OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Ganascioli
Glenelg
Although opposing teams focused on stopping him, thus freeing up space for other Gladiators running backs, the two-time first-team All-County pick still rushed for a second straight 1,000-yard season and was the figurehead player on a team that recorded its second straight undefeated regular season.
The senior running back carried 150 times for 1,150 yards and 10 touchdowns and had an 8.2-yard average. He also caught four passes for 83 yards.
Ganascioli's best game was a 28-26 win over River Hill in which he rushed for 161 yards and made 14 solo tackles as a linebacker.
FIRST TEAM
Brian Behe
Glenelg
The Gladiators had two 1,000-yard rushers and the 5-foot-10, 240-pound senior tackle led the way for them with his excellent trap blocks. The three-year starter also pulled through the back side on power plays.
Steve Bloom
Mount Hebron
He had 1,109 all-purpose yards. Bloom caught 30 passes for 599 yards and six touchdowns. The senior rushed 26 times for 138 yards and one touchdown. He passed for 96 yards. He also returned 10 kickoffs for 205 yards and four punts for 71 yards.
A. J. Case
Wilde Lake
The senior running back rushed for 1,227 yards and 17 touchdowns on 150 carries, had four catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns, returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and a punt 14 yards for a touchdown.
Trey Fales
Atholton
Lacking the speed to turn the corner, the Raiders often ran straight up the middle behind Fales, a 6-2, 240-pound center. He was able to block the linebackers as well as pull for screens.
J. L. Feeley
Centennial
Called the heart and soul of his team by coach Ross Hannon, Feeley played the entire season despite a torn meniscus in his knee. The wide receiver made 36 catches for 546 yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 15.1 yards per catch. In a 24-21 overtime win against Hammond, he made five catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
Shawn Frederick
Wilde Lake
At 6-3, 228 pounds, the junior guard, a second-year starter, helped open holes for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers. His best skill was trap blocking. '
Dennis Lange
Oakland Mills
Coach Ken Hovet called him the team's policeman. "He was an excellent team captain and good leader," said Hovet. The tight end/fullback caught 24 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed 93 times for 763 yards and eight touchdowns. He rushed for 197 yards and three touchdowns against Howard.
Chris Martin
River Hill
An all-around impact player for the Hawks (7-3), the senior quarterback rushed 110 times for 630 yards and 12 touchdowns. He completed 39 of 71 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns. On eight kickoff returns, he averaged 29.7 yards and had one touchdown. On eight punt returns, he averaged 13.4 yards.
Mike McLaughlin
Wilde Lake
The senior, second-team All-County selection last year, was a technician whose strength was the drive block on running plays. The 6-3, 265-pound guard, a three-year starter who has a 3.8 grade-point average, teamed with Shawn Frederick to open holes for Austen Merrills and A.J. Case.
Austen Merrills
Wilde Lake
His slashing style and breakaway speed allowed the senior running back to lead the county with 1,312 yards rushing on 134 carries for a 9.8-yard average. He ran for 18 touchdowns. Merrills also ran for 980 yards and 10 touchdowns his junior year for two-year totals of 2,292 yards and 28 touchdowns. He helped lead the Wildecats to a county co-championship this season.
Justin Pruitt
Long Reach
A dominating blocker, he excelled at every kind of block, pulls, traps and pass blocks. The 6-6, 296-pound senior tackle, a preseason All-State pick, was a three-year starter and four-year varsity player. He is considering Penn State.
Colin Quinn
Wilde Lake
The 6-5, 285-pound senior was a great drive blocker who made a lot of improvement over his four-year career. "He was our go-behind guy and just moved people," said coach Doug DuVall. Quinn is considering Connecticut or Towson.
Tim Siders
Glenelg
He was extremely quick to hit a hole and the junior running back gained 1,005 yards on 105 carries for a 9.5-yard average. He scored 12 touchdowns. He also returned four kickoffs for a 39.5 average and one touchdown. "No one expected such a big year from him," said coach John Davis.
Will Staples
Atholton
The wide receiver caught 35 passes for 615 yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 17.3 yards per catch. "Whenever we needed a first down, he was our go-to guy," said coach Chuck Fales. The senior also returned 10 kickoffs for 167 yards.
Joey Sowada
River Hill
The kicker connected on 31 of 35 extra-point attempts and three of four field-goal tries. His longest field goal was 34 yards. The senior, a former soccer player, connected on 27 straight extra points over a two-year period, and converted 55 of 63 extra-point attempts in his two-year career.
COACH OF THE YEAR
John Davis
Glenelg
After the Gladiators won the county championship and went undefeated during the regular season a year ago, they graduated 19 seniors and seven All-County players, and opponents figured Glenelg would suffer a rebuilding year.
Instead, the Gladiators again went undefeated during the regular season and won the county title, earning their third straight playoff berth. Although they lost to Middletown for the second straight year in the opening round of the playoffs, their regular-season winning streak is at 27 games.
