Senior class lived up to the hype

By Sheldon Shealer

Expectations were high, and the senior class delivered.

In what was tabbed the greatest graduating class in Maryland high school football history, a majority of those players lived up to the hype and 29 of them will end their prep careers as part of The Associated Press Consensus All-State team.

In the 11th addition of the All-State teams, 29 of the 30 Consensus All-State players are seniors. Four are repeat selections from last year. At least 22 of the 29 seniors will sign scholarship offers at NCAA Division I-A or I-AA schools. The highest honors go to teammates for the first time ever -- Gilmanís Ambrose Wooden and Victor Abiamiri, the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. Georgetown Prepís Dan Paro and Herefordís Steve Turnbaugh share the Coach of the Year honors.

The AP All-State voting is a tiered process. More than 20 media members are invited to vote for the All-State teams. The media selects first-team and second-team Big School and Small School teams. From the 60 Big School and Small School first-teamers, the top 30 vote-getters are named to the Consensus All-State team. The Big School squad is comprised of players from Class 4A and 3A schools, and the corresponding private schools. Class 2A and 1A schools, along with small private schools, are eligible for the Small School All-State teams.

The theme for this yearís Consensus All-State team is record-breakers and title-winners.

Wooden was named Offensive Player of the Year over Georgetown Prepís Marcus Mason while Middletownís Josh Keeney was third in the voting.

Wooden, a quarterback with explosive speed, guided Gilman to a perfect 10-0 season and a state No. 1 ranking. Capable of running the option or throwing from the pocket, Wooden shattered the stateís career offensive yardage mark. As a senior, Wooden rushed for 1,635 yards and 22 touchdowns and passed for 1,217 yards and 13 scores. His career numbers were 4,033 rushing yards and 3,228 passing yards for a state-record 7,261 yards. Wooden, one of the nationís top recruits, recently visited Maryland and has a few more stops before announcing his decision.

Mason missed a little time due to injury and Prep lost one game due to the sniper attacks, but that did not prevent Mason from breaking the stateís career rushing record. Mason, who has committed to Illinois of the Big Ten, finished with 1,535 rushing yards this year and 5,790, besting the mark by 300 yards set last year by Terry Caulley of Patuxent. Mason also set career state records for touchdowns (86) and points scored (520). Mason guided Georgetown Prep to a 9-0 season and a state No. 2 ranking. The Little Hoyas have won 29 straight games and went 36-3 with Mason on the roster.

Middletown senior Keeney was a distant third in the voting, but his stats were second to none. Keeney was the stateís leading rusher and scorer with a staggering 2,482 yards and 40 touchdowns. Even though opponents knew he was getting the ball, there was little they could do with this bruising runner. Middletown was the Class 2A runner-up.

Parkdale senior Kevin Beverly was an unanimous Consensus selection after rushing for 2,290 yards and 24 touchdowns while leading his team to the Class 4A state title. Beverly, who had 452 yards in the playoffs, is still fielding offers, which includes Penn State.

Rounding out the talented running back crew is Largo senior Anthony Manigault, who finished the year with 1,910 yards and 23 touchdowns in nine games.

The second quarterback on this yearís Consensus team went to DeMatha senior Ryan Mitch, who has verballed to Maryland. Mitch, the winningest quarterback in Stagsí history, helped DeMatha to a three-year run of 29-4. DeMatha went 7-3 this year, and the three losses were to two teams (Gilman and Gonzaga) that went undefeated. Mitch topped 1,700 passing yards, putting his career total well above 3,000 yards.

The offensive line is comprised of Herefordís Joe Akers, Middletownís Bryan DeMoss, Long Reachís Justin Pruitt, Lackeyís Randy Robinson and Sherwoodís Jason Rose. Akers, a sophomore with big-time potential, is the only underclassman on this yearís squad. He was a key for Herefordís record-setting 5,878 total offensive yards this season. DeMoss was the key blocker for Keeney and is considering a full-ride offer from Richmond. Pruitt was a three-year starter who is leaning toward Penn State. Robinson is considered the stateís top offensive line prospect. Rose was the heart of a line that cleared the way for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers.

