense stopped the only McDonogh trip to the red zone early in the fourth quarter and Mallard Creek put the game away with a five-yard touchdown run by Darnell Walker set up by the long Smith-to-Jones reception after Matkins was briefly shaken up.

Jones ran for 60 yards and a score with just under five minutes left to play. 　　　　　　　

They said it

“We expected a tough, physical game. They scored first, but we always come back and battle. That’s our style. We try to play a four-quarter game. People step in and make plays. That’s what makes champions. We’re excited about our team.” — Mallard Creek coach Mike Palmieri.　

Records

McDonogh 2-1, Mallard Creek 4-1.

Worth mentioning

A multitude of penalties on both teams really didn’t affect the game’s outcome, but they were a constant presence in the game, especially the flag-filled third quarter — at one point coming on eight consecutive snaps.

What’s Next

Mallard Creek opens MECKA 4A conference play at West Charlotte at 7 p.m. Friday.

This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 11:57 PM with the headline "Mallard Creek digs deep to top out-of-state challenger."