The McDonough Rams won their fourth State Championship (1983, 1985, 1990, 2010) at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore Saturday, on a chilly and breezy afternoon. The Rams brought the defensive heat early and often dominating the first half as the Middletown Knights were only able to muster two first downs and a total of six yards in the first 24 minutes.
In the first quarter McDonough’s Senior WR Devante Gray caught touchdown passes of 47 and 22 yards from QB Aquil Michaux as the rams took a 14-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. Middletown came out fired up in the second half and after giving up a third TD to Gray, the defense caused two consecutive drives to end in fumbles by McDonough.
Sam Michaels scored on a 20 yard run on the first and QB Michael Pritts hit WR Chris Pirrone with a 30 yard TD strike to narrow the gap to 21-14.Middletown got the ball with under a minute remaining in the game, and the stadium erupted on what everyone thought was a 45 yard completion to the Rams 8 yard line from Pritts to Pirrone. With only 31 seconds left, the officials (who do not have access to replay in high school football) called the pass incomplete. Gray virtually ended the game with a sack of Pritts and the celebration began for the Rams who began doing “snow angels” on the Baltimore Ravens home turf. Gray finished the game with five catches for 113 yards and the leading rusher was McDonough’s Justin Brooks with 18 carries and 88 yards on the ground.
Congratulations to the McDonough Rams and Coach Luke Ethington for their 2-A State Championship!