When it comes to receivers, there are few better than Overleaís Antowan Bell and Suitlandís Deyon Williams. Williams, who has committed to Virginia, caught 34 passes for 681 yards and nine touchdowns in the strongest conference in the state. Bell, who is also being pursued by schools like Virginia and Michigan, hauled in 57 passes for 940 yard and 10 touchdowns. He also picked off five passes as a defensive back.

The last two special teams honors go to Mount St. Joseph senior Keon Lattimore and DeMatha senior Patrick Fisher. Lattimore, who has committed to Maryland, had more than 1,300 total offensive yards. Fisher is honored as both the place-kicker and punter. He had a state-best 46.8 yard punting average. As a place-kicker, he hit all 33 PATs this year and 95 of 100 for his career. One of his four field goals was a game-winner over Good Counsel, sending the Stags to the WCAC final. He is fielding several offers, including LSU.

Abiamiri was selected as the stateís defensive player and Gwynn Park senior Wes Jefferson was the runner-up. No other defensive player received votes.

Abiamiri, a 6-5, 240-pound defensive end is compared to Jevon Kearse. The Gilman senior came up big in the key games, which included a five-sack effort in a season-opening win over DeMatha. Abiamiri is rated as the top defensive lineman in the East and one of the nationís top recruits overall. Despite seeing double-team coverage most of the year, Abiamiri finished with 12 sacks and 10 tackles for losses.

Jefferson is rated one of the nationís top linebacker recruits. He recorded 149 tackles, 11 sacks and forced 10 fumbles while leading Gwynn Park to a 9-1 season and a third straight playoff appearance. Jefferson is undecided, but is rumored to be leaning toward Maryland.

The defensive line includes Seneca Valleyís Devin Kennedy, Northwestern-PGís Corneluis Kidwell, Georgetown Prepís Bode Ogunwole and Bishop McNamaraís Harold Stanback. Kennedy helped the Screaming Eagles to a record 12th state title. Kidwell, a four-year starter in the P.G. 4A League, is a top prospect. Ogunwole, a wrestling national champion, was a dominating nose tackle for the Little Hoyas. He has committed to Harvard. Stanback was a sack machine, with a staggering 25 sacks.

Joining Jefferson in the linebacker group is Gaithersburgís Brain Bradford, Georgetown Prepís Greg Davis, Herefordís Adam Goloboski, Broadneckís Preston Pehrson and Eleanor Rooseveltís Derron Thomas.

Bradford led Gaithersburg with 130 tackles as the Trojans reached the Class 4A semifinals. Davis had a great career, closing it out with 29 straight wins. He has committed to Georgetown. Goloboski was a 2,000-yard rusher, but also recorded 160 tackles and is being recruited as a linebacker on the NCAA I-AA level. Pehrson was a three-time Anne Arundel County first-team pick. Thomas has committed to Pittsburgh. During the season he had 93 tackles and five sacks.

The defensive secondary is comprised of Calvertís Taros Harris, Bullisí Tanard Jackson, DeMathaís Reggie McCoy and Calvert Hallís Nick Williams. Harris, who has committed to Kent State, had six interceptions. Heís making his second Consensus All-State appearance. Jackson rushed for 1,000 yards but was also a standout defensive back. He has committed to Syracuse. McCoy gave an early verbal to Syracuse and was voted the teamís top defensive player. Williams was the top all-round player for 10-1 Calvert Hall. He finished with 90 tackles. Heís considering playing both football and lacrosse at an NCAA Division I-AA school.

For the first time, coaches shared the honor for Coach of the Year, and it seemed appropriate since it was the closest voting among coaches ever. Five coaches distanced themselves from the pack with Paro and Turnbaugh leading the way. Mike Rucker of Parkdale and Biff Poggie of Gilman tied for third. Terry Changuris of Seneca Valley was fifth, Rick Conner of Linganore was sixth and Todd Shives of Bohemia Manor was seventh.

Paro had big shoes to fill when he took over the program from legendary coach Jim Fegan. Paro has in turn guided Prep into a new-age dynasty. The team has the stateís longest active undefeated streak at 29 games, spanning three complete seasons. Turnbaugh has turned a northern Baltimore County small school into a small school power. He guided Hereford, his alma mater, to a second straight 13-0, Class 2A state title. Hereford has rolled off 26 straight wins and the team has won 81 of its last 86 games dating back to 1996.