After an 8-1 junior varsity season last year, Friday night marked the Panthers’ first football game as a varsity program. Hosting Hammond, 2,133 people packed the stands. Guilford Park exploded for 28 second-half points to satisfy the crowd with a 34-8 win.

“I’m ecstatic about it,” Guilford Park coach Thomas Montag said. “Last year, they probably hated me because I’d tell them, ‘Hey, I don’t care who we’re playing, the success we’re seeing, this is junior varsity. This isn’t the end goal, right?’ All of the kids we have this year, a majority of them were playing last year for us. I’m just proud of them because it shows me that they’re listening, and they’re bought in. They understand that we’ve got to wake up.”

It was a long journey to get to Friday night. Both junior Khadea McDonald and sophomore Tyler Lee described a mix of excitement and nerves as the regular season moved closer. However, the Panthers underwent consistent hard practices to prepare themselves for that jump in levels.

Friday’s action wasn’t just long awaited for the football team, but the entire school community. Tickets sold out for the game shortly after 1 p.m. and the Panthers faithful showed out in full force, including the packed student section with a mix of white and neon T-shirts.

“It made me feel like I’m an NFL player,” McDonald said. “I’ve got to put on for the people.”

The capacity crowd roared on the Panthers’ opening drive after quarterback A’Yar Reed-Wright connected with McDonald on a swing pass for a 46-yard touchdown. While the play was negated due to a holding penalty, that sequence showcased the community’s passion, just waiting to erupt.

The game remained scoreless for much of the first half until Lee broke through for the program’s first varsity score. The sophomore running back sprinted in from 7 yards out and put Guilford Park on the board.

“I was hyped,” Lee said. “First touchdown, we drove all the way down the field for it. Everybody was hype, everybody was screaming.”

However, Hammond answered right back on quarterback Lazaro Ribalta’s touchdown run and took an 8-6 halftime lead after the two-point conversion. Despite fielding a roster without any seniors, the young Panthers didn’t hang their heads.

Halftime proved to be a valuable reset as Guilford Park opened the second half by recovering an onside kick. While that possession didn’t end in a touchdown, it proved to be a pivotal momentum swing. Guilford Park scored touchdowns on each of its next four possessions as McDonald and Lee both finished with two touchdowns on the ground.

“We’re competitive,” McDonald said of the running back group. “We’re brothers, but we’re working for the same spot. Even though we’re friends, it’s one spot. We’re both going to work hard for it and if you don’t get the ball, you don’t cry about it. You wait until it’s your turn and when it’s your turn, you show up.”

Following the victory, the Panthers sprinted toward the end zone with a sea of smiling faces. Montag expressed how proud he was of the group and while he recognized the magnitude of the milestone, also emphasized that there was a long season ahead. He hopes the performance builds collective confidence and also reinforces the value of responding to adversity and playing for one another.

“For us to come out with a win, it’s such a huge thing for our community,” Guilford Park athletics and activities manager Mike Lerner said. “I just couldn’t be happier with the way things turned out. We’ve got great kids. We’ve got great coaches. I’m fortunate enough to be a part of this community.

“To win the first one, you don’t ever expect that. The history in Howard County shows that it takes a long time to get that first varsity win in most sports, football even more so without seniors. It’s just a testament to our kids, our coaches and all the hard work they put in.”

The county is expected to once again be an extremely tight race. Glenelg, Mt. Hebron, Marriotts Ridge and River Hill are expected to be some of the county’s top teams with several others in contention for the county title. Guilford Park also joins the fold this year as the county’s 13th team in their inaugural varsity season.

Regular-season action begins on Sept. 6 with the state championships scheduled for Nov. 14-16 at Loyola University’s Ridley Athletic Complex. The Howard County teams are split between Class 3A South and 2A West. Howard, Marriotts Ridge and Mt. Hebron are in 3A South Region I, while Atholton, Guilford Park, Long Reach, Oakland Mills, Reservoir and River Hill make up 3A South Region II. Centennial, Glenelg, Hammond and Wilde Lake are in 2A West Region II.

Howard County is also implementing two six team-divisions, where the two division winners will face off to determine a county champion. Division winners are determined by winning percentage within the division. Guilford Park will be assigned a division once the school begins competing in all varsity sports in the 2025-26 school year. The Summit Division is Glenelg, Hammond, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron, Oakland Mills and Reservoir. The Sierra Division is Atholton, Centennial, Howard, Long Reach, River Hill and Wilde Lake.

Here is a look at the Howard County teams. (Note: Not all teams responded to requests for information).

Atholton

Coach: Michael Constantine, first season

Last season: 2-10-1

Top returners: Seniors Chris Verastegui (CM), Jordan Fonseca (CB/LB), Ashwin Hazarinka (W/AM) and Fred Agyeman (W/F); sophomore Mathias Rausch (CM)

Newcomers to watch: Freshmen Miguel Carballo (W/F) and Kian Alavi (W/AM)

On the pitch: The Raiders bring back several pieces in the midfield, including Hazarinka, Rausch and Verstegui. Agyeman, Carballo and Alavi are also expected to contribute to the attack, while Fonseca will be an important player defensively.

Coach’s outlook: “We’re coming off of a bad year in terms of results and the effect of last year is still influencing the team’s confidence and therefore performance. While we may still struggle slightly in terms of athleticism against some of the bigger/quicker teams, if we can instill some belief the team should be competitive in every game.”

Centennial

Coach: Justin Thomas, eighth season

Last season: 3-4-6

Top returner: Senior Noah Kantsiper (M)

Newcomers to watch: Junior Aaron Cochran (M)

On the pitch: The Eagles will look to move back over .500 in the 2024 campaign after a state championship game appearance two years ago. Kantsiper provides valued experience in the midfield as a four-year starter, while Cochran brings more versatility to the midfield.

Coach’s outlook: “This preseason has been a lot of fun so far. It feels like we are farther ahead than we usually are at this point but you don’t really know until we play some games. It looks like we have some depth, the practices have been very competitive. I really like this group and I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do.”

Glenelg

Coach: Joey Osborne, 10th season

Last season: 8-6-1, 2A West Region II finalist

Top returners: Seniors Nick Mirecki (M) and Jack McCarthy (F); junior Tito Tokunboh-Salako (F).

Newcomers to watch: Junior Alex Ball (M).

On the pitch: McCarthy and Tokunboh-Salako will be important pieces of the offense at forward. Mirecki and Ball are important midfield players, with Mirecki an established veteran, and Ball in his first year playing high school soccer.

Coach’s outlook: “I think we have a good combination of returning varsity players and new players on the team this year. We hope to find the right chemistry during the preseason to be prepared for the competition in Howard County.”

Guilford Park

Coach: Tomas Potts, first season

Last season: 7-5 as JV team

Top returners: Juniors Hodari Hampton (CB), Jason Riveros (ST) and Van Sang (ST); sophomore Robert Guzman (CM).

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Mario Aguirre-Rosales (CB) and Arlin Meza Hernandez (LW/LB); freshmen Christian Rodriguez-Sorto (CB) and Lorenzo Cerritos-Lemus (ST/CM).

On the pitch: The Panthers are making their debut as a varsity team, looking to build on a winning JV season. Hampton headlines the defensive unit, while Guzman, Riveros and Sang provide speed and versatility offensively. Howard County’s youngest team, Guilford Park welcomes in several newcomers throughout the pitch that are expected to contribute.

Coach’s outlook: “Despite being a young team without seniors, we refuse to let that be an excuse. Our first year in varsity will be defined by our relentless work ethic and commitment to growth. Every practice, every game, we will push ourselves to compete, improve, and become the best version of our team, one day at a time.”

Hammond

Coach: Elliot Quinteros, fourth season

Last season: 6-6-2

Top returners: Senior Carlos Perez (M); juniors Drew O’Neil (M/D) and Grant Pisone (M/D).

