PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
OFFENSE -- Greg Kyler, Poly, Sr., RB -- Kyler (6 feet 2, 175 pounds) had an area-leading 29 touchdowns on 1,390 rushing yards and 432 receiving yards on 22 receptions. Most importantly, he was a clutch player. Top-ranked Poly trailed 6-0 in a regular-season game against Lake Clifton before Kyler's 283 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns led the Engineers to a 37-6 victory. His 24-yard touchdown reception with 25 seconds left lifted the Engineers over then-No. 1 City, 21-20, in a game in which Kyler also rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown. His second touchdown in the 3A state-title game against Seneca Valley put the Engineers ahead 12-9 with 7:35 left in an eventual 15-12 loss. Kyler ended the state-title game with 159 of Poly's 194 rushing yards. A 4.3-second 40-yard dash runner who has satisfied NCAA requirements for freshman eligibility, Kyler is being considered by more than "at least a dozen schools," said coach Augie Waibel, including Miami, UCLA, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Penn State and Maryland.
DEFENSE -- Troy Fowlkes, North County, Sr., LB -- He was the quintessential player at his position. Big and fast with speed nearing a 4.5-second 40-yard --, Fowlkes (6-0, 240) rivaled Severna Park's Ron Green as Anne Arundel County's most feared hunter. A big-time college prospect who was an All-County defensive lineman last year, as well as a second-team All-Metro selection, Fowlkes had a county-leading 196 tackles (80 solo) plus three sacks, forced several fumbles and scored three touchdowns. "He's the best defensive player we've had at North County," said coach Chuck Markiewicz. Fowlkes is getting serious looks from Penn State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Boston College and Maryland.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Stanley Mitchell, Dunbar -- Mitchell successfully guided the Poets through a turbulent season. Pete Pompey led the Poets to a runner-up finish in last year's Maryland Scholastic Association B Conference, but was placed on administrative leave. Mitchell, hired as interim coach before the first day of practice, and his players often were greeted by Pompey supporters at games and practices early on -- some trying to discourage players from participating. But the players remained with Mitchell, who was true to a strict work ethic and kept both the veterans and the newcomers together through a 9-3 season. The Poets were ranked as high as No. 5 in the metro area, losing only to No. 1 Poly, No. 3 Southern-AA and former No. 13 Forest Park. Dunbar qualified for the 2A state playoffs as the eighth seed, then upset then unbeaten and No. 4-ranked Overlea, 22-10, the top seed, in the first round before losing to eventual runner-up Southern-AA in the semifinals.
First-team offense at a glance
* Jaryn Avery, North County, Sr., Line -- A consummate lineman who combined power and speed in fueling the Knights' potent run-and-shoot offense, Avery (6 feet 3, 235 pounds) is a two-time All-Anne Arundel County lineman.
* Dennis Badham, McDonogh, Jr., WR -- Opposing coaches often designed their defenses to stop Badham (5-10, 175). He had 73 receptions for 1,654 yards and 17 touchdowns over two seasons. Despite double coverage "after the first couple of games," said coach Mike Working, Badham still caught 31 passes for 761 yards and eight touchdowns, rushed for 215 yards and two touchdowns and returned punts for touchdowns of 63 and 65 yards.
* Dwight Banks, City, Sr., WR -- The No. 4 Knights have gone 29-2 in Banks' three seasons, during which he had 92 pass receptions for 1,942 yards and 22 touchdowns. A second-team All-Metro pick last year, Banks' 4.4-second 40-yard -- speed led to 43 receptions for 902 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns this year, leading the Knights to a 3A state-playoff appearance. Listed among the nation's top 10 receivers by Prep Football Report and ranked among the top Division I prospects by Athlon Football Magazine, Banks (6-1, 180) is being recruited by Penn State, Michigan, Syracuse, Maryland and Wake Forest.
