HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Private, public school teams to compete as conferences shift
It’s been a long time since private and public school football teams played on the same Friday nights. Area programs aren’t letting that chance go to waste.
Broadneck coach Rob Harris called Archbishop Spalding coach Kyle Schmitt over the offseason to ask for a matchup. What became of that phone call is the blockbuster opener of the fall: the experienced Bruins feel tough enough to face one of the toughest programs in Maryland, and that says as much about Spalding as it does about Broadneck.
The Bruins are projecting themselves to have a potentially historic season coming off an unbeaten spring and rallying behind four-year starting quarterback Josh Ehrlich. Ehrlich already owns all the school passing records and has grown physically.
“He has the chance to be the best we’ve ever had,” coach Rob Harris said, “if he puts together the season we think he will.”
But Broadneck isn’t the only team venturing out of the traditional public school scene — and even the county — to make interesting competition.
Arundel is shifting to Class 3A this fall, meaning come the end of the season, it will play plenty of teams from the furthest reaches of Maryland. To prepare for that, coach Jack Walsh scheduled teams like Elkton and Middletown — even leaving behind traditional matchups against teams like Broadneck to make room.
“I don’t think we’re ever going to have that opportunity again, because in two years, we’re probably going to be a 4A school again,” Walsh said. “I really want to see some different opponents, I really want to see some teams we might see in the 3A playoffs.”
South River opens the season against Westminster, which went undefeated against Carroll County competition in the spring.
Northeast bumped down to Class 2A and is set to spend half its season playing out of county. Meade, with games against teams from Delaware, and North County, scheduling contests against Middletown and Milford, will square off against unfamiliar faces as well.
Southern made an even more drastic change. Coach Danny Ripple scheduled opponents that are more of the same size to the Bulldogs, which snapped a 31-game losing streak in 2019 and then earned a win against Glen Burnie in the spring.
“These games aren’t [easy] by any means. This is going to be a heck of a game Friday against Seaford; we’re very similar programs,” Ripple said. “It is exciting to play schools our size. It’s giving everybody a lot of confidence and optimism.”
Annapolis Area Christian School, which plays in the MIAA C Conference, is playing up against B Conference opponents Boys Latin and St. Paul’s. Spalding, as usual, will be challenging itself outside of just MIAA A opponents.
Teams are coming into Friday on different playing fields, especially numberswise. Severna Park and Broadneck had more than 100 student-athletes come out to tryouts, while Crofton and Annapolis hung around 90. Other teams, such as South River and Southern, welcomed between 60 and 70. Chesapeake brought sophomores up just to list 40 on the varsity roster, a practice it does not normally do.
“This is the smallest team I’ve ever had come out,” Chesapeake coach Rob Elliott said. “[It’s a] little bit of an adjustment there.”
Here’s what to expect from the local programs:
Annapolis
2021 spring record: 3-7
Coach: DeWayne Hunt, first season
Offensive scheme: Run-pass, shotgun;
Defensive scheme: 3-4
Top offensive players: Seniors Jermaine Hunt (RB), Ke’Mari Taylor (RB), Kyle Williams (QB) and Mahki Young (OL); junior Shawn Cooper (RB).
Top defensive players: Still to be determined.
Special teams: Still to be determined.
Annapolis Area Christian School
2020 record: 0-1
Coach: Mike Lynn, eighth year
Offensive scheme: Spread; Defensive scheme: 40 front
Top offensive players: Seniors Trevor Grey (QB), Jonathan Hardy (WR) and Josh Hardy (TE); juniors Devin Ahmed (WR/RB), Xavier Essex (QB), Andrew Fatusin (OL), Carius McClain (RB) and Zephaniah Wade (OL); sophomores Ryan Jones (OL), Zahire Mike (RB), Maurice Nwachukwu (OL) and Anthony Wiseman (QB); freshman Ethan Locker (QB).
Top defensive players: Seniors Trevor Grey (LB), Jonathan Hardy (DB) and Josh Hardy (DE); juniors Devin Ahmed (DB), Xavier Essex (LB), Andrew Fatusin (DL) and Carius McClain (LB); sophomores Ryan Jones (LB), Zahire Mike (LB), Maurice Nwachukwu (OL) and Anthony Wiseman (LB); freshman Ethan Locker (DB).
Archbishop Spalding
2020 record: 2-0
Coach: Kyle Schmitt, ninth year Offensive scheme: Multiple. Defensive scheme: Odd front.
Top offensive players: Seniors Brian Baucia (OL), Matt Benny (OL), Teagan Brown (WR), Jim Fitzgerald (OL), Nick Gutierrez (QB), Jordan Harris (RB), Jordan Pennick (WR), Aeneas Smith (RB/TE), Ian Ver Steeg (WR) and Patrick Wagner (RB/ TE); sophomore Rolando Newton (WR).
