Maryland Crab Bowl
Encyclopedia
The Maryland Crab Bowl is an annual high school football
postseason all-star game
that features some of the most outstanding players in the state of Maryland
. The game is played between a team composed of players from Washington, D.C.
area schools (the "Washington" squad) and one of players from Baltimore and elsewhere in the state (the "Baltimore" squad). As an all-star game
, it provides high-school players with an additional opportunity to impress college football
scout
s and may increase their chances of being awarded a university athletic scholarship
. The Washington team draws from schools in Montgomery County
, Prince George's County
, and the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference
, which includes schools in Calvert
, Charles
, and St. Mary's counties. The Baltimore team draws from schools located elsewhere in the state, primarily in the Baltimore metropolitan area
.
The inaugural game was held on December 20, 2008, at Johnny Unitas Memorial Stadium at Towson University
. In that game, Washington defeated Baltimore, 32–21. Nine players who had committed to attend the University of Maryland, College Park
, and play for the Maryland Terrapins
, participated. That game also featured the most highly recruited player in the area, linebacker Jelani Jenkins, who later committed to the University of Florida
. Washington's running back Caleb Porzel, a Maryland commit, and Baltimore's running back Tavon Austin, who later committed to West Virginia
, were named the most valuable player
s. The Maryland Crab Bowl was originally envisioned as a game to be held in conjunction with the inaugural EagleBank Bowl
, which was played on the same date at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The 2009 edition of the Maryland Crab Bowl was also played at Towson University.
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
postseason all-star game
All-star game
An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league, except in the circumstances of professional sports systems in which a democratic voting system is used...
that features some of the most outstanding players in the state of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. The game is played between a team composed of players from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area schools (the "Washington" squad) and one of players from Baltimore and elsewhere in the state (the "Baltimore" squad). As an all-star game
All-star game
An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league, except in the circumstances of professional sports systems in which a democratic voting system is used...
, it provides high-school players with an additional opportunity to impress college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
s and may increase their chances of being awarded a university athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
. The Washington team draws from schools in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
, Prince George's County
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, and the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference
Southern Maryland Athletic Conference
The Southern Maryland Athletic Conference is a high school athletic league located throughout the southern region of the state of Maryland. The SMAC's membership consists of the following schools located in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties:...
, which includes schools in Calvert
Calvert County, Maryland
Calvert County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It occupies the Calvert Peninsula which is bordered on the east by the Chesapeake Bay and on the west by the Patuxent River. Calvert County is part of the Southern Maryland region. Calvert County's residents are among the highest...
, Charles
Charles County, Maryland
Charles County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 146,551. Its county seat is La Plata. This county was named for Charles Calvert , third Baron Baltimore....
, and St. Mary's counties. The Baltimore team draws from schools located elsewhere in the state, primarily in the Baltimore metropolitan area
Baltimore Metropolitan Area
The Baltimore-Towson Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as Central Maryland, is a Metropolitan Statistical Area in Maryland as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget...
.
The inaugural game was held on December 20, 2008, at Johnny Unitas Memorial Stadium at Towson University
Towson University
Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...
. In that game, Washington defeated Baltimore, 32–21. Nine players who had committed to attend the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, and play for the Maryland Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, participated. That game also featured the most highly recruited player in the area, linebacker Jelani Jenkins, who later committed to the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
. Washington's running back Caleb Porzel, a Maryland commit, and Baltimore's running back Tavon Austin, who later committed to West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers football
The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their...
, were named the most valuable player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
s. The Maryland Crab Bowl was originally envisioned as a game to be held in conjunction with the inaugural EagleBank Bowl
2008 EagleBank Bowl
The 2008 EagleBank Bowl was the inaugural edition of the new college football bowl game, and was played at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, DC. The game, formerly known as the Congressional Bowl before naming rights were purchased by EagleBank, started at 11 AM US EST on...
, which was played on the same date at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The 2009 edition of the Maryland Crab Bowl was also played at Towson University.