ALL-CARROLL OFFENSE
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
* Steve Mays, Westminster, Sr., QB -- This strong-willed senior could beat teams with his passing, his running, his desire to win, his toughness, his coolness under fire and his leadership. He put on an unbelievable performance in a 21-15 overtime victory over Frederick after getting knocked out of the game when Frederick scored a touchdown for a 15-7 lead with 10:30 left in the fourth quarter. Mays, who was doubling as a defensive back when he was knocked dizzy, came back after missing one offensive series to throw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Mat Mathias for the tying score with two minutes left in regulation, and then scored on a 1-yard run in overtime for the winning touchdown. That kind of effort tells far more about Mays than statistics ever could. But he also rolled up some impressive numbers, completing 80 of 155 passes for 1,060 yards and 13 touchdowns in addition to rushing for 400 yards and five touchdowns. South Carroll coach Gene Brown said, "It didn't matter what kind of competition Steve Mays played against, he still was able to do the same things offensively."
THE TEAM AT A GLANCE
* Marc Barnes, South Carroll, Sr., T -- At 6-feet, 265 pounds, Barnes was the perfect guy to spring running back Greg Mihalko for long gainers. Barnes came back strong from a knee injury that sidelined him last season, and he became equally adept at blocking for the pass and the run. South Carroll coach Gene Brown said there was no question that "we were running right behind him most of the season."
* Bill Beltz, North Carroll, Sr., G -- He only tasted victory once in 2 1/2 seasons on the varsity, but Beltz became a true football hero at North Carroll. His leadership and devotion to the Panthers' football program encouraged other players to keep working week in and week out even though they went into almost every game knowing their chances of winning were slim. Beltz was responsible for making all the line calls in the complex wing-T offense run by North Carroll. Beltz is one of only four players (Steve Mays, Greg Mihalko and Tom Lapato are the others) who made both the first-team offensive and defensive units. Beltz is also on the first-team defensive line.
* Gaelen Cross, Liberty, Jr., G -- The Lions scored touchdowns in bunches, with a lot of the credit going to Cross who was a master at blocking in the wing-T misdirection offense. Cross became an even better player by going to summer football camp and working hard in practice. Skilled physically and mentally, Cross helped carry the Liberty football team to a surprising 4-6 record after back-to-back 1-9 marks.
* Jeremy Esworthy, South Carroll, Sr., TE -- The biggest reception for Esworthy came with 1:06 left in the game and the score tied at 21 with Westminster with the Carroll County championship on the line. Esworthy gathered in a pass from quarterback Tom Luster and rambled into the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown, giving the Cavaliers a 27-21 victory and their second county title in three years. But Esworthy is a repeat first-team All-Carroll tight end more for his blocking than pass catching (nine catches for 109 yards, one touchdown and two two-point conversions). South Carroll coach Gene Brown called Esworthy "a superior blocker. He's the best tight end I've seen at South Carroll since I've been here [19 years]."
* Jed Harris, Westminster, Sr., T -- A first-team All-County selection as a defensive lineman last season, Harris is honored ,, this year for his superb play on a large offensive line that enabled the Owls to move the ball consistently against most teams. Harris (6-3, 270 pounds, controlled the left side of the line of scrimmage, allowing Eric Jones and Steve Mays to have some superb rushing games. There were times when Mays simply followed Harris into the end zone from the 1 and 2-yard lines and on two-point conversions.
* Eric Jones, Westminster, Sr., HB -- This senior running back returned to football with a bang after sitting out a couple of seasons. His speed and quickness complemented quarterback Steve Mays' hard-running style perfectly and the two players helped put enough points on the scoreboard to win most games. When the season was over and it was time to tabulate how much damage Jones had done to defenses, the stats were pretty impressive -- 158 carries for 962 yards and 12 touchdowns. "Eric was the type guy who wanted to be good this season and he did it with a good attitude," said Westminster coach Tim Ebersole.
* Tom Lapato, South Carroll, Sr., SE -- Everyone was waiting for Lapato after an impressive junior season, but he still came through with even better numbers than last year to gain first-team offensive honors a second straight season. He caught 29 passes for 435 yards (15.0 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. Lapato could beat tough single- or double-coverage with an uncanny knack of getting open for an assortment of catches. He caught the ball falling out of bounds, going over defenders' outstretched arms or simply outhustling everybody for the football.
* Greg Mihalko, South Carroll, Sr., HB -- It was show time for Mihalko on Nov. 11 when South Carroll dueled Westminster for the county championship, and Mihalko was brilliant for 44 minutes until he took a clean hit to the helmet that put him out of the game and ended his high school career on a somber note. But the injury proved to be only strained neck muscles for the athlete who literally hurled his body at the big Westminster defensive line and linebackers for 207 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries on a night the Cavaliers eventually won the game, 27-21. It raised Mihalko's final stats to 858 yards and eight touchdowns on 157 carries (5.46 yards per carry) in addition to 16 catches for 110 yards. He is a repeat All-County first-team offensive and defensive player.
