2023 MPSSAA Football Preview: Baltimore County

After knocking on the door of a state title twice in the last five previous post-seasons, Milford Mill finally broke through and won their program’s second state championship, and first in 35 years. Millers head coach Reggie White was a captain and an All-Met on that ‘87 team, and thirty-five years later, his Millers put together an undefeated season and one of the most dominant seasons in Baltimore County history. The Millers put their names among the county’s all-time great teams, including the undefeated 1990 Randallstown Rams, the last county school to win a 4A state title, the undefeated 1997 Hereford Bulls, who set MPSSAA scoring and point differential records, and the 2014 Franklin Indians, who went undefeated versus MPSSAA competition and came back to top previously undefeated Damascus in the 3A state championship game.  

The 2022 Millers averaged 45.5 points per game, the ninth highest scoring mark in MPSSAA history, and second only to the ‘97 Bulls in county history. The Millers offensive fireworks were powered by senior running back, Sean ‘Pup’ Williams and junior quarterback Dashawn Purdie. Williams finished third in the MPSSAA in rushing yards, and second in touchdowns, while Purdie led the MPSSAA in passing yards, and finished third in passing touchdowns. With those two leading the way, the Millers displayed incredible balance on the offensive side of the ball. During their undefeated championship season, the guys in green rushed for 3,035 yards, and threw for 2,759 yards.  

While Williams took with him his 2,059 rushing yards and county-record 39 touchdowns to U of Penn this fall, Purdie returns after  seemingly setting every Millers passing record there is. Purdie completed 61% of his passes for 2,759 yards and 28 touchdowns, versus just four interceptions. Purdie finished second in the MPSSAA in the sabernetrics-type, but telling category of passing yards per attempt, at 11.7 yards per pass attempt (among those with 120 attempts).  

Purdie, in his second season with the Millers, after transferring from Mt St Joe, needs just 24 passing touchdowns to set the county’s career mark, topping Franklin’s Jacquez Adams’ county mark of 51, and just 2,052 passing yards to snap Adams’ career county mark of 4,810 career passing yards set in 2014. Only Adams and Perry Hall’s Tyler Holley have thrown for 50 touchdowns in their career, and Purdie could become the first county player to throw for 5,000 passing yards, with 2,241 passing yards in the 2023 season. The 6’5 215 pound senior has committed to Charlotte. spurning offers from Maryland, James Madison, and Howard, among others.  

Like the Dunbar Poets, the Millers should face a tougher task repeating as undefeated state champions, or in the Poets case, repeating a third time. While the Poets return a talented cast, no one could deny the impact of losing seniors like Devin Roche, Tristan Kenan, Joshua Fedd, Tony Hart, Devin Paige, Donald Smith, and Ebubedike Nnabugwu, among more than a dozen senior contributors, could have. Similarly, the Millers boast as many talented returners as anyone in the area, but filling the shoes of their county record-setting running back will be a tall task. Also lost in the 2023 class was Purdie’s top target, and one of the top playmakers in the MPSSAA in Daysen Shell, who nabbed 977 receiving yards and 13 touchdown receptions, to go with his 467 return yards. Purdie’s #2 target, Corey Jones, who totaled 698 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season, averaging 24.1 yards per reception, also graduated in May.  

As the running game looks to replace Williams, the Millers will look to the duo of junior Montae Royster (5’7 165) and senior Keion Sutton. Royster didn’t play last year, but was the Millers second running back as a freshman in ‘21, rushing for 415 yards and five touchdowns. Sutton (5’8 140) rushed for 330 yards in limited duty last season, averaging 8.9 yards per carry. Replacing Shell and Jones on the outside and figuring to be Purdie’s top targets this season will be senior Josh Pearson (5’10 160), junior Derrell Pierson (6’0 160), and senior Oliver Redd (5’10 165). Pearson caught 15 receptions last season, while Pierson added 11. Together, the pair produced 26 receptions for 380 yards and three touchdowns. 

The Millers also must replace two-time, two-way All-State lineman Rashard Herring and 2022 All-State defensive lineman Emmanuel Gee, who produced 26.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks for the state champions. Senior Mekhi Hebron (5’10 235) returns at center for the Millers, and he’ll be joined by 6’6 310 pound junior Amory Hills and senior Damien Cameron (6’2 260) on the offensive line. The defense loses five starters, but return a strong core of contributors and playmakers. 

