No, seriously: It's cold out there. Thirty-degree weather isn't why I moved here from New York (and Pennsylvania). At least it's not snowing -- like last week.

With Arundel's loss, like Mr. Creditor mentioned, the fall season wraps up for Anne Arundel County. It's been a good one, filled with championships (St. Mary's football, Severna Park field hockey, Broadneck volleyball), records broken and set (Arundel football's Billy Cosh and Alec Lemon) and ... well, a lot of other things, I'm sure. But it's late, and I'm tired.

I'd like to thank Bob Hough and Sean Burns, our primary football writers and blog contributors, and most important, Avi Creditor, for his constant updates on this piece of technology that we're told is doing well.

Each night, I text message Avi updates at a feverish pace -- while trying not to get smothered on the sidelines or trip over my own feet -- and he throws them right up on the screen, all while doing whatever he does at the office. While my fingers froze the last couple of weeks, it got harder and harder to send him results -- physically and mentally -- but seeing the finish product made it worthwhile.

Thanks for everyone who read along, corrected us and didn't make fun of the way I looked. If get enough of that already.

We'll do our best to keep you informed of all the happenings in Anne Arundel County over the next season. If anyone has news tips, story ideas or blog features, please send them over. If you keep us busy, we'll keep you reading.

Thanks a lot, folks. Take care and goodnight.

By: Mike Peters

Linganore held off Arundel tonight, defeating the defending state finalists, 59-34, in Frederick tonight.

The Wildcats finish the season at 11-2 and a game short of the state title game.

Billy Cosh has set the new standard for Maryland high school quarterbacks. As he returns for his senior year next season, he'll be aiming to gun down his state record of 56 touchdown passes.

Alec Lemon finished the season with 23 touchdown receptions, tying him for the most in a single season in state history.

Thus concludes the fall sports season for Anne Arundel County teams.

The MIAA/IAAM schools have already begun playing winter sports, and tonight in boys basketball, St. Mary's defeated Key School, 66-39, to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Key falls to 1-3.

Keep an eye out in The Capital over the next two weeks for winter sports season outlooks.

The public schools' first playday for basketball and wrestling is next Friday. Swimming and indoor track begin a week later.

By: Avi Creditor

Pat Balderson's fifth touchdown run of the night, a 17-yard dash, has Linganore ahead of Arundel, 59-34, with 4:43 to go.

By: Avi Creditor

After usually-reliable kicker Blake Alderman missed a 30-yard field goal that would've pulled Arundel within eight points, Lancers running back Pat Balderson took the ensuing play 80 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.

With 6:47 left to play, Linganore leads Arundel, 52-34.

By: Avi Creditor

Alex Eckhardt's 33-yard field goal with 8:18 to go has Linganore ahead by 11 points, 45-34.

It'll take two scores for Arundel to tie or take the lead.

By: Avi Creditor

That means it's about to be the fourth quarter.

When the quarter commences, Linganore will have first-and-1o on the Arundel 31, already leading 42-34.

By: Avi Creditor

R.J. Harris' third TD grab of the night, a 2-yard toss from Billy Cosh, has Arundel back within one score. The PAT went wide right, so the Wildcats trail Linganore, 42-34 with 4:09 left in the third quarter.

SEASON TOTALS: Harris - 20 TD catches; Cosh - 56 TD passes

Winner of this game gets the winner of No. 1 Sherwood (12-0)-No. 4 Henry A. Wise (9-3) in the state title game here.

By: Avi Creditor

That's what Arundel needs to do now.

Zack Zwinak's 23-yard TD run with 8:27 to go in the third quarter has Linganore ahead of the Wildcats, 42-28.

If anyone's offense can make up a deficit, it's Arundel's; however, the Wildcats haven't trailed too often this season. Their next possession is critical.

By: Avi Creditor

Prior to our first update, the following happened:

R.J. Harris caught a 4-yard TD pass, Linganore's Pat Balderson had 20-yard TD run, and Alec Lemon had an 11-yard TD catch to make the score 14-7 Arundel.

Harris and Lemon each have two touchdowns.

Lemon's second TD grab tied him with Brandon Johnson-Farrell (Arundel, '07) for the Maryland single-season touchdown receptions record (23).

Harris has 19 of his own on the season.

Billy Cosh has thrown four touchdowns, giving him 55 on the season, but he's also been picked off twice.

Arundel must avoid second-half turnovers to keep pace with the Lancers.

By: Avi Creditor

Finally, a break in the action.

At halftime, Linganore leads Arundel, 35-28.

By: Avi Creditor

Zack Zwinak, Linganore's top rusher on the season, took a carry 62 yards for a touchdown, finishing a one-play drive with 3:45 left in the first half.

Linganore 35, Arundel 28.

By: Avi Creditor

R.J. Harris, Billy Cosh's other lethal weapon at wideout, just hauled in a 20-yard TD catch with 6:35 to play in the first half.

Arundel 28, Linganore 28.

By: Avi Creditor

The Lancers have matched Arundel with a big play of their own. Ryan Dixon's 45-yard catch with 10:03 left in the first half as Linganore back on top, 28-21.