* Kenny Boyd, Annapolis, Sr., RB -- Anne Arundel County's leading rusher set the school regular-season record for rushing (1,365), just 13 yards short of the overall school record set by Shawn Taylor in 11 games last year. Boyd (5-11, 175), a workhorse with 225 carries, also tied for the county lead in touchdowns (17) and ranked third in points scored (108).
* Joe Brown, Poly, Sr., Line -- At 5-11, 287 pounds, Brown is perhaps the area's best pure blocker for the area's premier scoring threat -- Greg Kyler. Brown, who runs a swift 40-yard --, has quick feet and also was among the team's top defensive players. He was a first-team All-City pick and a second-team All-Metro selection last season. Miami, Wake Forest, Towson State and Virginia Tech are after him.
* Mark Kiefer, St. Mary's, Sr., K -- A premier kicker and a blue-chipper, Kiefer (6-1, 175) tied the Anne Arundel County record for most field goals in a season (nine), set the county career record for field goals (16) and put up the second-highest punting average (46.6) in county history.
* Mike Knoedler, Overlea, Sr., C -- Coach Terry Ward calls Knoedler (6-3, 260) "the best center Overlea has ever had." Knoedler, a repeat All-City/County pick, blocked for Bernard Fitchette (903 yards passing, 586 rushing) and Kenyon Crawford (1,212 rushing) and "is intelligent, aggressive and a great long snapper." Nebraska, Maryland and Catholic are after him.
* Derrick Player, Dunbar, Sr., Line -- A second-team All-Metro selection last year, Player (6-5, 325) began the season listed in several scouting reports, including Street & Smith's, as one of the state's top prospects. Though he anchored the No. 7 Poets' line both ways, coach Stanley Mitchell feels he'll get even better at either Tennessee, Syracuse, Boston College, UCLA, Virginia, Southern Cal, Georgia Tech or Maryland.
* Bobby Sabelhaus, McDonogh, Jr., QB -- Sabelhaus, a second-team All-Metro choice last year, stands 6-6 and weighs 220. Despite being under more pressure this season, his numbers (94 of 163, 1,908 yards and 19 touchdowns) surpassed last year's (117 of 209, 1,925, 14). The Eagles (9-0) also went from third place (7-3) to first in the MSA A Conference. "He's taken a giant step forward, being in a league that can make him a big-time quarterback," said coach Mike Working.
* Guy Smith, Howard, Sr., RB -- Smith (1,119 yards, 15 touchdowns) rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the second straight season, with a school-record 36 career touchdowns and 2,835 career yards. A two-time All-Howard County pick, Smith (5-11, 195) was also solid defensively with 38 tackles (33 solo), a sack and two recovered fumbles. Smith runs a 4.5-second 40 and bench-presses 360 pounds.
* Jason Smith, Broadneck, Jr., WR -- This two-time All-Anne Arundel County pick set state record for receptions (75), county records for yards receiving (1,065) and touchdown catches (12), and school records for touchdowns and total points (84). Smith (6-1, 165) had a county-leading seven interceptions, one short of the Bruins' record.
* Mike Sprouse, C. Milton Wright, Sr., Line -- A two-time All-Harford County selection, Sprouse (6-6, 270) was at his best blocking for Jason Tharpe and Rich Juergenson (558 yards, nine touchdowns).
* Jason Tharpe, C. Milton Wright, Sr., RB -- This two-time All-Harford County pick was Harford County's Offensive Player of the Year. Tharpe (5-11, 197) was the area's leading rusher with 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns. Over the Mustangs' 12 games, Tharpe gained 6.0 yards a carry and also was the Mustangs' punter (35-yard average).
* Andre Turner, Joppatowne, Sr., KR -- Turner, Harford County's Defensive Player of the Year, was the big-play maker on a big-play team. Turner (5-7, 155) returned six kicks for touchdowns and had a county-high 10 interceptions as a defensive back. He was second on Joppatowne in tackles with 106.
