Atholton Raiders
1997 record: 4-6 overall, 3-6 league
Coach: Kevin Kelly (career, 18-12)
Classification: 2A
Top players: Sean Aaron, Sr., RB/LB; Mike Souder, Sr., C; Matt Adams, Sr., G; Mike Berman, Sr., T; Matt Pearce, Sr., T; Derek Pace, Sr., WR.; Neal Halloran, Jr., QB; Alex Carey, Sr., WR; Craig Smith, Jr., TE/DL
Outlook: Atholton lost five of its last six games a year ago and suffered heavy losses to graduation. With just 17 players in uniform, the Raiders are struggling to field a team. "I have concerns about finishing the season," Kelly said. "It looks like a tough year. We're limited. It's the fewest players I ever remember." Kelly blames this year's participation glitch, in which he has only five juniors, on redistricting that occurred when River Hill opened two years ago and athletes were siphoned off. "We lost a lot of our athletes then." Aaron, an All-County LB and RB, is a bright note for the Raiders.
Centennial Eagles
1997 record: 6-4 overall, 5-4 league
Coach: Ed Holshue (career, 86-90)
Classification: 2A
Top players: Tom Fisher, Sr., OT/DE; Eric Holzman, Sr., C; Mike ** Von Paris, Sr., G/DT; Jeff Plank, Sr., TE/LB; Matt Deuchler, Sr., RB/LB; Don Swann, Sr., QB; Josh Wallace, Sr., FB/S; Chris Tiedemann, Sr., WR/LB; Ryan McCrone, Sr., FB/ LB; Jared Hess, Sr., DE; Drew Maurer, Sr., DB; Adam Hall, Sr., NG; Craig Brunstetter, Sr., OT/DT; Brian O'Connor, Soph., E/CB
Outlook: Centennial hopes the momentum of winning four of its last five games last fall carries over. But with just six returning starters, that will be difficult. Holshue is comfortable with the skill positions, especially Deuchler at TB, Swann at QB and Tiedemann at WR. "We'll be able to throw and catch this year, and Deuchler is agile. We scrimmaged Aberdeen well and are quicker than I thought. Defensively, we'll be respectable," Holshue said. "But we have little depth on the line." Holshue was lucky to pick up Brunstetter, a 6-2, 230-pound transfer from Rockville. The Eagles are hoping to match last season.
Glenelg Gladiators
1997 record: 4-6 overall, 4-5 league
Coach: John Davis (career, 6-14)
Classification: 1A
Top players: Zach McQuigg, Jr., QB/S; Mike Rice, Sr., TE/DE; John Clark, Sr., HB/NG; Maurice Mohammed, Sr., HB/DE; Clint Furr, Jr., FB/LB; Joe Caruso, Sr., C/DE; Jason Johnson, Sr., OT/DE; Spence Baxter, Sr., OL/DL; Matt Thrasher, Sr., FB/LB; Shawn Matthews, Sr., RB/DB; Chris Hertel, Sr., OL/DL; Casey Matthews, Sr., OG/LB; Alex Lendrim, Sr., OL/DL; J. T. Smart, Soph., WR
Outlook: Glenelg returns five offensive starters and five defensive starters from a team that lost its last three games. The Gladiators expect to be tougher and stronger but smaller. Their weakness will be defense -- as it was last season. McQuigg passed for 1,200 yards a year ago. "We should finish in the middle of the pack," Davis said.
Hammond Golden Bears
1997 record: 5-5 overall, 5-4 league
Coach: Joe Russo (career, 117-84)
Classification: 1A
Top players: Matt Nelson, Sr., C/DT; Calvin Wilmer, Sr., RB/DB; Jeff Carlin, Sr., QB; Charles Spinks, Jr., DL; Mark Lazarofsky, Sr., WR; Jared Zillmer, Sr., CB; Scot Holmes, Sr., OT/DT; Jason Maxey, Soph., QB/LB; Kevin Schwartz, Soph., FB/LB; Jamal Stewart, Soph., RB/LB; Jeff Frye, Soph., DB; Brian Brewer, Soph., OG
Outlook: The Bears are young. Russo plans to start five sophomores -- four on defense. "They're my super-sophs and are as good as any around," Russo said. Offensively, he'll operate with a slot-I formation and double tight end. "We'll be stronger offensively. Running back will be our strength. Calvin [Wilmer] is one of the top four backs in the county." Wilmer also is a good punter and kick returner. Nelson (6-3, 260-pounds) was All-County.