The Millers return their two top tacklers from a year ago, in senior linebackers Coby Jones (5’11 170) and Malachi Barnes (6’1 215). Jones produced 131 tackles, 90 solo, 21 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two interceptions. For his part, Barnes totaled 114 tackles, 70 solo, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. To add, Cameron Jefferson returns as a hybrid safety, after posting 51 tackles, nine tackles for loss, seven interceptions, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Playmakers. Senior Dashawn Fields (6’4 245) returns on the defensive line, after finishing with 19.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. Sophomore Koby Sarkodie (6’1 180) will be the next great defensive back for the Millers, evidenced by his early offers from Penn State, Maryland, Minnesota, Virginia Tech, and Charlotte, among others. As a freshman, Sarkodie tallied 25 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions, and six pass break-ups.  

Coach White has registered a 163-62 overall record at his alma mater in his twenty years at the helm, including a 21-10 post-season mark. White ranks seventh among active MPSSAA coaches in wins, and ranks third all-time in Baltimore County history, 25 victories away from matching former Hereford coach Steve Turnbaugh’s county record for coaching victories, at 187.  

The Millers have taken their place atop the mantle in Baltimore County, among a ‘Big 3’ of sorts in today’s era, including Dundalk and Franklin. Between the three, the trio has made nine state championship game appearances over the last nine seasons. Franklin won three 3A state titles in 2013, 2014, and 2018, and fell short to Damascus in the title game in 2016. The Millers saw a 19-0 lead slip away to Linganore in the 3A title game in 2017, and saw their 12 game winning streak snapped by Douglass in the 2A title game in 2021, before securing the program’s second crown last season. Dundalk has played in two state title games over the last seven post-seasons, losing the 3A championship game to Damascus in 2015, and to Mervo in the 2021 4/3A state title game.  

Dundalk finished with their third ten win season over the last four full seasons in 2022, as Tom Abel III enters his second season as the Owls head coach. Abel III came over from Severn in 2021, and served as the Owls Defensive Coordinator under Matt Banta. Abel’s defensive unit propelled the Owls to the state championship game, allowing only 5.8 points per game. Still overseeing the defense as the head coach, the Owls didn’t miss a beat last year, surrendering an even better 5.3 points per game. Even in their two losses, the Owls defense stood tall, allowing Westminster just two touchdowns, and Arundel just one.  

That’s the good news. Reality has Coach Abel having to fill some huge holes. But, as the Owls have shown in recent history, they tend to reload rather than rebuild. The Owls have won 83 games over the last ten seasons, ranking 20th (of 180) in the MPSSAA in that category, and their 44-14 record over the last five full seasons ranks 16th in the MPSSAA over that period. Still, on offense alone, the Owls must replace their quarterback, their two-time All-State running back, and the biggest recruit in the school’s history – a mountain of a young man, headed to Happy Valley.  

The quarterback position, manned admirably by Wilde Lake transfer Ja Bonner last season, may see a platoon this season unless one established himself, with junior Chris Hamilton (5’10 170) coming over from Kenwood, and emerging sophomore Mauri Williams (6’3 200), who dominated at the junior varsity level before getting called up, battling for the job. The Owls have to replace Jordan Fiorenza at running back, after he rushed for 3,231 yards and scoring 37 touchdowns over the last two seasons. Senior Desmond Oxendine (6’0 200) will step into the ‘RB1’ role after serving as ‘RB2’ last year. Oxendine produced when called upon, rushing for 595 yards and five touchdowns, averaging a team-best 8.4 yards per carry. Senior Joey Kaspzrak (5’8 160) returns as a flex weapon, after producing 525 all-purpose yards and scoring four touchdowns in an injury-shortened season.  

The Owls biggest loss is 6’5 275 pound offensive tackle Chimdy Onoh, who took his talents to Penn State, choosing the Nittany Lions over offers from Michigan State, Nebraska, Maryland, and Colorado (via ‘Prime Time’), among others. Fortunately for the Owls, the riches of the 2023 nests in the offensive line, featuring two of the best tackles in the MPSSAA in the Baltimore area. Shortly after offering Onoh, Michigan State asked Coach Abel about any other elite players, and shortly after that, the Spartans offered then freshman Gregory Maddox, a 6’3 285 highly skilled lineman, who worked his way into the starting lineup for a 10-2 team as a ninth grader. An offer from Penn State followed. Maddox also holds offers from Maryland and Charlotte, among others. The Owls will have 6’7 285 pound Dylan Anderson, a BTC 22 selection, at the other tackle position, and return Andre Abdrades (6’2 292) at center, and nose guard.  

