Oakdale boys basketball coach Brandon Long, Frederick High girls basketball situation

With the start of the playoffs approaching, Oakdale boys basketball coach Brandon Long is this week’s guest on The Final Score podcast.

Coach Long chats with host Greg Swatek about the highly competitive region the Bears play in, the Class 2A West, as Oakdale, Middletown and Williamsport have been trading victories with each other all season.

He also talks about his deep roster and the challenge of finding enough playing time for all that deserve it, as well as getting his players to buy into the defensive mindset that has defined the Oakdale program.

First, though, FNP sports writer John Cannon stops by to provide an update regarding the situation with the Frederick High girls basketball team. The three-time defending Class 3A state champions have lost five players since Feb. 4 for undisclosed reasons. What is the latest?

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Urbana girls track and field

Having just won another regional team track and field title, Urbana coach C.J. Ecalono and two of his top athletes, twin sisters Ezri and Oni Scott, are the guests this week on The Final Score podcast.

Ezri and Oni share with host Greg Swatek how their track and field careers began and what has made them such strong and versatile competitors. Ezri is a former state runner-up in the high jump, while Oni is a state place winner who competes in a unique combination of events during the indoor season, the shot put, high jump and 55-meter hurdles.

The twins also talk about their relationship, what makes them different and their upcoming college careers at New York University.

Coach Ecalono, meanwhile, shares his feelings about the Scott twins and what they bring to his team, as well as why the Hawks are such strong contenders again to win a second consecutive state indoor team title on February 18 in Landover.

Plus, sports writer Joe Ferraro stops by to discuss a busy National Signing Day for Frederick County athletes.

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Catoctin girls basketball coach Amy Entwistle

As the Catoctin girls basketball team enjoys one of its finest seasons, the team’s coach Amy Entwistle, is the guest this week on the Final Score podcast.

Entwistle tells host Greg Swatek why her small (10 players) but talented team has taken off this season. She talks about her players and how their togetherness and willingness to embrace things such as playing defense has translated into a lot of success this season.

The coach also talks about how she came into a job she has now held for 16 seasons as a 22-year-old, fresh-out-of-college kid. And she explains how her positive mindset continues to shape her life and influence her coaching to this day.

Plus, FNP sports writer Joe Ferraro stops in to discuss the county basketball scene.

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Catoctin football coaches Doug Williams and Paul DuMars

Doug Williams and Paul DuMars, two coaches who were together every step of the way during a 29-year tenure as football coaches at Catoctin, are the guests on the Final Score podcast this week in light of Williams’ announcement last weekend that he was retiring as the Cougars’ varsity head coach.

Williams and DuMar share details with host Greg Swatek about the first time they met, an encounter that took place in an off-beat location and ended with DuMars landing an assistants’ job with Williams a few weeks prior to the start of the 1991 season.

They talk about why they worked so well together for nearly three decades, what they will miss the most now that they are stepping away from the Catoctin football program and what the next chapter of their lives might look like.

Lots of great stories and memories, even a few laughs, are shared.

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Basketball coaches Kyle McFadden of the Frederick Force, Brian Burdette of Catoctin High School

As the season reaches the halfway point, boys basketball coaches Kyle McFadden of the Frederick Force and Brian Burdette of Catoctin High School are the guests this week on The Final Score podcast.

First, McFadden shares with host Greg Swatek what his first season has been like as a head basketball coach. What has surprised him? What has he learned? How did it feel to earn his first victory? What type of team do the Force have this season?

Then, Burdette joins the show to chat with Greg about his team’s recent upset of Middletown, which marked Catoctin’s first win over the Knights in at least 18 years. Who are the key players for the Cougars this season? How far can they advance in the playoffs? How has Burdette’s experience as a referee influenced his coaching career?

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Linganore wrestling coach Ben Arneson, plus a look at the basketball landscape

Heading into the heart of the winter sports schedule following the holidays, Linganore wrestling coach Ben Arneson is the guest on this week’s episode of The Final Score podcast.