Newcomers to watch: N/A

On the pitch: The Golden Bears lost some key contributors from last year including midfielder Eliot O’Neil who had a team-high 15 goals. Fellow senior DJ Morafa was also an All-County performer. However, Drew O’Neil is back after being named second team All-County and provides stability at midfield and defense. Perez and Pisone bring more speed to the midfield and defense.

Coach’s outlook: “I think we will be decent. We have a large senior class this year and we lost some very important players last year so it will be a bit of a rebuild season.”

Howard vs South River boys soccer state semifinal

Howard

Coach: Nils Schroder, 16th season

Last season: 13-2, 3A state semifinalists

Top returners: Seniors Ashton Bui (M) and Remy Valiente (ST); junior Eben Koffi (M)

Newcomers to watch: N/A

On the pitch: After losing several starters, including 2023 Player of the Year Logan Ehart, the Lions will look for many newcomers to step up. Bui, Valiente and Koffi are three experienced players that will provide speed and athleticism in the attack. All three played last season but will be thrust into increased roles this year.

Coach’s outlook: “We graduated a lot of players from last year’s team. We hope this team can gel quickly, but realistically we are hoping to be playing our best soccer at season’s end.”

Marriotts Ridge

Coach: Quinn Khouri, ninth season

Last season: 9-2-1

Top returners: Seniors Mahmoud Babkir (F), Justin Wu (D) and Nick Wagner (M); sophomore Jake Hammond (M/D).

Newcomers to watch: Senior Gabe Montenegro (M).

On the pitch: Babkir will be a key piece in replacing some of the attacking production from his striker position. Wagner, Hammond and Montenegro will supplement that from the midfield. Wu returns as a leader of the defense after being named first team All-County as a junior.

Coach’s outlook: “We are looking to replace a significant number of goals from our three attacking players who totaled 21 goals last season as seniors. There is a good number of players who played significant minutes last year who are returning.”

Mt. Hebron vs Centennial boys soccer

Mt. Hebron

Coach: Mike Linsenmeyer, 25th season

Last season: 7-2-2

Top returners: Jonathan Sanchez, Will Kettering, Tyler Hagyard, Chris Belcher, Logan McWright, Luukas Nguyen and Parker Smith.

Newcomers to watch: Lucas Aguilar and Koti Mehta.

On the pitch: Kettering was a first team All-County selection in 2023 and will once again be an integral part of Mt. Hebron’s defense. Sanchez is entering his second season in goal after transitioning from midfield. He was first team All-County last year and anchored a defense that finished with eight clean sheets as Sanchez allowed just four goals. Hagyard, a second team All-County selection in 2023 will further bolster the defense.

Coach’s outlook: “I think the county will be very tight and there is a ton of parity. I think we need to prepare to play our best every game.”

Oakland Mills

Coach: Trevor Shea, third season

Last season: 3-10-1

Top returners: Seniors Victor Ipanaque (M) and Ronaldo Reid (F); juniors John Avery III (D) and Isiah Roach (D).

Newcomers to watch: Freshmen Dustin Stoutenborough (M) and Jack LeNoach (F).

On the pitch: The Scorpions are a battle tested group with experience in contested games. Ipanaque and Reid will be key leaders at forward and midfield, while Avery III and Roach are important pieces defensively. Stoutenborough and LeNoach headline the Scorpions young corps joining the varsity team.

Coach’s outlook: “Last season we had seven games decided by less than a one goal difference. We are hoping to continue growing and being competitive this year. We have a small core of players that have varsity experience and have played together the last two seasons. We hope to build upon our returning players with a solid group of incoming freshmen adding into the mix.”

Reservoir

Coach: Nick Valenti, fourth season

Last season: 11-6-1, 3A South Region II finalist

Top returners: Seniors Adam Hunt (RW), Noah Martin (CB) and Alan Gutierrez (CDM)

Newcomers to watch: Junior Harrison Newkirk (ST)

On the pitch: Hunt, a second team All-County selection last year is a dynamic offensive threat. He finished with six goals and 10 assists last year, while Martin, a team captain will anchor the defense after being named second team All-County as a junior. Gutierrez gives the Gators experience in the midfield group, while Newkirk will be a key piece in trying to replace some of the offensive production the Gators lost.

River Hill

Coach: Matt Shagogue, 19th season

Last season: 14-3, 3A state quarterfinalist

Top returners: Seniors Allan Ying (F), Zach Glass (GK) and Charlie Gerber (M/F); junior Logan Aranda (M/F)

Newcomers to watch: N/A

On the pitch: The Hawks have a lot of experience throughout the pitch without any underclassmen on varsity. Glass is a four-year starter in net, while Gerber and Aranda are key pieces of the midfield. Ying scored twice and added nine assists last season and will be important in replacing the offensive production of 2023 Howard County goal scoring leader Dylan Martinez.

Coach’s outlook: “We have nine starters back from last year, so almost everyone on the field has varsity experience. I’m hoping we can compete in every game, improve on our team defending, and have more balance offensively.”

Wilde Lake

Coach: Jonathan Robbins, second season

Last season: 3-8-2

Top returners: Seniors Drew Hollida (D/M), Evan Figueroa (M) and Aryeh Murphy (D/M); junior Bricen Manderson (F).

Newcomer to watch: Junior Jayden Rivera (ST)

On the pitch: Hollida, Figueroa and Murphy are each four-year starters that give the Wildecats a wealth of experience. Hollida and Figueroa were both second team All-County last year and tied for the team led in points. Manderson was tied for the team lead in goals while Rivera will play an increased role after being up from junior varsity late last season.

Coach’s outlook: “I believe we have a hungry team with a lot of potential.”

Several teams will be in contention for the Howard County title including Atholton, Glenelg, Oakland Mills and Reservoir. Guilford Park also enters the fold as the county’s 13th varsity program after spending last year as just a junior varsity program.

While last year’s Offensive Player of the Year Coleman Hallums (Mt. Hebron) graduated, several first team All-County skill players are returning. Defensive Player of the Year Moses Bailey is back at Reservoir after a brief period at St. Frances. The Richmond University commit headlines several talented defenders back in Howard County for the 2024 season.

The county’s 13 teams are split between multiple regions. Howard, Long Reach and Reservoir are in Class 4A/3A East. Meanwhile, Atholton, Guilford Park, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron, Oakland Mills and River Hill are in 3A East. Centennial, Glenelg, Hammond and Wilde Lake are the county’s representatives in 2A West.

The postseason begins Nov. 7-9 with the state championships from Dec. 5-7 at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.

Howard County is also implementing two six team-divisions, where the two division winners will face off to determine a county champion. Guilford Park will be part of the divisions once they are competing in all varsity sports next school year.

The Summit Division is Glenelg, Hammond, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron, Oakland Mills and Reservoir. The Sierra Division is Atholton, Centennial, Howard, Long Reach, River Hill and Wilde Lake. The football county champion will be determined by overall winning percentage.

Here is a look at the teams. (Note: Not all teams responded to requests for information.)

Atholton

Coach: Eric Woodson, fifth season

Last season: 7-4

Top returners: Seniors Owen Berngartt (C), Elijah Braxton (WR/S), Delbert Cowsette (WR/S), Gurtej Mann (K/P), Brody Pope (HB/TE/LB), Lawson Mungo (RB) and Ian Pope (TE/DE); junior Tyler Bell (QB).

Newcomers to watch: Seniors Bryce Inabinet (WR/DE) and Ja’Varr Stewart (RB/S).

On the field: Bell enters his second season as the Raiders quarterback after throwing for 1,453 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore, also adding 307 yards on the ground and four rushing touchdowns. Mungo leads the backfield as a physical downhill runner with 598 yards and six touchdowns last season, while Stewart will also be a factor after transferring from St. Frances Academy. Braxton, Cowsette and Inabinet give the Raiders dynamic speed at wide receiver, while Berngartt anchors the offensive line as a three-year starter. Ian and Brody Pope will be pivotal defensive players as Ian was a force off the edge last year. He finished with 65 tackles, five sacks, and 27 quarterback hurries as a junior.