Davis, 41, a physical education teacher at Glenelg, finished his seventh season after previous coaching stints in Florida and the Midwest. The New Jersey native played wide receiver for Tulane.
Filling the holes left by graduations was a huge task. He accomplished it even though this year's team was not nearly as big and physical as the previous one.
"This was my hardest coaching job," he said.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Doug Smith
Wilde Lake
He's the ultimate lineman, quick and always in the attack mode. The senior nose guard, named after Billy Douglas, a former Wilde Lake player legendary for his toughness, excelled from sideline to sideline.
Smith made 66 solo tackles and 21 assists, notched four sacks and 24 tackles for a loss, recovered three fumbles, made one interception and caused six fumbles.
"He was unblockable," said Oakland Mills coach Ken Hovet. "He was the most dominant defensive player in the league without a doubt. He was quick, strong and had the perfect size."
Smith, 5-10 and 240 pounds, may play at Salisbury.
FIRST TEAM
Pete Calvo
River Hill
On a team that allowed just 11.7 points per game, Calvo was a stalwart defensive back. He made 24 solo tackles and had 20 assists. The 6-1, 190-pound senior, who didn't play the previous two seasons, also recorded five sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and caused two fumbles.
Tony Cole
Oakland Mills
The 5-10, 170-pound junior nose guard and defensive end produced some eye-popping stats, including 11 blocked punts, five fumble recoveries, 15 sacks and nine tackles for loss. He made nine solo tackles and had 43 assists. Cole's best skill was his ability to chase down players from behind with his explosive speed.
Trent Covington
Long Reach
Displaying great instincts, the junior defender was a hard hitter and a good tackler. He made 35 solo stops, had 30 assists and four interceptions, including one for a 55-yard touchdown. The 6-1, 180-pounder also broke up nine passes, had four sacks and three fumble recoveries.
Chris Dooley
Atholton
A 6-2 junior, his longest punt was 62 yards, but he averaged 35.1 yards on 42 punts. The three-sport athlete also started four games at quarterback, and completed 19 of 35 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns.
Jesse Fawcett
River Hill
The two-time first-team All-County player made 38 tackles and had 21 assists. A 5-10, 225-pound defensive end, the senior was a strong pass rusher with two sacks and five tackles for a loss. "He was our key defensive lineman," said Hawks coach Brian Van Deusen, whose team allowed only 11.7 points per game.
Hamp Fields
Wilde Lake
A team leader who got the Wildecats through the tough games, the 5-10, 185-pound senior defensive back made 35 solo tackles and had three assists. He had two interceptions.
Randy Gardner
Glenelg
A versatile athlete, the senior defensive back made 20 solo tackles, had 14 assists, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and broke up six passes. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, including a 95-yarder, and one punt for a touchdown.
Rob Onolfi
Long Reach
The Lightning's heart and soul, he led his team in tackles for two straight seasons. This year the 5-10, 215-pound senior linebacker made 55 solo tackles and had 45 assists, and recorded five sacks, four fumble recoveries, 10 tackles behind the line and broke up three passes. A two-time, first-team All-County selection, the senior read holes well, had great anticipation for the ball, was a good tackler and could run through blockers.
Domonique Owens
Oakland Mills
Combining good size and mobility, the junior linebacker was the Scorpions' most dominant defensive player. The 6-2, 195-pound transfer from Archbishop Curley had interceptions in four straight games and finished the season with five interceptions. He also recovered two fumbles, had four sacks, made 21 solo tackles and had 55 assists.
Darryl Pastor
Oakland Mills
Out of respect for his 4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash, not many passes were usually thrown in the senior defensive back's direction. A two-way starter two straight years, the lockdown cornerback used that speed to chase down opponents from behind. Pastor, 5-8, 175, had one interception.
Ryan Pope
Long Reach
A three-year starter who lost 25 pounds to improve his quickness for this season, Pope was strong against the run despite constant double-teaming. The 6-4, 290-pound nose guard was able to block passes, pressure the quarterback and bring down runners from behind. The senior made 45 solo tackles, had 38 assists, four sacks, six tackles behind the line and one fumble recovery. He also served as a long snapper and blocked two extra-point kicks.
Dane Randolph
Wilde Lake
Randolph, a transfer from Florida, has great size at 6-4 and 245 pounds. Among his 57 solo tackles were 20 for a loss. The junior defensive end had 17 assists, four sacks and one fumble recovery.
Bryan Walsh
Glenelg
The senior linebacker made 16 solo tackles, had nine assists, two sacks, one fumble recovery, broke up two passes and caused two fumbles.
Lee Woodson
Wilde Lake
A prototypical Wilde Lake linebacker/defensive end, he played with reckless abandon, making repeated big hits and getting his teammates rolling. The Wildecats' leading tackler, the 5-10, 180-pound junior made 71 solo tackles, had 22 assists, nine sacks and 13 tackles for a loss.