OFFENSIVE TEAM AT A GLANCE
CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
* Jake Daft, Oakland Mills, RB, Sr. -- A strong, slashing runner with deceptive quickness, Daft (6-feet-1, 190 pounds) punished tacklers with his power. He rushed for 1,412 yards on 179 carries and scored 18 touchdowns. He rushed for 2,145 yards over the past two seasons. Daft sparked the winning eight-play, 93-yard touchdown drive against Howard with runs of 8 and 14 yards. The 19-18 comeback victory gave Oakland Mills (8-3) its first county title since 1987. "Jake's runs fired us up on that drive. He's a patient runner who reads his blocks well," Oakland Mills coach Ken Hovet said. "But the main thing you think of with Jake is his toughness." Daft bench-presses 300 pounds and runs the 40-yard -- in 4.65 seconds. He had an 87-yard touchdown run against Linganore and 188 yards rushing against Hammond. The co-captain runs smooth pass patterns and caught 12 for 248 yards. Defensively, he made 29 solo tackles and had 47 assists, two sacks, one fumble recovery and one interception.
* Rob Hauff, Centennial, RB, Sr. -- Primarily a blocking back last season, Hauff exploded as a power-running tailback this season. His 1,737 yards rushing, 28 touchdowns, 174 points scored, 269 yards single-game rushing and six touchdowns in a game are all school records. The six touchdowns and 36 points scored against North Carroll both tied state records. Hauff rushed for at least 100 yards in every game and averaged 26 carries. He caught 15 passes for 200 yards. He played monster back on defense and led the team with 65 tackles. He's strong, intense, loyal, humble, coachable, deceptively fast, hard-working and always poised. "It's like you died and went to heaven to get a kid like this," Centennial coach Ed Holshue said. At 6-foot and 190 pounds, Hauff was able to break tackles. "He's the strongest kid I've ever coached, an iron horse," said Holshue. "And he has the intangibles that you can't coach." Hauff played three full varsity seasons and three games his freshman year. He was a co-captain and led his team to a 7-3 record and only the fourth winning season in school history.
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
* Fardan Carter, Oakland Mills, Kick Returner, Soph. -- He returned nine kickoffs for 292 yards (32.5 average) and 17 punts for 212 yards (12.5 average). A big-play athlete with 4.4 speed, he caught 12 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns -- including the winning touchdown against Howard. He rushed 45 times for 291 yards and six touchdowns.
* Corey Curtis, Howard, RB, Sr. -- He carried 155 times for 929 yards and nine touchdowns. Curtis also caught 11 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns. His diving catch in the end zone against Wilde Lake was a classic. He returned four kickoffs for 82 yards, and two punts for 38 yards and one touchdown.
* Brian Frederick, Glenelg, WR, Sr. -- The third-leading receiver in the area and leader in the county, he caught 50 passes for 742 yards and eight touchdowns. He tied a county record with 11 catches against Hammond. They were good for 196 yards and three touchdowns.
* Carlo Gerstenfeld, Wilde Lake, T, Sr. -- A good trap blocker and a strong run blocker, Gerstenfeld is a captain and two-year starter who played both ways. On defense he made 31 solo tackles, 38 assists and had one quarterback sack, two fumble recoveries and one blocked punt.
* Sean Lookingbill, Glenelg, QB, Sr. -- Considered one of the strongest passers in county history, frequently compared with Jim Traber (Wilde Lake, Oklahoma State), Lookingbill completed of 249 passes for 1,596 yards and 11 touchdowns. He threw such a hard pass that he had an unusual number of them dropped. Lookingbill was highly effective from the shotgun formation. He threw for 306 yards against Hammond.
* Adam Martiny, Atholton, T, Sr. -- A repeat All-County selection, Martiny was proficient at staying with his blocks longer than most. On defense he made 33 solo tackles and 12 assists. He had one quarterback sack and two fumble recoveries.
* Brad Matulevich. Oakland Mills, G, Sr. -- His team's best drive blocker, Matulevich was an intelligent player who recognized defenses well. The Scorpions ran behind him on key plays.
