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“There are some really good football teams in Anne Arundel County,” said second-year Severna Park football head coach Nick Marks after his first day of summer football camp. “People need to come out and see the outstanding teams we have in our county.”
In central Anne Arundel County, there is a football team that is ranked in the top 100 in the country, another that went to the 4A state championship game, a team that just made a giant leap to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) B Conference, and a team that is relying on new energy and enthusiasm to get back to its glory days.
The Falcons are coming off a disappointing 2-8 season, but their head coach is banking on a new coaching staff, new players and new energy to return the program to its glory days.
“We had a huge turnout for camp this year with 120 players coming out,” Marks said. “That’s 25-30 more than last year, and they have brought great energy and enthusiasm with them.”
Several new coaches have brought new offensive and defensive strategies to the program this year.
“Last year, we were extremely young; we were playing up to 10 sophomores every game,” Marks said. “Many of the teams who beat us went to win playoff games in their regions.”
This year, the offense will be led by quarterback Vince Nguyen, who is a two-year starter and holds school records for completions and yardage. Nguyen’s favorite targets are wide receiver Cole Cavanaugh, who had 35 receptions last year, and tight end Ryder Halloran.
“We have a new positive energy in camp and we’re looking to improve on last year’s record,” Marks said.
Last year, Broadneck reached the 4A state championship game and eventually lost to the Wise Pumas of Prince George’s County, 21-0.
“It was a great year, and we had our chances in the state championship game but just couldn’t get into the end zone,” said Broadneck head football coach Rob Harris.
On the way to the state championship game, the Bruins beat powerhouses Northwest and Winston Churchill while going 7-1 against county opponents.
Harris will miss many graduating players, including his son, Eli, who will play for Navy.
“Last year was a special season because it was Eli’s last year with me and I’ve known all of those seniors since rec ball in Cape St. Claire,” Harris said. “Eli’s been around summer camp since he was out of diapers.”
Harris is eager to turn the page and is excited about this year’s team as Broadneck adds a few transfers and several players from last year’s JV squad.
The Bruins return five offensive linemen, all their linebackers, quarterback CJ Watkins, running back Ian Mauldin, and two receivers. The Bruins added linebackers Zion Lowder from Spalding and Marlo Brown from Saint Frances.
Broadneck also welcomed back former head coach Jeff Herrick, who will coach the running backs.
“We have a chance to be a special team,” Harris said. “We have lofty expectations, and our goal is to win the state championship.”
Coming off their second consecutive MIAA A Conference championship, the Cavaliers have added regional powerhouses like DeMatha and Archbishop Stepinac of New York to their 2024 schedule, which also features anticipated battles with McDonogh, Loyola, Mount Saint Joseph, Gilman and Calvert Hall.
“Every week in this league will be a battle,” Spalding head football coach Kyle Schmitt. “We have a massive bullseye on our chest, and staying healthy and playing our best football in November is always the goal.”
Spalding, which is currently ranked 85th in the country by MaxPreps, is led by the Baltimore area’s two-time player of the year, Malik Washington. He is ranked the 23rd best quarterback in the nation by 247 Sports Composite and committed to Maryland over the summer.
“Malik is throwing the ball extremely well and has an excellent grasp and ownership of the offense,” Schmitt said. “I’m cherishing each day with him and grateful I can coach him for another four months.”
Washington wasn’t the only Cavalier to commit to a major college football power over the summer. Defensive back Jayden Shipps and defensive tackle Delmar White also committed to the Terps. Defensive back Trent Gillis will attend Navy and Alijah Jones will attend Northwestern.
The areas where graduation hurt the Cavaliers were the offensive line and linebacker units. But with numerous players coming up from the JV squad, as well as true freshmen, the Cavaliers have built depth across their roster.
“We used 10 different offensive linemen last year and many of our younger players received significant playing time,” Schmitt said. “Grant Little, Blake Wanless, Gavin Laupp and Kyle Lucas played the most last year. We also have Michael Byrne, Owen Rickard and Quinn Purcell for our offensive line depth.”
To balance out the Cavaliers’ warp-speed offense, led by Washington’s passing attack, the defensive front four is led by White and Zack Philpott.
“They are the strongest players on the football team and White is a game-wrecker who is unblockable when singled up with offensive tackles and guards,” Schmitt said.
As a wrestler, White was last year’s heavyweight division champion for the state’s private schools and MIAA.
Other stars in Spalding’s summer camp were wide receiver Kam Miller, running back Antonio Ledbetter and linebacker Joey Scheffers.
Severn School is making a giant leap to the MIAA B Conference and will now play St. Paul’s, John Carroll, St. Vincent Pallotti and Boys Latin in league play.
Severn School head football coach Demetrius Ballard is excited about the challenge, as he has been recruiting from local youth football programs to grow his program.
“It’s a tougher schedule, but we have the athletes to compete in this division and we have added size and speed along with a great strength and conditioning program to prepare for the next step,” Ballard said.
This is Ballard’s third year as head coach. His biggest loss from last year was Severna Park resident and tackle Bo Fowler, who is now playing at the University of Richmond.
“We’ve added some players from the Eastern Shore in Nate Eakins and Chase Krukiel to give us some size up front,” Ballard said. “One of the biggest additions will be Nate Michalski, who is 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds and can bench press 280 pounds already.”
The Admirals return quarterback Ty Bussard of Severna Park, and he added 15 pounds during the offseason.
“Ty has a cannon of an arm, commands the offense and has the potential to be a Division I quarterback. I rate him just behind Malik Washington as far as quarterback talent in the county,” said Ballard, who previously was an assistant coach at Spalding.
Broussard will throw to talented receivers, including last year’s All-MIAA C Conference wide receiver Daniel Growney and Cayden Decker of Arnold. Decker is also the team’s kicker and can make field goals from 45 yards.
Ballard is also thrilled about his defense, which features linebackers Jack Fowler of Severna Park and Julius Floyd. “Our defense will surprise people,” Ballard said.
Severn’s coach continues to heavily recruit from the football feeder programs throughout the area, especially the Green Hornets. Now with the program moving to the MIAA B Conference and a strength and conditioning program led by Dan Mahoney, the football program is bright on the Evergreen Road campus.
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