“If a kid had a chance, go ahead and take it.” he said. “Attack the space and get the ball on the ground in front of the goal.”

Kai Gibson heard his coach’s plea and stepped up, scoring two goals in the opening moments of the second half. The Huskies held on defensively, stalling the Mavericks’ offense to walk away with the 3-1 victory Monday night.

“They’re a solid program and they’ve got a good team,” Rich said. “This was a great win for us.”

After a slow start in the first half, the Huskies came out aggressive and active from the beginning of the second, keeping the ball moving with precise passes and leading one for good looks close to the goal.

“That’s how we’re going to generate chances this year,” Rich said. “Then, we need guys to be confident and fire away when they get a good look.”

Gibson had no issue taking open shots Monday. After Phil Toliver weaved through three defenders, his beautiful cross set up Gibson for a goal. Mere seconds later, the junior found the back of the net once again as the Huskies took control.

“I’m out here to finish,” Gibson said. “If they play the ball through, I’m just there to outrun the other team and score.”

After Benjamin Phillips scored the lone goal for the Mavericks in the first half, the chances became scarce for a young Manchester Valley team looking to find it’s rhythm and stamina. Passes became erratic and easily picked off by the Huskies. Alex Martinez had a good look in the second half, but sailed it over the crossbar as the Mavericks failed to convert.

“We played half a game today,” Mavericks coach John Woodley said. “We have a very young team and we need to come out and learn what it takes to get going for a full game.”

The early season matchup against an out-of-county opponent allowed both teams to learn a lot about themselves. No matter the result, Rich and Woodley each feel there is a lot to build on after Monday.

“We’ve got three new starters on defense, so there’s going to be mistakes.” Rich said. “We’re not going to let one mistake throw off our whole mentality. I think we’ll get better every game with that back four.”

For Woodley, he noted his young team showed promise in the first half. With a roster that boasts only six seniors and a schedule littered with tough battles left and right, he is confident his team will get better fast.

“There’s a lot to build off,” he said. “We just have to put together two solid halves, we do that and we’ll be OK.”

The Huskies will host Rising Sun on Thursday, while the Mavericks will look to bounce back with a road trip to Oakdale to face the Bears.

Patterson Mill 3, Manchester Valley 1

Goals: PM- Kai Gibson (2), Reza Mousavi (1). MV- Benjamin Phillips (1)

Few teams have been as dominant against county competition the past couple of years and Denean Koontz’s program is no exception. Entering her 31st season, Koontz once again enjoys an embarrassment of riches as she glances at her roster. Now a sophomore, Taylor Fique is back along with fellow Player of the Year candidates Sophie Baer and Amanda Herrold to lead one of the county’s deepest lineups. The Mavericks are back and ready defend their undefeated county championship.

After a 15-1 campaign, but a 2A state semifinal finish, the Mavericks look to take things a step further and raise a state championship trophy in the air at the end of the season, something only one team in Carroll County was able to do a year ago.

That team, the South Carroll Cavaliers, is led by returning Player of the Year Alana Enoff, who turned heads after one of the best playoff runs in recent memory last season en route to winning the Class 1A state title. With Danielle Gabrish taking over as coach, can the Cavaliers return to the state title game, but this time as a county champion?

Francis Scott Key and Westminster will surely have a say in the matter as both are coming off good seasons of their own. The Owls are not to be overlooked after winning their region and reaching the state semifinals in impressive fashion. Like Koontz, coach Laurie Nail boasts a deep roster of her own as Westminster once against appears to be one of the top teams in their region.

Here’s a preview of teams heading into the season: Editor’s note: Not all teams responded to requests for information.

Century

Coach: Terry Duryea, 17th season

Last season: 7-7

Top returners: Natalie Opatovsky (Shenandoah University commit), Aubrey Geist, Azhuh Ponte (St Mary’s) and Abby Kristian.

Newcomers to watch: N/A

Coach’s outlook: “We are looking forward to a great season with 11 seniors who have experience and love the game.”

Liberty vs Manchester Valley field hockey

Francis Scott Key

Coach: Becky Bachtel, second season

Last season: 9-3, regional finalist

Coach’s outlook: “The team is looking really good right now. The girls are gelling and are extremely focused. This is a wonderful group of girls who are coachable, smart, and enjoyable to be around.”

Liberty

Coach: Brenda Strohmer, 14th season

Last season: 3-12

Top returners: Elena Cucci, Claire Kim, Tori Schmitz and Hannah Schmitz.

Newcomers to watch: Gwen Yeager, Clara Robbins and Taylor Trudden.

Coach’s outlook: “We are a mix of young and experienced players. We should be competitive in this very tough county.”

Manchester Valley

Coach: Denean Koontz, 31st season

Last season: 15-1, county champions, regional champions, state semifinalists

Top returners: Sophie Baer, Liz Syzbalski, Shelly Wurzburger, Amanda Herrold and Taylor Fique.

Newcomers to watch: Freshman Lily Brookhart

Coach’s outlook: “Trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together to best suit our personnel. Carroll County is one of the best in the state, any team could emerge as champions.”

