MIAA Preview: Oct. 9, 2008

By: Jeff Seidel

FOOTBALL

The good news for local football teams might be the fact that the Loyola offensive machine gets the week off. Quarterback Leon Kinnard and the Dons have been pounding their opponents this season en route to a 6-0 start- the most recent decision being a 55-14 rout of McDonogh last week.

But Loyola next takes the field next weekend against MIAA A Conference rival Mount St. Joseph. The Gaels have another tough game this weekend, meeting McDonogh, as both schools are trying to rebound from last week's losses.

St. Joe had a tough 23-21 loss to public school powerhouse Allegany while the Eagles are trying to do better after last week's loss at Loyola.

Gilman has a non-conference game Friday against Poly. The Greyhounds handed Calvert Hall another tough defeat last week, a 13-10 overtime decision. The Cardinals lost in the final 30 seconds to Eastern Tech two weeks ago before this loss and face another tough opponent Saturday against Georgetown Prep.

SOCCER

The MIAA A Conference continues to have plenty of tough games coming up in the next several days.

Calvert Hall is trying to rebound from Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Gilman on Thursday, when the Cardinals are set to meet Loyola. Gilman's next game is a non-conference battle, against Landon on Saturday.

Archbishop Curley will also play on Saturday, meeting conference rival Mount St. Joseph.

Everyone is trying to chase McDonogh at the top of the standings as the Eagles continue to play tou gh defense. They've posted four straight shutouts and next take on St. Joe on Monday.

CROSS COUNTRY

Calvert Hall is trying to bounce back from a tough loss earlier this week to Mount Hebron at the Run From The Lions' Den at Liberty.

Coach Randy Fowler's team lost by only four points to the Howard County school despite getting two runners in the top 10 and had protested the scoring of the meet, but it was turned down.

The Cardinals are headed to Virginia this weekend for another meet. Other schools will be involved in the big local meet, the Bull Run Invitational, set for Saturday at Hereford High School. That event was moved back two weeks after a bad storm on the original date.

The MIAA championship meet is coming up, scheduled for Nov. 5 at Oregon Ridge. Calvert Hall is the defending champion.