And then there was just one. Stephen Decatur advances to the 2A Final and for the second straight year a 2A Bayside Conference team is in the state championship game.

And then there were just two. Stephen Decatur and Cambridge advanced in their 2A and 1A Quarterfinal matchups respectfully while Kent Island’s season came to an end at the hands of Huntingtown in their 2A Quarterfinal matchup in Stevensville last Friday. 

And then there were just three. Stephen Decatur, Kent Island and Cambridge-SD won out in their respective regions and are in the Quarterfinals. For Decatur and Kent Island it’s the third straight year in the quarters, it’s the first for Cambridge since 2019. Decatur is hosting their first Quarterfinal since 2004. Now we can root for all the Bayside teams as they have all non-Bayside matchups with the re-seeding that came after Round 2. Wishing the Seahawks, Bucs and Vikings all wins!

We have gone from 13 teams in the Bayside down to 6 (4-2A teams and 2-1A teams) just like that as the playoffs continue into Round #2. Outside of Kent County’s upset of Snow Hill every other game went chalk. Believe it or not Queen Anne’s win over Bennett was their first playoff win since November 19, 2010, against Fallston.

The Playoffs are here; every team now gets into the postseason as has been the case since 2021 and after 2020 when there was no season due to Covid. All the Bayside 2A teams are in the 2A East Region and all the Bayside 1A teams are in the 1A East Region. There are three Thursday games, and the rest are on Friday. All the games but one (Colonel at Bo Manor) are Bayside versus Bayside Conference matchups. 

The 2023 Regular Season wrapped up with little surprises overall on Rivalry Week in terms of wins and losses. The margin of win for Kent Island over Queen Anne’s was unexpected though, most including myself thought it would be more competitive.

We are down to Week #9, the Final Week in the Regular Season…It’s Rivalry Week however there have been some changes. Who did I pick?

We had another battle of the unbeatens, this time on Thursday night and North Caroline defeated Kent Island in that one and deserve to move up a spot over the Bucs. Caroline’s lone loss was to #1 Stephen Decatur. It was the first time KI has lost back-to-back games since October 2019. 

We are down to just two weeks left in the regular season. This week there are many Thursday night games with just a few Friday night games. A pair of 6-1 teams do battle as North Caroline hosts Kent Island. 

Mike Bradley ranks your favorite Bayside football teams after week 7 of the season.

We enter the final third of the season beginning Thursday night. Another big matchup of undefeated teams (more upcoming) this week and good 1A matchup as well that has 1A seeding implications. There is also another Salisbury City Championship game taking place this week.

We had the battle of #1 versus #2 a big 2A matchup between Stephen Decatur and Kent Island and #1 Stephen Decatur won decisively. They are not the only undefeated 2A school however as North Caroline also shares an undefeated 6-0 record and those two do battle this Friday in Berlin. We also had a huge 1A matchup between two time defending Bayside 1A (Small School) Champ Colonel Richardson who hosted Snow Hill who was off to their best start in 16 years. Colonel came out a big winner and won the 1A Small School Championship for a third straight year.

We finally get a week of all Friday games as they were meant to be played. The likely 2A Game of the Year is this week, more on that coming up. There is also a huge 1A game this week as well that could determine the Bayside 1A (or Small School) Champion.

We still have three undefeated teams in the 2A, but one will suffer their first loss of the season as Kent Island hosts Stephen Decatur this Friday. KI has won fourteen straight regular season games going back to last season

We have reached the mid-way point in the 2023 season. This week all but one are Conference games with the exception of Colonel Richardson who is on the road at Lancaster, VA. There are now two Thursday night games. The rest are on Friday. One of the Salisbury City Championship games takes place this week as well. 

Week 4 Capsule: We learned some more last week with the North Caroline-Wicomico and Queen Anne’s-James M. Bennet matchups. I felt Caroline, given the schedule they have played and improving to 4-0 deserved to be moved up.

This week we are into all Conference matchups. Washington is the lone team not in action as they have a bye week. One game is on Thursday and the rest are on Friday. In one instance we have a rivalry game which is usually reserved for the last game of the regular season however the Stephen Decatur and Snow Hill matchup did not survive that tradition. The rest of the rivalries do remain in Week #9. This week also presents matchups that are difficult picks. 