FSK vs South Carroll regional field hockey final

South Carroll

Coach: Danielle Gabrish, first season

Last season: 14-3, regional champion, Class 1A state champions

Top returners: Alayna Enoff (2023 Player of the Year), Caelin Lopes, Megan Maynard and Rowan Miller.

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Cat Yankle, Dakota Clemens and Afton Miller.

Coach’s outlook: “With the majority of last year’s championship squad back, we are determined to defend our title and secure back-to-back championships. This year’s roster is packed with seasoned veterans and a few promising newcomers, all united in their pursuit of maintaining the team’s dominance.”

Catonsville vs Westminster regional field hockey final

Westminster

Coach: Laure Naill, sixth season

Last season: 7-7, regional champion, state semifinalist

Top returners: Stevie Schultz, Natalie Schultz, Vivian Dunn, Gabi Thomas and Kylah Nowosielski.

Newcomer to watch: Camilla Dunn

Coach’s outlook: “This year, our team is focused on building consistency and making a strong push in the league. We’ve got a mix of seasoned players and rising stars who are ready to step up and make a significant impact.”

Winters Mill

Coach: Christine Bradley, ninth season

Last season: 4-8

Top returners: Olivia Pollard, Cici Coco, Addison Vanlandingham and Sydney Schertz.

Newcomers to watch: Kiera Youngling and Kennedy Ellis.

Coach’s outlook: “This year is going to be a rebuilding year for us. All my seniors were strong and held the team. I think we have some good communication and we have good ball movement working together. And we’ll have good defense; we’ve always had strong defense.”

Just as it took a team effort to overcome the deaths of two teammates and all the emotions and events off the field, coach Anthony Burgos was able to get something out of every player in all three phases as the Indians defeated Westminster, 24-14, on Friday night.

“Obviously we had a lot of emotions going into this game,” Burgos said. “These guys showed resiliency and came out and played some good football.”

It was the running back duo of Dylan Eaton and Gerret Boyd that led the way as Eaton broke free on a 78-yard run for the game’s first touchdown. Eaton not only broke off huge gains, but often was relied upon to do the dirty work inside, rushing for some tough yards against a stout Westminster defense.

“I told myself to just keep going,” said Eaton, a sophomore who finished with 129 yards on 15 carries. “This was my first varsity game and I know I’ve done the work to play well at this level.”

Much like in the first moments following tragedy, Burgos looked to his senior leadership to set the example and lead the way. When Westminster answered, his top dogs would be ready.

Quarterback Zander McCracken found senior Tristan Richardson for a 48-yard score for a two-touchdown lead. Even when completed passes were hard to come by, receivers Anthony Gibson and Christian Watson didn’t pout. Instead, they turned their attention on impacting the running game, providing key blocks for several outside runs that turned into big gains.

“We told them all week, the running game and the passing game goes hand in hand,” Burgos said. “They did a great job of buying in.”

The Owls did what they could to slow down the Franklin offense, sending defensive duo Isaiah Taylor and Cooper Whitcomb up the field to disrupt the rhythm of the Indians explosive unit.

“They are both great football players,” Westminster coach Chris Bassler said. “We kind of tailored or defense to showcase them. We want to create scenarios where we can unleash them and let them take over.”

Franklin football honors beloved fallen teammates in season-opening win over Westminster

After a slow start, the Owls’ offense started to pick up as quarterback Rory O’Conner threw 72- and 24-yard touchdown passes to keep Westminster within striking distance.

“We made some plays,” Bassler said. “Ultimately, they made one or two more and that was the difference. We hung with a good team”

After already turning the ball over on downs to Westminster earlier in the second half, Franklin still needed a couple of first downs to seal the deal and halt the Owls’ momentum. Burgos turned to Boyd, who finished off a 12-carry, 68-yard day with the touchdown that finally put the game out of reach.

“Sometimes, high school kids don’t understand sharing time, especially when one’s a senior and one’s a sophomore.” Burgos said. “With [Boyd], I challenged him on leading by example and he came up big for us.”

The Indians (1-0) will take their senior leadership and running back duo on the road next week as they travel to Overlea.

The Owls (0-1) will look to bounce back as they hit the road once again to face Frederick. Bassler acknowledged his offense might be behind his defense, but that is to be expected. However, based on what he was able to see in Game 1, he knows it won’t be long before his team is playing up to its high potential.

“We did a lot of good things,” he said. “The more we go and the more reps we get, we’ll be executing at a high level.”

Perennial state championship contender Milford Mill is ready to reload for 2024. This year they will be looking to regain the top spot in the county’s top division after falling to champion Perry Hall in Division I. The Millers reached the Class 2A state semifinals last season and are ready to return to the big game.

The Gators are looking to prove last year was not a fluke after one of the best seasons in school history. Coach Ryan Pittillo knows his team not only put the county on alert after another solid season, but the entire state after a 6-0 loss to eventual 4A/3A state champion Mervo in what was by far the toughest game for the Mustangs.

