Mergenthaler Wins the 4A/3A Title with Defense and Second Half Heroics

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Phil Myers | December 3, 2023

In what was thought would be one of the best MPSSAA playoff games of the weekend, Mergenthaler Vo-Tech scored the go-ahead touchdown with only two minutes remaining to defeat North Point 14-7 in the fog.  Coming into the game both teams had combined to score 961 points and even more amazing was the fact they had allowed a combined 108 points.  The high-powered offenses took a back seat in this game to the stingy defenses.

QB Raymond Moore with the ball (in white). #64 is Lamonte Brown.

It was the Mergenthaler Mustang ‘D’ that turned the game around.  The Eagles of North Point had taken a 7-0 lead into the intermission when they scored in the second quarter.  Damien Brown had punched it in from the four to cap a 57-yard, 9-play drive.  The Eagles could not duplicate that effort the rest of the game as the Mustang defense threw up a wall.

North Point fumbled at the four minute mark of the third and Mervo advanced the fumble a short distance to the North Point nine.  Three runs by Bobby Johnson put the ball into the end zone.  The subsequent PAT was blocked, so No. Point still led 7-6.

Mervo’s first TD on Bobby Johnson’s run. His o-line is helping him up.

Late in the 4^th, the Mustangs set up shop at the Eagle 36 after forcing North Point to punt from deep in their territory.  On the second play, QB Raymond Moore hit Justin Davaughn with a 31-yard touchdown pass to give Merganthaler their first lead of the day.  Johnson added two points on his run and that put the Mustangs up 14-7 with just over two minutes left.  North Point gained 9 yards on their first play from scrimmage after the kickoff to give them the ball at their 38.  But the Mergo defense stiffened and did not allow a yard on the next three plays to give Mergenthaler the victory.  It was Mergenthaler’s second championship in three years.

Kaleb Hart of North Point who led all runners with 72 yards.

Mergenthaler outgained North Point 215 yards to 130.  Both teams end the season with records of 13-1.

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