Mike Bradley broke down week three and has adjusted the power poll. Do you agree with where your team is placed?

After there were several non-conference games last week in which the Bayside Conference performed well, there are many more intra conference matchups this week coupled with just a few non-conference matchups. 

Week 2 Capsule: Wicomico got Head Coach James Matt McMurdo his first win and both North Caroline and Snow Hill first year head coaches Nic McMorris and Raheem Hammond are off to a 2-0 start. The last time Snow Hill started 2-0 was 2007

Week 1 Capsule: North Caroline and Snow Hill got wins for first time Head Coaches Nic McMorris and Raheem Hammond. The last time Snow Hill won their first game of the season (non-Covid) was in 2019, a blowout win against Chincoteague 38-6 but prior to that it had not been since 2010 against Easton, a21-9 victory. Wicomico and Washington fell in the debuts of both of their Head Coaches. I can’t penalize Wicomico much for playing one of the top teams in the state in Linganore. Former HC Isaiah Taylor scheduled that game not by current HC (James) Matt McMurdo…No real major surprises in the outcomes per my predictions but the games certainly provided a lot of learning. *Some Stats via Bill Haufe and The Star Democrat

Mike Bradley makes his week one picks known. Did he pick your favorite team to win?

Mike Bradley's offers up his assessment of the upcoming 2023 high school football season on the shore.

Easton High School student-athletes started a Morgans Message Chapter to help bring awareness to mental health issues in high school students.

Jospeh W. McCartin Insurance Donates $5000 to Help Alleviate Childhood Hunger on the Shore

Mike Bradley has released his final Power poll of the 2022 football season. How did your favorite team fare? Mike is taking your comments at Mike@shoresportsmd.com

North Caroline High Schools James McCormick announced on Wednesday, January 5th that he is stepping down as head coach of the football team.

Did Mike pick the Bucs? Or did he pick the top seeded Millers from Milford Mill Academy?

Mike Bradley has made his picks for the two games involving Bayside teams. Did he go with locals?

The high school football coaches from across the Bayside Conference recently announced their choices for the All-Conference team. Find the Coach and Player of the Year below as well as 1st team All-Conference. Congratulations to all of the players. Photo: Kent Island's Kasey Heath accepting the Sport Clips MVP Award from Mark Potter

Playoff picks for week two are in as just six Bayside teams remain in the title chase.

Mike Bradley released a power poll based solely on playoff game results. A shock at number one> What do you think?

Mike Bradley's playoff picks have been revealed. Does yours match-up with his? Feel free to email Mike your picks to mike@shoresportsmd.com

The final power poll of the regular season. Where did your team end up?

Mike Bradley's Week Nine picks are now available. Feel free to email your picks to Mike@shoresportsmd.com to see how you match-up.

The next to last Power Poll of the season is out. There is some movement after last weeks game. Check it out by reading more.

Mike Bradley's picks are in!!!! How does his match up with yours? A couple of tough match-ups to pick this week. See Mike's picks by clicking Read Below.

The Top 5 remained the same with all but one team winning and that was Decatur. You could make an argument with the quality win QA had over Decatur to possibly tie them with Easton, but Easton won the head-to-head and had stronger wins over like opponents. It's obviously very close though between both teams. This Thursday and Friday will determine a lot with QA at WiHi and Easton hosting Decatur.

Mike Bradley has his picks in for week seven. How do yours match-up?

Some close games this past weekend across the Bayside. Did your favorite team move up or down in the polls? See where Mike Bradley has your favorite team slated by reading more below.

Mike Bradley has made his selections for some tough matchups this week. Did he pick the same teams as you? Compare by reading more below

This week's Power Poll has a lot more clarity after Kent Island defeated Wicomico and Easton defeated North Caroline. At this point with 4 straight wins and two against top 5 teams in Decatur on the road and at home against then #1 Wicomico (and the way they did it against the Indians especially in the first half) has me boosting Kent Island to the top. Frankly I could have tied them for #3 last week with Queen Anne's but had to acknowledge two wins were against 1A teams (albeit good ones in 1A) and the loss to Easton on the road Week #1.

Mike Bradley released his Thursday picks yesterday and went 4-0 on the day. We have included those picks and his thinking for all of the week five contests.

