OFFENSIVE PLAYERJake Trantin, Archbishop SpaldingTrantin, a force on both sides of the football at running back and linebacker, rushed for 1,094 yards and 12 touchdowns on 118 carries (9.3 average). He also had two other scores for county-leading totals of 14 touchdowns and 84 points to lead the Cavaliers (11-0) to a repeat Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference title.
Only the third private school player to win the Rhodes Trophy given for 48 years to the county's best all-around player, Trantin, 6 feet 2 and 220 pounds, had the power to run over people and the speed (4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash) to outrun defensive backs. On defense, Trantin led the Cavaliers in tackles (117).
DEFENSIVE PLAYEREric Foote, SouthernFoote, 6 feet 3 and 250 pounds, had 90 tackles and six sacks despite teams running away from him. A two-way player, his defensive presence was a major factor in the Bulldogs' run to the Class 2A state semifinals and its 6-4 record against larger 4A and 3A schools in the county league.
Offered scholarships to James Madison and Towson University, Foote used his power and 4.58 speed in the 40-yard dash to gain 1,104 yards rushing with 17 touchdowns.
COACH OF THE YEARRuss Meyers, Southern Meyers led the Bulldogs (8-5) to their first state semifinal since 1993. The 11th-year head coach of the county's only 2A school - which plays 3A and 4A schools in nine of its 10 games - transformed a 3-7 team into a playoff team.
The Bulldogs were 6-2 on the road, including a pair of victories on the Eastern Shore over previously unbeaten teams to win the Class 2A East regional. Southern knocked off Queen Anne's (20-12) and Wicomico (20-19) to advance to the state semifinals.
In the team's fourth playoff appearance in five years, the Bulldogs were defeated 28-13 by No. 3 Edmondson (13-1) in the 2A state semifinals.
First-team offense
Name, School, Class, Pos.
Nick Elko Arundel Junior QB
Kelian Stevens Old Mill Senior QB
Anthony Gunn Arundel Senior RB
Jake Trantin Spalding Senior RB
B. Johnson-Farrell Arundel Junior WR
Chris Cooke Annapolis Senior TE
Kevin Egerton Spalding Senior OT
Ken McDonald Old Mill Senior OT
Rob Ciancaglini Broadneck Senior C
Sam Eckert Spalding Senior OG
Jamie Sisk Severna Park Senior OG
Chris McDermott Broadneck Senior K
Second-team offense
Name, School, Class, Pos.
Pat Morrison Severna Park Junior QB
Tony Baker Broadneck Junior RB
Zach Holbrook Severn Senior RB
Brian Rutland Spalding Senior RB
J.J. Hicks Broadneck Junior WR
Vonzel Bandy Meade Junior TE
Nathan Dalpini Arundel Senior OT
Chris Palmer Broadneck Senior OT
Zach Feldmann Severna Park Senior C
Mike Gabbard Broadneck Senior OG
Ben Wang Southern Senior OG
Colin Blugis Arundel Senior K
First-team defense
Name, School, Class, Pos.
Mark Hepburn Severna Park Senior DE
Ricky Congo Spalding Senior DL
Tom Shankle South River Sr. DL
Rhett DePol St. Mary's Senior LB
Eric Foote Southern Senior LB
Nick Peterson Broadneck Senior LB
Jon Schwartz Annapolis Senior LB
Derrell Brown Southern Senior DB
John Holland Arundel Senior DB
Justin Mullinex-Hughes Spalding Senior DB
Brent Sanders Severna Park Senior DB
Nick Elsmo Severn Senior P
Second-team defense
Name, School, Class, Pos.
Paul Robinson Arundel Senior DE
Mike Hite Northeast Senior DL
Tom Mulligan Broadneck Senior DL
Lou Berman Arundel Senior LB
Justin Chura Southern Senior LB
Jamal Nelson Meade Senior LB
Marvin Pinkney Old Mill Soph. LB
Matt Smith Glen Burnie Senior LB
Ricky Cassidy South River Senior DB
Malcolm Green Old Mill Senior DB
Duncan Spence Broadneck Senior DB
Kirk French Glen Burnie Senior P
Note: Teams selected by Pat O'Malley after consultation with The Sun staff and area coaches.