First-team defense at a glance
* Shawn Bean, St. Paul's, Sr., Line -- This repeat first-team All-Metro performer was the defensive signal-caller for the MSA B Conference co-champs. Bean (6 feet 3, 215 pounds) averaged eight tackles (six solo) and had 27 tackles for losses and 14 sacks. He is being pursued by Wake Forest, Southern Methodist and Johns Hopkins.
* Jamie Biddison, Gilman, Sr., LB -- A repeat All-Metro first-teamer and 1992's Baltimore City/County Defensive Player of the Year, Biddison (5-11, 190) overcame a knee injury to amass 132 tackles (78 solo) with 25 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He had six sacks and an interception and caused two fumbles. He will attend Wake Forest.
* Jason Bloom, Perry Hall, Jr., P -- Bloom (6-3, 170) had an area-best 49.9-yard punting average over 10 attempts. He also went 14 of 17 on extra-point kicks and had an area-best 45-yard field goal. He was 4-for-6 on field goals, including ones from 37, 31 and 28 yards.
* Peter Bogue, Gilman, Sr., DB -- An excellent open-field tackler with good speed, Bogue (6-3, 180) ranked third in team tackles (107, 46 solo), had three interceptions, recovered three fumbles and blocked a punt and a point-after kick. He likely will attend Yale.
* Cory Contee, Southern-AA, Sr., DB -- Contee ranked second in county interceptions (six), one short of the school record. Contee (6-0, 155), Anne Arundel County's Offensive Player of the Year, led county scorers with 128 points, was Southern's top rusher (1,198 yards), ranked second in touchdowns (16) and set school points-after touchdown records for a single game (six) and a season (32).
* Ron Green, Severna Park, Sr., Line -- Listed among the state's top 30 players during the preseason by The Poop Sheet, Green (6-4, 260) is a Division I prospect being recruited by a host of Atlantic Coast Conference schools. This two-way lineman amassed 185 tackles and had an Anne Arundel County single-season record for sacks (16).
* Jimmy Jackson, Hammond, Sr., LB -- Jackson (5-10, 215) was Howard County's Defensive Player of the Year. He is Hammond's all-time leading tackler, with 340 in three seasons and 138 tackles in '93. His 20 career sacks are a school record, and he had four interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
* Lamar King, Chesapeake-BC, Sr., LB -- King, Baltimore City/County's Defensive Player of the Year, has averaged 80 tackles since his freshman year and had 95 solo tackles this year. He has excellent lateral pursuit and 4.6 40-yard -- speed. King (6-4, 235), who returned a fumble recovery 60 yards for a touchdown, intercepted three passes. Maryland, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Virginia Tech and Rutgers are looking at him.
* Rashad Kitchen, Poly, Sr., Line -- Kitchen (6-0, 195) has excellent lateral pursuit, range and field vision, and he had a team-leading 14 sacks. Kitchen is being pursued by Temple, Maryland, East Carolina, Penn State, West Virginia, South Carolina, Towson State, Delaware State and Delaware.
* Sean Lipscomb, Dunbar, Sr., DB -- Lipscomb (6-0, 170) rarely left the field. He was the Poets' fourth-leading tackler, with 77 (56 solo), and an area-high 12 interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns. He had a city/county-high 47 catches for 842 yards and seven touchdowns and averaged 43 yards on kickoff returns, two of which were for touchdowns. Iowa, Delaware and Ohio State are looking at him.
* Jamar Mullen, Southern-AA, Sr., DB -- This 4.3-second 40-yard --er is leaning toward Navy. Used as a receiver, running back, kick returner and defensive back, Mullen (6-0, 170) was one of three Bulldogs with 100 or more points (112), was tied for county lead in touchdowns (17), rushed for 704 yards, caught 18 passes for 397 and had four interceptions -- including a county-record-tying 101-yard return.
* Jason Poknis, Southern-AA, Sr., LB -- Most teams ran away from Poknis' side of the field. Poknis (6-0, 185) led the team in sacks (five) and was superb at turning plays inside. At fullback, Poknis rushed for 993 yards and 11 touchdowns.
