One of this weekend’s biggest football showdowns will be Friday night’s Carroll County battle between Century and Winters Mill.

The winner will take over sole possession of first place in the county as well as the top spot in the Monocacy Valley Athletic League Blue Ridge Conference (which includes the same teams). Both teams are 2-0 and the only teams remaining unbeaten in the county and conference.

Century, a state Class 2A semifinalist last season, started out slow against a tough Frederick County schedule. After dropping games to Middletown, Thomas Johnson and Tuscarora, the Knights (2-3) won their first two Carroll County games, including last week’s 26-6 victory over previously-unbeaten South Carroll.

Winters Mill has not played quite the same strength of schedule but drew the toughest Frederick County team -- Linganore, the No. 2 team in the state according to MdVarsity.com and last year’s state Class 4A runner up. That 72-6 loss is the only game the Falcons have dropped in the first half of the season, going 4-1.

Looking for keys to the game, you can find the big ones in the quarterbacks. Century’s Josh Bordner and Winters Mill’s David Blackwell had impressive two-way performances last week and were both nominated for the Army Iron Man award given to the state’s best dual performance of the week.

Bordner, who has committed to Boston College, had a hand in three touchdowns in the 26-6 win over South Carroll. He threw for 207 yards and a touchdown and also ran for two touchdowns. On defense, he had two sacks and an interception.

Blackwell threw for 129 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 60 yards. He also had an interception in leading the Falcons over North Carroll, 26-14.

Kickoff is Friday night at 7 at Century.