* Chris Richardson, F.S. Key, Sr., HB -- For the second straight season, Richardson carried most of the load offensively for the Eagles against a tough Monocacy Valley Athletic League schedule and is a repeat first-team choice. Richardson ran 143 times for 781 yards and six touchdowns, caught seven passes for 193 yards and one touchdown, and had two long kickoff returns (85 and 79 yards) for touchdowns. The two electrifying kickoff returns brought back memories of the 1993 season when Richardson returned back-to-back kickoffs 73 and 75 yards in the second quarter of a 21-20 victory over North Hagerstown. There was no question that Richardson's sometimes spectacular running ability helped ease the pain of a disappointing 2-8 season for Key.
* Brandon Scarborough, Liberty, Jr., HB -- Everybody knew Brandon Scarborough was for real on Oct. 28 when he rushed for a career-high 130 yards on 25 carries and scored a two-point conversion in a near-upset victory over Westminster (42-38 loss). Scarborough, a left halfback in the Liberty wing-T, was one of the main reasons the Lions scored 128 points in a three-game stretch that included a 44-6 romp over 3A Einstein. He ran 152 times for a county-leading 1,111 yards, six touchdowns and two two-point conversions and caught four two-point conversion passes. Scarborough is a durable back who has played in 20 straight games over two seasons.
* Justin Sholkoff, Westminster, Sr., SE -- When the Owls needed a big play for a first down or a touchdown, it seemed as if quarterback Steve Mays almost always went to Sholkoff. This versatile senior did almost everything for Westminster (5-5). He caught 35 passes for 518 yards, eight touchdowns and two two-point conversions; hit 24 of 25 extra-point attempts and kicked three field goals, and made some big defensive plays in the secondary for first-year coach Tim Ebersole.
* Matt Study, Westminster, Sr., C -- Mr. Consistent for two years for the Owls is a repeat first-teamer. Study made all the line calls and played a major role in Westminster controlling the line of scrimmage in most games. If Steve Mays and Eric Jones weren't running behind left tackle Jed Harris or tight end Mat Mathias, they were following Study through the line for long gainers. Study is one of those intelligent players who just kept getting better every game he played.
ALL-CARROLL DEFENSE
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
* Steve Yokay, South Carroll, Sr., Line -- The Cavaliers shut down some pretty good offensive teams such as Linganore and Liberty, and Yokay was the ring leader on defense. He was involved in 91 tackles and 63 first hits and had seven quarterback sacks. Yokay also tackled running backs for losses nine times, causing three fumbles. But probably the most important honor for this senior was the tremendous respect bestowed upon him by his teammates. "If you ask all our players, they would tell you that Steve Yokay was the best defensive player on our team. It was that clear-cut," said South Carroll coach Gene Brown. Yokay, also a wrestler, had good instincts, quickness and a knack for knowing where the ball was.
THE TEAM AT A GLANCE
* Bryce Baker, South Carroll, Jr., LB -- When the South Carroll offense sputtered at times, Baker produced some instant offense from linebacker. Twice he picked up fumbles and returned them for touchdowns. Baker also was involved in 61 tackles, including 34 first hits, and was a first-team All-Central Maryland Conference selection. Baker not only made a lot of key tackles for the Cavaliers but he also doubled as a pretty fair running back, carrying the ball to give Greg Mihalko a breather.
* Bill Beltz, North Carroll, Sr., Line -- This was the one place on the football field where Beltz could attract some attention from opponents, fans and coaches. On a 1-9 team, it is easy to overlook offensive linemen but Beltz's defensive stats are impossible to ignore. He had 46 solo tackles, 21 assisted hits, five sacks and one fumble recovery. Beltz was seldom better than against Bethesda-Chevy Chase when the Panthers turned back the Barons in overtime, 20-19, ending a Carroll County record 28-game losing streak.
* Denny Bowers, Westminster, Jr., Line -- Very few opponents burned the Westminster defense outside. That was because of Bowers' quickness and inspiring play from defensive end. "Denny did a lot of good things, taking away the flat and forcing teams to go inside," said Westminster coach Tim Ebersole. Bowers also had a knack for making the big play on defense and he doubled as the team's punter. "It seemed like Denny was always there when we needed him," said Ebersole.
* Rob Buntin, F.S. Key, Sr., Line -- This incredibly intense athlete is back as a first-team defensive line selection even though he weighs only 170 pounds and stands 5 feet 9. That 170 is up 15 pounds from his weight as a junior when he was involved in 100 tackles for the Eagles. Some people might have thought Buntin's body could not take a second straight season of football punishment, but he had 55 tackles, six fumble recoveries and 10 tackles for losses in the backfield. Key coach Mike Coons said: "Robert is amazing. He is incredibly strong for his size and very quick."