Arundel coach Chuck Markiewicz goes by the philosophy that he doesn't care about giving up points, he just hopes to have more by the end of the game.

The Wildcats take chances on defense to get the offense the ball back either way, so as long as the Wildcats keep scoring, they'll be in their comfort zone.

By: Avi Creditor

Capital-Gazette Newspapers' Player of the Year, Alec Lemon, has just received a 48-yard touchdown pass from Billy Cosh, tying the game at 21-21 with 11:50 to go in the second quarter.

Back and forth we go.

By: Avi Creditor

A Pat Balderson 26-yard run around the right has Linganore ahead 21-14 with 0:36 left on the clock in the first quarter.

By: Avi Creditor

Sorry for the delay folks. Blog was down for a bit at the most inopportune time.

A belated Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and your families.

And now for the only belated scoring update of the night:

Linganore's Pat Balderson scored on a short run down the right sideline to tie Arundel at 14-14 with 2:59 left in the first quarter of their Class 4A state semifinal game.

Arundel (11-1) is on the road trying to advance to the Class 4A state championship game for the second consecutive year. Linganore (12-0) has a staunch run attack, and can match Arundel point for point.

This one might come down to who ends up with the ball last.

Please accept our apologies, and stay tuned for more updates.

By: Avi Creditor

With Wise's 28-0 win over C.H. Flowers this afternoon, the match-ups for the Class 4A state semifinals are set.

It'll be:

No. 4 Wise at No. 1 Sherwood, Fri., Nov. 28, 7 p.m.
No. 3 Arundel at No. 2 Linganore, Fri, Nov. 28, 7 p.m.

Linganore (12-0) won the North region by defeating Perry Hall, 53-0.

By: Avi Creditor

With Sherwood (12-0, West Region champions) and Linganore (12-0, North Region champions) winning tonight, it means two things:

1) Arundel will not be getting a rematch with Quince Orchard (lost to Sherwood).

2) Arundel will be seeded no higher than third among the region champions, meaning that the Wildcats will play at either Sherwood or Linganore next week. Date and time are TBA and contingent on the outcome of today's (Saturday's) game between Flowers and Wise.

By: Avi Creditor

The state semifinals are re-seeded, so it's possible that Arundel will host its next game, and it's possible that the Wildcats will be on the road.

It should all be sorted out by Monday afternoon.

Should the Wildcats host the game, it'll likely be at 7 p.m. next Friday. The state tends to give the host schools that have lights Friday night games.

The other 4A region games this weekend are:

• 4A West
  No. 1 Sherwood vs. No. 2 Quince Orchard, tonight at Sherwood
  
• 4A North
  No. 1 Linganore vs. No. 2 Perry Hall, tonight at Linganore/Oakdale
  
• 4A South
  No. 2 CH Flowers vs. No. 4 Henry A. Wise, tomorrow, 1 p.m. at CH Flowers

By: Avi Creditor

It's a final in Gambrills: Arundel 42, Severna Park 20.

Arundel has captured its second consecutive region championship.

Alec Lemon didn't catch a touchdown pass, but he rushed for one and returned a fumbled for one. He finished with two interceptions on the night (including one in the end zone late in the fourth quarter) and recovered two fumbles. The kid's good.

It's onto the state semifinals for Arundel (11-1). The Wildcats' opponent and time and location of game will be determined in the upcoming days.

Congratulations to Severna Park (8-4) on a great season.

After starting off 0-2, not many outside of the Falcons' locker room believed they had a chance at playoff berth, let alone a shot at the region title.

By: Avi Creditor

Both Arundel and Severna Park put up touchdowns within four minutes of play.

Sean Fitzgerald caught his second touchdown pass, a 22-yard toss from Billy Cosh, to give Arundel a 42-14 lead.

That was followed by a 19-yard pass from Sam Jones to Brendan Noone, but the ensuing 2-point conversion failed.

Arundel 42, Severna Park 20, 7:38 left to play.

It's a final at Queen Anne's: QA 30, KI 6. Queen Anne's (12-0) is the 2A East Region champion. Kent Island finishes its season at 8-4.

By: Avi Creditor

Alec Lemon took a direct snap down the left side for a 9-yard touchdown run and has given Arundel some breathing room. With 11:24 to play, the Wildcats lead Severna Park 35-14.

Is there any doubt as to how valuable the Syracuse-bound receiver/defensive back/rusher/kick returner is to Arundel's success?

By: Avi Creditor

Keith Rich's 21-yard run has effectively slammed the door shut on an otherwise historic Kent Island football season.

Queen Anne's leads the Bucs 30-0 with 4:59 left in the game.

Kent Island set a school record for wins (8), clinched the first playoff spot in program history, and won the program's first playoff game.

By: Avi Creditor

Arundel senior Alec Lemon has made his name as a wide receiver. But he has made just as big an impact at defensive back in these playoffs.

He just returned a fumble for 25 yards and a touchdown. He stripped the receiver of the ball and took it the distance.

With 2:02 to go in the third quarter: Arundel 28, Severna Park 14.

By: Avi Creditor

It'll take a big fourth quarter from Kent Island in order to win the 2A East Region.

The Bucs trail by 23 entering the final frame.

By: Avi Creditor