Maryland (MPSSAA) HS football playoffs: 1A First-round preview

Prep Redzone Maryland looks at the matchups taking place this week during the first round of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association, or MPSSAA for short, playoffs this weekend. There are several teams that have a bye. You'll also be able to catch a few players that are currently in our rankings for their recruiting class. Any rankings mentioned for a player are based on his standing in his recruiting class.   This article will focus on Class 1A.   *Note: stats mentioned are courtesy of MaxPreps.   Northern Garrett (4-5) vs. Southern (2-7)   It feels like it wasn't that long ago since these two teams play. Oh, that was last week, when Northern Garrett defeated Southern 44-0. NG running back [player_tooltip player_id='273743' first='Luke' last='Ross'] carried the football eight times for 74 yards and two touchdowns (one for 2- yards). Another one of their backs, Evan Graham, carried the football eight times for 79 yards and a touchdown (53 yards). Quarterback Liam Stewart added a touchdown run. Caleb Hinebaugh scored on a pick-six from 15 yards out.   Northern Garrett's [player_tooltip player_id='273743' first='Luke' last='Ross'] has carried the football 77 times for 551 yards and 11 touchdowns in 9 games this season. His backfield mate, Evan Graham, has carried the football 112 times for 525 yards and five touchdowns in eight games this season. Defensively, 2025 linebacker Nick Riley leads the team in tackles with 80 (26 solo)   The reason why these two teams are playing again is mainly because of Fort Hill having to forfeit five games due to playing an ineligible. That resulted in a reshuffling of the seeds and these two teams playing again this week.   The winner will play No. 1 Mountain Ridge   Allegany (4-5) vs. Fort Hill (7-2)*   As stated above, Fort Hill, the three-time reigning Maryland Class 1A state football champions, had to forfeit five victories due to playing with an ineligible player. It's another repeat game as these same two teams played last week with Fort Hill defeating Allegany 39-0. [player_tooltip player_id='1078611' first='Jabril' last='Daniels'] carried the football 15 times or 108 yards and three touchdowns, while [player_tooltip player_id='514044' first='Carson' last='Bender'] ran eight times for 56 yard and one touchdown in a rout for Fort Hill.   PRZ RANKED PLAYERS   FORT HILL   [player_tooltip player_id='1242804' first='Gamil' last='Daniels'] | DB | 2025 | Position Rank: No. 30 | State Rank: No. 331   Daniels made 29 total tackles (nine solo) in nine games this season. He also has an impressive 20 pass deflections on the season.   [player_tooltip player_id='514044' first='Carson' last='Bender'] | RB | 2027 | Position Rank: No. 4 | State Rank: No. 39   Bender has 45 carries for 253 yards and five touchdowns this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1078611' first='Jabril' last='Daniels'] | ATH | 2025 | Position Rank: No. 24 | State Rank: No. 24   Daniels is clearly the man on offense. He's carried the football 133 times for 1,202 yards (9.0 yards per carry) and 18 touchdowns.   [player_tooltip player_id='1242691' first='Tristan' last='Ross'] | RB | 2025 | Position Rank: No. 14 | State Rank: No. 268   Ross is the second-leading rusher on the team with 403 yards and three touchdowns on 44 carries.   [player_tooltip player_id='1246942' first='Braelyn' last='Younger'] | ATH | 2026 | Position Rank: No. 16 | State Rank: NO. 163   Younger has carried the football 28 times for 345 yards and seven touchdowns in nine games this season.   The winner will play Clear Spring (6-3).     Lake Clifton/Reach (3-6)  vs. Surrattsville (2-4)   The winner will play SEED (8-1)     Green Street Academy  (5-4) vs. Benjamin Franklin (1-7)   Green Street Academy defeated Ben Franklin 14-0 back on Oct. 25. In that game, Justin Thomas returned a fumble for a score and Dante Walker ran for the other score in a relatively low-scoring affair.   