“Our program is on a new level now, we know we can compete with not just the county, but the state’s best.” Pittillo said. “We expect to win, this year is no different.”

Predicting the Division II winner might be the toughest task, as although defending champion Owings Mills is confident the program’s vision is finally coming to fruition, a revamped New Town offense and a Hereford squad out to return to the top each provide quite the challenge for the Eagles. The Bulls should be extra motivated after a 34-16 loss to the Eagles in the Class 2A playoffs.

“A lot of people don’t know about all the success we have had not just last year, but the last three or four years,” Owings Mills coach Travis Hall said. “We’re not just some underdogs, winning is our standard now.”

Randallstown, armed with Richmond commit Elijah Lee and Monmouth-bound Kendall Dorsey look to remain on top in Division III this season after one of the best years in recent history that included an impressive 35-point playoff victory.

Coach Jamari McCollough has even higher aspirations for his program and made his intentions clear.

Here are some storylines, players to watch and the most must see football games in Baltimore County as we look to 2024:

Dundalk vs Bel Air football

Dundalk, Milford Mill going back to basics to reload for 2024

Despite not taking home a division crown in 2023, the Millers and the Owls each enjoyed deep playoff runs.

Dundalk coach Tom Abel left 2023 with a sour taste in his mouth after a narrow loss to 4A state finalist Broadneck in the second round. Looking to get back to the top of the division and one step closer in the playoffs, he looks to rely on the tough, hard-nosed, gritty play that has been synonymous with his program through the years.

“Defensively, we’re an aggressive team and its the same way on offense,” he said. “We pride ourselves on being physical in the trenches.”

Division rival Milford Mill has proven to be strong at just about every aspect of the game. One thing head coach Reggie White has touted through the years is an explosive offense filled with the county’s top playmakers.

“We never rebuild, we reload,” offensive coordinator Byron Jones said. “These guys are ready to step up, its their time.”

With new quarterback Owen Newburns set to take over for the 2A state quarterfinalist, the plan remains the same for the Millers offense.

“We have a lot of young talent, my job is simple,” Newburns said. “Get the ball to my guys and let them make plays. We’re going to be real explosive this year.”

Revamped offense makes New Town dangerous team to watch out for

A holistic look at the Titans offense showed some mixed results last season. On the bright side, the unit averaged over 27 points per game en route to an impressive 8-3 record.

However against their toughest competitors — Hereford, Milford Mill and Owings Mills — the Titans failed to score more than eight points in each of those contests.

Luckily for Titans fans, coach William Savage and offensive coordinator Bryan Jones may have found the right formula for execution, explosiveness and more importantly, consistency for the unit in 2024.

“We revamped out offense to make us a little bit more relevant,” Savage said. “We are looking to be more explosive and put our defense in spots where they can play a little more relaxed and go on the attatck.”

“Every play, I’ll have four athletes on the field,” quarterback Bobby Burke said. “My priority is to get them the ball so they can make plays.”

Armed with five playmakers that can all take the ball and do some damage, paired with a stout defense, the Titans were already a clear threat.

This new offense could take them to the next level.

Western Tech amongst many out to make a name for themselves

As Shawn Waller enters year four at the helm of the Wolverines, he’s made his intentions very clear. After stints at Forest Park and Randallstown, Waller knows what it’s like to have strong foundational pieces overlooked in discussions about the area’s best.

Waller may have the quarterback ready to lead the charge and garner his program some respect: Micah Viner.

“I believe it’s going to be a really good year, led by Micah who has the potential to be one of the top quarterbacks in the area.” Waller said. “We have a group of great kids ready to prove that Western Tech is slept on.”

Viner has set high expectations for himself in 2024 as he looks to lead the Wolverines one last time.

“I want to be accurate with my passes, throw for at least 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns,” he said. “We’ve been together since freshman year so for us, a successful season means a lot of winning.”

With a determined Waller, flanked by one of the more talented and hungry signal callers in the county, look for Western Tech to take a giant step forward and turn some heads in 2024.

Randallstown eyes big move, looks to make statement in season opener

After winning the Division III title and coming just short of the state playoffs, Randallstown head coach Jamari McCollough has made his intentions clear regarding the future of his program.

“Our goal is to be in Division I,” McCollough said. “There’s a lot of talent in the county, and we know in order to work our way up as a program we need to compete and beat the best to be considered one of the best, it starts with us bringing home another division title and advancing far in the playoffs.”

Armed with multiple swiss army knife players on the offensive side of the ball, a tough interior front and promising new defensive coordinator. The Rams will have plenty of opportunities to show they belong.

Their biggest opportunity comes week one— when the defending Division III champs travel to take on Division II champion Owings Mills, setting the stage for the Rams to make a big statement early in the season.

Owings Mills football

10 must watch matchups this season

Randallstown at Owings Mills (Sept 6) ; Westminster at Franklin (Sept 6) ; Dundalk at New Town (Sept 13) ; Hereford at Milford Mill (Sept 13) ; Owings Mills at New Town (Sept 21) ; Perry Hall at Dundalk (Sept 27) ; Dundalk at Milford Mill (October 4) ; Hereford at New Town (October 18th) ; Perry Hall at Milford Mill (Oct 25), Milford Mill at Loyola (Nov 1).