* John O'Connor, Centennial, T, Sr. -- A three-year starter, the 6-0, 290-pounder was a key blocker for Robbie Hauff (1,737 yards). "He was the smartest lineman I've ever coached and the biggest," coach Ed Holshue said. "We ran over his side 65 percent of the time."
* Kevin O'Connor, Centennial, TE, Sr. -- He started 3 1/2 seasons, was a co-captain and is the team's Scholar-Athlete. He caught 23 passes for 423 yards and three touchdowns. He was a key blocker for Rob Hauff. He intends to play for Cornell, Dartmouth or Washington and Lee.
* Rashid Shafer, Howard, WR, Sr. -- He made 26 catches for 427 yards and six touchdowns. An explosive and dangerous player, he ran 80 yards on two reverses against Hammond. He rushed 11 times for 111 yards and one touchdown. He returned nine kickoffs for 278 yards and two touchdowns.
* Sam Smith, Oakland Mills, WR, Sr. -- At 6-2, 180 pounds, Smith caught 27 passes for 471 yards and six touchdowns. "He was our best clutch receiver," coach Ken Hovet said. "He always got open."
* Frank Tortella, Howard, C, Jr. -- A two-year starter, Tortella was an aggressive, intelligent player who made line calls, led Parrish on several high-yardage quarterback sneaks, made the long snaps on kicks and worked flawlessly from the shotgun formation. "He made all good snaps and did a great job," said coach John Quinn.
* Luke Watson, Wilde Lake, K, Sr. -- His lone field goal defeated Atholton this season, 3-0, and his extra-point kicking was nearly flawless (20-of-21). Watson missed only two extra-point kicks in
two seasons.
DEFENSIVE TEAM AT A GLANCE
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
* DaLawn Parrish, Howard, DB, Sr. -- A unanimous choice of the coaches as the best overall player in the county, this preseason All-America pick is being pursued by Penn State, Wake Forest, North Carolina State and Rutgers as a defensive back. The free safety had 28 unassisted tackles and 50 assists. He made six tackles for losses, had four quarterback sacks and one interception. He made at least a dozen touchdown-saving tackles -- three against Oakland Mills. Offensively, the Lions quarterback completed 78 of 142 passes for 1,097 yards and 16 touchdowns. He ran 76 times for 593 yards and nine touchdowns. Parrish, with 4.5 speed, had an uncanny ability to ++ convert on crucial third-down and long-yardage plays. Almost always on the field, he returned 11 punts for 401 yards (36.5 average) and one touchdown. Last season he helped lead Howard to the playoffs, a 9-2 record and its first county title since 1975, but the Lions (8-2) came up just short this season, losing the county title and a playoff spot to Oakland Mills, 19-18, despite a fantastic all-around effort from Parrish. He was first-team All-County at quarterback last season.
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
* Allen Anderson, Wilde Lake, DB, Sr. -- A captain and three-year starter, he always drew the other team's top receiver. He had 18 solo tackles, 10 assists, three quarterback sacks and two interceptions -- one for a 40-yard touchdown. The speedy Anderson also batted down 12 passes.
* Letam Biira, Howard, DL, Sr. -- A starter for 2 1/2 years, he made 12 solo tackles and 21 assists. He had five quarterback sacks and four tackles for losses. "He was a force rushing the passer and disrupting things," said coach John Quinn. Biira was also an effective trapping and pulling blocker offensively.
* Irving Conwell, Oakland Mills, DB, Jr. -- A repeat first-team All-County pick, he made 18 solo tackles and 19 assists. Conwell, a hard hitter, read well and had four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Offensively, he completed 73 of 131 passes for 1,301 yards and nine touchdowns. He was sensational in the regional playoff loss to Fort Hill, completing 16 of 32 for 256 yards.
* Melvin Enderes, Atholton, LB, Sr. -- He led his team with 69 solo tackles and 30 assists. He tackled running backs behind the line five times, had seven quarterback sacks for minus 49 yards and a safety.
* Tajuan Hall, Oakland Mills, LB, Sr. -- One of the league's %J hardest hitters, Hall made 27 solo tackles and had 54 assists, seven quarterback sacks and two fumble recoveries. His most impressive game was in the playoffs against Fort Hill. The first-year player also ran the ball 23 times and gained 159 yards.
