A football primer as Carroll County gears up for 2022 fall season

Aug. 10 marked the first day of practice for fall high school sports teams, and before you know it the season will be underway.

For football teams in Carroll County, that means Sept. 2 is the first of nine Fridays in a row with regular-season matchups. And then the postseason will arrive. 

Until then, which will likely feel like the blink of an eye, let's take a look at each county football team's history before we dive into practice and 2022 season previews in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned for those. 

CENTURY

Coach: Dave Ferguson, 2nd season

Last year: 1-8, 1-5 in the Carroll County Athletic League

First game: Sept. 2 at Dundalk

Knights history: The next win will be the 90th in program history. Former coach Jim Holzman (2009-16) is the all-time wins leader with 42. Josh Bordner (2007-09) is the 4th all-time passing leader in Carroll history with 4,433 yards.

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY

Coach: David Cunningham, 1st season

Last year: 7-4, 3-3 CCAL

First game: Sept. 2 vs. Smithsburg

Eagles history: Jarren Rutter graduated last spring as FSK's all-time leading passer with 2,352 yards. Cunningham, a Winters Mill HS grad, is the 12th coach in Key history, and only two of the previous 11 finished with winning records.

LIBERTY

Coach: Larry Luthe, 10th season

Last year: 3-7, 3-3 CCAL

First game: Sept. 2 at Walkersville

Lions history: Luthe has the best coaching record in program history at 57-35, with 6 playoff appearances. Three more wins will make Luthe the 10th coach in Carroll history to reach 60 career wins. The Lions' all-time leading passer is Colton Weaver (2005-07), with 5,111 yards -- second most in the county.

MANCHESTER VALLEY

Coach: Bernie Koontz, 5th season

Last year: 7-4, 3-3 CCAL

First game: Sept. 2 at Williamsport

Mavericks history: Jake Boog should be returning after passing for 1,000 yards last season and helping the Mavs win a playoff game. Koontz is halfway to former coach Tony Shermeyer's all-time wins mark of 40 (Man Valley has only had 2 coaches).

SOUTH CARROLL

Coach: Mike Kraus, 5th season

Last year: 12-1, 6-0 CCAL

First game: Sept. 2 vs. Brunswick

Cavaliers history: The Cavs surpassed 300 all-time victories during last year's run to the 2A-1A state final. AJ Rodrigues led the county in rushing last fall with 1,182 yards. Kraus' next victory will be his 20th as SC coach.

WESTMINSTER

Coach: Chris Bassler, 4th season

Last year: 8-4, 5-1 CCAL

First game: Sept. 2 vs. South River

Owls history: Bassler is 23-7 as Westminster's coach, and that includes a 6-0 record in the spring 2021 season. Recent grad Jack Gruenzinger led Carroll with 2,158 passing yards, and junior Mason Fisher collected a county-best 1,205 receiving yards.

WINTERS MILL

Coach: Matt Miller, 10th season

Last year: 1-9, 0-6 CCAL

First game: Sept. 2 at St. John's Catholic Prep

Falcons history: Ben Love (2007-08) threw for 4,599 yards in his WM career -- third most in Carroll history. The Falcons are closing in on 70 victories in their program's history.