Howard and Oakland Mills vie for Howard County supremacy

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/howard-and-oakland-mills-vie-for-howard-county-supremacy/2015/10/01/2419b204-685d-11e5-8325-a42b5a459b1e_story.html

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Malik Anderson could not fill the hole in Howard football’s reputation.

For the past two years, the Lions have composed an almost air-tight case that they have the best team in Howard County. Howard is the only 4A school in the league, so it has the depth. The Lions have not lost a county game since Oct. 11, 2013. Last year’s run to the state semifinal was as deep a postseason push as any one inside the county lines.

But Anderson, a returning all-county receiver and running back, has still heard doubts. The Lions had not been tested by a certain up-and-comer. Because of a rotating schedule, they had not played Oakland Mills since 2011.

“Last year, when they were doing real good and having everybody talk about them – and us not getting a chance to play them – people were talking about, ‘They’re going to take our title,’” Anderson said.

On Friday night, Howard has an opportunity to put that argument to rest. The Lions travel to Columbia for a meeting with the Scorpions. At 4-0, the opponents are two of three remaining undefeated teams left in the county.

After a 9-2 season that ended in the first round the 2A playoffs last season, Oakland Mills is determined to prove its first winning season in 11 years was not an aberration.

“Beating them would make a statement that we’re not just the underdog,” Scorpions senior quarterback Tre Hopkins said. “We’ve actually accomplished things in the past two years.”

“I think we always kind of had this game on our radar from the beginning,” Oakland Mills Coach Tom Browne said. “As a competitor, you always want to play the best team.”

Hurricane Joaquin could emphasize each team’s dependence on two of the most dynamic runners in the state. Hopkins and Anderson grew up playing youth football together on a team coached by Anderson’s father.

On Wednesday, Anderson said he was in a walking boot. After compiling a season-high 183 rushing yards against Mount Hebron, he came down with turf toe in the second half. Anderson was optimistic he would play Friday, and Howard will need his production.

The diminutive back whom Lions Coach Bruce Strunk calls “probably the toughest kid I’ve ever coached” has rushed for 550 yards and six touchdowns on 8.3 yards per carry.

“He doesn’t like to go down. He keeps the feet moving,” Hopkins said. “He’s like a little angry dog, a little angry Chihuahua. He just doesn’t want to go down for nothing.”

Strunk said the Lions are still looking for their identity, but with senior Casey Crawford under center, they have become a more balanced offense. Crawford has completed 62 percent of his passes for 580 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.

The Lions’ aggressive, swarming defense will have to be disciplined against Hopkins, the maestro behind the Scorpions’ no-huddle offense. A converted wide receiver, Hopkins thrives on open space and broken plays. He leads Oakland Mills in passing with 447 yards and three touchdowns, and rushing with 365 yards and three more scores.

“This is just a game to get our respect,” Hopkins said. “We just want to see how good we are.”