Maryland 2A South football: Mikey Caputo, Patuxent surge past Oakland Mills The running game of the Panthers was too much for the Scorpions as they advance in the Maryland 2A South playoffs, 60-41. By Gabe Hiatt November 14 at 10:43 PM Mikey Caputo lapped up the cold air as he loped around the track at Oakland Mills. The Patuxent senior needed to generate all the heat he could leading up to a Maryland 2A South region semifinal. He had visited urgent care to deal with a sinus infection earlier in the week and was finally starting to feel better when he first felt the bone-chilling cold on the road Friday night in Columbia. It took a half for Caputo to defrost, but once he did, the senior finished the last leg of a track meet, nabbing an interception and scoring four touchdowns after halftime in a 60-41 win that extended Patuxent's season. "Mikey, pound-for-pound, is the toughest kid on our team," Panthers Coach Steve Crounse said. If we can pop him, if we can get him a crease, he is explosive. The Panthers were trailing by 10 points at halftime when the defense gave Caputo a chance. After the Panthers (8-3) forced a punt on Oakland Mills's first drive of the second half, Caputo busted an 18-yard touchdown run to put his team within three points. Patuxent forced another three-and-out and another punt, and Caputo found a crease for a 67-yard score to claim the lead. "I saw big hole and I just hit it," Caputo said. Downhill, one-cut and go. The series after Caputo's long run, Northwest transfer John Smith-Holmes scooped a fumble for a nine-yard touchdown, and the rout was on. Scorpions quarterback David Pindell tormented the Panthers in the first half, but Patuxent's pressure was more successful as the game continued. Pindell threw two touchdown passes and ran in two scores for the Scorpions (9-2) before halftime. His third rushing touchdown came in the fourth quarter after 35 consecutive Patuxent points had put the game out of reach. "I told him hands down he's the best quarterback I've seen," Smith-Holmes said of Pindell. Wherever he's going, they're going to be lucky to have him. The Panthers have advanced to the 2A South championship game with Tyler Crounse under center for the second consecutive year. Crounse completed 11 of 15 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns and handled a team-high 24 carries for a 149 yards and a touchdown. Patuxent will play the winner of Saturday's semifinal between Marriotts Ridge (7-2) and No. 5 Douglass (10-0).