Coach’s outlook: “I believe we are primed to regain the county championship this year as we also set our sights on getting past the quarterfinals as we stumbled in this contest in 2021 and 2022.”

2023 MPSSAA 3A football playoffs, Oakland Mills at Atholton

Glenelg

Coach: Will Bell, second season

Last season: 7-4

Top returners: Seniors Nick Bilotto (QB), James Wescott (FB/LB), Ty Jenkins (WR/DB), Zach Coughlin (RB), Jack Magnolia (OL/DL), Joey McCann (OL/DL), Shane DuBois (DB), Ethan Sands (RB/LB), Collin Szczepanski (LB) and Andrew Lentscher (RB/LB).

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Matthew Keane (TE/DE), Adam Cole (WR/DB), Wesley Horsman (WR/DB) and Russell McIntyre (RB/LB).

On the field: Bilotto takes over as the Gladiators signal caller. Coughlin brings stability in the backfield in his second season starting, while Magnolia and McCann will be anchors on both lines. Glenelg has great depth and versatility at linebacker with Wescott, Sands, Szczepanski and Lentscher. DuBois is the veteran of the defensive back group, while Cole and Horsman are going to play increased roles.

Coach’s outlook: “We have a younger group this year filling in around a few returning starters. Our team is motivated for a strong season. Staying healthy will be a key to our success.”

Guilford Park

Coach: Thomas Montag, second season

Last season: 8-1 (JV only)

Top returners: Juniors Lance Johnson (LB), Khadea McDonald (RB/DB), Tre’Von Johnson (DL) and Keenan Hall (OL); sophomores Andrew Adams (WR/DB), A’Yar Reed-Wright (QB) and DaMarcus Howard-Brown (WR/DB).

Newcomers to watch: Freshmen AJ Hicks (WR/DB) and Anthony Holliday (OL/DL).

On the field: The Panthers are in their first season as a varsity team and looking to build on their momentum from junior varsity last season. The offense is led by sophomore signal caller Reed-Wright, while McDonald leads the way in the backfield. Guilford Park has a lot of two-way versatility at wide receiver and cornerback with Adams, Howard-Brown and Hicks. Up front, Johnson, Holliday and Hall are going to be important players, while Johnson should be a factor for the defense at linebacker.

Coach’s outlook: “Entering our first season as a varsity program is going to definitely have its struggles as we move forward with no seniors. Our guys have worked hard this offseason to ensure we close the JV to varsity gap and are ready to compete. I believe we will be competitive each week this season as we continue to grow as a program.”

Hammond

Coach: Jonathan Bannister, second season

Last season: 0-10

Top returners: Senior Anthony Charity Quinn (WR); juniors Jaden Asah-Timothy (RB) and Xavier Nichols (RB).

Newcomers to watch: Seniors Amir Sensie (WR/DB) and Tavion Griffin (RB/LB); juniors Timmy Costa (WR/DB), Kyon Hairston and Jayden Monroe (RB/LB); sophomore Lazaro Ribalta.

On the field: The Golden Bears return three key pieces of last year’s offense. Asah-Timothy ran for 922 yards on 93 carries, while Nichols will be another playmaker in the backfield. Charity Quinn showcased his dynamic speed last year, averaging 20.8 yards per reception. Hammond brings in several other newcomers at the skill positions and quarterback who are expected to make an impact.

Howard

Coach: Ross Hannon, eighth season

Last season: 6-4

Top returners: Seniors Cam Demma (HB/LB), Dylan Kimmel (QB), Gus Rocha (OL) and Kenny Stevens (DL); junior Darius Moore (RB).

Newcomers to watch: Seniors Shawn Myers (WR/DB) and Alex Reeb (WR/DB); sophomores Donte Jones (WR/DB) and Jayson Allen (RB/LB).

On the field: Demma will be the anchor in the middle of the Lions defense at linebacker. He finished with 91 tackles last year, including 16 for loss. Moore brings added depth to the linebacking corps and headlines the running back group. First team All-County as a junior, Moore was dynamic and finished with 1,182 total yards and nine touchdowns. Kimmel is entering his second season as the starting quarterback after throwing for 748 yards and seven touchdowns last season, adding 207 yards on the ground. Rocha brings experience up front on the offensive line, while Stevens will be a key player on the defensive line after 41 tackles last year, including 10 for loss.

Coach’s outlook: “We have a talented, hard-working group of players. We have big shoes to fill replacing eight starters on offense and eight starters on defense, however we’ve had a great summer and love the chemistry of this young group.”

Long Reach

Coach: Jamie Willis, 12th season

Last season: 6-4

Top returners: Seniors Donovan Bailey (DL), Josue Jimenez (LB), Chase Hopkins (RB), Robert Hicks (QB) and Dylan Clark (OL); juniors Brett McKinnon (LB), RJ Samuels (TE) and Reece Thimote (RB/WR/S).

Newcomers to watch: Junior Thomas Lowe (OL); sophomores Justin Jones (OL), Bryce Atkins (OL), Kenny Dobbs (QB) and Arnaz Megginson (CB/WR); freshmen Kameron Jennifer (WR), Chris Smith (WR) and Jordan Etheridge (CB)

On the field: Bailey and Jimenez will be key players defensively for the Lightning. Bailey finished with four sacks and 11 tackles for loss as a junior, while Jimenez had 62 tackles. McKinnon brings added experience to the linebackers with 47 tackles last year. Hicks is entering his second season as the signal caller after throwing for 1,094 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. He’ll have a plethora of returning targets including Samuels, Hopkins and Thimote. Long Reach welcomes in several new young skill players and offensive linemen who will bring another dimension to their offense.

Coach’s outlook: “My thoughts on our team this year are that we are very young and have a lot of positions we need to figure out. But we should have good senior leadership and like always we will take one game at a time and try to get better each week.”

Marriotts Ridge

Coach: James Holzman, third season

Last season: 4-6

Top returners: Seniors Richard Mills (QB), Ashton Clark (RB), Bredon Payne (LT), Peyton Eby (RG), Lucas Tran (S), Luke Holland (ILB) and Arha Depshande (WR).

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Markus Hollis (DE) and CJ Nyorkor (OLB).

On the field: The Mustangs return a wealth of experience on both sides of the ball. Mills will look to take the next step as a signal caller after completing 50.7% of his passes last year and throwing for seven touchdowns. Clark averaged 7.7 yards per carry last year and scored six touchdowns. Tran and Holland headline the veterans on defense that will look to anchor that unit.

Coach’s outlook: “I really like our group of young men. They have been a tremendous amount of time and dedication into the off-season and have had an excellent start to camp. It will be important for us to stay healthy and start the season on a positive note. It is a very senior-led team.”

Howard Co 2023 championship football, Reservoir at Mt Hebron

Mt. Hebron

Coach: Shawn Frederick, sixth season

Last season: 8-3, 3A state quarterfinalist

Top returners: Senior Ben Blackerby (RB/DE); junior Adam Thompson (FS).

Newcomers to watch: Senior Damon Robinson (RB/DB); junior Owen Duda (TE/MLB).

On the field: The Vikings graduated several top performers from last year’s team including Hallums and Aidan Hauf, their lethal running back tandem. With their departure, Blackerby and Robinson are expected to shoulder the rushing load offensively. Thompson and Duda give Mt. Hebron experience in the secondary and linebacking corps.

Coach’s outlook: “I believe we are a young team that will be competitive in the county.”‘

Wilde Lake vs Oakland Mills football

Oakland Mills

Coach: Thomas Browne, 14th season

Last season: 5-7, 3A state quarterfinalist

Top returners: Seniors Isaac Ramsey (QB/DB), Kaiden Lee (RB/LB), Ayo Adeniyi (DL) and Olise Ndekwu (OL/DL); junior Taamir Oliver (RB/DB).