Top defensive players: Seniors Mansoor DeLane (DB), Bryce Purnell (DE), Jalen Robertson (DE), Jason Robertson (LB), Lavain Scruggs (DB) and Kellan Wyatt (LB).
Arundel
2021 spring record: 2-2
Coach: Jack Walsh, fourth season
Offensive scheme: 4-wide spread;
Defensive scheme: 3-4
Top offensive players: Senior Jake Long (QB); juniors Braden Shelnutt (QB) and Ahmad Taylor (RB); sophomore Gavin Kamachi (QB).
Top defensive players: Seniors Hunter Green (ILB) and John Tonrey (OLB); juniors Abraham Olugbemi (DL) and Azhier Tention (S).
Special teams: Senior Clint Mills (K); junior Ahmad Taylor (R); freshman TJ Mordecai (R).
Broadneck
2021 spring record: 4-0
Coach: Rob Harris, 11th season
Offensive scheme: Spread, “balanced”;
Defensive scheme: 3-5-3
Top offensive players: Seniors Josh Ehrlich (QB), Kyle Pierce (WR) and Davion White (RB); junior Machi Evans (WR); sophomore Eli Harris (WR).
Top defensive players: Seniors Daelin Brooks (LB), Dom Downs (LB), Thomas Endal (LB), Sammy Frias (FS) and Brody Friedman (S); junior Anthony Hawkins (S); sophomore Tyler Hicks (DE).
Special teams: Junior Ryan Della (K); sophomore Chris Coleman (K).
Chesapeake
2021 spring record: 3-1
Coach: Rob Elliott, 11th season
Offensive scheme: Power, spread;
Defensive scheme: 4-4-4-3
Top offensive players: Seniors Hunter Beck (OL), Luca Genovese (QB), Kyle Lane (RB), Dylan Lewis (RB), Victor Listorti (RB), Ryan Rush (RB), Owen Schmidt (WR) and Connor Zolman (OL); junior Logan Clark (RB), Nick Shade (WR), Rushaun Tongue (WR) and Tyler Weber (QB).
Top defensive players: Seniors Joel Foster (DE), Brett Jacob (DE), Kyle Lane (DB), Dylan Lewis (DL), Victor Listorti (LB), Ryan Rush (LB), and Owen Schmidt (DB); juniors Andrew Beal (DE), Logan Clark (LB), Nick Shade (DB) and Rushaun Tongue (DB); sophomore Dakota Baublitz (LB).
Special teams: Junior Larry Hurst (K).
Crofton
2021 spring record: 1-2 (junior varsity) Coach: Todd Sommerville, second season (first varsity) Offensive scheme: “week-to-week” decision; Defensive scheme: Multiple.
Top offensive players: Juniors Le’Trell Bender (WR), Layth Carpenter (WR), Alex Cordero (RB), Sam Dominguez (QB), Ian Lenkart (QB), Sam Ross (WR), Abraham Sani (RB), Shaun Smith (WR) and Satchel Wilson (WR); sophomores Ethan Carmichael (T) and Jaden Joseph (WR).
Top defensive players: Juniors Le’Trell Bender (DB) and Abraham Sani (LB).
Special teams: Junior Sam Dominguez (K).
Glen Burnie
2021 spring record: 0-2
Coach: Alec Lemon, second season Offensive scheme: Spread; Defensive scheme: 3-4
Top offensive players: Seniors Joey Ashburn (WR), Isaac Agagbor (WR), Mike Carter (RB), Gabriel DeBow (C), Zion Pinkney (WR), Ryan Witt (QB) and Jashon Woods (WR); sophomore Romeo Edmonds (QB).
Top defensive players: Seniors Mike Carter (LB) and Dante Creek (DL).
Special teams: Seniors Joey Ashburn (P), Brandon Burns (K), Kariem Johnson (R) and Zion Pinkey (R).
Meade
2021 spring record: 0-4
Coach: Mike Francis, third season Offensive scheme: N/A; Defensive scheme: N/A
Top offensive players: Senior Jeremiah Gakodi (WR).
Top defensive players: N/A
North County
2021 spring record: 1-2
Coach: Quinten Jones, fifth season Offensive scheme: Spread; Defensive scheme: 3-4
Top offensive players: Seniors Jose Flores (RG), Deontae Herbert (RB) and Aaron Hunter (C); juniors Ibrahim Barry (WR) and Dalante Davenport (WR).
Top defensive players: Seniors Ki’aharie Lomax (DL) and Noah Webster (ILB); juniors Maliq Diggs (DB) and Shiloh Smith (DL).
Northeast
2021 spring record: 1-1
Coach: Elwood Townsend, second season
Offensive scheme: Spread, no-huddle;
Defensive scheme: 3-5
Top offensive players: Seniors RJ Breeden (TE), Hunter Miller (OL), Tony Miller (QB) and Cole Souvenir (RB); junior Nathan Wilburn (QB).