Divisional alignment

Division I: Catonsville, Dundalk, Franklin, Kenwood, Milford Mill, Perry Hall, Woodlawn

Division II: Dulaney, Eastern Tech, Hereford, New Town, Overlea, Owings Mills, Parkville, Towson

Division III: Chesapeake, Lansdowne, Loch Raven, Patapsco, Pikesville, Randallstown, Sparrows Point, Western Tech

But in order to do that, the Knights will have some business to take care of locally first, and it won’t be easy.

On their way to the title game, Century knocked off Francis Scott Key, regional finalist South Carroll and county champion Westminster to end the regular season, before ending Winters Mill’s season with a victory in the regional final.

All three teams return key players as they look to exact revenge on the Knights and take home the county title this season. Liberty, who is coming off a regional championship of their own, looks to be in the mix as well with a deep roster and dangerous attack.

In Manchester Valley, despite the graduation of Player of the Year Grant Miller, coach John Woodley brings two key seniors and a couple of talented newcomers to the table as they look to win one of the state’s most competitive regions.

Playing in Carroll County is sure to be an advantage for every team come playoff time. With a tight county title race, each squad will surely enter the playoffs tough and battle tested.

Here’s a preview of each team as the 2024 season gets set to kickoff:

Century

Coach: Stephen Hurst, second season

Last season: 11-8-1

Top returners: Seniors Nick McGhin, Jackson Barioto and Noah Greenwade

Outlook: Read more about the Knights here

Francis Scott Key

Coach: Andy Hicks, second season

Last season: 1-14

Top returners: Seniors Chris Bay, Owen Stewart, Evan Myers and Nate Myers.

Newcomers to watch: Sophomores Beau O’Donnell and Harry Eiwen.

Coach’s outlook: “This year should be very exciting for us. We have a solid roster with a ton of experience at the varsity level. We are a cohesive unit with tremendous team chemistry and we will always be up for a battle.”

Gerstell Academy

Coach: AJ Berry, second season

Last season: 6-4-3

Top returners: Seniors Justin Rudo, Landon Yetta and Gavin Larson.

Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Preston Harris

Coach’s outlook: “We have a great young team for this year that brings a lot of energy. It will be a competitive year to make the playoffs and push for a MIAA B Conference final.”

2023 MPSSAA 1A boys' soccer semi, Harford Tech at Liberty

Liberty

Coach: Donnie Kwedar, second season

Last season: 10-7, regional champion, state semifinalist

Top returners: Seniors Lucas Brito, Nate Frey, Austen Veach, Connor Clapper, Arjun Singh and Hamza Kahn

Newcomers to watch: N/A

Outlook: With several returning players from a regional championship winning squad, the Lions seemed poised to return to states and once again cement themselves in the top tier of both Carroll County and Class 1A.

Manchester Valley

Coach: John Woodley, fifth season

Last season: 10-5-2, regional finalist

Top returners: Seniors Alex Martinez and Brady Bonney; juniors Lino Colin Jr and Ben Phillips.

Newcomers to watch: Junior Ty Pennewell; sophomores Ryan Cellitto and Brady Strohman.

Coach’s outlook: “This will be a promising young team striving to display their disciplined and competitive brand of soccer on the pitch.”

South Carroll

Coach: Ed Warton, sixth season

Last season: 7-10, regional finalist

Top returners: Seniors Alik Giguere, Matt Long and Jonah Oetken

Newcomers to watch: Senior Max Schult and junior Hayden Leineweber

Coach’s outlook: “It’s always exciting, and a bit stressful, to start a new season. Everyone has a positive mindset and is willing to put in a lot of hard work to improve from last season.”

Westminster

Coach: Jim Reigel, fourth season

Last season: 6-4-2

Top returners: Seniors Ashton Gifford, Abbott Houle and Will Donovan. Juniors BJ Murray and Luke Schoberg

Newcomers to watch: N/A

Coach’s outlook: “I anticipate a highly competitive county title race.”

Winters Mill

Coach: Dave Ledford, first season

Last season: 8-6, regional finalist

Top returners: Juniors Ben King, John Bechtel and Parker Barry; sophomore Deacon Cassidy

Newcomers to watch: Freshman Colt Dorsey

Coach’s outlook: “Excited for the amount of young talent that will be returning this year with Varsity experience.” “We have a lot of young talent that is ready to compete. I expect the county title to be a tight race and could be anyone’s for the taking.”

A year ago, not many predicted Winters Mill to be top contenders, yet the Falcons produced the best season in school history. They had a chance the final week to claim the county title, and were only a few yards short of earning a trip to the state semifinals.

But even regular-season success didn’t seem to matter once playoff time came. Despite running through the county undefeated, last year’s county champion Westminster was then completely outplayed by Manchester Valley in the opening round of the playoffs.

Regardless of where everyone finished, one thing was clear about each team last season: they were 10 times better at season’s end than before the first ball was kicked off.

