MPSAA 4A/3A Championship Game Preview: Mervo vs. North Point

MPSSAA 4A/3A State Championship Game Preview   Mergenthaler Vo-Tech (11-2) vs. North Point (11-2)   How Mergenthaler got here:   1st round: 56-0 win over Woodlawn   2nd round: 7-0 win over Catonsville   Quarterfinals: 46-26 win over Frederick   Semi-finals: 42-37 win over Leonardtown   How North Point go here:   1st round: 42-0 win over North Point   2nd round: 42-13 win over Great Mills   Quarterfinals: 39-0 win over Old Mill   Semi-finals: 34-0 win over Perry Hall   The 2024 matchup between these teams is a repeat of last year's championship game matchup. Mervo won that game 14-7.   Mervo raced out to a 20-0 lead before eventually winning 42-37 over Leonardtown. [player_tooltip player_id='1575266' first='Davon' last='Smith'] Jr., Mervo's quarterback, ran for 162 rushing yards and four touchdowns and passed for 129 yards. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='1314085' first='Kaden' last='Foster'] ran 13 times for 144 yards and a touchdown. The Mustangs also got touchdown runs from Cleveland DeShields and [player_tooltip player_id='1198270' first='Dashawn' last='Overton'].   North Point put on a dominant defensive performance, holding Perry Hall to 62 yards during their 34-0 win.   MERVO   Ranked Players   [player_tooltip player_id='1242141' first='Kasir' last='Hicks'] | 2025 | DB | 5-8 | 165 | No. 104 (state) | No. 23 (position)   HIcks is a Merrimack football commit.   [player_tooltip player_id='1242632' first='Zyion' last='Backmon'] | 2025 | DL | 6-5 | 235 | No. 228 (state) | No. 48 (position)   [player_tooltip player_id='1241854' first='Justin' last='De'Vaughn'] | 2025 | WR | 6-0 | 165 | No. 30 (state) | No. 4 (position)   De'Vaughn is a Maryland football commit.   [player_tooltip player_id='1242595' first='Joseph' last='Harris'] | 2025 | OL | 6-3 | 295 | NO. 218 (state) | No. 36 (position)   Quick thoughts on a few unranked players   [player_tooltip player_id='1575266' first='Davon' last='Smith'] Jr. | 2025 | QB   Mervo quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1575266' first='Davon' last='Smith'] has passed for 2,004 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for 1,232 yards and 21 touchdowns. He is undoubtedly a prime candidate to be ranked when the next update comes out. He is a Central Connecticut State commit.   [player_tooltip player_id='1580039' first='Colvin' last='Jones'] | 2025 | TE-DE | 6-3 | 190   Jones is relentless coming off the edge, has a nice motor, and has a few pass-rush moves in his arsenal. If left unblocked, he will chase down the runner from behind. Relentless in pursuit.   Kamron Leonard | 2026 | DL | 6-2 | 310   He's not the fastest off the ball, but he is consistent in being persistent. Leonard uses his size and power to beat the blocks of offensive linemen. He also makes plays, as evidenced by the sacks and strips shown in his highlights. What I like a lot about him is his willingness to hustle down the field to make a play.   Jahzier Lassiter | 2025 | LB | 5-11 | 185   Another one of Mervo's quick athletes, Lassiter, plays out of position but fits perfectly into his team's defense. He reads his keys quickly and attacks the line of scrimmage. As a pass defender, Lassiter can cover a good amount of ground. He is also an effective pass-rusher when needed.   Darryl McCray | 2025 | DB | 6-0 | 165   The first three plays of his highlights are impressive. All red zone reps and McCray are playing man-to-man defence. He doesn't allow the wide receiver to beat him inside, and in two of the plays, he ends up making the interception on a fade ball. The other play ends up in a pass deflection. I'm always impressed when a cornerback can showcase plays of him playing man-to-man defense and making plays on his highlights.     NORTH POINT   Ranked players   [player_tooltip player_id='1033512' first='Ethan' last='Washington'] | 2025 | DB | 6-1 | 160 | No. 190 (state) | No. 38 (position)   [player_tooltip player_id='1242581' first='Nasir' last='Eatmon'] | 2025 | DB | 6-0 | | 160 | No. 200 (state) | No. 41 (position)   Eatmon is a Delaware football commit.   [player_tooltip player_id='1242020' first='Seth' last='Gathers'] | 2026 | ATH | 6-1 | 190 | No. 85 (state) | No. 7 (position)   Gathers is a James Madison football commit.   Quick thoughts on a few unranked players     Lawtell Bowlding | 2027 |OLB |  6-1 | 165   A young linebacker with a lot of range in his game. Solid pass-rusher, quick off the edge. But he's athletic and can cover in space as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1579986' first='Russell' last='Jackson'] | 2025 | WR | 5-7 | 175   Jackson is a wideout who does most of his damage out of the slot position. He is also an effective kick returner and can set his team up in good field position. Quick in and out of his routes. He is undersized from a recruiting standpoint but gets the job done for his team.   [player_tooltip player_id='1580052' first='Damien' last='Brown'] Jr. | 2025 | RB-LB | 5-7 | 190   He's hard to stop once he gets rolling, whether on the run or catching a pass. He's also a physical linebacker and an aggressive tackler. I like him a lot on defense, but I respect his running ability as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='711492' first='Kyler' last='Ferriera'] | 2026 | QB | 5-10 | 185   Pocket passer who scans the field and goes through his reads if the first option isn't open. Impressed with his fearlessness when throwing the football down the middle of the field and into tight windows.

MPSSAA 4A/3A State Championship Game Preview