Interest rising in more ways than one
With numbers still on the rise, a drastic shifting in class alignment, a ton of youth contending with seasoned teams and a program aiming for national rankings, 2023 is squaring up to be one of the most exciting seasons of county football in recent memory.
Here is a team-by-team look across the county:
ARCHBISHOP SPALDING
Last season: 11-1, MIAA A Conference
champions
Coach: Kyle Schmitt, 11th season
Top players: Seniors RJ Newton (WR), Tyler Brown (DB), Jameson Coffman (TE), Kaden Curtis (RB), Liam Lynch (LT), Jason Shipman (C), Will Burns (RG), Tyler McVicker (DL), Keyshawn Flowers (LB), Keion Flowers (LB); juniors Malik Washington (QB), Delmar White (DL), Ben Liguori (LB), Cooper Welch (K/P), Jayden Shipps (DB), Alijah Jones (DB) and Trent Gillis (DB).
Outlook: Spalding took a massive leap forward when it captured its first MIAA A Conference title behind an undefeated in-state record, a massive rising star in quarterback in Malik Washington, and a constellation of Division I-bound talent on both sides of the ball.
There’s also four-star linebacker Keyshawn Flowers, a Maryland commit alongside his twin Keion, who starts this year on the other side of the linebackers, as well as a host of heavily recruited backs and offensive linemen, and two recent Division I commits, RJ Newton and Tyler Brown.
ANNAPOLIS
Last season: 2-8
Coach: Dewayne Hunt, third season
Top players: Seniors Christian Boyd (RB/LB), Dakota Carter (RB/LB), Henry Koppels (FS/ WR) and Xavier Timmons (WR/FS); juniors Darrian Carter (QB), Tyler Womack (RB/FS), Keshawn Boykin (RB/CB), Cyrus Chambers (FS/ WR), Kemarjae Johnson (WR/CB) and Kyonte Brown-Siscoe; sophomore Zyhir Neal (QB).
Outlook: The Panthers will skew toward senior and junior impact this season, though some of the sophomores could make a splash. Darrian Carter is likely still to start at QB, working a mix of shotgun and under center.
“I personally feel we’re going to be more aggressive,” Hunt said. “These kids are flying after the ball. These guys work really hard, and I just think these guys deserve an opportunity to win. They will continue to push themselves and do all the right things.”
ANNAPOLIS AREA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Last season: 1-8
Coach: Marcus Bell, second season
Top players: Junior Ronald Smith (OL/ LB); sophomore Darrell Phillips (WR/ DB).
Outlook: Bell hopes speed, toughness and mental preparation will outweigh being outnumbered and young. Many of its September opponents match up well size-wise, but C Conference competition in October will be difficult.
“This is a hard-working, scrappy bunch that is learning and getting better every day,” Bell said. “In having small numbers, we will have to face and overcome the war of attrition, but we are doing what we can to prepare our guys for those moments.”
ARUNDEL
Last season: 10-3, Class 4A/3A state runner-up
Coach: Jack Walsh, sixth season
Top players: Seniors Nick Ferrari (LG) and Ray Chapman (LB); juniors Ahmir Lowery (QB), TJ Mordecai (RB), James Fried (C), Tino Dispenza (RG). Dylan Scarborough (LT), Dominic Erculiani (LB), Kaleb Omotosho (LB), Russ Bonham (LB), Nick Oliver (LB) and Brandon Feinblatt (K).
Outlook: A prized defensive line as well as the starting quarterback, running back and receivers are gone. Granted, they’ve been replaced by figures coach Jack Walsh feels confident in.
The Wildcats’ offense will be steered by former Pallotti starting quarterback Ahmir Lowery, returning home with a threatening arm and a sharp mind to adapt. TJ Mordecai, who took over at running back late in the playoffs, will be “electric” at running back, Walsh said.
BROADNECK
Last season: 11-2
Coach: Rob Harris, 13th season
Top players: Seniors Eli Harris (WR), Hayden Raymond (T), Caleb Collazo (RG), Branden Stahl (OL), James Stahl (OL), Chris Coleman (K/P), Jed Pellicano (LB), Braden McCassie (LB) and Cole Friedman (CB); juniors Nate Tapley (QB), CJ Watkins (QB), Ian Mauldin (RB), Joey Smargissi (WR/ SS), De’marien Hayes (SB), Tyrin Chinn-Thompson (S), Blake Levicki (S) and Henry Hill (CB).
Outlook: It’s been years since Broadneck found itself unsure of a starting quarterback, but between Nate Tapley and CJ Watkins, the Bruins have two options featuring different skill sets and
He had been criticized for drawing too many holding and false start flags, even as an All-American at Clemson, but in his competition with Aumavae-Laulu, a sixth-round pick out of Oregon, he produced cleaner tape. He was the more polished pass blocker, allowing zero pressures in preseason action, according to Pro Football Focus.
He reduced his errors in part by worrying less about the ones he did make.
“Mistakes are going to happen. I know that,” Simpson said. “[I] just try to overcome them and just go to the next play or whatever’s next, just try to go through that. That’s kind of how I helped build my own confidence, and then I have guys like Tyler [Linderbaum], Sam Mustipher — he’s been a great help for me — Morgan Moses, all those guys have just been there for me whenever I would make a mistake or something like that. They’d just be there and let me know that I’m capable of doing the right thing.”
Kevin Zeitler, a stalwart starter at right guard, recently praised Simpson for “keeping a cool head.”
And nothing against Aumavae-Laulu, but Simpson liked waking up every day knowing he needed to outplay a specific person.
“Anybody that’s a competitor wants to compete, and I think that gave me a little juice,” he said. “I mean, it did. It gave me a little juice, and I feel like it helped me throughout camp, and it gave me something to look forward to every day.”
“He definitely seized the job,” Harbaugh said, noting that he was intrigued to hear Simpson had struggled to find his confidence after last year.
“He’s always shown himself as a confident guy,” he said. “I was just proud of him, and I thought he just came to work every day and kept it simple. [He] made it about being the best player he could be day in and day out. He took coaching really well, and obviously, he’s a very talented player. So, if he’s playing with confidence now, I’m all for it.”
For all his good work this summer, Simpson will still enter the season as the least certain link in an offensive line that could be one of the best in the league. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is a former All-Pro. Zeitler and Moses are dependable workhorses on the right side. Linderbaum is viewed as a future Pro Bowl candidate. Patrick Mekari is the versatile reserve who helps hold everything together.
It’s a high standard but one Simpson now believes he will reach.