After a junior season in which he broke through with 5.5 sacks, earning second team all-county honors, Howard defensive end Winston DeLattiboudere III knew that he would have to go even bigger for his senior season.
"This year I gained 20 pounds in the offseason. I listened to Coach (Bruce) Strunk who told me to eat peanut butter and jelly everyday, three sandwiches," said DeLattiboudere, whose trio of PB&Js per day clearly did the trick. "Ask anybody in school, I carry two backpacks: one's my books, one is my lunch. It was actually horrible … but it worked, so if it isn't broke you can't fix it. Just peanut butter and jelly … bagels, whole wheat, Wonder Bread, it doesn't even matter."
What did matter was what DeLattiboudere — the Howard County Times and Columbia Flier Football Defensive Player of the Year — and his Lions teammates accomplished on the field this fall.
After a 10-0 regular season gave the Lions their first Howard County title in 15 years, they took it a step farther, routing Paint Branch in the 4A North regional championship. It was the first time that a Howard County school has won a regional football title in the 4A classification.
"We knew we were going to be a part of (the Howard County race), we knew we were going to be a big factor, but I don't think anybody dreamed of accomplishing all we would accomplish," said DeLattiboudere, who was also named the Baltimore Sun All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year. "We came into this season and said 'Look guys, we're just going to go out there and run around, we're going to hit, we're going to tackle, we're going to score and we're just going to keep on doing it.'"
The Lions outscored their opponents 303-47 during the regular season, recording five shutouts, to become the most dominant defense that Howard County has seen since River Hill's back-to-back state championship teams in 2007 and 2008. Including the playoffs, which ended with a hard-fought 10-3 loss to Old Mill in the 4A state semifinals, the Lions allowed only 5.5 points per game.
DeLattiboudere led the way with 101 tackles, including 42 for loss, 17.5 sacks and 38 quarterback hurries. He also collected an interception, recovered a fumble and scored a touchdown.
"He played hard … he had a motor and he did everything full speed," Strunk said. "A lot of times kids want to get on the field and start freelancing. He did everything we asked him to."
What made DeLattiboudere a rare player was that he had the raw talent and physical attributes, but also the presence of mind to trust his coaches and put in his own hard work without prompting.
"My sophomore season to my junior year, I made a big jump. So when I looked back on that I said, 'I'm going to have to make an even bigger jump this year.' So me and Isaiah (Stokes) would go out during the offseason and do one-on-ones. Me and Saif (Bryant) and a lot of other D-linemen, we'd go out on the weekends and do footwork," said DeLattiboudere, who has been playing organized football since he was five, starting with the Severn Seminoles. "We were out there doing speed work, we were doing agility, we were lifting together, we were just getting closer."
This season, DeLattiboudere stood out not only for his eye-popping performances between the lines, but also for his colorful and charismatic team leadership.
"Winston has played varsity for a few years and he's seen some positive leadership and he got it and ran with it," Strunk said.
DeLattiboudere has been generating a lot of Division I interest, and after a recent visit from the University of Idaho, a Vandals assistant told Strunk: "Winston will be our team captain in three years."
DeLattiboudere still has a lot of growing to do. As a five-year-old, he says, he was too big to play with the other rookies.
"I was too big to be put in the flag football group, so I had to start off hitting. I was playing with seven-year-olds when I was five, and I was running around hitting," said DeLattiboudere, whose father — Winston Jr. — was born in Jamaica but immigrated to Patterson, N.J., and came to Maryland to play football for Bowie State.
Even now, DeLattiboudere — who also played quarterback up until high school — often finds himself lining up against older opponents. As a 16-year-old senior, he might not be done adding size to his 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame.
"A lot of people and schools laughed when I told them I was a DE just because of my weight," said DeLattiboudere, who has already grown about 2 inches and 25 pounds since last year. "That was a motivating factor for me."
That fire showed on the field as DeLattiboudere led the Lions to signature wins over Glenelg, 20-15, and River Hill, 7-0, en route to the county championship.
"We always stressed protecting each other when we were on the field. If we can protect each other while we were out there, then we were going to win every game," said DeLattiboudere, who has two younger brothers, Brian and Brandon. "After the Glenelg game, I looked at my friend Isaiah (Stokes) and I said 'We're going to win the whole thing' …
"Those games were tough. Those were the games where we had to dig deep."
DeLattiboudere is holding off on making a college selection until he has visited all of the interested schools that he is considering.
"I have a belief that if I haven't seen a school, I can't make a decision," said DeLattiboudere. "I don't know enough about my options right now to make a choice."
He does know what he wants to study in college.
"Even though Psychology AP is one of the hardest classes I've ever taken in my whole life, I find it to be the most interesting class I've taken in my four years at Howard High School," he said. "I want to major in kinesiology, sports medicine, exercise science, things like that, then I want to minor in psychology."
Wherever he ends up, you can bet that DeLattiboudere will come out on top.
"He's very mature for his age," Strunk said. "He's going to go somewhere and get a good education and not pay anything for it, and that's a good thing."
Named to the all-county first team are:
Defensive line
DJ Adediwura, Hammond junior. With his best football likely still ahead of him, Adediwura was the top player on the Golden Bears defense that allowed less than 19 points per game.
"He was the heart and soul of our defensive front. He would make sure the football did not reach the second level. He has a fiery attitude that gets his teammates enthused about playing next to him," coach Justin Carey said. "He's very passionate and was flying around all over the place. His strongest attribute was his initial get-off. He's primed for another great year next season."
Adediwura recorded 79 tackles, 14 for loss, and 10.5 sacks for 63 lost yards. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound junior also recovered a fumble.
Saif Bryant, Howard senior. DeLattiboudere's partner in crime on the interior gave opposing offenses no place to run to.
