Maybe the biggest factor in No. 4 Calvert Hall's 26-21 upset win over top-ranked Gilman on Friday night was the play of its defense. After giving up 271 yards in the first half, and letting both Greyhounds quarterback Darius Jennings and speedy back Cyrus Jones run wild, the Cardinals switched up their scheme at halftime, with remarkable results.

Gilman managed just 42 yards of offense in the second half. Jennings, who had rushed for 168 yards in the first half, had just 32 the rest of the way.

"We made some adjustments at halftime -- a little bit of an alignment adjustment and a personnel switch," Cardinals coach Donald Davis said. "We kind of flip-flopped a matchup that we thought we could take advantage of, and we did."

The physical game also took its toll on Calvert Hall, which likely will be without top running back and middle linebacker C.J. Williams for several weeks. The junior left with an apparent knee injury on the game's opening possession, and will have an MRI this week, though Davis isn't optimistic.

"There were some things that were telling," he said. "He's just got to get the official word."

As for the finish, it was one for the ages, with Calvert Hall roaring back from a 21-7 deficit with three fourth-quarter touchdowns, including two in the final 1:39. Delando Johnson scored the game-winner with 26.3 seconds left, picking up an errant long snap -- which had sailed over the head of Gilman's punter -- and returning it 20 yards.

At the final horn, several hundred Calvert Hall fans streamed onto the field in an emotional celebration.

"I've never seen anything as crazy as that," Davis said. "It is the wildest finish, certainly, that I've ever been a part of, as a player or a coach."

-- Rich Scherr