FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE AT A GLANCE
* Lou Brown, North County, SE -- Leading the county and metro area in receptions (69) and yards (1,041), he scored 10 touchdowns and averaged 15.1 yards per catch. In two run-and-shoot seasons, Brown caught 105 passes for 1,539 yards and 17 touchdowns, third-best totals in county history.
* Topper Ellis, North County, RB -- He broke former teammate Frank Brown's county record of 2,157 all-purpose yards set in 1992 and takes over 2,300 yards into the 4A final. He stands second in rushing with 1,504 yards on 184 attempts (8.1 per) and 14 touchdowns. The Knights' ace back also has returned two kicks and a punt for touchdowns and grabbed three touchdown passes for a total of 20 touchdowns. He scored five touchdowns in a 46-26 victory over Severna Park and had a 90-yard kickoff return to beat Patterson, 18-15, in the 4A state semifinals.
* Kevin Grizzle, Severna Park, TE -- An outstanding blocker, he also had a Falcons' second-best 16 catches for 413 yards and four touchdowns. His ability to combine blocking and receiving played a key role in the Falcons leading the county in scoring (322 points in 10 games).
* Matt Hart, Severna Park, C -- After missing all but three plays last season due to a knee injury in the first game, he battled back from an operation and intense therapy to spearhead the county's highest scoring team (322 points) that averaged more than 200 yards a game rushing and nearly 100 passing.
* Joe Kadjeski, Southern, G -- Despite being the smallest All-County lineman at 175 pounds, he was one of the toughest in leading the Dawgs' top two runners to nearly 2,000 yards rushing. At linebacker, he was in on 75 tackles.
* Jason Lilly, St. Mary's, RB -- In what was a down year for the Saints (5-5), Lilly was a bright spot with 1,402 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns on 178 attempts (7.9). Lilly had 88 points, with 30 coming in his final game, a 39-20 victory over Calvert Hall in which he scored five touchdowns and ran for a school-record 340 yards on 34 attempts.
* Steve Luckey, Broadneck, T -- Another three-year starter, he anchored the Bruins' front in their run-and-shoot and was the team's lead blocker. He was a standout both ways and probably will attend Randolph Macon (Division III).
* Dennard Melton, Severn, all purpose -- The first freshman to ever make the All-County first team, Melton scored 16 touchdowns for the Admirals, including four in a 49-20 romp over Calvert Hall and a 39-30 loss to St. Mary's. The multi-talented freshman had a county second-best six interceptions, rushed for 403 yards on 43 carries (9.4 average) for eight touchdowns, grabbed two touchdown passes, ran back four kicks for touchdowns and two punts for six-pointers, and tossed a couple touchdown passes.
* Tim McGurk, Old Mill, K -- After spending time at a summer kicking camp, he returned to Old Mill to kick a county-leading four field goals (42 and 40 the longest) and was 6-for-6 in extra points.
* Earl Sewell, North County, QB -- The fourth Knights' quarterback to pass for 2,000 or more yards in a season, Sewell completed 147 of 278 (53 percent) passes for 2,152 yards and 18 touchdowns in 11 games going into the 4A state final. He was intercepted 19 times, but had a remarkable "rookie" season for a senior.
* Ron Sisk, Glen Burnie, C -- Second-team All-County as a junior, he was a three-year starter and the Gophers' key man on their traps and power plays.
* Jason Smith, Broadneck, SE -- The only three-year first-teamer, Smith grabbed 43 passes for 565 yards and eight touchdowns and also played quarterback. Smith set county career records for receptions (149), yards (2,286) and touchdowns caught (25). Those marks are topped only in the metro area by Dennis Badham of McDonogh -- 154, 2,878 and 38.
* Bernard Turner, Annapolis, T -- Coach Roy Brown called this two-way lineman and three-year starter "our best lineman." Turner is considered to be one of the best blockers in Panthers history and was in on more than 50 tackles on defense.
* Derek Wilborne, Glen Burnie, G -- A hard-hitting 235-pounder, he stood out on both sides of the ball leading the Gophers' wing-T that featured three backs who combined for more than 2,200 yards rushing. He led his team in tackles with 74 and was "all over the field," according to coach Dave Rigot.
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE AT A GLANCE
* Adam Butts, Meade, LB -- He led the county in regular-season play with 127 first hits and used his exceptional speed on both sides of the ball, also rushing for 811 yards and eight touchdowns. "Adam was our best player," said coach Jerry Hartman.
* Jermond Davenport, Severna Park, LB -- An All-County repeater, he led the Falcons in first hits (115) and had four interceptions while also averaging 7.7 yards rushing (39 for 301) and scoring six touchdowns on offense.
* Orlando Downs, Annapolis, DB -- Called the Panthers' "best all-around and most consistent player" by coach Roy Brown, teams passed away from his side and still were intercepted three times. With 4.5 speed in the 40, he ran for 350 yards (5.6 per) and passed for another 425 (26-for-70, five touchdowns) as the team's quarterback.
* Chris Grayson, Meade, P -- Opposing coaches called him "a big-time punter who can boom it." He easily led the county in punts (40) and yardage (1,579), averaging 39.4 per punt.
* Mike Haertel, Arundel, LB -- A hard-nosed competitor, he made 76 first hits to key the Wildcats' superb defense with Norsworthy and was one of the county's best blocking backs while also running for 959 yards and 10 touchdowns on 106 attempts (9.0 average) in 11 games.
* Ryan Moore, Severna Park, DB -- Another key two-way performer for the Falcons, he had 30 first hits and four interceptions and rushed for 519 yards and seven touchdowns on 82 tries (6.3 per), had seven pass receptions for 85 yards and another 170 yards with a touchdown in returns for a total of 48 points.