Arneson chats with host Greg Swatek about the challenges of dealing with the holidays during the course of a season season and the interruptions to routines and schedules that come about. They also talk about the wrestling scene in Frederick County, including Linganore’s run to the state duals finals and county team titles last season, as well as the Lancers’s outlook this season with a much different and much younger team.

The coach is also asked about his 10-year run riding bulls in various places around the country.

In addition, FNP sports writer Joe Ferraro drops in to discuss the high school basketball landscape in the county.

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Dean Rose on the state of Frederick County Basketball

Dean Rose, a long time assistant coach and observer of boys basketball in Frederick County, is this week’s guest on The Final Score podcast.

Rose chats with host Greg Swatek about his deep-rooted passion for basketball in this area. He shares a number of good anecdotes, including taking his wife to a high school game on what was their second date.

He also talks about his long tenure as an assistant coach, first at Urbana and then at Oakdale under coach Terry Connolly, and coaching talented players such as Zach Thomas and Collin Schlee.

Then, Rose and Greg break down the boys basketball scene in Frederick County this season. Who are the top teams? Are any capable of challenging for a state title?

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Catoctin puts state football title in perspective

On this week’s special edition of the Final Score podcast, the Catoctin football team discusses its state championship victory.

Coach Doug Williams, senior receiver Eli Frei and senior running back and defensive lineman Jake Baker join host Greg Swatek to talk about the Cougars’ 31-8 victory over Dunbar in the Class 1A championship game on Dec. 7 in Annapolis. Coach Williams and the players talk about what the victory meant to them and what made the team so special.

Coach Williams talked about the ways the team improved over the course of the season. Frei talked about why the offense was so explosive after it average more than 40 points per game over the course of the season, and Baker explained why the defense improved so much over the course of the season and why in was able to make so many impactful plays in the playoff victories over Fort Hill and Dunbar, a pair of perennial state powers in 1A.

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Knights reflect on journey to state title

After Middletown’s 34-15 victory over Potomac last Saturday in the Class 2A football championship game, senior quarterback Reese Poffenbarger, senior receiver Brian Walker and coach Collin Delauter share their feelings about the state championship on this week’s edition of The Final Score podcast.

The trio chats with host Greg Swatek about the Knights’ remarkable journey from the fourth week of the season when the team was 1-2 to Saturday’s championship, which was Middletown’s fourth state title overall and first since 2013.

What changed? How was the team able to come together so well? In what areas did it grow the most?

The discussion covers a wide variety of subjects, including Walker’s emergence as a big-time high school receiver, and Poffenbarger’s remarkable three-year tenure as Middletown’s starting quarterback, which concluded with him throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and 45 touchdowns, in addition to rushing for nearly 500 yard and 13 touchdowns.

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Previewing the three Fred. Co. football state finals, Catoctin's Carson and Jamie Sickeri

With the Catoctin football team set to play in its first state final in roughly a decade, the team’s star running back, Carson Sickeri, and his father, Jamie, an assistant coach, are the guests this week on The Final Score Podcast.

The Sickeris chat with host Greg Swatek about the Cougars’ big shutout win over perennial Class 1A power Fort Hill last week and what makes their offense so dynamic. Catoctin is averaging more than 40 points per game this season. Jamie shares his back story growing up as a high school running back in a small, Western Pennsylvania football town and the family lineage at the position. Carson has reached even greater heights this season with more than 2,000 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns.

They also talk about what lies ahead, as Catoctin is set to face another perennial state power in Dunbar in the 1A championship game Saturday afternoon, and what they feel it will be like taking the field at Navy’s Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.

Up first, though, FNP sports writers John Cannon and Joe Ferraro join Greg to discuss the historical milestone, as Frederick County placed three teams in the state football final in the same year for the first time. They share thoughts and insights about Linganore’s game with Damascus in the 3A final, Catoctin’s game with Dunbar in the 1A championship game, as well as Middletown’s game with Potomac in the 2A final.

