OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
* Dondre Gilliam, Aberdeen, junior, running back -- The 6-foot, 158-pounder led the county in touchdowns (14), scoring (90) and average yards per carry (8.6) and was second in rushing with
1,028 yards.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
* Wilson Hanks, C. Milton Wright, senior, tackle -- He was the vital part of a rugged tackling crew for the Mustangs (five with at least 70 tackles), the first one to disrupt opposing plays. He had 77 tackles. The team finished with the county's No. 1 rushing defense (averaged 117 yards a game) and No. 1 overall defense (179-yard average, the only team under 200).
COACH OF THE YEAR
* Kevin Reilly, Aberdeen -- Emphasizing "get it done," Reilly, in his second year, works on getting his players to be successful off as well as on the field. Each player was asked to make a strong commitment to great attitude, strong character, tremendous work ethic and team effort. In the end, the players make the choice, and their choices led to a 9-1 record, including a win over perennial power C. Milton Wright. The Eagles lost in the first round of the playoffs. * Tony Belcastro, Bel Air, senior, quarterback -- A captain and leader on and off the field, he maintained control of the offense and often called his own plays. He finished with 67-for-129 passing (a county-best 52 percent) for 745 yards and 10 touchdowns. Only 5 feet 7, he ran 54 times for 157 yards and one touchdown.
* Matt Christ, Bel Air, senior, offensive line -- An All-County pick last year, he returned for a third varsity season bigger (6-3, 235) and better. He was a physical and emotional leader of an inexperienced offensive line and wound up playing different positions depending upon the strength of an opposing defense.
* Mike Deal, Bel Air, senior, wide receiver -- Another returning All-County choice, he led the county receivers with 42 receptions for 560 yards and nine touchdowns. He had an excellent ability to get open, despite double- and triple-teaming, and was the team's "go-to" player in crucial situations. As a defensive back, he had 24 tackles and intercepted three passes.
* Jack Donaldson, Havre de Grace, senior, wide receiver -- He was the second-leading county receiver with 30 catches for 610 yards and five touchdowns. As a defensive back, he had four interceptions. He was one of the offensive and defensive leaders when injuries cost the Warriors their top runner, junior Mike Wood (averaging more than 100 yards a game), and top defenders Ardia White and Chris Mintzer.
* Paul Gasdia, Aberdeen, senior, kicker -- The kick-scoring leader in the county, he had 33 extra points and four field goals. The second field goal attempt of his life (his first one had been blocked) was a 27-yarder with 2:49 left that defeated C. Milton Wright, 22-21. A starting center/defensive tackle, the 5-7, 264-pounder was seldom off the field. He helped block and had 49 tackles and a fumble recovery.
* James Greene, C. Milton Wright, senior, lineman -- At 6-4, 305, he was half of the Mustangs' two huge honor selections who provided blocking for two running backs who combined for nearly 1,800 yards.
* Zeke Johnson, C. Milton Wright, senior, lineman -- The other half of the equation, the 6-foot, 275-pounder helped the Class 3A semifinalist total 2,456 rushing yards in a 9-1 regular season.
* Rich Juergenson, C. Milton Wright, senior, running back -- A durable 200-pounder, he ran for 921 yards and nine touchdowns on 180 rushes.
* Jim Pappas, Fallston, senior, center -- Pappas was a key in the blocking scheme that helped three backs run for more than 2,100 yards.
* Carlos Putney, Edgewood, sophomore, running back -- He was third among the three county rushers with more than 1,000 (1,002) yards, and the leader of the county's best offense (297-yard average).
* Ryan Stangle, John Carroll, senior, wide receiver -- The third-leading receiver in the county, he caught 26 passes for 473 yards and five touchdowns. As a kicker, he had nine extra points and a field goal.
* Nate Stewart, Aberdeen, senior, lineman -- An offensive tackle and a defensive end, he made major contributions to his team's success, while, at 6-2, 225, he consistently faced bigger players on both sides of the line. He was one of the key blockers for Gilliam.
* Matt Sutphin, Fallston, sophomore, running back -- He improved his rushing yardage from 600 to No. 1 in the county with 1,066 yards and nine touchdowns. His 159 carries were second only to Juergenson.
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE AT A GLANCE
* Jeff Brochu, Havre de Grace, senior, back -- Despite his lack of size (5-6, 130), he was part of the top pass defense in the league (gave up an average of 36 yards a game) and ended with 94 tackles (shared the team lead with Mentzer).
* Ron Cardwell, Bel Air, senior, lineman -- He had 61 tackles, including 41 first hits. At 6-4, he was an excellent pass rusher and also was able to drop back in effective pass coverage. He was a three-year starter.
* Avion Epps, Joppatowne, senior, linebacker -- Normally a lineman, he dropped back to an inside linebacking position as the line play of others improved during the season. He finished third in the county in tackles with 128, including a league-high 86 solos.
* Duane Fisher, C. Milton Wright, junior, safety -- The second-leading metro player in interceptions with nine (plus one in the playoffs), he returned one for a touchdown. He had a return yardage average of 25 and helped in a pass coverage that led to 20 interceptions.
* Shane Gray, John Carroll, senior, back -- He had 77 tackles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions, and was his team's defensive captain.
* Paul Konschak, North Harford, senior, line -- He had 76 tackles, caused three fumbles, recovered two others and had a pass deflection.
* Ted May, C. Milton Wright, junior, linebacker -- He had 97 tackles as half of the team's superior linebacking pair.
* Alonzo McDowell, Joppatowne, senior, back -- A speedster with TTC excellent hands (20 receptions for a 25-yard average and five touchdowns as a receiver), he totaled 77 tackles and three interceptions.
* Eugene Norton, Aberdeen, senior, linebacker -- He had 90 tackles and two fumble recoveries for the league's third-best defense against the rush (150-yard average).
* Mark Rhoten, Fallston, senior, linebacker -- He led the county in tackles with 149.
* Corey Robinson, C. Milton Wright, senior, linebacker -- He had 99 tackles, and teamed with May to thwart opposing defenses.
* Steve Selvage, Bel Air, senior, line -- He was the top tackler for the county's second-leading defense (against the rush and overall) with 95, including 60 first hits. There were 12 tackles for losses, two blocked kicks and three fumble recoveries.
* Rodney Solle, Joppatowne, senior, line -- The improvement of this quick nose guard enabled Epps to drop back and give the Mariners two top players in the middle. These two and McDowell were major factors for the league's third-best defense.
* Dwayne Whyte, Edgewood, senior, punter -- He led the county in punting with a 38.7-yard average. As quarterback, he directed the county's No. 1 offense.
PICKING THE TEAMS
The Baltimore Sun 1994 All-Harford County football and boys and girls soccer teams were selected by John. W. Stewart after consultation with area coaches.