For Westminster and runner-up Winters Mill, replacing key offensive pieces like Kyrece Walker, Paris Lee and Caleb Crouch wont be easy, but with morale high after last season, both teams are ready to return to the top of the standings.

Liberty and South Carroll are two teams that improved toward the end of the season and now boast the returning talent to make noise. The Cavaliers tout running back brother duo Anthony and Manny Rodrigues, both back, healthy and ready to produce. The Lions tout arguably the best pass catcher in the league, Tristian West, who joins Kevin Poole and Kevin Kern as three Lions that can make an impact on both sides of the ball.

Then there’s Manchester Valley, Francis Scott Key and Century. All three have made adjustments to both personnel and the coaching staff and are being slept on by no one as they are all expected to be much better.

The Mavericks look to ride the momentum from last year’s playoff upset win and get off to a better start. Meanwhile, FSK hopes new defensive coordinator Mike Kraus could instill some needed discipline into an Eagle squad that lost four games by single digits last season.

That sets the stage for a 2024 county title race where every team feels there’s a clear path for them to reach the top. Here’s how every team looks heading into the season:

Century

Coach: Dave Ferguson, fourth season

Last season: 1-9

Top returners: Seniors JT Ferguson, Dominic Damico, Alex Gernand and Dylan Broom.

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Jake Dexter and Jake Coonts.

Coach’s outlook: “Very excited for a good solid competitive season out of the team this year. Had a great off-season and start of practice for this year. Even though the last few years have been rough, looking for the seniors for the perseverance to succeed.”

Francis Scott Key

Coach: David Cunningham Jr., third season

Last season: 1-9

Top returners: Seniors Jermaine Dawson, Sam Andrews and Craig Hardsock.

Newcomers to watch: Senior Bryson Lookingbill

Coach’s outlook: “The culture has completely changed, we’re continuing to get better everyday by being mentally sharp and playing together.”

Liberty vs FSK football

Liberty

Coach: Larry Luthe, 12th season

Last season: 5-6

Top returners: Seniors Chase Miller, Tristan West, Kevin Poole and Kevin Kern.

Newcomers to watch: Junior Danny Nelson, Sean Case and Ausin Safran; sophomore Matthew O’Donnell.

Coach’s outlook: “We will go as our offensive line goes. We are very talented at the skill positions offensively and defensively. We are extremely young on the offensive line, and must improve throughout the season.”

Westminster vs Manchester Valley first round football state playoffs

Manchester Valley

Coach: Bernie Koontz, sixth season

Last season: 6-5

Top returners: Seniors Braden Fritz, Jake Robinson, Cru Boog, Aiden Turner and Troy Letizia; juniors Declan Earhart and Colton Nunn.

Newcomers to watch: Senior Matt Foran. juniors John Day, Connor Stack and Walter Sallee; sophomore Ben Sodeinde.

Coach’s outlook: “We have a good mix of returners and new players who are working well together. The program is hoping to build off of a solid foundation put in place last year.”

Liberty vs South Carroll football

South Carroll

Coach: Mike Crumley, second season

Last season: 3-7

Top returners: Seniors Caleb Evans, James Graham, Manny Rodrigues, Brayden Yeager and Angelo Marchany; juniors Anthony Rodrigues and Landon Hamper.

Newcomers to watch: Sophomores Jake Gillis, Jackson Kostos, Brayden Mazalewski and Davy Snyder.

Coach’s outlook: “We’re a young team yet again this year, but the seniors we have will be anchoring the line on both sides of the ball and help to provide in-game leadership.”

Westminster High vs. Frederick High

Westminster

Coach: Chris Bassler, sixth season

Last season: 8-2

Top returners: Seniors Rakim Warfield, Cooper Whitcomb, Hayden Turner and Ryan Dunne; juniors David Gerting, Xavier Howard and Brayden Trupe.

Newcomers to watch: Junior Rory O’Conner; sophomores Isiah Taylor and Gabe Lee.

Coach’s outlook: “We have a good mix of new players and veterans and have a great offseason. We are more athletic top to bottom and deeper than we were last year.”

Liberty vs Winters Mill football

Winters Mill

Coach: Matt Miller, 12th season

Last season: 9-2, state quarterfinalist

Top returners: Seniors Chris Schoonover, Tommy Hinkhaus, Austin Utz, Jesse Buckingham, Arthur Womack and Braydon Jones.

Newcomer to watch: Sophomore Jarell Baker.

Coach’s outlook: “If our young team can jell early, we’ll have a chance for success over the course of the season. We will have a lot of new players filling starting rolls, and the sooner they settle into these rolls the sooner we’ll see the positive benefits on the field.”

Liberty’s Hannah DeVincent has seen enough.

Ready for her senior season, the reigning Player of the Year looks to lead the Lions past their arch rivals and take the county crown this season. With all-county teammate Bryce Sarver also ready to go, look for the Lions-Knights matchup to be the key to crowning a county champion once again.