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Amy Poffenbarger, head coach of the Middletown girls basketball team

As the Middletown girls basketball team prepares to begin a season with state-title expectations, the team’s coach, Amy Poffenbarger, is this week’s guest on The Final Score podcast.

First, Poffenbarger chats with host Greg Swatek about what she appreciates most about the Middletown football’s team trek to Friday’s Class 2A state semifinal since her son, Reese, is the team’s quarterback.

Then, she talks about the season ahead for her basketball team and the recruitment process that saw her daughter, Saylor, fulfill a dream of accepting a full scholarship to the University of Connecticut to play for the dominant program in women’s college basketball.

Plus, what does an athletic, health-conscious sports family like the Poffenbargers do on Thanksgiving?

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Keys situation, football playoffs

With the potential demise of the Frederick Keys generating conversation around the area this week, Adam Pohl, a former Keys broadcaster and currently the Director of Broadcasting for the Bowie Baysox, is the guest this week on The Final Score podcast.

Pohl responds to the list that circulated through various media channels over the weekend that named the Keys as one of 42 minor league baseball teams that Major League Baseball was proposing to fold after the 2020 season. He states his beliefs about why MLB wants to chop so many minor league teams, including a financial reason that is not often reported and talked about. He also talks about why he feels the idea is so ill-advised and the likelihood of it ever coming to fruition.

Then, FNP sports writer Joe Ferraro stops by to share his thoughts on the matter and discuss this weekend’s high school football playoff games, as Catoctin, Middletown and Linganore complete in the state quarterfinals.

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Oakdale volleyball coach Jim Dorsch and players on their trip to States

As they prepared to face LaPlata in a state volleyball semifinal, Oakdale volleyball coach Jim Dorsch and the four senior members of his team were were the guests this week on The Final Score podcast.

Coach Dorsch and seniors Sydney Katz, Jess Twilley, Jen Chomiak and Cora Wasilko chatted with host Greg Swatek about their season, the injury to Katz during the playoffs that completely changed the dynamic of their team and returning to states at the University of Maryland’s Ritchie Coliseum.

FNP sports writers John Cannon and Joe Ferraro also stopped by to recap the busy playoff weekend for Frederick County teams in five different sports (football, volleyball, soccer, cross country and field hockey) and to preview what’s ahead.

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Linganore girls soccer coach Paige Pohopin, a look at State playoffs

Heading into an incredibly busy weekend for Frederick County sports, Linganore girls soccer coach Paige Pohopin is this week’s guest on the Final Score podcast.

The Lancers are getting set to take on defending state champion Northern Calvert on their home field at 5 p.m. Saturday in a Class 3A state semifinal. Coach Pohopin chats with host Greg Swatek about his passion for the Linganore soccer program, why her team has advanced this far and the job being thrust into her lap at the start of the season. What has been her biggest challenge so far adapting as a varsity head coach? What does she appreciate the most about this season?

But before that, FNP sports writers John Cannon and Joe Ferraro drop in to discuss the busy weekend ahead for county sports teams. There are two county field hockey teams playing in state finals for the first time in a long time, three soccer teams playing in state finals and eight county football teams playing in the playoffs, not the mention the state cross country championships.

The guys discuss all of it and share their insights on what is ahead for these teams and athletes.

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Mount St. Mary’s men's basketball's Vado Morse and coach Dan Engelstad

As Mount St. Mary’s prepares to begin its men’s basketball season next week, the team’s leading scorer last season, Vado Morse, and its coach, Dan Engelstad, are the guests this week on The Final Score podcast.

First, Morse sits down with host Greg Swatek to talk about his expectations for the coming season. Morse grew up in Suitland and played high-school basketball at Bullis Academy. How nice is it to have so many family members and friends able to come watch him play in college on a regular basis? How will he raise his game to another level after averaging 14.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists and being named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year last season? Any why is he so committed to playing basketball at the Mount?