On defense, Andrades will be joined on the defensive line by junior Kevin Bright (6’1 250) , a transfer from Curley, at defensive end. At linebacker, Camron Wilkens (5’11 200) comes over from Kenwood, after securing 5.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in ten games for the Bluebirds. Junior safety Adonis Fuller (6’0 170) returns in the defensive backfield, after registering 35 tackles, six tackles for loss, six pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, and an interception. Junior Keith Barnes (6’0 170) returns as well to the defensive backfield, after recording 40 tackles, seven pass break-ups, a fumble recovery, and an interception. The Owls move up to the 4A classification, making the final climb even that much more challenging. The Owls, who didn’t face Milford Mill last season, travel to take on the defending state champions in week five.  

Since winning their third 3A state title in six seasons in 2018, and playing in their fourth title game in that span, Coach Burgos’ last three Franklin Indians’ editions have been solid, but not the championship-caliber he had built in the handful-plus of years preceding them. The core of elite talent that resides on the western half of Baltimore County has seemingly gravitated to Milford Mill. Indians coach Anthony Burgos just hasn’t had the number of elite athletes and lineman he once had. Nonetheless, the Indians still preside among the top quartet of teams in the MPSSAA. 

The Indians have produced two 9-win seasons and an 8-win season in the three full seasons since their last state title game victory, but have been stopped in the state quarterfinal round in each of the last three post-seasons, losing to Damascus, Frederick, and River Hill. Last season, the Indians were routed by Milford Mill in the opener, 42-7, and split two close games with their other two toughest opponents. The Indians fell to Dundalk, 7-0, and pulled out a 21-14 overtime victory over Perry Hall.  

The Indians will return sophomore Zander McCracken (6’1 180) at quarterback, after starting five games as a freshman, throwing for 410 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Anthony Gibson (5’9 160) figures to be the Indians top running back, after gaining 531 yards and scoring six touchdowns as a sophomore, while averaging 7.2 yards per carry. The Indians top player on the perimeter will be senior Khalil Bilal (6’2 160), who caught 26 passes for 441 yards and four touchdowns in ‘22, averaging 17 yards per reception. Junior Tyler Richardson (5’10 175) looks to be another target, after scoring six touchdowns on the ground and through the air in 2022.  

The Indians defensive unit will be led by a pair of seniors – defensive tackle Marvin McGowan and defensive back Kyran Harry (6’0 155). McGowan, at 6’3 275, will serve on both lines, and recorded seven tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in ‘22. Harry was one of the most lethal defensive backs in the area last season, grabbing seven interceptions and returning them for 105 yards and a touchdown. Harry added 52 tackles, two tackles for loss, and five pass break-ups.  The Indians defense served them well in the regional final and quarterfinal, limiting Bel Air and River Hill to seven points apiece, but the offense failed to score against the Hawks in the quarterfinal. 

Coach Burgos is one of the most respected coaches in the MPSSAA, and will go down in history as one of the best, having won three state championships. In nineteen seasons at Franklin, Burgos boasts an overall record of 163-60, including a 29-12 mark in the post-season. Burgos ranks sixth among active MPSSAA coaches in wins, and eighth in win percentage, at .731. Burgos ranks eighth all-time in playoff wins, and fifth among active coaches, which is where he ranks among active coaches in post-season win percentage, as well, at .707. Burgos is 24 wins away from matching the Baltimore County record for coaching wins, held by former Hereford Bulls legend Steve Turnbaugh, who won 187 games in his 19 seasons with the Bulls. 

While the Indians have stagnated at the quarterfinal round over the last three seasons, Perry Hall’s stock is rising, as the Gators look to earn their first state semifinal berth in 30 years, a season after securing their first state quarterfinal berth in ten years. The Gators finished 8-4 last season, highlighted by a 7-6 victory over Mervo in the regional final, and ending in a 30-6 loss to Urbana in the quarterfinal.   

Coach Ryan Pittillo’s 2022 Gators’ team was made up of dozens of underclassmen, and nearly all of the top contributors return in 2023, looking to build on last season. While the Gators seem to still be a step behind Milford Mill and Dundalk, they did take Franklin to overtime last season, before falling to the Indians. And, they turned a 42-3 loss to Mervo in the post-season, into a 7-6 post-season victory a year later. A differential of forty points.  

Quarterback Da’Shaun Conway (6’0 170) returns for his senior season, after completing 71 of 122 passes for 1,184 yards and 16 touchdowns, against just two interceptions. Conway added 360 yards and three scores on the ground. The Gators biggest talent is 6’2 185 pound junior Corey Costner, a two-way star that is already garnering a handful of offers from ‘Power 5’ schools, with latest coming from Penn State. On offense, Costner caught 37 passes for 781 yards and ten touchdowns, averaging 21.1 yards per catch. On defense., Costner picked off five interceptions, with 143 return yards, and returning one for a score, adding nine pass break-ups.  