* Tyrone Ellis, Liberty, Jr., DB -- On a defensive team that gave up too many points in some games, Ellis was the player who BTC stepped forward several times to halt promising drives by opponents. He had seven interceptions, which ranked him in the top seven players in the Baltimore metro area. Ellis used his superb quickness and good instincts to almost always show up where the ball was. When he wasn't making interceptions on defense, Ellis was playing split end on offense and catching 12 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns.
* Brian Field, Liberty, Sr., LB -- The defensive captain of the Lions certainly lived up to his name, roaming all over the field to make 58 unassisted tackles and 25 assisted hits for a much-improved Liberty (4-6) team. Those 83 total tackles surpassed the 70 he was involved in as a junior first-team All-Carroll linebacker. Field's defensive success over two years has set a standard for other Liberty players as the Lions try to put together a strong defense to support their high-scoring offense.
* Bill Kennedy, F.S. Key, Sr., LB -- This intelligent Eagle made it big this season even though Key encountered some tough times in the Monocacy Valley Athletic League (1-8). Kennedy, who lined up at linebacker and defensive end, had his best game in the team's only league win, a 12-0 shutout over Brunswick. Kennedy's job was to keep runners from breaking outside for long gainers and he most always accomplished that feat. He often forced runners to turn back inside where Robert Buntin would be waiting for them. "Teams very seldom broke containment with Bill pressing outside," said Key coach Mike Coons.
* Tom Lapato, South Carroll, Sr., DB -- He simply exploded on to the scene as a defensive back after establishing himself last season as a top-flight receiver. Lapato had five interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns. He will be most remembered defensively for a 35-yard return of a Ryan Pagels pass for a touchdown in a 26-6 win over Liberty. Lapato weaved and bobbed his way through nearly the entire Liberty team to score the touchdown. His other interception return for a touchdown came in a season-opening victory over Wilde Lake.
* Mat Mathias, Westminster, Sr., Line -- A repeat first-teamer on the defensive line, Mathias had a lot going for him in addition to his 6-5, 240-pound frame. He seemed to make one big play after another to stop opponents from running wide on the Owls. Mathias used a good knowledge of the game and an outstanding work ethic to get the job done. Then when Westminster got the football, Mathias was superb at tight end, making key blocks and catching important passes, including a touchdown pass from Steve Mays that sent the Frederick game into overtime where the Owls pulled out a victory.
* Steve Mays, Westminster, Sr., DB -- First-year coach Tim Ebersole began the season thinking he would not use Mays on defense, allowing him to concentrate solely on quarterbacking the Owls. But it wasn't too long before the hard-hitting athlete was out there on defense, racking up ball carriers and helping keep Westminster in games. Hitters like Mays are just too precious to sit on the bench when the other team has the football.
* Dan McKennie, South Carroll, Sr., Line -- Even though McKennie played the mentally taxing center position on offense, he still had enough ability and desire to turn in a super season on the South Carroll defensive line. McKennie, 6-feet, 250 pounds, made 51 tackles, had four quarterback sacks and hit three running backs for losses. Cavaliers' coach Gene Brown said he had hoped to keep McKennie away from the center position this season. "But we had no choice," said Brown. "Dan would have been a tremendous defensive player if he didn't have to play center. That position takes a lot out of a person."
* Greg Mihalko, South Carroll, Sr., DB -- A natural talent in the secondary, Mihalko has everything any coach could want in a defensive back. He loves to hit, always seems to know where the ball is, has exceptional lateral mobility, superb quickness and good speed. If Mihalko had not been needed to run the football so many times during a game, he would have been on the field for every defensive play. But South Carroll coach Gene Brown said he had to "spell" Mihalko defensively, especially in a game like the season finale against Westminster when Mihalko carried the ball 38 times for 207 yards and two touchdowns before getting hurt with four minutes left in the game.
COACH OF THE YEAR
* Gene Brown, South Carroll -- Brown earns the county's top coaching award for the second time in three years even though his Cavaliers (5-5) limped down the stretch after getting off to a 4-1 start. However, Brown guided South Carroll to the county title (3-0) on the strength of a 27-21 victory over Westminster in the final game of the season. During those four consecutive losses after the 4-1 start, Brown once again had to send his
troops up against Thomas Johnson, Damascus, Linganore and Frederick, which is something of a murderers' row that has plagued Brown in his three years as head coach since replacing Ken Parker. "We're getting there," said Brown. "But we still have a ways to go."
PICKING THE TEAMS
The Baltimore Sun 1994 All-Carroll County football teams were selected by Bill Free after consultation with staff and area coaches.