SPORTS Golden Elks stun Tigers in 2nd-round clash as injuries, weather clouds contest

By Victor Hensley

RISING SUN, MD - When the MPSSAA 2A-1A football playoff bracket came out a couple of weeks ago, the potential of an Elkton-Rising Sun second-round matchup had everyone circling Nov. 11 on their calendars, including each team’s coaching staff.

Because no matter the weather, venue, record or situation, one thing’s for certain when the Golden Elks and Tigers clash: regardless of the outcome, it’s going to be a knock-down, drag-out fight.

As expected, this time was no different.

Last Friday, the No. 4 Elkton Golden Elks (6-5) made the 16-mile trek to Rising Sun, where it upset the top-seeded Tigers (6-4) in a 27-19 stunner, earning their fourth win over their cross-county rival in two seasons and knocking them out of the postseason for the second-straight year.

“Those guys are tough, man,” said Matt Feeney, the Golden Elks’ head coach, when asked about his opponent. “It’s cliché and all, but I just tip the cap to those guys. That’s just a really, really hard-nosed football team. And we were glad to get out of there with a win because it could’ve gone either way.”

The weather was just the icing on the cake for a game that was already go-