Newcomer to watch: Sophomore Kaleb Wells (WR/DB).

On the field: The Scorpions won five straight games to end last year’s regular season and will lean on their returners to sustain that momentum. Ramsey is an experienced signal caller and was a first team All-County defensive back in 2023 with a team-leading 63 tackles. Lee is a veteran four-year starter, also named a first team All-County linebacker last year with 50 tackles. Oliver was a first team All-County defensive back last year, disruptive in coverage with 15 pass breakups. Up front, Adeniyi and Ndekwu will be key players with Adeniyi in his second year playing football.

Coach’s outlook: “It’s nice to have a bunch of guys that return for us. If we stay healthy, I think we could be pretty good.”

Reservoir

Coach: Matt Banta, second season

Last season: 8-3, Howard County champion

Top returners: Seniors Timi Osibodu (OL/DL), Sammy Patraut (OL/DL), Moses Bailey (TE/DL), Brandon Mulira (WR/DB), Brandon Hester (DB) and Erix Abreu (RB/LB).

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Cruz Tsabang (RB/LB) and Rolando Carballo (RB/S); sophomore Lorenzo Foster-Franklin.

On the field: Bailey, the 2023 Howard County Times DPOY will anchor the Gators’ front seven. Osibodu and Patraut bring added experience to that front and will also be integral pieces of the offensive line. Mulira and Hester will lead the backend of the Gators defense. Offensively, the Gators will look to replace first-team All-County performers Jordan Tate and Adrian Alvarado. The running back quartet of Abreu, Tsabang, Carballo and Foster-Franklin will shoulder the load in doing that.

Coach’s outlook: “We return some talented defensive linemen and skill players. We will be young, but brought up many kids from an 8-1 JV team that should provide quality depth.”

River Hill vs Long Reach football

River Hill

Coach: Brian Van Deusen, 25th season

Last season: 5-5

Top returners: Seniors Shane Schrecengost (QB/LB), Yusuf Shabazz (RB/DB) and Josh Newman (RB/LB); junior Jonathan Norwood (TE/LB); sophomore Andres Contreras (RB/LB).

Newcomers to watch: Senior Lewis Robertson III (TE/LB); sophomores Landen Araojo (RB/DB), Logan Shatzer (RB/DB), Tony Galanakos (OL/DL) and Nicolas Robertson (SE/DB).

On the field: The Hawks offense will look different this season after the graduation of quarterback Omar Hassan. However, Schrecengost brings experience to the position after starting last year when Hassan missed time due to injury. He rushed for 340 yards last year and will be the anchor of the Hawks’ defense with 72 tackles last season. Contreras headlines a versatile rushing attack with 539 yards and four touchdowns last season with Shabazz, Araojo and Shatzer all involved in the running back group. Newman and Norwood bring further experience to the linebacking corp while Robertson III is another senior expected to be a key piece of the defense.

Coach’s outlook: “We have a good mix of returners and new sophomores that we think can contribute. Schrecengost started several games at QB last year and will be one of our key defensive players.”

Wilde Lake

Coach: Brian Henderson, sixth season

Last season: 6-6, 2A state quarterfinalist

Top Returners: Seniors Kwadwo Boampong (RB/LB), Da’Shawn Powell (RB/WR/DB), Aamir Stewart (RB/LB), Xavier Exantus (OL/DL) and Afton Davis (QB/SS/P); sophomores Jaydin Gore (WR/DB) and Andrew Coleman (OL/DL)

Newcomers to watch: Senior Makensy Miles (OL/DL); juniors Ethan Willard (WR/SS) and Thaddaeus Landers (K).

On the field: The Wildecats defense lost Howard County sack leader Chris Martin, but bring back several key defenders. Boampong is the heartbeat of the defense at linebacker, first team All-County last year with a county-leading 137 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Stewart, Exantus and Coleman will be other key factors in the front seven. There is great versatility at the skill positions with Powell, Gore and Stewart with Davis stepping into a new role as Wilde Lake’s signal caller this season.

Coach’s outlook: “We have a really great group of young men, though we will be very inexperienced we are excited to get better each week and see how far this group will take the lake.”

In the latest edition of Varsity Q&A, Lauer discussed with the Howard County Times his excitement for the role and what he’s learned throughout his career.

Editor’s note: Some questions and answers have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.

What excited about you about this position?

I’m excited to work with a new community. To be able to get over to Ellicott City and be part of a school with the most tradition and the oldest high school in the county is pretty awesome. It was really exciting to get moved over and be named athletics and activities manager.

What are the biggest lessons you took from your previous AAM positions at River Hill and Wilde Lake?

Being able to be in both of those schools provided different perspectives. There were challenges at each of the schools and triumphs that we could really build off of and learn from. I just try and have a growth mindset when I approach the position each year. Just try to improve what I’m doing on the daily, what we’re doing as a program and be as efficient as we can. Just provide opportunities for the students to be successful. That, at the end of the day is what my goal is and to make it a memorable experience for them and their families the four years that they’re in high school. That’s my MO and what I’m all about.

How excited are you to interact with new coaches and student-athletes?

It’s really cool to meet these new coaches that I’ve watched as an AAM from another school. I’d watch them when they’d coach against our school and just to get to know them and the commonalities. Coaching is a small world. Making those connections and connecting the dots of our pasts and our prior experiences and realizing that, “You know this person and I know that person.” That’s cool to connect those dots. It’s really great to be at another spot that has a really passionate community. The Lions Pride, the boosters here, they do a great job supporting the school and the athletics and activities. It’s just another testament of how great the schools that we have in our county. How much support that they provide for the school, it’s just awesome to be a part of.

What are the pillars that you focus on as an AAM?

Ultimately, I approach the job with an open mind, trying to understand what potential barriers may be in place, how we can provide opportunities for students. For example, at Wilde Lake we had some programs that didn’t have JV programs. So, it was important to try to provide some access for those students to those programs and figuring out creative ways to do that. Just leaning on those kinds of experiences and having conversations with coaches. I think it’s truly important to try to help take the things off their plate that I can, so they can focus on the student-athlete and making sure that they’re maximizing their potential and being as successful as possible. So, if I’m able to have those conversations with the coaches and students and try to make sure that I’m doing all I can, that way they can just focus on coaching. That hopefully lightens their load and they can really ultimately help the student-athlete.

For me, that goes back to just being disciplined, committed to the school community. Working as hard as I can for the student-athletes, for the parents, staff and the whole school community. I enjoy my job, so it’s exciting and fun to be able to go to work and be excited about your day-to-day and just bringing that energy, passion and excitement. I think that allows for it not be as tough because it can be tough. There’s a lot of challenges, but if you approach it with a positive outlook, that’s another key characteristic, just looking for the opportunity to succeed and seeking solutions rather than just saying, “Oh well.”

How have you seen athletics in Howard County change over your time as an AAM?

We’re fortunate that Howard County itself values extracurricular activities. The parents want to see their children involved. The schools provide those opportunities. It’s really just unbelievable. It’s not one school or one part of the county where that is the case, that’s a consistent mindset and theme from school to school. Today’s athlete — you can go back five, 10 or 15 years and hear what the changes and differences are — I genuinely believe that our student-athletes now need us more than ever. They’ve persevered through the pandemic and reacclimated to school. Most of the students in high school were at the end of their elementary, early middle school days. They’ve come through that and now they’re here on the other side.

Youth sports and participation is up. Where we are in high school sports, we’re still trying to build that back. I think we see that in our JV numbers aren’t as solid as they have been pre-pandemic. My colleagues and I are really working hard trying to just provide opportunities for kids, having those conversations and building those relationships within our school community and trying to get participation numbers back up. With technology, cell phones and screen time, that’s a real fight. Having opportunities where kids can be involved, that’s something coaches and sports, athletics and extracurricular activities can offer for the high school or middle school kid these days.

