Fab Four in their respective leagues
Although it's still early, it appears that No. 1-ranked Boys' Latin, 14th-ranked Archbishop Curley, 10th-ranked Severna Park and 13th-ranked Fallston have become solid front-runners for their league crowns.
Led by All-Metro attackman Travis Reed and front-line mate Brett Weiss, defending champion Boys' Latin, knocked off then-No. 2 McDonogh and then-No. 1 St. Paul's last week to take over sole possession of first place in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference.
The Lakers (6-0 league, 13-1 overall) are after their sixth crown under coach Bob Shriver, who is in his 28th season. Next to the Lakers, however, fourth-ranked Loyola might be the league's hottest team, having won six consecutive games behind junior attackmen Steele Stanwick and Joe Cummings, and Johns' Hopkins-bound senior midfielder Tim Donovan.
Meanwhile, second-team All-Baltimore City attackman Kenny Whittaker has Archbishop Curley on pace for its best season since 1986, when the Friars won their last of five crowns in the now-defunct Maryland Scholastic Association. Among this year's victories for the Friars, who were MIAA B Conference semfinalists in 1998, 2005 and last year, are those over last year's 4A-3A state finalist Dulaney and last year's MIAA B Conference runner's-up Park, which ended the Friars' season, 7-6, in the semifinals.
Even though Severna Park has a new coach, Larry Kramer, formerly of Northeast, and has added California transfer Colby Rhodes, the Falcons haven't missed a beat. They have combined with North Carolina-bound Chris Hunt and Eric Lusby to remain the premier team in Anne Arundel County and as contenders to capture their fourth state title.
At Fallston, the high-scoring attack of Patrick Mull, Chad Palmer and Luke Raab has helped the Cougars remain unbeaten in nine games, including a 15-3 rout of defending Baltimore County champion Franklin, and a 10-8 win over Curley. Coached by Matt Parks, Fallston has all but secured the Harford County title. But in order to win the program's second state title, the Cougars must negotiate a difficult 3A-2A North Region that includes county rivals North Harford and Bel Air, as well as Baltimore County's once-beaten Catonsville, Hereford, Towson and Franklin.