Winters Mill is coming off a winning record as coach Tom Pennell brings two strong seniors in Emma Jewel and Addie Myers to the table, looking to improve as a program and establish themselves as contenders.

Wade Shank’s first season leading Manchester Valley was decimated by injuries, but with his goalie Emma Lander and Emma Penczek back, no one should count out a fully healthy Mavericks squad.

Here’s how each Carroll County team shapes up as the season approaches:

Century

Coach: Chris Little, fourth season

Last season: 12-2-3, county champions

Top returners: Seniors Bella Coccio, Lexi McGinnis (East Carolina commit) and Maddison Spradlin; juniors Mia Savage and Megan Taltavull; sophomore Lenah Ham.

Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Ryley Poe.

Coach’s outlook: “Losing 11 seniors and six starters will be a challenge to replace. Harli Hamlett’s 11 goals and five assists led the team. Additionally, our defense will have a new look after graduating Megan Rusk, Madi Prietz and Natalie Mattox. Our first six games are out of county vs. three IAAM A conference teams, 3A Towson, 4A Thomas Wooten and Southern.”

Francis Scott Key

Coach: Teresa Watkins, second season

Last season: 5-9

Top returners: Seniors Abby Rieger and Kensi Bancroft; junior Camryn Gillis; sophomore Shelby Bladen.

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Lily LaPierre and Tristan Kiser; sophomore Sarah Schaeffer.

Coach’s outlook: “We have six returning players from last year’s varsity squad and are working together to become more confident as a unit every day while pushing each other in practice.”

St. Paul’s School for Girls vs Gerstell Academy girls soccer

Gerstell Academy

Coach: Mike McGinnis, first season

Last season: 6-6-2, IAAM B Conference quarterfinalist

Top returners: Seniors Kiara Hardy and Sara Fenwick; junior Cambie Franks; sophomore Cadence Poklemba.

Newcomer to watch: Freshman Savannah Devers.

Coach’s outlook: “We have an athletic and experienced senior-heavy team with multiple core leaders returning. We are expecting to compete well in our IAAM B conference.”

Liberty vs Century girls soccer

Liberty

Coach: Danielle Prietz, 10th season

Last season: 12-5-1

Top returners: Seniors Hannah Devincent (2023 Player of the Year; Hilbert College commit) and Madison Smith; junior Bryce Sarver.

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Sophia Macijewski, Lilly Kashima and sophomore Peony Kang.

Coach’s outlook: “The single most important key to continued success for the season is to stay focused as a team and work together as a team. I think all teams will be competitive this year throughout the county and see us in the top half.”

Manchester Valley

Coach: Wade Shank, second season

Last season: 4-11

Top returners: Seniors Emma Lander, Caitlin Shank and Emma Penczek; sophomore Lilah Kresslein.

Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Mackenzie Partridge; freshman Grace Blizzard and Kaylee Sczepucha.

Coach’s outlook: “We have a lot returning players, so we should be able to build on the style of play we started to focus on last year. Hope to be in the middle of the standings in the county if all goes well.”

Fallston vs South Carroll 1A girls soccer final

South Carroll

Coach: Andrew Isacco, 15th season

Last season: 9-4

Top returners:  Seniors Ella Boyce, Clare Babcock and Jillane Matty; juniors Bree Hancock and Kelly Paul.

Newcomers to watch: Junior Anna Santacroce; sophomores Kenley Kalbaugh and Caitlyn Ott.

Coach’s outlook: “We’re excited about the players who returned and our new players as well. Our success will depend on how quickly we progress as a team and how well we navigate our league and out of county schedule.”

Westminster

Coach: Shawn Taylor, second season

Last season: 7-7

Top returners: Seniors Jennifer Vasquez, Stella Schoberg, Kate LoPiccolo, Riley Taylor and Clara Kemp; juniors Emmerson Hill and Libby Green.

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Rachael Lee and Sherina Jassir; sophomores Angie Hyatt and Brinley Boag.

Coach’s outlook: “Westminster is led by nine seniors this year and look to overcome another tough schedule this season. We look to be very competitive again in county and play strong against top level Baltimore and Fredrick County teams.”

Winters Mill

Coach: Tim Pennell, third season

Last season: 8-4

Top returners: Seniors Senior Emma Jewell and Addy Meyers; sophomore Hannah Neske

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Elizabeth Bogdan and Sophie Bogdan; sophomore Natalie Furr.

Coach’s outlook: “With only four senior starters, we will rely on a large number of underclassmen to carry the load. The team has been working all summer to develop some great team chemistry that will help us hit the ground running game one.”

Armed with county Player of the Year Emma Reaves (now a member of the University of New Hampshire track and field team), Lee’s team not only shared the county title, but enjoyed a deep playoff run as the Owls reached the regional final.

South Carroll’s Kristine Keck’s is looking to follow Lee’s lead in her rookie season.

But an even longer playoff run is a good possibility, thanks to the help of what might be the deepest roster in the county.

The Cavaliers, county co-champions themselves last year, return Player of the Year favorite Elaina Murphy and a host of others with playoff experience. The team is only two years removed from playing for the Class 1A state championship.

