Owls fall to Lancers in Class 4A North Region First Round

High School Football

For two-and-a-half quarters, the passing of quarterback Andy Gilford and the kicking of John Hanjos kept underdog Westminster in a tight battle with undefeated and top-seeded Linganore.

But the legs of Lancer running back Pat Balderson were the deciding factor as host Linganore pulled away in the second half to post a 48-20 victory over an inspired Westminster squad in the first round of the Class 4A North Region playoffs.

Running behind an enormous line, Balderson carried 24 times for 269 yards and four touchdowns. His two third-quarter scoring runs broke open a close game.

"We gave it our best shot, but somewhere in the third quarter they started to wear us down," said Westminster head coach Brad Wilson, who has guided the Owls to two playoff berths in four seasons. "I give my kids all the credit in the world, and I just feel bad for them."

Balderson got support from Lancer fullback Zach Zwinak, who pounded the Westminster defense for 87 yards on 12 carries and scored the first and last Linganore touchdowns. Linganore, the sixth-ranked team in the state, improved to 11-0 and advanced to Friday's regional final against Perry Hall of Baltimore County.

Westminster, which rebounded from last year's injury-riddled 1-9 season, completed the campaign with a 6-5 mark.

The Lancers routed Westminster 58-7 during the season, but this clash was different. After Zwinak capped Linganore's first possession with an 11-yard touchdown run, the Owls got a 44-yard field goal from Hanjos to narrow the gap to 6-3.

Linganore scored again in the second quarter, as Balderson swept in for an 11-yard touchdown. But the rest of the half belonged to Westminster.

Gilford guided the Owls on an eight-play, 68-yard drive that featured two big completions. The junior quarterback found senior receiver Jerry Hart for a 27-yard gain. On third-and 27 from the Owl 44, Gilford fired a strike to a Ricky Pownall. The play picked up 36 yards and moved Westminster to the Linganore 20. Four plays later, Gilford hit an open Brett Baer for an 11-yard touchdown that brought Westminster within 13-10 with 6:09 left in the half.

On the Owls' next drive, Gilford hit Pownall for an 18-yard gain and the Lancers were penalized 15 yards for a late hit. That helped set up Hanjos' game-tying 36-yard field goal with 3:24 left in the half.

The Lancers took a 20-13 half-time lead with a 71-yard, eight-play drive on the ground. Senior quarterback Nick Marth rolled for a nine-yard touchdown with 1:22 remaining to give Linganore a boost.

In the third quarter the Owls' defense forced a Lancer three-and-out, and four straight completions put Westminster in a second-and-three situation at the Linganore 40. But the next three plays gained only two yards, and the Lancers took over on downs. Three plays later, Balderson ran untouched for a 47-yard touchdown at the 5:36 mark.

Gilford was intercepted by the Lancers' Ricky Conner on the Owls' next play, and Balderson headed for the end zone on a 41-yard scoring run that widened the Lancer lead to 34-13 with 4:41 left in the third quarter.

Westminster marched to the Linganore 28 on its next drive, but the Lancers sacked Gilford on fourth down. Balderson closed a nine-play drive with a one-yard touchdown, and Zwinak ended the Lancer scoring when he completed a 10-yard touchdown run to increase the Lancer lead to 48-13.

Westminster scored on its final drive of the season. Senior quarterback Michael Hoff hit senior receiver Matt Skinner for a short gain and junior tailback Josh Booker recorded the Owls' biggest ground gain of the night with a 15-yard run. Two plays later, Hoff found receiver Travis Keeney for a 33-yard touchdown.

"We did some good things on offense in the first half," said Wilson. "We kept pace with them, but they overpowered us after a while. ... I think our lineman playing both ways caught up to us."

Westminster won its first five games this year and earned its first playoff berth since the 2005 team reached the Class 3A state championship game. The Owls rebounded from a four-game losing streak to win their season finale against North Carroll to make the playoffs.

"After going 1-9, we knew this season would be a gut-check," said Cremens, who added to his county-best receptions total of 51 with six catches for 87 yards against Linganore. "We came in knowing that we could sneak up on teams that didn't expect us to do much."

The Owls will lose 36 seniors, including four-year starter Baer. Gilford, who passed for 2,137 yards and 14 touchdowns, will throw to a new group of receivers as Westminster will lose Cremens, Hart and Pownall. Linebackers Tyler Krug and Carter Pearce will lead the defense.

"We had a great group of seniors who got us back into the playoffs, and laid the foundation for the younger players," Wilson said. "We have a good nucleus coming back, and our jayvee team went 7-2.

"Things are looking pretty good at Westminster."

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