Howard Lions
1997 record: 5-5 overall, 4-5 league
Coach: Vince Parnell (career, 23-37)
Classification: 2A
Top players: Gerald Smith, Jr., RB; Jon LaRoche, Sr., QB; Garret Staples, Sr., C; Joey Tortella, Jr., G; Nick Hughes, Sr., G; Anthony Aceves, Sr., TE; Matt Shourds, Sr., RB; Patrick Carroll, Sr., SE; Jose Monzon, Jr., RB; Brian Carey, Jr., OT/DT
Outlook: The Lions return 15 players who saw a lot of action. The team's strength will again be offense, where RB Gerald Smith carried 137 times for 1,169 yards and 14 TDs. He also caught six passes for 112 yards and two TDs and returned 15 kickoffs for 619 yards and one TD. Smith returned punts for 400 yards and three TDs and scored 124 points. QB Jon LaRoche is also a big reason for Howard's success offensively, because he threw 14 TD passes. The Lions return their offensive line intact, except for one player. Howard hopes to control the ball more this season instead of depending on big plays. To improve, however, the Lions must bolster their defense. They scored 269 points but gave up 271 points. "We have high expectations that we can compete with everyone in the league," Parnell said. "We have a good group of seniors and were competitive with everyone but Wilde Lake last season." The Lions are hoping to challenge for a county title this season.
Long Reach Lightning
1997 record: 8-3 overall, 7-2 league
Coach: Pete Hughes (career, 12-9)
Classification: 2A
Top players: Tally White, Jr., OT/DE; Devin Conwell, Jr., RB/LB; Luis George, Jr., WR/CB; Mike Salzman, Sr., QB; Stewart Long, Jr., QB; Chris Brooks, Jr., RB; Ken Nightengale, Sr., WR; Tom Kerr, Soph., OG; Brian Plumley, Jr., OG; Bill Clark, Jr., LB
Outlook: Even though they graduated 10 seniors, the Lightning has defeated Meade and Baltimore-power Dunbar in scrimmages. The wins gave notice that the Wildecats are better than last season, when they were regional champs before losing to Middletown in the state playoffs. The 45-man roster includes just five seniors -- only two of them starting -- and none on defense. "We're huge. We have depth and experience," Hughes said. "Our junior varsity went 9-1, and our juniors and sophomores are great. Our running game will be better, and we hope to control the ball and be more methodical. We averaged 21 points last season, mainly on big plays." The chief RB is Conwell, who gained 826 yards on 138 carries. He was also his team's leading tackler with 58 solos and 41 assists as an All-County linebacker. Hughes praises his new offensive coordinator, Guy Bunyard, who was offensive coordinator at Montgomery/Rockville two years ago and at Mount Hebron last season. The Lightning wants to win county and state titles this season to go with last season's regional title.
Mount Hebron Vikings
1997 record: 1-9 overall, 0-9 league
Coach: Larry Luthe (first year)
Classification: 2A
Top players: Jerry Hicks, Sr., TB/CB; Tom Tittsworth, Jr., RB/LB; Jason Morrissey, Sr., QB; Nick Cummins, Sr., E/S; Sam Choi, Sr., NG; Kevin McGrath, Jr., LB; Mike Bloom, Jr., LB; Minn Woo, Jr., DT; Einar Wulfsberg, Jr. LB
Outlook: Luthe is the latest in a string of coaches who have hoped to turn around Mount Hebron's sagging football fortunes during the 1990s. He was an assistant coach at Hammond last season. His first turnout was encouraging. He has 30 players, the most talented of whom is tailback Jerry Hicks. "He could be great," Luthe said. Tittsworth and McGrath are two of his most hard-nosed players. Choi is quick and talented at 6-2, 210 pounds. "We're young. We have a lot of junior starters. We should be quick on the defensive line, but we lack depth," said Luthe. The Vikings will operate with a wing-T offense. Luthe's assistants include two former Vikings standout players, Greg and Darren Altieri.