Senior Jacob Wagner (5’9 150) returns after leading the Gators in rushing in 2022, gaining 520 yards on the ground, and scoring six touchdowns. Senior captain Dallas Conway (5’9 165) returns as a versatile asset for the Gators, whether at running back, receiver, or linebacker. On offense, Conway added 448 yards from scrimmage and scored six touchdowns, and at linebacker, picked up two key tackles for loss in the playoff win over Mervo. Senior January Thompson (5’7 155), a transfer from Mt Carmel, will provide another target for Conway, and join Costner in the defensive backfield. Senior Trevor Taylor (6’2 230) will play on both lines, while senior Kenneth Lewis (5’11 225) looks for a big season at defensive end.  

The Gators host Franklin in week three, followed by a trip to Dundalk in week four, then hosting Milford Mill in week eight. A win among the three will be a step up, and two victories would be catapulting. But as of now, there’s the ‘Big 3’, then Perry Hall, Hereford, New Town, then the rest in county play.  

Hereford’s coach John Walters enters his fourth season, and holds a 21-7 mark in two full seasons and a pandemic-abbreviated one. Walters served as an assistant to legendary Bulls coach Steve Turnbaugh for 16 seasons, including the Bulls state championship seasons in ‘97, ‘00, and ‘02. Last season, Walter’s Bulls went 10-2, losing to Middletown in the state quarterfinals. The Bulls reached ten wins for the first time since finishing 11-1 in 2016.  

The Bulls and New Town have been the two best teams in the smallest classifications over the last decade, and the Bulls pulled out two close victories over the Titans last season, including a 9-0 regular season win, and a 10-7 victory in the regional final.  

While the Bulls look to replace quarterback Grayson Ayers and tight end Ryder Walter on offense, they return a good enough core along the line and on defense to produce their first back-to-back ten win seasons since a four year run of double digit wins from ‘06-09. The Bulls defense, who allowed only 10.3 points per game last season, returns seven starters.  

Senior Brady George returns at his offensive and defensive tackle positions, while seniors Peter Macchia (6’0 180) and senior Jarrod Wilson (6’2 195) join him on the defensive line. Senior Dominic Garbarino (6’0 160) will lead the linebacking corps, while a trio of seniors return in the defensive backfield, including JP Revitte (5’9 150) Brenden Kittner (6’0 160), and Chris Makowy. The Bulls will have their annual battle with New Town in week seven, on the road.  

After two back-to-back 2A state semifinal appearances in ‘18 and ‘19, New Town has put together back-to-back 7-4 seasons since returning from the pandemic. Coach William Savage returns for his third season with the Titans, after taking over from his cousin, Mike Savage.  

The Titans offense features senior Carlos Harrison (6’1 170) at quarterback and senior Kyrin Robertson (6’2 165) at wide receiver. On defense, the Titans boast 6’3 290 pound senior Jaden McMichael at defensive tackle, and 5’9 280 pound senior Josiah Finch alongside him at the other tackle position on the ‘d-line’. Senior Jaleel Hawkins, a 6’2 235 pound edge, will be one of the more talented players in the MPSSAA in the Baltimore area.  

The Titans face two out-of-conference tests in the first two weeks, hosting Prince Georges County’s Eleanor Roosevelt in the opener, then playing host to Dundalk in week two. The Titans host Hereford in week seven.  

Coach Travis Hall has guided Owings Mills to a 20-6 record since taking over for the Eagles during the pandemic. The Eagles finished 10-2 in ‘21, and made a state quarterfinal appearance, then 7-4 last season, getting the unenviable task of facing eventual state champion Milford Mill in the second round of the playoffs, and losing to the Millers, 55-0. In the regular season, in addition to a blowout loss to the Millers, the Eagles fell short of both Hereford and New Town. Sparrows Point quarterback Javier Gueeava (6’1 185) returns for his senior season, after throwing for 1,698 yards and 14 touchdowns in 11 games, adding two scores on the ground. Junior Peyton Stevens (6’1 210) looks to be Gueeava’s top target, after nabbing 38 receptions for 429 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. The Pointers finished 7-4 last season, and 6-1 in the county’s Division III league play.  

Patapsco, who finished 5-5 last season, returns senior running back Noah Cornish (5’9 180), who rushed for 1,064 yards and scored 14 touchdowns in seven games. Cornish’s brother Josh (5’11 160) will play behind center for the Pointers. Randallstown finished 1-9 last season, but features a ‘diamond in the rough’ in junior wide receiver Kendall Dorsey (6’1 165), who holds an offer from Minnesota.