It was May four years ago that Century High School football coach Tony Shermeyer followed his athletic director over to the local middle school to talk to the eighth-graders about fall sports at Century.

"There were a lot more of them that day than there are here now," Shermeyer said. "I have about 16 left. But I told them that day that if they worked hard and stayed together they could have a really good football team. I told them what they had to do in the weight room to make themselves better and those kids listened to me and did the work. Now, they're reaping the rewards."

Century (9-0) plays local 2A West rival Liberty (7-2) tonight with the possibility of claiming a perfect regular season record.

Whether the Knights earn a 10-0 mark or not, this season is already historic. It is the first time in Century's eight-year history that it has a winning record. It's previous best came two years ago, when these same players went 5-5.

And, on a personal note, Shermeyer and his wife became parents for the first time three months ago, when Noah arrived.

"I drive 45 minutes to work to be with my football team," said Shermeyer. "Then I drive 45 minutes home at the end of the day and have the added joy of seeing his face."

Ranked No. 13 in this week's Baltimore Sun poll, Century is experiencing a raucous autumn.

In the last four years, Shermeyer has seen his team go from 1-9 to 5-5 to 4-6 to 9-0 and seen the enthusiasm in the communities of Sykesville and Eldersburg rise exponentially.

"Both towns have gotten excited about this," said Shermeyer. "And here at the school, there is a whole lot more school spirit. You see kids taking pride in wearing the green and white football shirts. Every Monday morning, when they make announcements, they talk about our football team's victory, and at the end of every day, the person making the end of the day announcements encourages everyone to come to the game Friday night."

Century's Varsity Club has put together a tailgate party to increase the celebratory atmosphere before tonight's game.

"There's a lot of buzz," said Shermeyer.

The coach is creating some buzz of his own. He is nearly self-taught.

Shermeyer attended DeLone Catholic High School in McSherrystown, Pa., and played football for one year in college at Kutztown University before leaving to coach his alma mater for two years. He then went to Mount St. Mary's where he got his teaching degree, but The Mount has no football team.

"I've modeled my coaching after my high school coach, Dennis Frew," said Shermeyer, who came to Century when it opened in 2001 and took over as head coach four years ago. "He was someone I looked up to because of the way he treated the kids. He left a big impression on me."

Before the start of this season, Shermeyer moved last year's quarterback, senior Luke Wright to wide receiver, and moved receiver Josh Bordner, a junior, to quarterback.

"We've just taken off since then," said Shermeyer, who credits Bordner and seniors Wright, running back Cory Anderlik, OG/DT Matt Bodnar and C/DT Nick Wolcott and FB/LB Mike Conway as being key to the team's success.

"Luke, Josh and Cory make our offense go," said the coach. "Matt and Nick are leaders in the off season and strong and quick on the line and Mike Conway does all the dirty work. He's like having another lineman in the backfield and Mike and Cory lead our defense at their linebacker positions."

Tonight, if Century wins, it will be the No. 1 seed in its 2A West region and probably be looking at a rematch with Liberty, currently the No. 4 seed. Should Liberty win tonight, Century could slip to No. 2 and Liberty move up to No. 3, which would again pit the two area rivals in a rematch.

"There's a slight chance we could play someone else," said Shermeyer. "But whatever happens doesn't matter. The important thing is we're going to be in the playoffs for the first time in our history. And it's all because those eighth graders listened to me and then put in the hard work necessary to get better."

- Sandra McKee