Meanwhile, Gerstell Academy is looking to use its championship experience from last season as Ava Gaines leads the IAAM C Conference runner-ups as the Falcons look to reach the title game once again.

Another first year coach, Melissa Troy, is set to lead a Manchester Valley squad no one is sleeping on. The Mavericks return four starters and are poised to break through and challenge the county’s elite as every night will be a battle in a tough county this season.

Here’s a look at Carroll County volleyball heading into the 2024 season:

Century

Coach: Sarah Walton, third season

Last season: 7-9

Top returners: Seniors Abhi Yadlapalli and Hannah Heffernan.

Newcomers to watch: N/A

Coach’s outlook: “We’ve got a great group of girls working hard and preparing for a great season.”

Francis Scott Key

Coach: Brooke Jordan, first season

Last season: 0-14

Top returners: Seniors Kiersten Johannes and Anna Darago.

Newcomers to watch: Senior Ripleigh Maring and junior Abby Stephens.

Coach’s outlook: “As we continue to build and develop our program, we are fortunate to have a group of incredibly talented players who are eager to learn and grow. We are excited to see what we can achieve together.”

Gerstell Academy

Coach: Eric Zak, fifth season

Last season: 13-5, IAAM C Conference runner-ups

Top returners: Seniors Jordan Blackburn, Ava Gaines (Washington and Lee University) and Ruby Connelly.

Newcomer to watch: Freshman Josie Connelly.

Coach’s outlook: “We graduated six seniors, so we will be very young in several positions. We will have two freshmen starters in pivotal positions but I believe they are up for the challenge. I think we should improve as the season progresses, putting us in a good position heading into the postseason.”

Westminster vs Liberty Volleyball

Liberty

Coach: Sheri Hagen, fourth season

Last season: 8-8

Top returners: Seniors Jasmine Bada and Haleigh Hodges, sophomore Emme Powers

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Marielle Riordan and Paige Rubin, sophomores Crystal Awunganyi and Julia Easter.

Coach’s outlook: “I’m excited and optimistic. We have a great group of returning players with a lot of strength and synergy, and we are adding new players with lots of depth. We expect the county to be very competitive again this year.”

Manchester Valley

Coach: Melissa Troy, first season

Last season: 9-8

Top returners: Senior Emma Shaffer; juniors Chloe Figueira, Emily Troy and Carly Figueira

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Caitlin Ash and Emily Xiong

Coach’s outlook: “I’m very excited about this season. Even though we graduated seven seniors, we are returning four starters and adding new talent.”

South Carroll vs Westminster volleyball

South Carroll

Coach: Kristine Keck, first season

Last season: 12-2, county co-champions

Top returners: Senior Pia White and junior Elaina Murphy

Newcomers to watch: Senior Haley Frazier and sophomore Jenna Todd

Coach’s outlook: “We have a very talented, scrappy group of players that will make for an exciting season!” “I think our team is poised to compete for county championship again this year and also go on a deep state title run.”

Westminster vs Oakdale first round state playoff match

Westminster

Coach: Ben Lee, second season

Last season: 13-4, county co-champions, regional finalist

Top returners: Seniors Molly Thomas and Keara Zaranski

Newcomers to watch:  Sophomore Allison Ryan

Coach’s outlook: “I like the make of our team and I feel we will be competitive in our matches this year. It will all come down to how quickly the team gels, trust and respect each other.”

Winters Mill

Coach: Jerome Georgiana (second season)

Last season: 3-12

Top returners: Seniors Cheyenne Costin , Lily Crowley and Joanna Singer

Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Katie Hegg

Coach’s outlook: “If we play the game and not the occasion, we will be successful.”

The defending Class 2A/1A state champions got their 2024 off to a good start at Oakmont Green Golf Course on Friday, fending off a tough challenge from several county teams to take home first place in the season’s first golf tournament.

“I know there was a ton of pressure on the team to just come out of the gate and play well,” Cavaliers coach Matthew Joseph said. “Our biggest strength is our ability to stay consistent, play great golf and play a more mature game.”

The Cavaliers group of Patrick Carl, Jack Laur, Josh Vendemia and Michael Valerio combined for a team score of 300, beating out second place Manchester Valley by just five strokes . The Mavericks, though, can take consolation in the fact their total broke the school record by 21 strokes. Westminster, led by co-medalist Luke DiDio, finished third.

“You could see other kids out there playing well, and I think that kept them motivated,” Joseph said. “They just kept their heads down and continued to play.”

Pushed by his competition to the very end, defending district champion and top-five state finisher Carl had himself a day, posting an even-par 72 in what was a picture perfect start to the season for one of the state’s best. Carl finished with three impressive birdies on the day.

“It was definitely tough on the greens,” he said. “But I just stayed confident, stayed focused and was able to hit some good balls.”

While Carl needs no introduction after being one of the county’s best in recent years, DiDio sent the message that he is ready to make a splash in 2024, finishing as co-medalist after shooting a 72 of his own.