* Dwayne Stukes, McDonogh, Jr., DB -- Stukes had 92 tackles (44 solo), five interceptions and five forced fumbles. He had nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns in two seasons, with 13 touchdowns, 691 rushing yards and 258 receiving yards this season. A 4.4 speedster, Stukes (5-10, 176) gained 18.2 yards per punt return.
* James Whiting, City, Sr., Line -- Whiting had 59 tackles, including 12 sacks. He is a solidly built 6-3, 240 pounds and scored nearly 1,200 on the Scholastic Assessment Test. He has been approached by Pittsburgh, Frostburg State and Bowie State.
1993 BALTIMORE SUN ALL-METRO FOOTBALL TEAM
Offensive Player of the Year: Greg Kyler, Poly
Defensive Player of the Year: Troy Fowlkes, North County
Coach of the Year: Stanley Mitchell, Dunbar
' FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
Name ... ... ... ... ... School ... ... ... Year ... ... Position
Bobby Sabelhaus ... ... McDonogh .. ... ... Junior .. .. Quarterback
Kenny Boyd ... .. .. .. Annapolis ... .. .. Senior .. .. Running back
Greg Kyler ... .. .. .. Poly ... ... ... .. Senior .. .. Running back
Guy Smith ... ... .. .. Howard .. ... .. .. Senior .. .. Running back
Jason Tharpe ... ... .. C. Milton Wright .. Senior .. .. Running back
Dennis Badham .. ... .. McDonogh ... ... .. Junior .. .. Wide receiver
Dwight Banks ... ... .. City ... ... ... .. Senior .. .. Wide receiver
Jason Smith ... ... ... Broadneck .. ... .. Junior .. .. Wide receiver
Mike Knoedler .. .. ... Overlea ... ... ... Senior .. .. Center
Jaryn Avery ... ... ... North County .. ... Senior .. .. Line
Joe Brown ... ... .. .. Poly ... ... .. ... Senior .. .. Line
Derrick Player .. .. .. Dunbar ... .. .. .. Senior .. .. Line
Mike Sprouse ... ... .. C. Milton Wright .. Senior .. .. Line
Andre Turner ... ... .. Joppatowne .. .. .. Senior .. .. Returner
Mark Kiefer ... ... ... St. Mary's .. .. .. Senior .. .. Kicker
%
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
Name ... ... ... ... ... School ... ... ... Year ... ... Position
Peter Bogue .. .. .. ... Gilman ... ... ... Senior .. .. Defensive back
Cory Contee .. .. .. ... Southern-AA .. ... Senior .. .. Defensive back
Sean Lipscomb ... .. ... Dunbar ... ... ... Senior .. .. Defensive back
Jamar Mullen ... ... ... Southern-AA .. ... Senior .. .. Defensive back
Dwayne Stukes .. ... ... McDonogh ... .. .. Junior .. .. Defensive
.. ... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .back
Jamie Biddison ... .. .. Gilman ... ... ... Senior .. .. Linebacker
Troy Fowlkes ... ... ... North County .. .. Senior .. .. Linebacker
Jimmy Jackson .. ... ... Hammond ... ... .. Senior .. .. Linebacker
Lamar King ... ... .. .. Chesapeake-BC ... Senior ... .. Linebacker
Jason Poknis ... ... ... Southern-AA ... .. Senior .. .. Linebacker
Shawn Bean ... ... .. .. St. Paul's ... ... Senior .. .. Line
Ron Green ... ... ... .. Severna Park .. .. Senior .. .. Line
Rashad Kitchen .. ... .. Poly ... ... .. .. Senior .. .. Line
James Whiting ... ... .. City ... ... .. .. Senior .. .. Line
Jason Bloom .. ... .. .. Perry Hall ... ... Junior .. .. Punter
&
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
