Two Football Powerhouses Collide
Thursday on ESPN you will find the University of Maryland football team doing battle with the West Virginia Mountaineers for bragging rights in college football. On Friday at Coburn Field in Martinsburg at 7pm you will also see two states compete for high school football bragging rights. The Urbana Hawks from Ijamsville, Maryland will travel to West Virginia to face the Martinsburg Bulldogs. Friday Nights game will be the first ever meeting between the two schools but each school will bring alot of football history to the contest.
The Urbana Hawks have been dominating high school football in the state of Maryland for the last 7 years. Here is a brief rundown of the Hawks recent accomplishments: 4 State Championships, 50 consecutive wins and most recently three straight 9-1 regular seasons. Urbana has a tremendous football history and the Hawks have a strong team in 2006.
The Martinsburg Bulldog football team is no stranger to success either. Under Coach Dave Walkers direction the Bulldogs have an amazing record of 60 wins and 8 losses dating back to the 2001 season. The Bulldogs have advanced to three state title games in the past six years and have produced three Kennnedy Award (WV top Player) winners in that time span.
Urbana enters Friday's game 1-0 coming off a 48-8 win over Randlestown, Md. In that game standout running back Ryan Smith ran the ball 9 times for 221 yards and 5 touchdowns.Quarterback Matt Roy and Wideout Jimmy Roche are both very talented players and are being recruited by numerous college football programs. The Hawks return 32 seniors this season and they are confidant that their senior leadership will lead them back to the playoffs this season. Martinsburg Coach Dave Walker is very impressed with the Hawks, "Urbana is definitely one of the best teams I have seen in years. They are strong in all areas of the game."
Martinsburg brings their 2-0 record to the contest with wins over Hedgesville 42-8 and Rockbridge County, Va 27-12. The Bulldogs are a dangerous football team and can be very productive in the passing game or the running game. Senior running back Josh Twyman has 7 touchdowns and 300 plus yards in two games. Marcus Scott has also ran for close to 200 yards and 2 touchdowns as well. Urbana Coach Joe Polce feels the Bulldogs are a well balanced team, "Martinsburg is a very explosive team who has great speed in the backfield and at the wide receiver position."
Expect Friday night at Coburn Field to be a very exciting game with a playoff atmosphere.
