Published: November 27, 2009 11:42 pm      

Allegany falls in semifinal, 20-13

Joppatowne holds off Campers’ second-half comeback to remain unbeaten

JOPPATOWNE — A week after making people forget about it, Allegany was bit by the turnover bug that plagued the Campers during early-season losses as three first-half giveaways led to a 14-0 Joppatowne lead and helped the Mariners to a 20-13 win in the Class 1A state football semifinals Friday evening.

Two fumbles and an interception not only stopped three Allegany drives, but Joppatowne turned two of them into touchdowns of their own. Allegany, known for its strong second halves, made a nice comeback effort but was unable to overcome the first half miscues.

The undefeated Mariners (13-0) will play Catoctin, which beat Dunbar 13-12 last night, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore next Saturday in the state championship game at noon. Allegany finishes 9-4.

Allegany running backs Dustin Wharton and J.D. Hook were able to fight through poor field conditions and combined for 271 yards and both touchdowns. Wharton would run for 171 yards and had a 87-yard touchdown. Hook finished at 100 yards and scored on a 25-yard run.

Wharton set the Campers up with good field position on their first drive with a return to near midfield. Allegany went three-and-out, but got a quick stop on the defensive side and got the ball right back at its own 40.

Quarterback Drew O’Neal picked up a key first down with seven yards on a bootleg but was intercepted a few plays later to halt the Campers’ first scoring threat.

Joppatowne got its first big play on a bootleg of its own shortly after the interception. Quarterback Dominic Harper set the Mariners up at the Allegany 6-yard line when he play-faked, rolled out and was able to cut against the grain in sloppy field conditions for a gain of 45 yards. Harper ran for over 70 yards in the first half on just six carries, and finished with 96 yards.

Two plays later Epe Henriques scored from a yard out. A pass for two failed, leaving the Mariners up 6-0 with 11:36 left in the second quarter. Henriques was the biggest thorn in the Campers side most of the night and finished with 130 yards.

Allegany was quickly back in business, driving into Joppatowne territory on the strength of runs by Hook and Wharton. A 21-yard run by Hook got the Campers to the Mariners 22, but two plays later Joppatowne scooped up an Allegany fumble and returned to the Alco 10-yard line.

Two plays later Harper found Ernest Hawkins on a 13-yard touchdown pass, then ran for the conversion to make it 14-0.

For the third straight possession Allegany moved the ball effectively with both Hook and Wharton leading the charge. But another lost fumble gave the Mariners the ball back inside their own 20.

Fortunately, for the Campers, Stephen Bonnet came up with an interception, but Allegany wasn’t able to move and was forced to punt, and Joppatowne held the 14-0 lead at the half.

The Campers finally caught a break when a 15-yard penalty on Joppatowne extended Allegany’s first possession of the second half.

The Campers went to Wharton, who broke free for an 87-yard run to get the Campers on the board. John Carpenter’s kick made it 14-7.

After forcing a Mariners punt, the Campers went the distance again. Wharton gained three big yards on a fourth-and-three at the Joppatowne 34. Hook, who had a big run early in the drive, sprinted 25 yards to end zone to get the Campers to within 14-13.

The Mariners jumped offsides on the conversion, and after the penalty was marked off, Allegany decided to go for a two-point conversion and the lead. The Campers were denied, and the Mariners remained on top with just under nine minutes to go.

After an exchange of possessions, Joppatowne scored its final touchdown on a 14-yard run by Henriques, putting the Mariners up 20-13 with 1:44 to go.

Three incompletions and a short pass on fourth down ended Allegany’s final possession.