The winner will play Lewis (5-3)     Boonsboro (8-1) vs. Catocin (3-6)   Boonsboro defeated Catoctin 14-0 back on Sep. 6. They come into this game averaging 32 points per contest. They defeated Smithsburg 45-0 last weekend as 2027 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1709681' first='Blake' last='Main'] and 2026 RB Edward Boakye both ran for one touchdown apiece. 2026 ATH Parker DeBaugh accounted for four touchdowns (1-yard run, 25-yard run, 9-yard touchdown catch, and 50-yard run) during the game.   Brunswick (5-4) vs. Loch Raven (6-3)   PRZ RANKED PLAYERS   BRUNSWICK   [player_tooltip player_id='372391' first='Ethan' last='Houck'] | QB | 2025 | Position Rank: No. 2 | State rank: No. 29     Patterson Mill (6-3) vs. Pikesville (4-5)   Pikesville is coming off a 27-12 loss to Patapsco last week while Patterson Mill is coming a 53-18 win over Aberdeen last week.   Havre de Grace (6-3) vs. Joppatowne (3-6)   PRZ RANKED PLAYERS   Joppatowne   [player_tooltip player_id='1455368' first='Tyrone' last='Elee'] | DL | 2028 | Position rank: No. 2 | State rank: No. 15   Harve de Grace won their last game of the season by a score of 43-6 over North East last week. Joppatowne is coming off a 43-0 loss to Bel Air.   Colonel Richardson (5-4) vs. Snow Hill (5-4)   Colonel Richardson defeated Snow Hill 43-6 back on Oct. 11.   Colonel Richardson defeated Snow Hill 43-6 back on Oct. 11. In that game, CR 2025 quarterback Tarron Hammond threw for 97 yards and two touchdowns while 2027 running back Jazir Dickerson carried the football 13 times for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Fellow running back [player_tooltip player_id='1137579' first='Derrick' last='Mitchell'] (2026) carried the football nine times for 108 yards and one touchdown in the win. Dickerson and Mitchell are right behind each other when it comes to total rushing yards. Dickerson has 774 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in seven games while Mitchell has 739 yards and four touchdowns in nine games. Defensively, Chatydrick Pickrom and [player_tooltip player_id='507222' first='Chris' last='Rockwell'] lead the team in total tackles with 64 and 74 respectively.   The winner will play Cambridge-South Dorcester     Bohemia Manor (6-3) vs. Kent County (2-7)   Bohemia Manor defeated Kent County 35-12 back on Sep. 6. In that game, 2027 QB Kolby Dunn completed 13-of-16 passes for 242 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Xavier Granado, a 2025 RB, led the ground attack with 76 yards and one touchdown. Dain Lenz (2025) caught three passes for 49 yards and one touchdown. Granado led the team in tackles with eight total (six solo).   BM 2027 QB Kolby Dunn has completed 63-of-107 passes for 1,077 yards and eight touchdowns in seven games this season. Granado is the leading rusher with 718 yards and nine rushing touchdowns on 147 carries in nine games. Defensively, 2026 athlete Glenn Barlclay leads the team in tackles with 83 total (62 solo) and has one interception.   Perryville (7-2) vs. Washington (0-9)   Perryville is coming off a 42-0 win over Rising Sun last week.   PRZ RANKED PLAYERS   Perryville   [player_tooltip player_id='1091979' first='Jayden' last='Byard'] | DB | 2026 | Position Rankings: No. 15 | State Ranking: No. 71   Byard has caught 27 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns in eight games this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1128029' first='Jordon' last='Jones'] | RB | 2027 | Position Ranking: No. 1 | State Ranking: No. 20   Jones has carried the football 52 times for 187 yards and six touchdowns in six apperances this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1242790' first='Tayshawn' last='Johnson'] | LB | 2025 | Position Ranking: No. 41 | State Ranking: No. 41   Johnson has made 83 total tackles (51 solo, 13 TFL), to go with 2.5 sacks, in eight games.   Make sure to come back next week for a preview of second-round action

Prep Redzone Maryland looks at the matchups taking place this week during the first round of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association, or MPSSAA for short, playoffs this weekend. There are several teams that have a bye. You'll also be able to catch a few players that are currently in our rankings for their recruiting class. Any rankings mentioned for a player are based on his standing in his recruiting class.