BOONSBORO – The Boonsboro Warriors knew it would happen sooner or later.
The time was going to come when they would have to play a playoff game on the road.
Well, that time is now.
The Warriors will take their show on the road Friday when they travel to Lusby, Md. to face Patuxent in a Class 1A state semifinal game. They may need to leave bread crumbs behind to find their way home.
Boonsboro has played its first three postseason games of 2025 at the friendly confines of Clayton Anders Stadium. In fact, the Warriors have played their last 10 playoff games at home, good for a 7-3 record.
The last time Boonsboro played on the road in the playoffs was 2021, when the Warriors lost at South Carroll in the Class 1A second round.
“It will be different,” Boonsboro coach Mark Wadel said. “It’s a long road trip. We’ve not been down there before. I’ve heard it’s not a very friendly environment.”
It shouldn’t be a surprise. Afterall, they’re not in Boonsboro anymore, Toto.
The Warriors will be heading out of town at about 1 p.m. on Friday to take the three-hour tour to Lusby, Md. for this game.
“We have it kind of planned out where we are stopping and doing different stuff,” Wadel said. “It will be a cool experience. The last two years, we have had three home games in playoffs, so it will be a different experience.
“These kids probably haven’t been down to Lusby, before … so why not.”
It could be considered a dry run for Boonsboro. That’s because if the Warriors win, they will be packing the bus again next week … to travel to Annapolis, Md. to play in their first state championship since 1994.
But, first things first.
Boonsboro has to prepare for a whole different experience, long trip notwithstanding.
Patuxent (8-3) enters the game as the top overall seed in Class A while Boonsboro (9-3) is the fourth seed. They got to this point by using different methods.
“We are a Wing T-based offense and they are more of a spread-based offense,” Wadel said. “We run the ball more and they use the pass. It’s what you are kind of designed to do.”
Boonsboro is perfectly happy running the ball inside and on sweeps with Jadon King and Parker DeBaugh carrying the ball until it needs an occasional pass from quarterback Blake Main.
But the Panthers have their own comfort characters, but they lean to throwing the ball more.
Much of Patuxent’s success revolves around freshman quarterback Brayden Watson and all-round athlete Evan Jones.
“They throw the ball very well,” Wadel said. “They have a freshman quarterback, but you wouldn’t know that he was a freshman, except for true arm strength. But he throws a great ball. He doesn’t have a ball that you would think is a bullet pass. He kind of arcs it a little more, but he puts it in a great location. He has great timing and does a very, very nice job.”
Watson has hit on 175 of 238 passes in 11 games for 2,192 yards and 25 interceptions. He has only been intercepted four times.
One of Watson’s biggest weapons comes in the form of senior Evan Green, who does a little bit of everything for the Panthers.
“He is very good player,” Wadel said. “He’s apparently a Maryland-Virginia Tech recruit. They have some other guys too, but he’s the dude. They move him from wide receiver. They have him play running back some. He is their corner. He’s very dynamic.”
Jones’ hybrid attack has accounted for more that 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Panthers. He has caught 28 passes for 599 yards and nine TDs, along with 322 yards rushing and five TDs.
“They are very talented on both sides of the ball. You can tell they are very talented, very well coached. We have a big task ahead of us.”
Patuxent, in Calvert County, Md., opened its doors in 1996 and has played in five different classes since 2000. The Panthers competed on the 4A level in 2004 and at Class 3A in 2001. They split the rest of their time between 2A and 2A/1A classifications. This is Patuxent’s first year as Class A.
Patuxent has been a perennially strong program, but – like Boonsboro – has only one state title to its name. The Panthers won their title in 2015 as a Class 2A school, while Boonsboro wan the 1A title in 1993. They have lost in the state title game four time, the last coming last season in Class 2A/1A.
With all that being said, it comes down to Boonsboro hitting the road to play a chess-like game.
“They are kind of like us,” Wadel said. “That’s based on the offense. They spread the ball around. That makes an offense lethal … kind of like ours.”