Top defensive players: Seniors RJ Breeden (OLB), Joshua Brewer (SS), Kai Butler (DB), Cole Souvenir (MLB) and Keylen Smith (DE).
Special teams: Juniors Landon Sumpter (K) and Tommy Everson (K).
Old Mill
2021 spring record: 2-1
Coach: Mike Pfisterer, first season Offensive scheme: 10/11 personnel
Defensive scheme: 3-3-5
Top offensive players: Seniors Donte Craggett-Drake (WR), Will Ennis (WR), Myles Fulton (QB), Garrett Perotta (FB), Mike Thompson (OL) and Timothy Triplett (WR); junior Aswin Johnson (OL); sophomore Trevion Rankin (TE).
Top defensive players: Seniors Jackson Cohenour (LB), Donte Craggett-Drake (DB), Will Ennis (DB), Garrett Perotta (LB), Zachary Starliper (FS), Mike Thompson (DL) and Timothy Triplett (DB); junior Aswin Johnson (DL); sophomore Trevion Rankin (DL).
Special teams: Senior Trent Radford (K/P).
Severn School
2020 record: Did not play.
Coach: Duane Tyler, fifth year
Offensive scheme: Double Wing;
Defensive Scheme: 3-5-3 or 33 stack
Top players: Seniors Josh Bing (QB/LB), Nick Ciraolo (OL/DL), Ismael Eddy (RB/ DB), Brady Ervin (RB/LB), Campbell Grimes (RB/LB), Kendall Jenkins (WR/DB), Kelz Kelly (RB/DB), Zach Robarge (OL/DL) and Cameron Vernon (TE/DE); junior Richard Duguay (WR/DB); sophomore Bowen Fowler (OL/DL).
Severna Park
2021 spring record: N/A.
Coach: Michael Wright, third season Offensive scheme: Spread; Defensive scheme: 3-3 and 4-3
Top offensive players: Seniors Colton Adams (WR) and James Henson III (RB); juniors Kevin Bredeck (WR) and Seamus Patenaude (QB).
Top defensive players: Seniors Brayden Flynn (LB) and Caleb Sartlalamacchia (LB); juniors Kevin Bredeck (DB) and James Henson III (DB).
Special teams: Senior Trey Smack (K).
South River
2021 spring record: 1-1
Coach: Steve Erxleben, first season
Offensive scheme: Multiple, spread;
Defensive scheme: Multiple, pressure
Top offensive players: Seniors Racheil Coney (OL), Lala Titow (RB) and Greg Usher (RB); juniors Jeremy Berger (WR), Camrin Catterton (QB), Brayden Olley (QB) and Jaden Russell (RB); sophomore Brady O’Neill (LT).
Top defensive players: Seniors Austin Greenan (DL), Austin Johnson (DB), Lonnell Owens-Pabon (ILB), Arell Moore (DB) and Colby Strange (DL); juniors Devin Lang (LB) and Trashaun Timmons (DB).
Special teams: Senior Colby Strange (LS); juniors Garrett Bates (P/K), Caleb Herb (LS) and Treshaun Timmons (R).
Southern
2021 spring record: 1-2
Coach: Daniel Ripple, third season
Offensive scheme: Multiple formation prostyle ; Defensive scheme: 4-4 cover-3
Top offensive players: Seniors Jackson Germann (QB), Justice Heinrichs (TE), Kingston Quattlebaum (WR) and Robert Wood (QB); juniors Cadhan Conner (RB/FB) and Joell Simmons (RB).
Top defensive players: Seniors Jacob Bell (DT), Joey Hutchison (OLB), Kingston Quattlebaum (CB) and Gabe White (DE); sophomore Luke McCoy (LB).
Special teams: Juniors Will Loring (K), Kevin Vecchio (K) and Danny Wyvill (K).
St. Mary’s
2020 record: 1-1
Coach: Jason Budroni, seventh year
Offensive scheme: Pistol spread.
Defensive scheme: 4-2-5.
Top offensive players: Seniors Rocco Abdinoor (QB), Anthony Carr (OL), Caleb Kongas (OL) and Braeden Russell (TE); juniors Patrick Cary (RB), Wyatt Cotton (RB), Tyrek Sands (RB), Casey Smith (WR) and Shane Toal (WR); sophomore Gabriel Berzins (OL), Israel Crockett (WR) and Bruce Dent III (RB).
Top defensive players: Seniors John Bousum (DL), Matt Liszewski (LB), Liam McAndrews (DB), Matt Romo (LB) and Braeden Russell (LB); juniors Sean Berzins (DB), Dylan Carl (DL), Nick Golini (DB) and Gabe Villatoro (DB); sophomore Davon Watkins (DL).