Football: Mavericks Advance to States in Dramatic Fashion

Another week means another hero for Eastern Tech.

This week, it was running back Marquiese Bannister who scored on a 1-yard run with 2:37 remaining to lift Eastern Tech past City, 7-6, on Friday in the Class 2A North finals at CCBC Essex.

The win represents the Mavericks (11-1) fourth straight region crown and fifth in the last eight years. Eastern Tech now advances to the 2A state semifinals where it will most likely face Middletown, a 30-6 winner over South Carroll in the 2A South finals.

"We had some big time plays tonight against one of the best teams I've seen all year," Eastern Tech coach Marc Mesaros said. "Games like this define who they are as men."

City appeared to have momentum on its side for much of the game. Junior running back Da'Quan Smith gave the Knights (8-4) an early lead as he scored on a 53-yard touchdown run on the third play from scrimmage. However, City then missed the extra point and led just 6-0.

Eastern Tech had a hard time getting into a rhythm offensively as City successfully contained the Mavericks' vaunted rushing attack. City also intercepted Eastern Tech quarterback Brad Hager twice;  a week after the signal caller tossed four touchdowns passes in a 42-0 win over Dundalk.

"City took away just about every play that is our bread and butter," Mesaros said.  "But, these kids have been there before and understood what it took to come back."

City had several drives that went deep into Eastern Tech, but the Mavericks held the Knights back and either forced a turnover on downs or a punt. This was a much different game than most for City, which outscored its opponents 326-114 this season.

As for the Mavericks, their game-winning drive came when they took over at the City 46 with 8:16 remaining. Bannister accounted for 29 yards on the drive, including the game-winning score.

Bannister finished with 32 rushing yards on 10 carries. Junior Kenyon Crawford led the Mavericks with 61 yards on 11 carries while Hager rushed for 35 yards on seven carries and junior running back Sayvon Norman rushed for 33 yards on 11 carries.

"I told the guys this could be our last game and we did not want our season to end tonight," Bannister said. "This drive was all of us working as a unit and the sacrifices we made throughout the year came through tonight."

City had two more chances to win the game, but quarterback Steffen Wilkens threw two interceptions in the final two minutes. The first came from safety Nick McElfish and the other came on City's next possession by Norman. McElfish also stepped in as long snapper for Gage Viands, who was injured in practice this past week.

"That was the best," said Norman on how the win ranks in his high school career.

City coach George Petrides said the Knights have been physical all year but didn't capitalize on the chances his team had against the Mavericks.

"They wore us down a little bit," said Petrides , whose roster is about half the size of Eastern Tech. "We had a lot of players playing both ways."

Edgar Walker contributed to this story