* Brian Howard, Oakland Mills, LB, Jr. -- Howard made 14 solo tackles and had 37 assists and helped to make the Scorpions a fearsome defensive unit known for its smash-face hitting. He rushed 26 times for 202 yards and two touchdowns.
* Casey Moffett, Oakland Mills, DB, Jr. -- His team's best tackler, Moffett was especially good against the run. He made 15 solo stops and 31 assists. He had two quarterback sacks. Moffett returned two of his four interceptions for touchdowns and played especially well against Howard, making a game-saving tackle at the goal line on a conversion attempt by Parrish.
* Shawn Sherman, Howard, DL, Sr. -- A three-year starter, Sherman was a consistent, controlled player who had 10 solo tackles, 23 assists, four quarterback sacks and two fumble recoveries. Offensively, he was a strong pulling guard who made Howard's running game go.
* James Simmons, Wilde Lake, LB, Sr. -- He played alone in the middle of a 4-3 defense and was adept at taking on run blocks. DTC He made 50 solo tackles and 63 assists. He had three quarterback sacks, forced one fumble, recovered one fumble and blocked one punt.
* Paul Sokol, Wilde Lake, DL, Sr. -- A tough, strong player, Sokol played where opposing teams ran the most. He made 21 solo tackles and 17 assists. He forced one fumble and blocked one point-after kick. At 6-2, 240, Sokol also played tackle and center on offense.
* Tim Spruill, Hammond, DB, Jr. -- He made 41 tackles, recovered two fumbles and snatched seven interceptions -- two for touchdowns against Wilde Lake and Central. Spruill (6-feet, 178 pounds) was extremely quick. His 4.45 speed helped him return nine kickoffs for 283 yards (33 average), including an 80-yard touchdown romp against Glenelg. He punted 17 times for 634 yards (37.2). As quarterback he is thought to be the first county player to break 1,000 yards both rushing (1,038, 103 carries, 10 touchdowns) and passing (1,132 yards, 80-for-201, 10 touchdowns) in one season. Spruill also caught a touchdown pass on a halfback-option play. He played seven different
positions.
* Ricky Trott, Atholton, DB, Jr. -- His team's second-leading tackler, Trott had 61 solo stops and 15 assists. He recovered one fumble, had one interception and one running back sack. Offensively, Trott carried 134 times for 769 yards and five touchdowns.
* Jim Weston, Hammond, DL, Sr. -- A captain and returning All-County player, Weston had 103 tackles, 10 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception. He set a school career record with 26 sacks and never missed a game in three years.
* Lang Wethington, Oakland Mills, DL, Sr. -- A team captain, he had seven solo tackles, 41 assists, 8.5 quarterbacks sacks and one fumble recovery. Offensively, he caught 16 passes for 203 yards as tight end and was instrumental on sweep blocking.
COACH OF THE YEAR
* Ken Hovet, Oakland Mills -- In his second year as head coach, Hovet directed the Scorpions to an 8-3 record, its first county championship since 1987 and a playoff game in which Oakland Mills dominated the ball but lost to Fort Hill, 30-18. A year ago Oakland Mills was 5-5. Hovet was fortunate to pick up transfer quarterback and All-County defensive back Irving Conwell, as well as transfer wing back Fardan Carter, one of the fastest players in the state. And the addition of Brian Howard, who moved out of state last summer but returned to play most of the season, also was a plus. The Scorpions also added linebacker Tajuan Hall, the team's hardest hitter who was a first-year player. Hovet concentrated on and succeeded in improving the defense. He was an assistant coach for eight years at Oakland Mills. He played on the Scorpions' 1978 powerhouse team as tight end and defensive end and played at Davidson College when it was a Division 1AA school. Hovet, 33, teaches history part-time at Oakland Mills and practices law part-time. "I enjoy coaching where I played. And it's a lot of fun working with coaches like Sam Singleton, Ken Klock and Brian Winfield," Hovet said. "It's nice to be able to give something back."
PICKING THE TEAMS
The Baltimore Sun 1994 All-Howard County football teams were selected by Rick Belz after consultation with staff and area coaches.