He continued to talk trash, and on the ensuing series intercepted a pass and returned it for a pick-six. Teammates mobbed him in the end zone. That confidence helped Banks become a first-round NFL draft pick by the New York Giants.

“As a defensive back, you’ve got to have a short-term memory,” Banks said. “You might get beat here and there, but it’s all about the next play. How are you going to come back from it? So, just go keep making plays.”

It also left a lasting impression on Trader and helped shape the swagger he plays with today. That moment exemplifies the culture of the Maryland defensive backs, a unit fueled by confidence and a healthy competitive fire.

Those qualities have translated well to the next level. The Terps have had six defensive backs selected in the past six NFL drafts, tied with Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota for the second most in that span among returning Big Ten teams.

Safeties Darnell Savage Jr. and Antoine Brooks were the first, with Savage Jr. a 2019 first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers and Brooks a sixth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers the following year. The remaining four (Nick Cross, Banks, Jakorian Bennett and Tarheeb Still) spent multiple seasons together in College Park and were all drafted in the past three years.

Cross was a 2022 third-round pick (No. 96 overall) of the Indianapolis Colts. Banks went No. 24 overall in 2023, while Bennett was selected in the fourth round (No. 104) that year by the Las Vegas Raiders. Still was picked in the fifth round (No. 137) in April by the Los Angeles Chargers.

Several other former Terps have signed as undrafted free agents in that time, including cornerback Tino Ellis in 2020, safety Jordan Mosley in 2022, and Beau Brade (Ravens) and cornerback Ja’Quan Sheppard (Raiders) in 2024.

“It’s not by chance or happenstance that we’ve had the success of that room and how the NFL has valued or viewed the guys that have come through that room,” Maryland coach Mike Locksley said. “What’s developed that culture in there? I think it’s the tradition of the room. When you’ve got big shoes to fill, a first-round draft pick like Deonte Banks. It puts a little bit of added pressure on you.”

Building that foundation starts with recruiting. Locksley and his defensive staff have a system, looking for specific traits when evaluating secondary players. That process is rooted in the uniqueness of the position, where one misstep or wrong action can lead to a touchdown.

One of those key qualities is confidence. The Terps coaches value defensive backs who play with a swagger and believe in their playmaking ability. But with the position’s volatility, defensive coordinator Brian Williams looks to measure a prospect’s resilience early in the recruiting process.

“If you’re going to ask kids to come to your campus and play man coverage against the likes of [former Ohio State star] Marvin Harrison Jr. and players of that stature, they’ve got to have a short memory,” Williams said. “You watch them in high school play against really good competition, and you want to see how they respond in those moments where they need to be resilient, where they need to bounce back.”

‘Everything’s got to be competitive’

Identifying those traits is only one step in establishing that culture. The next step begins when players arrive in College Park. Several defensive backs and safeties coaches, including Cory Robinson, Jon Hoke, Henry Baker and Zac Spavital, have aided that development process.

After the departure of Savage and Brooks, the next wave of future draftees arrived. Cross and Banks came to Maryland in 2019 and earned substantial playing time as freshmen. Bennett, Brade, Still and Glendon Miller arrived in 2020, adding talent and more fuel to the group’s competitive fire.

During the pandemic-shortened season, Still started four games as a freshman, while Bennett appeared in four of five games after transferring from Hutchinson Community College. The group’s confidence and collective work ethic proved contagious for the younger players.

“That competitiveness was in the room when I first got here,” Trader said. “I’m like, ‘Yo, these guys are crazy.’ They’re getting beat or this is happening and they’re coming back saying, ‘You ain’t better than me, you ain’t like that, you ain’t cut like that.’ That’s always been the Maryland defensive back room, and that’s what I’m trying to tell these young guys.”

The defensive backs thrived on healthy competition. They battled in any way they could, from who could run the fastest, jump the highest, or lift the heaviest weight. Hands on hips during workouts was a big no-no.

“It could be as simple as a ball drill out of your break, whose break was faster,” Miller said. “Everything’s got to be competitive, but fun, competitive though. It gets the best out of you.”

However, the players always came together after practice and helped one another learn from their mistakes. They trusted each other, and their group-wide moxie proved beneficial on game days, particularly on the road.

The secondary showed that fire on a big stage, hosting undefeated No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 19, 2022. Heisman Trophy finalist and future Houston Texans star C.J. Stroud led the Buckeyes’ high-octane offense with several explosive playmakers, including Harrison, the 2024 No. 4 overall pick, and potential 2025 first-round selection Emeka Egbuka. The defensive backs met the night before the game and talked about the importance of locking in and playing like they have nothing to lose.

While the Terps lost 43-30 that afternoon, the secondary’s performance and fourth-quarter fight showcased their collective talent and pro potential on a national stage.

“Our mentality was, ‘We don’t care who you are. You’ve got to prove to us that you’re the best. If people think you’re so good, you’ve got to show it to us,'” Brade said. “Approaching every game and every play like that. As we got to close games like Ohio State at home and those other higher ranked teams, that’s when we really had a better game against them, because we were confident in our own game.”

‘You want them to be just as great, if not greater, than you are’

Banks and Bennett took the torch in 2023, with Still following suit in 2024, inspiring other Terps to realize their NFL dreams.

“It really meant everything to me just to continue on the legacy,” Still said. “You always have dreams about doing something. But then, when you see somebody close to you accomplish it, it becomes that much more real. When Nick did it, it brought me closer to the dream. Then the next year, when Deonte and Jakorian did it, I said, ‘OK, I can do this thing. It’s really going to happen.'”

Since reaching the NFL, those former Terps have become a valuable sounding board for the defensive backs still at Maryland hoping to take that next step. Still spoke with Cross, Banks and Bennett to glean more insight throughout his draft process. Now, the Chargers rookie is looking forward to returning the favor.

Many of those former Terps have returned to College Park to share their wisdom. They’ve stressed the importance of taking care of your body and the value of playing with a pro mentality.

“Those guys were competitive and competed at everything they did from Day 1 until the time they left,” Williams said. “It gives us a chance to have a model to show the guys that we have here now that if they put their head down and go to work the way those guys did, then the opportunities are there for them.”

Like the veterans before them, Miller and Trader are passing down the lessons that were once taught to them. Trader still seeks advice from former teammates like Brade and Cross. He sends them film clips, and they offer perspective on the intricacies of playing safety at the highest level.

“At the end of the day, what good is the knowledge you have, if you’re not able to share it and help the other people around you?” Cross said. “I’ve gained knowledge through other people or trial and error. I would be remiss if I didn’t share it with the guys coming up.

“You’ve got to pass down the knowledge, you want them to be just as great, if not greater than you are.”

River Hill lost a pair of multiple-time state champions in Benjamin Siriboury and Helen Yeung. Meanwhile, Glenelg’s Megan Kirkpatrick, last year’s Class 2A/1A runner-up, also graduated. Those departures leave the door open for newcomers to step up and continue to showcase Howard County as one of the top golf counties in Maryland.

Despite its losses, River Hill will look to capture a third consecutive 4A/3A state title. The Hawks bring back several key returners on the boys and girls sides including Mark Berg, Keagan Graves, Michelle Yeung and Evelyn Park. Marriotts Ridge figures to be a formidable contender, returning several key players from last year’s team. George Williamson, Aidan Kim, Jonathan Moon, Lila Becker and Morgan Swidersky headline the key Mustangs back.

For the postseason, Howard County’s 13 teams are split between 4A/3A and 2A/1A. Atholton, Howard, Long Reach, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron, Oakland Mills and Reservoir are in 4A/3A, while Centennial, Glenelg, Guilford Park, Hammond and Wilde Lake are in 2A/1A. For the district tournament, each of the schools are in District 5 of their respective classification.

In the district and state tournaments, qualifying teams will field teams of five golfers with the four lowest scorers making up the team total. Those teams who don’t qualify for districts can qualify individual players.

The district tournament is scheduled for Oct. 14, while the state championship will be from Oct. 28-30 at the University of Maryland.

