Big week ahead for Carroll County's remaining fall sports teams
Girls soccer, football, and volleyball have state tournament games on tap.
The fall season is winding down, and on the first day of winter sports tryouts there are still a handful of teams in state tournament action.
It's hard to believe we've arrived at basketball, wrestling, and indoor track preseason practice and tryouts, but time waits for no man (or high school sports program). So, until the courts and mats and tracks are ready for winter sports, let's keep fall alive and check out which Carroll teams are still playing for state championships.
Volleyball
South Carroll is in the Class 1A final and the Cavaliers face Clear Spring on Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. The state championship matches are being held at Harford Community College.
The Cavs are 14-4 after defeating Patterson Mill in five sets in the state semifinals Nov. 14. South Carroll is going after its first state title since 2007, but the Cavaliers face a Clear Spring team that won it all back in 2018.
Meanwhile, Carroll County Athletic League champion Liberty is into the Class 2A final and the Lions (18-0) will take on Middletown on Nov. 17 at 5.
Liberty ousted Hereford in four sets to win its state semifinal match at Watkins Mill High School (SC played Patterson Mill at Thomas Johnson High). The Lions get a Knights team that is into the state tourney for the first time in school history.
Meanwhile, Liberty is seeking a fourth state championship and first since 2008.
Girls Soccer
Century (14-3) plays Glenelg in the Class 2A state title game Nov. 18 at Loyola Maryland's Ridley Athletic Complex. Game starts at 5 p.m.
The Knights have won six games in a row, all by shutout. They took care of Sparrows Point in the state semifinals 2-0 (Century beat the Pointers 3-1 in a regular-season tournament game Sept. 17).
The Gladiators rallied to beat Hereford 3-2 in their state semifinal match last week. Glenelg won the state crown last fall and has seven in program history. Century last won a title in 2013 and a win Friday would give the Knights their fourth overall state championship.
South Carroll (10-5-2) can capture its first state championship with a victory over Fallston in the 1A final Nov. 19 at noon (also at Ridley). The Cavaliers dropped Allegany 2-1 in overtime to win their state semifinal game last Saturday.
They're on a five-game win streak, all of which have come in the playoffs.
Football
Westminster (10-1) hosts Oakdale (9-2) in a Class 3A state quarterfinal on Nov. 19 at Ruby Field, Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Owls and Bears scrimmaged each other back in August, at Westminster, so perhaps both teams will be leaning on some of that in-game knowledge when they meet for real.
The Owls are on an 8-game winning streak and they haven't lost since Week 3 against South Carroll (a 24-21 Cavs victory). The Bears have won three games in a row by a combined 115-17, and their 20-17 regional second-round win over Frederick avenged one of their regular-season losses.
Westminster beat Edgewood in come-from-behind fashion, 28-20, to advance to the state quarterfinals. The Owls haven't been to the state semifinals since 2012.
South Carroll (9-1) hosts Harford Tech (7-4) in a 2A-1A state quarterfinal Nov. 17 at Parker Field. It's also a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Cavaliers and Cobras met in a state semifinal last season, and SC prevailed 14-13 in a thrilling matchup in Winfield. This year's game is for the right to get back to a final four.
The Cavs got here by beating Boonsboro 20-14 last week, and South Carroll has won three straight games (127-26). Harford Tech took care of Parkside 30-13 in its regional second-round game last weekend.
The Cobras have won four games in a row (124-19) after dropping four straight during the season.