“I have a lot more confidence coming into this year,” he said. “It’s huge knowing that I can play with some of the best players. I owe it all to God.”

A junior team captain, DiDio built off a strong finish to last season, capped off with an good showing at states to come out and hit the ball well, particularly with his irons as he went toe to toe with Carl.

“He’s a budding star,” Westminster coach Palmer Philips said. “He takes a lot of accountability for what he does. He cares about his team and he’s got a switch he can flip when it’s go time.”

Still, the day belonged to the Cavilers in the end as Carl fended off not only his co-medalist DiDio, but his own teammate. Laur wasn’t far behind the top two after shooting a 74 on the day. It’s that depth paired with the confidence gained from the magical run last year that has Carl and others ready to go as they look toward another run at county, district and state titles in 2024.

“As long as we stay confident, and stay together as a team, we’ll be able to repeat.” Carl said. “We have the game to do it.”

Team results

South Carroll (300), Manchester Valley (305), Westminster (331), Century (347), Liberty (357), Winters Mill (385), Francis Scott Key (386).

Just after noon, the team announced that tight end Mark Andrews was involved in a car accident while on his way to practice. Andrews was evaluated by team doctors, and coach John Harbaugh said after practice that the three-time Pro Bowl selection came out of the crash with “nothing at all, not a scrape.”

Shortly after that announcement came news that offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris was hospitalized over the weekend with an “acute illness” that will keep the 70-year-old assistant out for an extended period.

The Ravens have since hired longtime offensive line coach George Warhop to step in. Warhop, 62, has 40 years of coaching experience, with 27 seasons of work with NFL offensive lines.

“[He’s] a guy that we’ve known for many years, and respected,” Harbaugh said. “[He’s] someone who [offensive coordinator] Todd [Monken] has worked with in the past, in Tampa Bay. Other coaches have known him and worked with him on our staff. He doesn’t know our system per se in terms of our terminology, but he can learn that very quickly.”

On the field Wednesday, it was an intense, full-padded practice featuring an inconsistent offense, an energetic and heat-seeking defense, and some young players taking advantage of valuable, but scarce reps as the second preseason game approaches.

Here are some observations from Wednesday’s practice:

Offense flashes potential despite sloppy, inconsistent day

Quarterback Lamar Jackson could be heard yelling in frustration several times after some miscommunications with his receivers. For example, he missed Rashod Bateman on a screen pass during the first drive of team drills.

Jackson then threw his hands in the air after failing to connect with newly signed target Anthony Miller.

But the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player’s worst throw might have been an off-target pass to Tylan Wallace, which landed in the hands of a waiting Kyle Hamilton for an interception.

Jackson quickly bounced back, though, shaking off some bad throws — and being stepped on by one of his linemen — to find tight end Isaiah Likely several times for big gains across the middle. Second-year receiver Zay Flowers also got involved, making some nice catches down the sideline.

When the offense stays on track and, most importantly, stays consistent, its big-play ability is clear. Jackson, however, will not play Saturday against the Atlanta Falcons, Harbaugh said.

Good signs from a banged-up secondary

Hamilton’s interception was a welcome sign as the All-Pro safety went through a full day of practice after limping off the field Sunday with an apparent left leg injury.

With no knee brace or extra padding, Hamilton looks to be back to his normal, play-making self.

The rookie defensive back duo of Nate Wiggins and T.J. Tampa also made an appearance.

Tampa, the fourth-round draft pick who has been working his way back from offseason sports hernia surgery, was fully dressed, participating in position drills and looking good before leaving practice during the team period.

Wiggins wasn’t in pads, but he worked off to the side with a trainer before also going inside the facility during team drills.

The first-round draft pick, who suffered a shoulder injury during his impressive preseason debut last week, was just as spry and active, with his signature speed still on display.

Let the kids play

Whenever Jackson takes a step back and quarterbacks Josh Johnson, Emory Jones and Devin Leary take the reins, the deep shots and sidearm throws across the middle take a backseat to coverage sacks and checkdowns.

But when the young players at the bottom of the depth chart are given a chance to make a play, they sure take advantage.

Undrafted rookie receiver Isaiah Washington might have had the play of the day, rising over Hamilton to make a catch on a deep pass from Johnson that got the crowd buzzing.

Rookie tight end Qadir Ismail also made a play when he was finally targeted down the field, securing a nice catch over the middle.

Even the young players on defense took advantage, with rookie safety Beau Brade picking off Jackson. The interception was the highlight of camp so far for the former Maryland and River Hill star, even though it was nullified by an offside penalty.

A big loss

For the foreseeable future, the Ravens will be without the man affectionately known as “Joe D.”

Under D’Alessandris, the Ravens have earned top-10 pass- and run-blocking rates in each of the past four seasons. The Ravens finished ninth in pass blocking and fifth in run blocking last season, according to ESPN.

Already tasked with replacing three starters on the offensive line, the architect behind one of the league’s more successful units is now out as well for what is expected to be a “significant amount of time.”

Translation: A tough task just got tougher for perhaps the team’s most important position group heading into the season opener Sept. 5 in Kansas City.