Editor’s note: Not all teams responded to requests for information.

Atholton

Coach: Scott Rager, second season

Last season: Boys 4-3; Girls 6-1

Top returners: Senior Cate Lee and junior Dylan Giuliano.

Newcomers to watch: Junior Mikey Baptiste and sophomore Faith Grandier.

Coach’s outlook: “I want to see the golfers on the team improve and enjoy the game of golf. The girls team has five golfers this year. All can put up some points. With Cate leading the team, they should do very well in the county. As for the boys team, they are a young and inexperienced group. I think this year will be a good learning experience.”

Centennial

Coach: Rob Slopek, first season

Last season: Boys 3-4; Girls 5-2

Top returners: Senior Krish Ghosh; juniors Ryan Kane and Jathan Chavez.

Newcomers to watch: Junior Ethan Burgoon; freshmen Makayla Robinson and Ben Joo.

Coach’s outlook: “We only have one senior, so we are focusing on the process of getting better each match and learning how to compete. I’m hopefully that we will be competitive at the district tournament.”

Glenelg

Coach: Chris Beil, 17th season

Last season: Boys 3-4; Girls 6-1, county runner-up, fifth at 2A/1A state tournament

Top returners: Senior Clark Sharbaugh; juniors Tyler Carl, Kort Heusser, Jonah Taylor and Samadhi Tennakoon.

Newcomers to watch: Juniors Philip Key, Drew Hanna and Jack Hanna.

Coach’s Outlook: “I think this year the boys team has a chance to be competitive this year. All of my returners have improved and I am excited to see them play this year. For the girls team, looking at Samadhi [seventh at Districts] leading the way and I am anxious to see who will step up from last year. I lost several seniors last year, so we will see how the team responds.”

Guilford Park

Coach: Brent Kennedy, second season

Last season: Boys 1-6; Girls 0-7

Top returners: Junior Peyton Monson; sophomores Eamon Bloechl, Joey Dadurka, Alex Harkness and Gabrielle Walker.

Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Ethan Brancazio; freshmen Ronin Holmes and Makayla An.

Coach’s outlook: “We had 15 players tryout for the team this year, resulting in the program making cuts for the first time. Those eight that made the roster give our program a great chance to make big strides forward this fall. Our returners have put in a good amount of work on their games during the offseason, while we have a trio of newcomers that are going to be immediate contributors. In just the few practices we’ve had so far I can tell that this group is ready to push one another and I’m excited to see them grow. While we’re incredibly young, still featuring no seniors and just one junior on the roster, I expect both teams to improve on their records from a season ago.”

Hammond

Coach: Scott Osborne, 13th season

Last season: Boys 2-4; Girls 1-5

Top returner: Senior Mason Walls

Newcomer to watch: N/A

Coach’s outlook: “Look for a leap to five wins for the boys, at least two wins for the girls.”

Howard

Coach: Joshua McGoun, 12th season

Last season: Boys 4-2; Girls 2-4

Top returners: Seniors Ronan Menon and Krish Patel; juniors Andie Chung and Addison Courtemanche.

Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Justin Vannucci; freshmen Luke Farah, Madison Day and Noelle Lee.

Coach’s outlook: “We got a lot younger this year with many freshmen and sophomores. We are very excited to see our new players perform and grow. We are also excited to see our girls program excel with nine great golfers who can all contribute to a great team score.”

Long Reach

Coach: Anthony Valenza, first year

Last season: Boys 4-2; Girls 1-3-2

Top returners: Juniors Elliott Austraw, Amir Patel and Ethan Rothman.

Newcomer to watch: Senior Thomas Brennan.

Coach’s outlook: “I believe we have a strong team this year, consisting of dedicated individuals both on and off the course. Our athletes are committed to investing the necessary time and effort to compete, and as the head coach, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

MPSSAA Golf State Championship

Marriotts Ridge

Coach: Mark Dubbs, 19th season

Last season: Boys and Girls 5-1; Team Runner-up in 4A/3A

Top returners: Seniors George Williamson, Jonathan Moon, Lucas Chavez, Lila Becker and Morgan Swidersky; juniors Aidan Kim and Swara Kakaraparthy.

Newcomers to watch: N/A

Coach’s outlook: “We are carrying a large team with eight boys and eight girls. Since we have all of our players who finished second in the state returning, we should be very much in the hunt.”

Mt. Hebron

Coach: Donald Walters, 16th season

Last season: Boys 5-1; Girls 1-5

Top returners: Seniors Jacob Larrabee and Quinn Carberry; junior Grady Kent

Newcomers to watch: Senior Phoebe Hogle; junior Brody Day; sophomore Jacob Stevens

Coach’s outlook: “Our top two golfers from last season graduated in the spring, so I’m looking forward to seeing how Grady and Jacob Larrabee shoulder the team. Also looking for senior Nathan Kim and junior Conner Lee to break out this season. We have a tougher schedule this year, especially with the courses we are playing, so I’m looking forward to seeing if the boys can step up and meet the challenge. I have only two girls so far and both have a lot of potential.”

MPSSAA Golf State Championship

River Hill

Coach: Matt Graves, 20th season

Last season: Boys and Girls 6-0, Howard County champions, district and 4A/3A state champions

Top returners: Seniors Mark Berg, Keagan Graves and Sydney Lynott; junior Justin Choi; sophomores Michelle Yeung and Evelyn Park.

Newcomer to watch: Freshman Justin Zhao

Coach’s Outlook: “We should be a very competitive team in the state of Maryland. I have five returning boys and four returning girls. Expectations will continue to stay the same and I’m looking forward to watching the kids perform.”

Wilde Lake

Coach: Kourtney Harrison, sixth season

Last season: Boys 2-5; Girls 3-4

Top returner: Senior Jane Mhonda

Newcomer to watch: Senior Sam Helicke

Coach’s outlook: “We are a small but mighty group this year. This is great groups of athletes that are in good spirits and hard working. Our record may not indicate some of the individual players’ successes due to our lack of numbers, but these kids are already putting in the work. In our opening match all three of our players competing shot their personal best.”

Note: Some questions and answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.

What made this opportunity the right fit for you?

There’s a lot of great qualities about St. Mary’s Ryken as a school. Timeline wise for me, I think it’s the right time to get into coaching. The opportunity was also good timing. They’ve got a good history of wrestling. They’ve got a lot of background. They’ve given me a lot of opportunities and freedom to run the team and coach it the way I want to coach. They’ve given me lots of resources and materials. They really want to see wrestling do well. The school, the principal, the president and the athletic director are all very on board with competing and doing well within the conference and getting people to do well in the independent state tournament and national preps as well.

What is your vision for the program?

Right away, I want to compete for a conference title. I’ve got the backing of the administration. Then as the years go on, we can recruit good kids, stapling Ryken as a top team in Maryland within our conference, that we can compete with anybody and go to these big tournaments and have placers and making St. Mary’s Ryken known as a wrestling school.

Your father, Cliff, is a legendary wrestling coach in Howard County. What are some of the coaching lessons that you’ve learned from your dad?

My dad was very excited. He’s been a staple in my life as a coach, as a father, as a role model, that I want to be a good representation of. Stuff he’s taught me along the way about competing, about how winning is very important, but also, we’re helping shape the lives of these young men. Obviously, we want them to win, but we want them to do things right. We’re not going to cut corners. We want to do stuff that creates a good lifestyle for these kids and create an environment where they can succeed, not only in wrestling, but every other aspect of their life. And also use wrestling as a conduit to succeed once they’re done wrestling or graduating from the school. They can still use all the lessons they learned to be successful in life.

How excited are you to form your own coaching philosophy?