* Rocky Newton, Glen Burnie, DB -- Another first-team repeater, he was bothered by several season-long injuries but still managed to post 53 first hits, three sacks and three interceptions while sparkling as a running back and kick returner with 10 touchdowns. He averaged 9.0 yards per carry with 651 yards rushing and eight of his touchdowns, and produced more than 1,200 yards of all-purpose yards. A 4.5 runner, he is being recruited by Maryland, Rutgers, N.C. State and South Louisiana.
* John Norsworthy, Arundel, NG -- Teams didn't know whether this junior would line up at nose or linebacker, but they knew where he would be after the play was over -- on the ball. He was second in the county in first hits (121) and was considered one of the most punishing hitters.
* Mike Smith, North County, DL -- Opposing teams tried to run away from Smith because of his strength (benches 315 pounds). This three-year starter, who was second team last year, has 102 first hits and has been in on nearly 200 tackles.
* Jay Sponaugle, Glen Burnie, LB -- The heart and soul of the aggressive Gopher team, he anchored the defense with 55 first hits, rushed for 936 yards and 12 touchdowns on 131 carries (7.1 per), and punted 19 times for an average of 40.2.
* Steve Tomshack, North County, LB -- Coach Chuck Markiewicz says he may be "the best technically" at the position that the Knights have had. He led the team in first hits (121).
* Russell Tongue, South River, DB -- One of the county's top athletes, he was the Seahawks' best all-around player with more than 50 tackles and six interceptions that he returned for 175 yards. On offense, he had 1,866 all-purpose yards (third best in county) with 904 rushing (8.2 per), 24 receptions for 440 yards, and 522 more yards in returns, and scored 15 touchdowns.
* Casey Trout, Arundel, DB -- The Wildcats' most versatile performer, he was in on 70 tackles, had two interceptions and on offense had 1,250 all-purpose yards including 99 carries for 935 yards (9.4 per), 12 touchdowns and 74 points in 11 games. He also handled the punting, averaging 34.8 yards on 31 attempts.
* Arto Vartanian, Broadneck, DL -- A Chicago transfer, he led the 6-3 Bruins in first hits (52) and had seven sacks, three of them to go with a safety against North County.
* Beau Watkins, Annapolis, DE -- The All-County center the past two years, he became a force as a two-way lineman this year moving to defense where he was in on 60 tackles for the Panthers.
* Joe Williams, Arundel, DE -- Williams did a tremendous job turning plays inside for the Wildcats' linebacking tandem as they tied North County for least points (123) given up in 10 games.
CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
* Mark Frye, Severna Park -- Frye was Anne Arundel County's most versatile player as the only one to finish in the top five in scoring (second), all-purpose yards (second), rushing (fifth) and receiving (fifth) and lead the county in interceptions (seven). The speedy senior never came off the field in leading the Falcons to a share of the 4A county title and a playoff berth. In breaking Gary Thall's 30-year-old school scoring records of 20 touchdowns and 130 points, Frye scored 21 touchdowns and had 136 points in 11 games. He led the Falcons in rushing (137 for 1,182, 14 touchdowns) and receiving (24 for 290, three touchdowns) while also returning nine kickoffs for 329 yards (36.5) and two touchdowns, and nine punts for 152 yards (16.9) and one touchdown. Frye, who had 35 first hits at defensive back, also had 199 yards in interception returns (one touchdown) to go with his 1,953 all-purpose yards for a total of 2,052 yards advancing the ball. "He was the best back we played against," and "the most dangerous in the league" are what opposing coaches Roy Brown of Annapolis and Bill Zucco of Arundel said, respectively, of Frye. Frye finished his three-year varsity career with 39 touchdowns, 244 points (fourth-best county history) and more than 4,300 all-purpose yards -- a school record. "Mark was probably the best all-around back we've ever had," said coach Andy Borland.
* John Vereen, Severn -- Like Frye, Vereen was a dominant two-way performer for the MIAA B Conference champion Admirals (8-1, 5-0). Vereen was the main reason his team outscored its foes, 316-116, and gave up an average of 12.8 points a game with 39 coming in the only loss (39-30 to St. Mary's). A speedy (4.5 in 40) and strong (benches 275) tailback/linebacker, Vereen was in on 75 tackles and had four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. On offense, he had 1,702 yards rushing on 132 attempts (12.8 average) and county single-season scoring records in touchdowns (27) and total points (170). Vereen had three games of 224 yards or more and five times scored four touchdowns or more in a game, including a career-high five in a 48-6 romp over Spalding. Second-team running back as a junior with 1,235 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns in eight games, he finished with school career records in rushing (3,400), touchdowns (44) and points (272, third-best in county history) and according to coach Jim Doyle, "is the best I've seen around here in 20 years."
COACH OF THE YEAR
* Chuck Markiewicz, North County -- After a 28-14 loss to Arundel, the Knights found themselves 3-2 at midseason with their backs against the wall. One more loss and there would be no fourth straight playoff appearance. They routed Severna Park, 46-26, the next week and the Knights were on their way. "We got rid of a few problems and from that point, the kids knew they had to fight for their lives," said Markiewicz (45-11 at North County, 62-24 overall), who led the Knights to a share of the county 4A title, seven straight wins and the state final.
His innovative approach to offense, featuring the run-and-shoot, pTC put North County in position to win the first state title by a county team since Annapolis in 1978. There were no Division I scholarship players like Anthony Walker (Syracuse) and Troy Fowlkes (Maryland) on this team as in previous years. In terms of talent, this was not the best team Markiewicz has had, but he brought the players together to became "a team with a lot of heart and pride, one that when you tell them they can't do something, they go out and do it."
The Knights tied Arundel for least points (123) given up in the county league regular season and were second to Severna Park (322-316) in points scored after leading the county the past three years.