The Bel Air Bobcats had a season for the ages for their program last season, finishing with an undefeated regular season record for the first time in their history, punctuated by a heart-stopping, 28-27, four overtime marathon victory over Edgewood in the regular season finale to clinch the UCBAC Chesapeake championship. The win clinched the Bobcats first league title since 2016, and denying the Rams bid to repeat.
Bobcats coach Eric Siegel will need to fill quite a few voids, and the senior leadership two-way stars Nate Furrow and Tre Dennis took with them in the 2023 graduating class. On offense, Furrow rushed for 1,260 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 8.8 yards per carry, and at linebacker, registered a team-best 73 tackles, including nine for loss, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Dennis scored 12 touchdowns on 28 receptions, and picked off a team-best six interceptions. Dennis added a touchdown on a fumble recovery, and another in a punt return. Furrow added a touchdown reception. The Bobcats class of 2023 scored 47 of the Bobcats 54 touchdowns in 2022.
Junior Patrick Sullivan (6’2 195) takes over at quarterback, where Jay Perez threw for 1,142 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2022. The Cats lost 98.5% of their 2022 rushing yards to graduation and a transfer. Junior Jöel Tristan Ouabdji Nana (5’10 175) will get his chance at running back. Junior Michael Graham (5’9 170) the only returning Bobcat that took a carry last season, moves to receiver. Coach Siegel is also enthusiastic about senior Jared Fletcher (6’1 155), a transfer from John Carroll, and junior Julien Horton. His staff believe both will contribute greatly at receiver and in the secondary.
The Bobcats offensive line will be the most experienced unit for the Bobcats, which will help inexperienced units at the skill positions. Seniors Talan Johns, Matt Valente (6’1 263), and Jonathan Zylka (6’4 245), will headline the unit, and all three should contribute on the ‘d-line’. The Bobcats lost eight starters on defense, from a unit that allowed only 7.2 points per game, which ranked fifth in the MPSSAA. Senior Devin Trzeciak (5’11 180) returns at linebacker, along with Graham, and Charles Hammond (6’1 165) returns at safety. Trzeciak kicked the game-winning extra point in the fourth overtime in the Bobcats 28-27 win over Edgewood.
The Bobcats get a test in week three, when they travel to Harford Tech, before they travel to Edgewood in week four. The Cats also visit Dundalk in week eight.
Edgewood notched a 9-win season for just the second time in this century, finishing 9-3, and matching the win total of the 2018 Rams, who finished 9-2, and featured cousins Antwain Banks and Deonte Banks, the latter who was just selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the New York Giants. The Rams three losses in ‘22 were all within one score margins, losing to Friendship Collegiate DC, 26-20, then the four overtime loss to the Bobcats in the regular season finale, and a 28-20 loss to Westminster in the 3A quarterfinals, after leading 14-0.
While the Rams graduated MPSSAA All-State athlete Isaiah Megginson, as well as Isaiah Martin, coach Keith Rawlings returns a number of key contributors from his nine win team. Senior quarterback Caesar Travers (6’1 185) returns, after throwing for 1,378 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, and running for two scores. Senior Jahmir Torres (5’11 160) will contribute in all three phases, as he did a year ago. On offense, Torres recorded 15 receptions, at 21 yards per reception. On special teams, Torres produced 309 return yards and a touchdown, and on defense, totaled two interceptions and six pass break-ups.
In addition to Torres, Travers will have two other high quality targets in seniors Jacob Martin (6’0 155) and Michael Lee (5’9 160). Martin caught 17 passes for 301 yards and a score, and Lee totaled 21 receptions for 314 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, the Rams return their two top tacklers in junior linebacker Darius Fleming (6’2 210) and senior linebacker Mekhi Georges (6’2 206). Last season, Fleming registered 72 tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, an interception, and scored twice in defense. Georges produced 63 tackles.
The Rams open up at home versus City College, and the Black Knights two highly recruited receivers – Jahmari Powell-Wonson and Vernon Allen. The Rams anticipated rematch with Bel Air comes earlier this season, when they travel in week four.
Harford Tech won eight games for the fifth season in a row, going 8-5, and advancing to the state semifinals for the third time in five post-seasons. Tech finished fourth in the UCBAC Chesapeake last season, finishing behind Bel Air, Edgewood, and CW Wright, who they fell to in overtime, 7-0.
The Cobras return senior quarterback Thomas Smith (5’11 175) at quarterback, after completing 92 of 178 passes for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, with six interceptions. Jamaal Pearl Jr, who rushed for 1,039 yards on the ground for the Cobras during his sophomore campaign, transferred to Joppatowne. The Cobras most valuable player in ‘22 does return. Junior Aderomilehin registered 35 receptions for 659 yards and seven touchdowns on offense, and 34 tackles and four interceptions on defense.
