Glenelg Football’s Surprising Playoff Run

By Matt Lipp

     Coming off a huge upset win over River Hill, Glenelg was looking like a reborn team ready to make some noise in the postseason. A long trip to Thomas Stone High School was next for the Gladiators who looked to win their second straight Regional Title. Going into the game as underdogs again, Glenelg would have to pull off another upset to reach the game that only three Glenelg football teams have been before.

    The game was pretty much dominated by Glenelg all night long by Glenelg in a 27-18 upset win. Huge turnovers by Seniors Tyler Curtiss and Seth Taylor set up the Gladiator offense with a short field in two of their four touchdown drives. Junior Quarterback Tyler Reiff found paydirt three times after being set up at the goal line each time from fellow Junior Wande Owens and Sophomore Kyle Dry. Owens was shaken up early in the game but little 120 pound Dry stepped up in a big way running the ball hard all night. The defense was the unit that really stepped up late in the season and once again they controlled the game.

    Glenelg then had the ultimate test. They had to travel to Damascus High School to face a team that has won the last four Maryland 3A State Championships. They entered the game as 42 point underdogs and there was no surprises in this one. The Gladiators season was over after a 42-7 loss at the hands of the Hornets. After the tough loss, Senior Cory Willson said “We just faced an excellent team today. I definitely think we went as far as we could have. Nobody expected us to make it to this game.” It was a tough way to end a great season for Glenelg.

    It really was a special season for a Glenelg team that was destroyed by injuries all year long. Before the season began, they lost Senior Garrett Mills who was a four year starter on Varsity. Mills eventually returned to action in Week 7 against Wilde Lake High School. “I’m definitely going to miss it a ton. It was 4 years of great memories that I will remember for a lifetime”, said Mills after his last career game. Junior Sam Alsheimer who could be a future D1 football player was lost for the season in the second quarter of the opening game against Howard High School. After losing their best player and being blown out in Week 1, it is remarkable that the Gladiators made it as far as they did.