Oakland Mills Scorpions
1997 record: 7-3 overall, 7-2 league
Coach: Ken Hovet (career, 35-18)
Classification: 1A
Top players: Vinnie Rubbo, Sr., HB/LB; Jay Frizzelle, Sr., OG/NG; T. J. Welsh, Sr., TE/S; Dawud Wallace, Jr., DT; Joe Ellis, Sr., FB/LB; Matt Oxford, Jr., OT/DT; Lance Adams, Sr., OT/DE; Ed Echols, Jr., QB; Josh Smith, Soph., DB; Tom Browne, Sr., E; Robert Roche, Jr., DB; Brandon Hammond, Jr., DB; Mike Ellis, Soph., OT; Julian Barfield, Sr., HB
Outlook: The Scorpions return eight on defense and seven on offense and will be led by a pair of All-County performers, Rubbo and Frizzelle. Rubbo, 6-0, 200 pounds, The Sun's County Offensive Player of the Year and second-team All-Metro, rushed for a school-record 1,873 yards on 243 carries and scored 21 TDs. Frizzelle, a 5-11, 235-pound three-year starter, is a dominant pulling guard. Oakland Mills will have at least five other two-way starters. The roster is up, at 35, after being down to 25 last fall. Lack of speed hurt the Scorpions at times, but Barfield, a 5-10, 180-pound transfer from Atlanta who played his freshman season for Oakland Mills, brings 4.4 speed. Welsh moves from QB to TE. And Echols, a 6-1, 180-pound transfer from Arundel, will play QB. The Scorpions will run an I formation. "We have a lot of size and experience, and Vinnie will still be our workhorse with 25 to 30 carries per game," Hovet said. The Scorpions are shooting to make the playoffs and win a Class 1A state title.
River Hill Hawks
1997 record: 1-9 overall, 1-8 league
Coach: Don Van Deusen (career, NA)
Classification: 2A
Top players: Jason Fawcett, Jr., FB/LB; Russell Popkin, Sr., OG/DT; Alex Leaf, Sr., OT/DT; Mike Schoonmaker, Sr., WB; Justin Curtis, Sr., TE/LB; Doug Clime, Sr., C/DL; Jason Mourath, Sr., OT/DE; John Mele, Sr., E/DB; Levi Haslup, Sr., WB/DB; Steve Glasgow, Sr., QB/DB; Jeff Chen, Jr., RB/CB; Robert Jay, Jr., E; Spencer Wilson, Soph., OT/LB; Scott Cannon, Jr., OT/DL; Todd Williams, Jr., OG; Miguel Montanez, Jr., RB/LB
Outlook: The Hawks hope to control the ball with a new offense, the Delaware wing-T. They are more experienced, with just two sophomores, as opposed to 14 sophomores two years ago when the school opened. If the Hawks can score regularly, they may experience a breakthrough season. Glasgow is a 6-4, 205-pound QB who can pass. Schoonmaker has played every game for two years. Fawcett led the team in tackles. Wilson is 6-1, 256 pounds. Montanez is 6-1, 180 pounds with speed. Leaf was All-County with 48 solo tackles, 38 assists, six sacks and five fumble recoveries. "Our defense was our strength last year," Van Deusen said. "We have a good offensive line, and we're stronger. We're still not fast -- but faster." A .500 season is possible.
Wilde Lake Wildecats
1997 record: 13-0 overall, 9-0 league (county, region and state champs)
Coach: Doug DuVall (career, 210-49)
Classification: 3A
Top players: Danny Bayron, Sr., RB/S; Luke Vanderwagen, Sr., TE/LB; John Quinn, Jr., DE; Rayne Holmes, Sr., DE; Geno Colston, Jr., OT/DT; Asmar Hagler, Sr., NG; Tony Powell, Jr., DT; Chris Yetter, Sr., DB; Mario Merrills, Soph., RB/ CB; Craig Nicholson, Sr., RB; Kye Snell, Jr., RB; Jimmie Levins, Sr., RB/CB; Seth Smith, Sr., QB; Bradon Rice, Sr., WR; Alex Stanley, Sr., C
Outlook: The Wildecats return four offensive starters and four defensive starters from a Class 3A state championship team that allowed just six points in three playoff games and 49 points all season. Bayron and Vanderwagen (6-3, 210), two first-team All-Metro players return. Bayron made 97 tackles and rushed for 1,055 yards and 17 touchdowns. Vanderwagen made 51 solo tackles and 41 assists and led his team with 17 sacks and three fumble recoveries. Wilde Lake is blessed with a wealth of sprinters, particularly Snell, Levins, Holmes and Merrills. Holmes is a superb pass rusher. The line has tremendous size with Colston (6-3, 260 pounds), Hagler (5-10, 250 pounds), Powell (6-2, 250 pounds) and Stanley (6-2, 258 pounds). "We're still raw, but we have great potential," DuVall said. Wilde Lake which runs a wishbone, is dressing 44 players.
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Football's Top 15
Rank School
1. Gilman
2. Mount St. Joseph
3. Wilde Lake
4. Calvert Hall
5. Eastern Tech
6. Poly
7. Milford Mill
8. Randallstown
9. Dunbar
10. Long Reach
11. City
12. Aberdeen
13. Arundel
14. Loyola
15. McDonogh
Pub Date: 9/04/98