Though the Cobras lose six key starters from their defensive unit, they do return five starters from last year’s team, including Aderomilehin, and senior safety Donald Evans III, who produced 53 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, and a forced fumble last season. Tech goes to Elkton in week two, before hosting Bel Air in week three.
CM Wright went 6-4 last season with a young group, and could make strides this season. The Mustangs were routed by both Bel Air and Edgewood, but topped Harford Tech in overtime, and took a 20-14 victory in Elkton. The Mustangs drew a very tough Decatur team in the opening round of the post-season, before getting humbled by the Seahawks, 45-13.
Junior Kyle Ashman (6’4 170) returns at quarterback after completing 89 of his 168 pass attempts for 1,144 yards and nine touchdowns, with six interceptions. Among Ashman’s top targets will be senior Luciano Higgins (5’11 150) and Kyle’s brother, senior Brady Ashman (6’3 150). Seniors Kyle Frank (5’10 190) and Quantae Salters (5’9 177) should spilt carries in the backfield.
The Mustangs return seven starters on defense, including All-UCBAC linebacker Brewer Fullwood (6’2 200), who led the team in tackles, with 88. Senior Joshua Osuagwu (6’1 260) returns to man the defensive line, and is looking at a breakout season. Senior safety Hayden Goscinski, a Towson lacrosse commit, returns in the secondary after recording 69 tackles last season, while Jack Tufts (6’2 193) returns at linebacker, after producing 37 tackles and a forced fumble in his junior campaign. The Mustangs host Edgewood in week two, then Chesapeake of Anne Arundel County in week three. The Stangs also host Bel Air, and later travel to Elkton and Harford Tech.
Elkton went 4-5 in the regular season last year, but did advance to the 2/1A state quarterfinals, before getting dispatched by Dunbar. The Golden Elks return one of the league’s best players in junior edge rusher Adam Douglas (6’3 230), who registered 105 tackles, nine sacks, and two forced fumbles. Though no offers from the big ‘Power 5s yet, Douglas is garnering quite a few looks from a handful. Senior DJ Piner (6’0 170) returns for the Golden Elks, after grabbing 31 receptions for 455 yards and six touchdowns in 2022.
Senior safety ‘Sauce’ Jackson (6’2 185) returns after recording 50 tackles, three interceptions, eight pass break-ups, and a touchdown on defense. Junior Patience Richmond (6’0 200) steps in at quarterback, after spot duty as a sophomore behind Eli Latshaw. Mike Rossi steps into his first season as the Golden Elks head coach, after serving as the offensive coordinator for Matt Freeney. Freeney stepped down after a successful eight seasons with the Elks, boasting a 70-22 record, and going as far as the state quarterfinals in seven of his eight full seasons.
Joppatowne had one of their best seasons in their program’s history, going 11-2 and advancing to the 1A state semifinals, where they were turned back by Fort Hill, 43-6, and with the Mariners playing without their two-way, All-State star, Steven Robinson. Nonetheless, the Mariners posted double-digit wins for the first time since 2009. The Mariners not only lose Robinson, who rushed for 1,824 yards and scored a MPSSAA third-best 31 touchdowns last season, but their quarterback AJ Wilson. Robinson was also their leader on defense. Wilson threw for 2,046 yards and 25 touchdowns. To add, the Mariners top two targets, Shawn Cain Jr and Zachariah Horton, who combined for 73 receptions and 11 touchdown receptions, also graduated.
Senior inside linebacker Marquis Dobbins (5’10 215) is back to lead the Mariners defense, after leading the unit in ‘22 with 119 tackles, and adding 15 tackles for loss, three interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Returning on the defensive line will be senior defensive end Zynique Brown (6’3 185), who produced 51 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and eight sacks last season, alongside junior defensive tackle Caliil Thorne (6’2 250), who totaled 37 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and six sacks. Senior safety Mekhi Belton (5’9 160) returns in the secondary, after producing 70 tackles, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. On offense, the Mariners added Harford Tech transfer Jamaal Pearl Jr (5’11 175), who rushed for 1,039 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore for the Cobras last season. Albert Goode III returns for his second year as the Mariners head coach, after serving as their defensive coordinator prior to that.
Perryville finished 7-5 last season, advancing to the state quarterfinals, before running into Fort Hill. The Panthers were competitive with the UCBAC’s best, topping division champ Joppatowne, 30-26, and taking Edgewood to overtime before falling, 19-16. The Panthers return senior running back Ethan Gunter (5’10 180), who rushed for 1,213 yards and scored 12 touchdowns last season. Gunter ranked eighth in rushing yards among underclassmen in the MPSSAA in 2022. The Panthers go to Joppatowne in week two.
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.