Name ... ... ... ... ... School ... ... ... Year ... ... Position
Dalawn Parrish ... .. .. Howard ... ... ... Junior .. .. Quarterback
Robert Arthur ... ... .. Forest Park .. ... Senior .. .. Running back
Ricky Dangerfield ... .. City ... ... .. .. Senior .. .. Running back
Mark Franklin ... ... .. Perry Hall ... ... Senior .. .. Running back
James McKenney .. ... .. Glenelg ... .. ... Senior .. .. Running back
Teon Carter .. ... .. .. North County .. .. Senior .. .. Wide receiver
Stacey Plater ... ... .. Patterson .. .. .. Senior .. .. Wide receiver
Matt Treese ... .. .. .. Atholton .. ... .. Senior .. .. Wide receiver
Marc Bolea ... ... .. .. Glenelg ... ... .. Senior .. .. Center
Mike Arterburn ... .. .. South Carroll ... Senior ... .. Line
Than'l Badder ... ... .. Gilman ... ... .. Senior ... .. Line
Xzavier Logan ... ... .. City ... .. .. .. Senior ... .. Line
Beau Watkins ... ... ... Annapolis ... ... Junior ... .. Line
Jonny Sawyer ... ... ... Dunbar ... .. ... Senior ... .. Returner
Andy Holloway .. ... ... Howard ... .. ... Senior ... .. Kicker
&
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
Name ... ... ... ... ... School ... ... ... Year ... ... Position
Jeff Cordisco .. ... ... Glenelg .. ... ... Senior .. .. Defensive back
Shawnte Dukes .. ... ... Overlea .. ... ... Senior .. .. Defensive back
Jeff Hedrick ... ... ... Arundel .. ... ... Senior .. .. Defensive back
Chris Lyerly ... ... ... South Carroll ... Senior ... .. Defensive back
Greg Mihalko ... ... ... South Carroll ... Junior ... .. Defensive back
Larry Devilbiss .. .. .. Westminster .. .. Senior ... .. Linebacker
Mike Green ... ... .. .. Wilde Lake ... .. Senior ... .. Linebacker
Cable Miller ... ... ... Joppatowne ... .. Senior ... .. Linebacker
Tommy Polley ... ... ... Dunbar ... ... .. Sophomore ... Linebacker
Brad Thomas ... .. .. .. Fallston .. .. .. Senior ... .. Linebacker
Justin Lavis .. .. .. .. Hammond ... .. .. Senior ... .. Line
Justin Kiernan ... .. .. St. Mary's ... .. Senior ... .. Line
Reggie Moore ... ... ... North County ... Senior ... ... Line
Sebastian Smothers .. .. Poly ... ... ... Junior ... ... Line
Jermaine Sutton ... ... Wilde Lake .. ... Senior ... ... Punter
FINAL POLL
1. Poly (11-1) -- 120
2. McDonogh (9-0) -- 112
3. Southern-AA (11-2) -- 100
4. City (9-2) -- 98
5. Gilman (7-2) -- 83
6. C. M. Wright (10-2) -- 82
7. Dunbar (9-3) -- 73
8. Perry Hall (10-2) -- 64
9. Overlea (10-1) -- 48
10. Patterson (9-2) -- 47
11. St. Paul's (7-2-1) -- 28
12. North County (9-2) -- 27
13. St. Mary's (7-31) -- 25
14. Howard (9-2) -- 24
15. Joppatowne (8-4) -- 13
Other teams receiving votes, with record and points in parentheses: Chesapeake-BC (8-2, 6); Forest Park (6-4, 4); Severna Park (7-3, 3); Lake Clifton (7-3, 2), Cardinal Gibbons (6-2-1, 1).
Poll members: Obie Barnes (Forest Park); Andy Borland (Severna Park); John Buchheister (Randallstown); Doug DuVall (Wilde Lake); Ken Johnson (Liberty); Steve Harward (C. M. Wright); Mitch Tullai (St. Paul's); Lem Satterfield, The Baltimore Sun.
HOW THE TEAM WAS PICKED
The Baltimore Sun 1993 All-Metro Football Team was selected by Lem Satterfield after consultation with staff writers and area coaches.