Carroll County saw a three-way tie atop the 2022 league standings with Westminster, South Carroll, and Liberty, all finishing 5-1 in league play, with Westminster beating Liberty, Liberty beating South Carroll, and South Carroll beating Westminster. All three games were decided by three points or less, with the Owls defeating the Owls in overtime, 28-27, the Lions edging the Cavaliers, 35-34, and the Cavs getting by the Owls, 24-21. Both Westminster and South Carroll advanced to their respective quarterfinal round.
Westminster boasted two solid out-of-conference victories in a 44-28 win over Linganore, and a 17-12 win over Dundalk. The Owls have a 51-16 record since the 2017 opener, and have posted three 10-win seasons in the last five full seasons, including last year’s 10-2 mark. The Owls have won 23 of 25 league games since a loss to Liberty in 2018. Owls head coach Chris Bassler enters his fifth season at the helm, with a 33-9 record over his first four seasons, including seven post-season victories in three post-seasons.
The Owls return the 2022 Carroll County Player of the Year in Kyrece Walker (5’10 170, who had a phenomenal junior campaign, after earning All-County honors at cornerback as a sophomore. In ‘22, Walker completed 118 of 224 completions for 1865 yards and 19 touchdowns (7 int), and rushed for 1,023 yards and 18 touchdowns. Walker earned MPSSAA All-State honorable mention. Walker and the Owls lost All-State receiver Mason Fisher to graduation, after registering 2,323 receiving yards over the last two seasons, and adding 26 touchdown receptions.
The Owls return the strong right side of their offensive line in right tackle Jackson Clark (6’0 255) and right guard Jalen Jones (6’1 270). Walker will look to senior Clayton Dorsey (6’0 180) to be his top target. The Owls averaged 30.8 points per game last season. The Owls again face some tough out-of-conference tests, opening at home with Franklin, and then hosting Frederick in week two. Then, it’s on the road to South Carroll in week three, then on to Walkersville in week four. The Owls go on the road to see Liberty in week eight.
A year after advancing to the 2021 2/1A state championship, South Carroll shared the county championship and finished 9-2. The Cavaliers top win was a 24-21 victory over Westminster. The Cavaliers got by Boonsboro, 20-14, in the opening round of the playoffs. Before falling to Harford Tech, 14-7, in the second round. Mike Kraus stepped down from the Cavaliers head coaching job in the off-season, after five years at the helm, and 23 years with the program. Kraus went 31-18 in his five seasons with the Cavs. His assistant, Mike Crumley, takes over the role.
The Cavaliers, like most, lost some key players that were a part of the last two Cavaliers teams that went 21-3 overall, including All-State running back AJ Rodrigues. Rodrigues rushed for 2,696 yards over the last two seasons, and scored 40 touchdowns. While AJ is gone, his two younger brothers, Manny (5’10 200) a junior, and Anthony (5’10 185) a sophomore, will both play key roles at running back and linebacker. Junior Caleb Evans (6’2 178) takes over at quarterback. Junior Angelo Marchany ((5’11 150) will be counted on to be a top target for Evans.
The Cavaliers defense, who held nine of their eleven opponents to 14 points or less, suffered some big losses to graduation but will have two quality defensive ends in junior James Graham (6’2 220) and senior Janero Marchany (5’11 210). Graham will also play offensive tackle. Marchany posted ten tackles for loss and five sacks in ‘22. The Cavs will be counting on Cutter Stanton’s 6’1 190) services in both the backfield and at linebacker. The Cavaliers head to Chesapeake in Anne Arundel County for an opening week one test, then follow that with a trip to Linganore in week two, before hosting Westminster in week three. The Cavs host Liberty in week seven.
Liberty bounced back from a 3-7 record in ‘21 with a 7-4 record in ‘22, with quality wins over Walkersville and South Carroll. Coach Larry Luthe’s Lions were one of the top passing teams in the MPSSAA last season, and the only one to average more than 200 yards passing per game. But gone is Jack Pellicciotti, who threw for 2,237 yards and 27 touchdowns, with just four interceptions in 237 pass attempts. The Lions also graduated All-State receiver Sam Evans, who led the MPSSAA in touchdown receptions, with 15, and was second in receiving yards, with 1,105.
Senior Seth Jacobs (5’11 185) returns for the Lions after rushing for 849 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2022. The Lions defensive unit will bring back three key pieces in senior defensive tackle Nick Forstner 6’0 240) and senior linebackers Mason Ambrose (6’2 180) and Nico Marsciano (5’10 185). Forstner, who will also play center, made 63 tackles last season, including four for loss. Ambrose totaled 55 tackles last season, and Marsciano tallied a team-best 86 tackles, three fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. Liberty opens with Walkersville, and faces South Carroll and Westminster in back-to-back weeks in weeks seven and eight, respectively.
Manchester Valley finished 5-5 in ‘22, staying within two scores of league co-champs South Carroll and Westminster. The Mavericks topped then 7-1 Poolesville, 26-21, in the regular season finale, before taking a tough 28-25 loss to Franklin in the opening round of the playoffs. Winters Mill Kamryn Koch (6’3 195) is one of the top punters in the country, and is committed to Nebraska, where his Dad played, before playing 16 seasons for the Ravens.
HS Sports Analyst
Willie, a native of Chicago, and now a resident of Columbia for 40 years, is an educator at Homewood Center in Howard County, after spending 12 years as a real estate agent, following 10 years of running a small men’s retail company. Willie has contributed to Max Preps, Digital Sports, and Varsity Sports Network. Willie has produced MPSSAA top 25 rankings for both football and basketball for 15 years, across various platforms. From a large ‘sports family’, Willie’s brother Mike led Reservoir High to the 3A basketball state title game in 2018, while his nephew Anthony serves as the Indianapolis Colts College Scouting Coordinator.