This week's Power Poll undoubtedly will bring about a lot of scrutiny. Fair enough but at the moment it's near impossible to do a ranking without criticism which makes it fun and challenging. There are just too many subjective criteria and unknowns at the moment that makes everyone happy. I have never done this one who simply has the better record. Margin of victory and loss, strength of schedule, where you won or lost, experience, youth, etc. all play into my thinking. I tried very hard not to do a lot of ties and make tough decisions.

Mike has made up his mind for the week four contests. How do your picks match-up? Click below to see his picks for this weekends slate of games.

Three games are in the books and just two teams remain unbeaten! How does that shake-up Mike's Power Poll? Click below to get the complete look at how things have changed.

Some tough games to pick this week but Mike didn't shy away. Who did he pick to win the tough games? Find out by clicking below.

A little shake-up in this week's OTL Power Poll. Check it out below

Here are Mike Bradley's Week Two picks. 6-1 last week and Mike is hoping to go 6-0 this week. Did he p[ick your favorite? Check it out here!

Mike Bradley's Week One Power Poll is out. Who moved up and who moved down? Check it out by reading more below.

Mike Bradley kicks off the 2022 High School Football season with his pre-season poll of the Bayside football teams. How does he rank your favorite team? Click on the link below and enjoy!

Luke Mergott made several college visits and camps and made his decision recently.

Easton High Quarterback and Linebacker Kevin O'Connor recently chose the college that he plans to attend in teh Fall of 2023.

Former Kent Island football coach Damian Ferragamo agrees to join the broadcast team

Decatur Seahawks Khi Reid recently announced that he will continue his education and football career at Salisbury University.

Stephen Decatur senior RJ Brittingham recently announced that he would continue his education and football career at Post University. The private college is located in Waterbury, Connecticut and has been around since 1890.

Decatur senior Kresen Muir recently announced that he will be continuing his education and football career at the University of Southern Utah.

Cambridge South Dorchester's Tayon Fletcher has decided to continue his education and football career at Salisbury University. Tayon played running back and linebacker for the Vikings and joins a pretty young Seagull squad led by the legend Sherman Wood. Good luck Tayon!

Cambridge South Dorchester's Kiambre Taylor decided to take Salisbury University up on the opportunity to continue his education and play football. The lineman will continue to grow under the direction of head coach Sherman Wood. Congrats Kiambre and we wish you well!

Wicomico High all-around athlete Jayce Freeman spent plenty of time sifting through some offers from some great colleges and universities. In the end, he has chosen to continue his education and football career at Stony Brook in Stony Brook, New York. The Seawolves continue to be a part of the Colonial Athletic Association and will compete against the likes of Delaware, UNC Wilmington, Towson, William & Mary, and others. Freeman will be an asset wherever Coach Priore decides to use him. Best of luck to Jayce!

Parkside running back Dadrian Williams announced his college decision on National Signing Day

Decatur celebrated RJ Brittingham and his commitment to play at the college level.

Decatur center Duncan Ely has announced that he will attend Salisbury University

Decatur's award-winning quarterback has announced his college choice

Easton High School's David Gardner recently announced his college choice.

Decatur lineman Luke Scott has announced his commitment to play football at the college level

JM Bennett's Akeem Howell is set to play college football

Decatur Running Back and all-around athlete is headed to the mountains

The WiHi Indians saw three of their football players sign letters of intent on National Signing Day (February 2, 2022). There are still a player or two that have yet to announce a decision from this very talented roster.

Coach Hoot Gibson has officially retired from Wicomico County Public Schools. He has served as a teacher, athletic director, and a coach at JM Bennett for many years. He made a HUGE impact on the lives of the students he came in contact with over the years. Congratulations Coach! Enjoy your retirement and being a full time Pop Pop.

Easton High School football coach Pat McGlinchey stepped down as the head coach on Friday, December 3 to spend more time with family. The school names his successor on Monday, December 5th and it was a familiar face.

Mike Bradley has shared his final OTL Power Poll of the 2021 Football Season. There is a lot of information here to absorb and gives us something to look forward to for the 2022 season.

The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) on Friday, September 24, 2021 approved a proposal to alleviate issues associated with COVID-19 quarantines, loss of football contests, and to provide an equitable opportunity for all schools to compete in the 2021 Football State Championships. The proposal will allow all 182-member schools playing football to enter the 2021 state tournament.