I learned a lot from my dad. I had a lot of good college coaches that I got to know and different styles of wrestling. What I want to do is take my favorite parts and the best bits of each coaching style that I was part of and try to fuse those all into one to give the best possible chance for success and lifestyle for the kids on my team. One thing that was very important to me that I think helped my teams succeed when I was wrestling, was being able to trust everyone. Not just the coaching staff, but my teammates and making the environment feel like a family. We’re not just in it for us. I know it’s an individual and team sport, but every single one of us is backing up the next one. You can trust every guy at the weight above and below you to do their job and ideally in this successful environment do very well just because everyone’s got that trust.

Have you had a chance to meet with any of the returning wrestlers?

I’ve reached out to the team, so I’ve gotten in touch with a couple of kids from the past years and some kids that are coming into their freshman year. I’ll also be working at the school, so I’ll be on campus every day, interacting with kids on the team and not on the team. I’m really excited to get to know them personally. I’m sure I’ll see them all around campus before the season. I’ll have some preseason meetings, some interest meetings, some preseason workouts for the guys that aren’t competing in other sports. I’m getting excited to build those relationships and allow them to know what kind of coach they’ve got before the first day of practice.

What excites you most about this opportunity?

I’m most excited about getting to work with young kids of the Maryland community. I grew up wrestling in Maryland. I think we’ve progressed as a state in wrestling the past couple of years. We had three people from Maryland in the Olympics for the U.S. just a couple of weeks ago, So, just continuing to build on the foundation of young kids discipline wrestling and having that continue to grow. I can be a part of that and use all of the things that I’ve learned in my career to be able to implement that, and just keep helping these kids grow and get better and continue to represent Maryland as they get better.”

Former River Hill and Maryland standout safety Beau Brade is vying to become the latest to join that group. As training camp nears its end and final cuts loom next Tuesday, Brade is fighting for his spot on the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster.

One of five safeties on the 90-man roster, he grew up a Ravens fan, adopting many of his hard-hitting tendencies from Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis.

Brade is looking to become the third River Hill graduate to play in the NFL, following in the footsteps of wide receiver Michael Campanaro and cornerback Kevin Johnson. Campanaro, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft, appeared in 24 games for the Ravens from 2014 to 2017, while Johnson was a first-round draft pick in 2015 and played in 64 games for the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns from 2015 to 2020.

Brade, who like Johnson was a Howard County Times Defensive Player of the Year as a high school senior, faces longer odds as an undrafted free agent.

Through two preseason games, former Terps star is third on the team with 11 total tackles (seven solo) and a forced fumble. He finished with a team-high eight tackles in Saturday’s 13-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

“It’s been better than I could’ve expected. Growing up, this is the team I wanted to play for,” Brade told The Baltimore Sun on Monday. “My time here, of course, it’s been a dream. But it wasn’t a dream to really get here, it’s a dream to stay here and get to Super Bowls. I’ve been doing all I can to make this team and become the best player that I can be. Not just for myself but for the team, whatever they need.”

Brade’s NFL journey didn’t start as he had hoped. After leading the Terps in tackles each of the past two seasons, the Clarksville native did not hear his name called in April’s draft and then missed much of the spring with an ankle injury that he suffered in the first practice. Yet, he persevered, leaning on support from family — his father, Ron, played college football at Virginia Tech — and the team.

Those challenges developed a chip on his shoulder. They also proved humbling and reinforced playing with a purpose, never knowing when it could be his last snap.

“He has dealt with a few injuries. Quiet until we got him in the rookie skit. Then he wasn’t quiet anymore; he was funny. That was fun to see his personality even more,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “He’s stepped up. He’s covered well, but he’s also made some hits. That’s what I’ve enjoyed seeing on both defense and special teams.”

While Brade has brought thunderous hits, he’s also showcased his personality. In the group rookie sketch, Brade and others reenacted and shared some jokes about cornerback Marlon Humphrey’s podcast, “The Punchline Pod.” One of the guys portrayed All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith with help from special guests veteran defensive lineman Brent Urban and outside linebackers coach Chuck Smith.

Brade’s humorous side is a stark contrast to his personality in practice and on game days. The rookie prides himself on practicing how he would play in a game. Yet, suiting up on game day for his favorite childhood team requires a delicate balance.

He described running out of the tunnel before the preseason opener at M&T Bank Stadium against the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 9 as a “great feeling that hadn’t really sunk in yet.” Brade recognizes the magnitude of the accomplishment and the people who helped him get there. However, he doesn’t bask in its significance and treats it as any other game.

That level-headed and hard-working mindset is ingrained in Brade’s DNA. He learned its value at a young age from his father and has built on it ever since. Brade vividly remembers watching coordinator Bud Foster’s hard-nosed Virginia Tech defenses as a kid and adopted that personality in his game.

“Beau Brade has been great. He’s a locked-in young guy,” Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr said Wednesday. “I love to see that as an undrafted free agent. We knew he was talented coming from Maryland, and all he’s done is come in and work. I know he had the injury in the spring, but ever since he’s been back, he’s continued to get better and better and better. I’m really excited about him.”

Brade blended that edge with a consistent thirst for knowledge to acclimate to the NFL. He is learning from his coaches and the veterans in the defensive back room, specifically defensive backs Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams and Humphrey.

“The other day, Marcus Williams helped me with some middle of the field stuff, just to make sure I’m ready when the game comes around,” Brade said. “It’s the little things that really matter. So, even if I think I did it right or it looked like it was almost right, I can ask them to give me a little bit more information and that will make the biggest difference in the world. Those guys are All-Pros and Pro Bowlers, big-time players. I love to learn from them. I’m humble and I’ll take advice from anybody.”

Still, Brade faces an uphill battle to make the roster. He’ll likely need to stand out on special teams to earn his spot considering the prowess of the Ravens’ defensive backfield, which includes training camp standout Ar’Darius Washington and veteran free agent addition Eddie Jackson. In Monday’s practice, Brade rotated in multiple roles on the punt team, including as the upback.

That versatility will be tested this week as the Ravens travel to Green Bay for a joint practice Thursday with the Packers before Saturday’s preseason finale at Lambeau Field. As training camp nears its end, Brade’s mindset remains the same: leave everything out on the field.

“I just hope to do everything in my control and my power to make the team,” Brade said. “Going out every rep, trying my hardest and playing all the way through the whistle and getting as close to the ball as I can every rep. If I do that, I can’t have any regrets whether I make the team or not and I’ll be happy with that.”

Preseason finale

Ravens at Packers

Saturday, 1 p.m.

TV: NBC

Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM

All three have made an impact coaching in and growing different sports in the Howard County community. The Hall of Fame “honors outstanding individuals for their commitment or notable contribution to sports in Howard County.” The induction ceremony will be held Oct. 15 at the Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center.

“The time, energy and dedication put forth by these three inductees is a testament to what makes Howard County’s athletic community and sports programming so great,” Howard County executive Calvin Ball said in a news release. “I would like to thank these inductees for their commitment to inspiring, improving and always encouraging our younger residents to get up, get out and get active.”

Thomas has worn many coaching hats throughout Howard County coaching soccer, lacrosse, wrestling, volleyball, cross country and indoor track and field. He started the boys soccer program at Atholton in 1978 and helped coach soccer with Howard County Rec and Parks.

Thomas also coached boys and girls club lacrosse for over 15 years with Hero’s and 20 years at the high school level. The longtime coach received the “Man of the Year” honor from his fellow Howard County lacrosse coaches twice throughout his tenure.

Outside of high school sports, Thomas also coaches a Special Olympics volleyball team in Howard County. Early in his teaching tenure, Thomas had an opportunity to work with special education students. He felt great satisfaction watching those Special Olympics athletes grow and develop their skills in the same ways as other student-athletes.

“It’s just been very rewarding,” Thomas said, “just watching the kids develop and grow in relationships. I’ve been retired for two years now from coaching, although I’m still involved with the parks and rec program and other programs associated with rec and parks lacrosse. It sort of keeps you young. It’s been a very rewarding experience watching kids develop, especially learning a new sport that many of them have not been exposed to.”

Brewington is the father of Oakland Mills track and field coach Chris Brewington. However, Will’s impact comes from coaching a different sport: rugby.