"He was an undersized tackle that played like a much bigger person," Strunk said. "He just didn't stop. He was a very hard worker."
Bryant, who stands only about 5-foot-10 but carries 225 pounds, recorded 97 tackles — 20 for loss — with 7.5 sacks and nine quarterback hurries.
Casey Kelly, Atholton senior. One of the Raiders' most physically imposing players, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Kelly kept his team in games.
"What made Casey so special to us this year was his willingness to take his training to the next level in the summer and it elevated his game," coach Damion Cook said. "Casey is an unselfish player. If he wasn't making a play himself, he was creating havoc, putting his teammates in position to make the play."
Kelly, who is drawing interest from FCS programs, finished the season with 51 tackles, three for loss, two fumble recoveries, a sack, a safety and a blocked field goal.
Alex Zabaldo, Marriotts Ridge senior. A huge piece of the Mustangs' 2014 turnaround season, the 5-foot-11, 230-pound Zabaldo helped his team allow less than 17 points per game during the regular season, one year after allowing 38 points per game.
"He's strong, yet very agile. He commanded double teams and was still a disruptive force," coach Marcus Lewis said. "He's very smart as well, scoring a 2240 on his SAT."
On the field, Zabaldo collected 32 tackles from the tackle position, with eight for loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery.
Linebackers
Jordan Chandler, Marriotts Ridge senior. Perhaps the Mustangs' best all-around athlete, Chandler was also his team's emotional leader.
"He was very determined and aggressive, all heart and desire," Lewis said. "He's one of the best to ever play at the Ridge."
Chandler made 55 tackles, 17 for loss, with six sacks, four forced fumbles and two recoveries. Offensively, he rushed for 617 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught three passes for 108 yards and another score. He was also the team's top punter, averaging 33.6 yards per punt.
Shane Kieta, Howard senior. The top linebacker on the county's best defense, Kieta used his 160 pounds to outplay numerous larger athletes around the county.
"He had a nose for the football and he was very coachable," Strunk said. "He worked his butt off and he was a strong kid."
Kieta racked up 102 total tackles, 15 for loss, with a sack, three fumble recoveries and a touchdown. When dropping back into coverage, he intercepted two passes and broke up six more.
Brian Kirby, River Hill senior. The unquestioned leader of River Hill's defense, Kirby helped his team allow less than 11 points per game during the regular season, keeping the Hawks' season afloat for a run to the regional finals.
"He has great football knowledge and instincts," coach Brian Van Deusen said. "He was our leading tackler the last two seasons."
Kirby finished this year with 143 tackles (104 solo), with 14 for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception. On offense, he gained 85 yards from scrimmage for five touchdowns. He finishes his career at River Hill with 350 tackles, and will go on to play for Division II Bentley University in Massachusetts.
Matt Marsh, Reservoir senior. Marsh stepped in to fill a void left by graduation for the Gators, and far outperformed reasonable expectations.
"Matt was our team MVP this year. Leading our team in tackles, he played on both sides of the ball and on special teams, and rarely came off the field," coach Bryan Cole said. "As one of our captains, he was one of the best athletes and football players on the field."
Marsh finished with 129 tackles, with six for loss, a sack and a safety. On offense, he gained 210 yards rushing and receiving with five touchdowns.
Defensive backs
Malik Holland, Wilde Lake senior. The Wildecats' best defensive player was a bright spot during an otherwise unremarkable season. Holland, a three-year starter, broke his hand in the second game of the season, but never let up, even with a cast around his hand and thumb.
"He has played both corners, free safety, and outside linebacker as well as in the slot on offense," coach Michael Harrison said. "He never let his cast slow him down as he excelled in the (remaining) games … Malik was our best defensive back in 2014. He is an aggressive tackler in the run game as well as a lock-down corner assigned to the other team's best receiver."
Holland finished with 58 tackles, two interceptions and eight passes broken up. On offense, he caught 13 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns, and was also an effective returner on special teams.
Christian Lyles, Reservoir senior. Known as "Chucky" to his teammates, the diminutive but dynamic Lyles was the Gators' most dangerous player in the secondary.
"Christian played on offense and defense and special teams and was a large part of our success this past season," said Cole, whose team made the playoffs for the third straight season. "Christian was one of the leading tacklers on our team and definitely a player opponents game-planned for."
Lyles finished this season with 61 tackles and three interceptions. He also rushed for 50 yards, caught nine passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns, and had 270 kick/punt return yards.
Eric Skogmo, Marriotts Ridge senior. At 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, Skogmo was large for a high school defensive back, but he used his size and athleticism to make big plays for the Mustangs in the secondary.
"He has excellent range and processing skills as a safety. He had a nose for the ball when it was in the air," Lewis said. "He was the leader of the defense who properly aligned everybody."
Skogmo intercepted six passes, broke up six more, and made 32 tackles. He was also the Mustangs' top punt returner and receiver, catching 11 passes for 179 yards and four touchdowns.
Isaiah Stokes, Howard senior. The leader of the Lions' secondary, Stokes racked up impressive numbers by sniffing out the football and finding a way to hit someone on every play.
"He loved being around the ball. He loved hitting," Strunk said. "Somebody is going to be very lucky to have him on their team next year."
The 6-foot, 170-pound Stokes got in on 76 tackles, including 10 for loss and a sack. He also intercepted three passes, broke up nine receptions and forced three fumbles.
Punter
Jon Gould, Howard senior. Coming into this season, Strunk was mostly concerned about one position on his football team.
"We were really worried about the lack of a punter," said Strunk, whose concern was reinforced when Gould fumbled the first snap of the season. "But he came back and became one of our most improved players … he forced the opponent to drive the length of the field."
Gould averaged better than 34 yards on 33 punts, including six inside the 20-yard line and a long of 62 yards. He also kicked 30 extra points.