1 week Ago By Timothy Dashiell
When New Town football coach William Savage and his team had perhaps the most impactful team meeting in Baltimore following a 0-3 start, following a heartbreaking loss to Owings Mills, it was the dawn of a new era. After some adjustments, not just to on-field personal, but to team morale and player mindset, Savage’s young men left that meeting a new team with a new outlook on what they needed to do to turn the season around. Seven wins later and once again facing the Eagles, this time in a Class 2A second-round North Region playoff game, Savage and his staff made one more key adjustment as they looked to avenge the regular-season loss.
“They were determined,” Savage said. “Our boys came to play football from the opening kick. You could see it in their eyes.
” Savage put the ball in the hands of Douglas Jett, and the senior responded, his two second-half touchdowns led the way. Still, the Titans needed one more big defensive play. The group put the exclamation point on the victory, sealing the deal with a stop on fourth-and-goal with 22 seconds left to clinch the 12-6 victory and a spot in the 2A state quarterfinals.
“We broke the curse,” Karriem Wilkerson, one of several defenders in on the final stop, said. “[Coach] told us do our job and that’s what we did.” Scoreless at halftime, It was clear both teams wanted to rely on their run games to grind out the physical win.
The Eagles used running back duo Nevaeh Elliott and Ty Simpson early and often in the first half, as coach Travis Hall had a feeling it was only a matter of time before one of them broke through for a big gain. On the third play of the second half, Elliott did just that, breaking through the left side of the New Town defense for a 60-yard touchdown run and the game’s first score. Needing to respond, it was time for Savage’s offense to put those adjustments to use.
Jett was moved from slot receiver to running back and the Titians began to pound the ball inside. “We saw that their defensive ends were coming up the field aggressive and strong,” Savage said. “So we let them come up the field and ran right run underneath them into the lanes they were giving us inside.
” It only took the senior two carries to make an impact, as Jett broke off a nice touchdown run of his own. After taking a handoff, trucking three Owings Mills defenders and racing to the end zone, Jett tied the game and proved he was in fact the right man for the job with the season on the line. “I know how to play my role,” Jett said.
“I stayed down, stayed patient and just waited for my time.” While the Eagles rotated Elliott and Simpson in with quarterback Rashad Williams, Savage put all his trust in No. 3, giving him the ball on almost all of the Titans second-half rushing attempts.
“When he was given his opportunity, we knew he wanted to go out there and eat, ” Savage said. “That’s exactly what he did.” Douglas Jett carries the ball downfield during the playoff showdown between Owings Mills and New Town High Schools at Owings Mills High School in Owings Mills, MD.
(Haldan Kirsch/Freelance) New Town’s Douglas Jett celebrates with a coach after a touchdown during the playoff showdown between Owings Mills and New Town on Friday. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance) The Eagle’s Nevaeh Elliott goes for a huge rush downfield to score a touchdown during the playoff showdown between Owings Mills and New Town High Schools at Owings Mills High School in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance) Owings Mills Malachi Bryant comes short of a pass during the playoff showdown between Owings Mills and New Town High Schools at Owings Mills High School in Owings Mills, MD.
(Haldan Kirsch/Freelance) New Town’s Raleek Amin celebrates with team mates after winning the playoff showdown over Owings Mills High School at Owings Mills High School in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance) The Eagle’s Allen Robinson shrugs off a defender during the playoff showdown between Owings Mills and New Town High Schools at Owings Mills High School in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance) Owings Mills QB Rashad Williams lines up a pass during the playoff showdown between Owings Mills and New Town High Schools at Owings Mills High School in Owings Mills, MD.
(Haldan Kirsch/Freelance) New Town Titans celebrate after winning their playoff showdown against Owings Mills at Owings Mills High School in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance) Jalen Turner hangs his head after Owings Mills fails to convert in the red zone during the playoff showdown between Owings Mills and New Town High Schools at Owings Mills High School in Owings Mills, MD. (Haldan Kirsch/Freelance) Douglas Jett carries the ball downfield during the playoff showdown between Owings Mills and New Town High Schools at Owings Mills High School in Owings Mills, MD.
(Haldan Kirsch/Freelance) The Titans defense played its part, holding the Eagles offense to 2-for-12 on third down while picking up two huge stops on fourth down: a John Davis sack in the first half that stalled a promising Eagles drive, and the gang tackle of Malachi Bryant on the goal line to end the Eagles 2024 season. “Defense stood up for us once again,” Savage said. “New Town has always had one of the best defenses in the county and that’s because we work really hard on it and get after it.
” As his players celebrated with backflips in front of the stunned and discouraged Owings Mills fans, Savage was already having discussions with Athletic Director Preston Waters about where his team could play be playing next week. The eight remaining 2A teams will be reseeded for the state quarterfinals. Regardless of where the game is or who they play, for Savage, it’s back to the grind as he and his self- proclaimed “second-half team” look to add another win to what has been a flawless second half of the season for the program.
“This takes us to an eight-game winning streak but we’re not gonna stop there. We gotta play next week.” Savage said.
“We’re gonna digest this for a little bit, and then afterward, gonna get back to work. It’s back to the drawing board tomorrow morning.”.