Then, Coach Engelstad comes on to talk about how much further he and the program are along this season compared to last, which was his first season on the job. What are his expectations for his team this season? How will being more experienced help the team? Last season, there was not a junior or senior on the roster? And how does he feel about the schedule, which features road games against Georgetown, Washington and Kentucky, and the rest of the NEC?

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Urbana field hockey coach A.J. Stuart, a look at the depth of Fred. Co. Volleyball

Presiding over one of her best teams ever, Urbana field hockey coach A.J. Stuart is the guest this week on The Final Score podcast.

The Hawks are 14-1 after winning the Central Maryland Conference championship game last Saturday at Hood College and aiming to win their first state title. Coach Stuart explains to host Greg Swatek why she believes they have to the talent to do it and the qualities that make the team so special.

She also talks about starting the program from scratch when the school opened in 1995, her coaching mentors on staff at Urbana and her own upbringing in a competitive Baltimore household.

FNP sports writer John Cannon also drops in to chat about the depth of talent on the Frederick County volleyball scene and touch on the upcoming fall sports playoffs.

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Tuscarora boys soccer coach Todd Knepper

With his team about to play in its first Central Maryland Conference championship game, Tuscarora coach Todd Knepper is the guest this week on the Final Score podcast.

Knapper shares with host Greg Swatek the significance of his team reaching the conference championship game and why it is playing its best soccer at this late stage of the season. The Titans are unbeaten in their last eight games. He also explains why the Titans will defer home playoff games if it gives them the chance to play on a turf field.

The coach also talks about growing up the son of a professional baseball player, his own soccer career and why coaching was such a natural career progression for him. His first season at Tuscarora was spent as an assistant coach for the Titans' state championship team.

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Walkersville head football coach Joe Polce on the Lions' 4-1 start

With a big showdown against Catoctin looming this week, Walkersville football coach Joe Polce is the guest this week on The Final Score podcast.

The Lions are off to a 4-1 start this season with wins over Tuscarora, Liberty, Seneca Valley and Thomas Johnson and a loss to Linganore last week. Coach Polce shares his assessment of the season to date with host Greg Swatek. What is going well? What needs to get better? He also shares his feelings on the resumption of the Catoctin-Walkersville rivalry, which hadn’t been played for the last two seasons. What type of game does he expect on Friday?

Then, Frederick News-Post sports writer Joe Ferraro drops in to discuss the county football scene just past the midpoint of the season. What teams have made the biggest impressions so far? How deep is the running back position in the county? Is there a clear front-runner heading into the postseason?

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For a transcript of this podcast, click here.

Why Gov. Thomas Johnson had to pull the plug on its varsity football season

With questions swirling around the present and future of the Thomas Johnson varsity football program, coach Bobby Humphries and athletic director Mike Chavez are the guests this week on The Final Score podcast.

On Monday, the school decided to pull the plug on the rest of its varsity football season, citing a lack of numbers and player safety. Humphries and Chavez explain to host Greg Swatek why that decision was made and the various factors that went into it. They also share their personal feelings about having to make a decision like that and the reaction of the players to it.

Humphries and Chavez talk about why the TJ football program has fallen so far and what it will take to get it turned around. While TJ’s junior varsity team will continue on with its season, what is the future of the varsity program?

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Longtime Middletown girls soccer coach Heather Kline on why this is her deam job

Longtime Middletown girls soccer coach Heather Kline is the guest on this week’s Final Score podcast.

Coach Kline shares with host Greg Swatek how she got her start in both soccer and coaching, and why coaching the varsity girls team at Middletown High School was always her dream job.

She talks about the ways she has changed and the adjustments she’s had to make in 28 years of coaching soccer at Middletown, and she talks about her own team, which is off to a good start at 6-1, and the parity of girls soccer in Frederick County this season. Could her Knights be the team to beat?

Plus, News-Post sports writer John Cannon stops in to discuss the high school football scene and Urbana’s high-powered volleyball team. Can the Hawks win states this season?

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