Will traveled throughout the United States and the world playing rugby. He’s spearheaded the growth of the sport in Howard County and started the Ellicott City Express youth rugby team in 1999 when his sons were 8 and 10. The program has expanded immensely in the 25 years since its inception and interest in the sport has spawned another team, the Howard County Hurricanes. Roughly 200 athletes between the two programs participated this past season.

In 2001, the Ellicott City Express became a registered program through Howard County Recreation and Parks. Under Brewington’s coaching, the program quickly developed into one of the top youth rugby teams in Maryland. It expanded with the help of two key administrators, Richard Popper and Shaun Western, an old teammate of Brewington’s on the Maryland Old Boys Rugby Club.

When the Express first started there were only two teams, U11 and U15. However, this year the program had 125 kids, and now fields U7, U9, U11, U13 and U16 teams. In 2014, Will left the Ellicott City Express to coach the Rocky Gorge Men’s Club. However, he returned in 2021 and is currently coaching the program’s youngest athletes on the U7 team, which this past year fielded 17 players, its largest number yet.

“It’s an honor. I look at it more in this instance as a way to promote the game,” Will said. “To raise the profile of rugby, you got to start somewhere. It’s been a big part of my life and it’s been very good to me. It’s just rewarding to introduce these kids and families to this great game. It’s a short season, only June-July.”

Will is excited about the club’s continued growth as more and more players are coming out each season through word of mouth. With the United States women’s sevens rugby team’s bronze medal performance in the 2024 Olympics and the Rugby Men’s and Women’s World Cup held in the U.S. in 2031 and 2033, Brewington is hopeful that more young athletes will be attracted to join the program.

“It’s great offseason training for any other sport,” he said. “It gives kids something to do during the summer. It’s continuing to grow and that’s the goal, to grow the sport.”

Moran-Wylie left her mark coaching soccer as part of the Soccer Association of Columbia. She vividly remembers when her 12-year-old son came home one day from SAC practice and said he didn’t know if he wanted to play anymore after several seasons. Moran-Wylie asked her son, “What can I do?” He promptly replied, “You can coach me.”

She was a physical education major in college and quickly took all of the necessary coaching certifications and coached her son until he reached high school. Without a child in SAC anymore, Moran-Wylie thought she would stop coaching. However, she missed it too much and has continued coaching for the last 26 years. Outside of coaching, Moran-Wylie served as an age-group coordinator for SAC since 2010 and as the vice president of the recreation program since 2015.

The veteran coach has formed long-standing relationships with past and current players and has fallen in love with the teaching aspect of coaching.

“I just love coaching. I love the kids,” Moran-Wylie said. “I love the interaction. They always kid you that your kids keep you young and I think there’s truth to that. They keep me active and engaged. It’s just very fulfilling to feel like you can relate to kids no matter what the age. It’s a great opportunity.”

However, Moran-Wylie also takes great pride in her unique perspective as a female that coaches boys soccer.

“I also think it’s important that boys have the opportunity to work under a female coach because it’s a different voice, attitude and everything,” she said. “It means the world to me. If you look back on your life when you’re old and say, ‘What did you do?’ I honestly feel like that’s the contribution that I can say. I made a difference and that means the world to me.”

Maryland football coach Mike Locksley knows the value of developing his line, but acknowledges it takes time. Four Terps offensive linemen were drafted in the past five years, and the program put a key emphasis on fortifying that unit in its latest recruiting class. Maryland brought in seven true freshmen offensive linemen and returned three redshirt freshmen, and Locksley is making a concerted effort to expedite their growth.

“When you see these guys, the length and size, when we come out of the tunnel, we look like a Big Ten team,” Locksley said. “It takes about three years for high school linemen to develop. That’s where the grown men play because it’s like being in a car accident every single play when you’re up front. I call it grown man strength. It takes about three years to develop the grown man strength.”

Some shifts in the offensive coaching staff allowed some new additions to come in to help facilitate that growth. Locksley hired a second full-time offensive line coach to work with Brian Braswell, who’s entering his fourth season coaching the unit. He will be joined by Damian Wroblewski, who brings 25 years of college coaching experience, most recently as James Madison’s offensive line coach.

The Terps will also benefit from an NCAA rule change that allows analysts to be on the field during practices and games. Maryland hired former Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz as a senior offensive assistant and another voice in the offensive line room.

“Now I’ve got two guys that can work with these eight to 10 guys that can expedite their growth,” Locksley said. “When you’ve got one coach for five guys, it’s hard to get the other guys going. And then you throw a third O-line guy in the mix and now those 10 freshmen, they’ll be developing. When they’re preparing the defense for their game, they’re not just looking at a card and running it. They’re actually being coached on how to step with the right step, how to put the hand where it needs to be.”

Maryland also bolstered the offensive line in the transfer portal. Redshirt junior Isaiah Wright, who started 24 games the past two years at Buffalo, will most likely miss the season because of a lower leg injury, according to a team spokesperson. However, three incoming transfers expected to contribute are redshirt senior center Josh Kaltenberger, who played 36 games at Purdue; redshirt sophomore guard Aliou Bah, who made three appearances last season for Georgia; and junior tackle Alan Heron, who started every game the past two seasons at Division II Shorter University.

“When you look at Josh Kaltenberger, he’s a guy that’s played four years in the Big Ten. He understands this league. He knows what it takes to compete in this league,” offensive coordinator Josh Gattis said. “Then you’ve got Alan Heron, who is a guy that’s a massive human being. Strong at the point of attack, he’s the guy you want coming first off the bus. … Aliou Bah, obviously, comes from a very respected program in the University of Georgia. So, those three guys have really made an impact on our offensive line because we’re really young and inexperienced at that position.”

Gov. Wes Moore puts on the pads during visit to Maryland football practice

Of the returners, redshirt senior Marcus Dumervil appeared in six games last season and 16 in three seasons before that at LSU. The unit also brings back redshirt junior Kyle Long, who started six games at right guard, and redshirt senior Conor Fagan, who started three games at right tackle and one at left guard.

Locksley is moving himself into the quarterback room to get a closer look at evaluating and deciding the team’s next signal caller. After four years of stability at quarterback with Big Ten all-time passing leader Taulia Tagovailoa, the Terps’ next starter is up in the air. Redshirt junior Billy Edwards and redshirt sophomore MJ Morris, an NC State transfer, bring the most experience to the competition.

Gattis, who has an established history of developing skill position players, is moving to the wide receiver room. Building chemistry both on and off the field is the No. 1 priority for the offense. While that cohesion can take time to develop, the group can lean on players who have experience in Locksley’s offensive system.

Redshirt junior running back Roman Hemby can be one of those sounding boards. The John Carroll graduate finished with more than 1,000 scrimmage yards each of the past two seasons and figures to be a focal point of the offense. The veteran running back is looking forward to helping the offensive line jell.

“Being a running back, I really take pride in just doing the right things,” Hemby said. “To get them settled in, I can do my part and be in the right place at the right time. Reading things correctly to make their job a little bit easier and just making plays. I feel like if they see me make somebody miss or things like that, it gives them more pride and they work a little bit harder.”

Hemby is not alone in that responsibility. The tight end room is effectively an extension of the offensive line and returns both redshirt sophomore Preston Howard and sophomore Dylan Wade. Both players have built a comfort level in the offense and can assist the offensive line in that acclimation process.

Howard and the other Terps returners consistently preach the importance of helping the newcomers establish a comfort level. That foundational support is one of the first steps in new players building chemistry, the key ingredient to a strong offensive line.

“Everybody gets better together,” Howard said. “We’re only as good as our weakest link. I think that’s something we’ve really taken to heart. We can’t be rude or mean to someone just because they’re younger than us or trying to take our spot. We know, what we signed up for. We know what we’re going into.”

Season opener

UConn at Maryland

Saturday, Aug. 31, noon

TV: FS1

Radio: 105.7 FM