LEONARDTOWN, Md. -- The Raiders football team of Leonardtown High School reached the Maryland State Semifinals for the first time in the school's history. The game, played against the Mergenthaler Vo-Tech football team in Baltimore, took place on Nov. 29.
The Leonardtown Raiders had an impressive season. During their showdown against the Blake Bengals on Nov. 22, the Raiders defeated the Montgomery County school 35-25 -- a feat that showcased the team's skill and passion.
To prepare for the match, the Raiders held more practice sessions than usual. Crystal Compton, the mother of team member Darius, shared on Facebook that the athletes even practiced on Thanksgiving, a testament to their dedication to the sport.
"This week, the boys will be practicing on Thanksgiving Day," Compton wrote. "Never thought in a million years that I'd be thrilled about dedicating a holiday weekend to their passion. BUT... YEAH! Nothing beats this life that I'm living!"
The Raiders narrowly lost to Mergenthaler Vo-Tech, 42-37, but their achievements this season remain remarkable. The team made history for their school and Southern Maryland as a whole.
After the semifinals, Compton posted another message on social media, congratulating the team for their efforts.
"This team has been so much fun to watch and support," she wrote. "Each of you will venture off to your own journey post-graduation, but no matter what happens going forward... YOU WILL REMEMBER THIS SEASON FOR A LIFETIME!!! BE PROUD of what you've accomplished for yourselves, your families, your high school, your peers, and your community. Your village showed up for you all because you all continued to show up for us week after week. You all literally brought a community together and you didn't even realize it was happening.
"Last night didn't go as planned, but I promise you this... you all EARNED your respect. You battled until the final second. You all were WARRIORS on that field last night -- you gave the defending state champs a run for their money!"
The Raiders' football team will retain its fighting spirit for years to come, and Leonardtown High School won't soon forget how their team performed so passionately in the 2024 Maryland State Semifinals.