Anne Arundel County football fared well in 2024.
Spalding finishing ranked No. 10 in the country by MaxPreps, unbeaten (12-0) and with its third consecutive Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title in hand. Arundel (12-1) brought home the county’s first public school state title since 2011 ending its own 49-year drought.
County champion Broadneck (10-2) voyaged over a treacherous path to the 4A state semifinals before falling to eventual champion Quince Orchard, while Old Mill battled to the 4A/3A state quarterfinals where it was defeated by eventual class champion North Point. Individually, multiple Anne Arundel players held or still hold leading spots among their stats in the state.
Here’s who made All-County:
Player of the Year: Malik Washington, Archbishop Spalding
Coach of the Year: Jack Walsh, Arundel
First team offense
Ahmir Lowery, Arundel, senior, quarterback
Lowery led Arundel to its first state title since 1975 behind 3,095 all-purpose yards. The 6-foot, 180-pound signal caller tossed 150-for-223 (67.27%) for 2,325 yards and 22 touchdowns, while rushing 81 carries for 770 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Ian Mauldin, Broadneck, senior, running back
Coach Rob Harris dubbed Mauldin “the greatest football player in Broadneck history” for his sheer athleticism. He rushed 158 times for 1,266 yards, 21 rushing touchdowns and no fumble, while catching 20 for 222 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned five kickoffs for 160 yards and two touchdowns.
TJ Mordecai, Arundel, senior, running back
Arundel’s state run would’ve been possible complete without its best rusher, who rushed 224 times for 1,578 yards and 25 touchdownsAgainst opponents with winning records, Mordecai topped 125 yards every time.
Tyler Womack, Annapolis, senior, running back
Womack, who earned a share of the Rhodes Trophy, led the state in rushing yards. He had 224 carries for 1,844 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Myles McAfee, Spalding, sophomore, wide receiver
Things are just beginning for McAfee, who garnered an offer from Ohio State among others this fall. The four-star wideout, per Rivals, caught 55 receptions for 657 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Jaden McDuffie, South River, junior, wide receiver
The county leading receiver pulled in 1,251 yards on 73 receptions with 17 touchdowns to finish second in the state. He set school records for single season receptions and yards.
Joey Smargissi, Broadneck, senior, wide receiver
Broadneck’s offense was made more diverse by the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Washington & Lee commit, who compiled 746 yards and nine touchdowns over 46 catches.
John Juppe, Spalding, junior, tight end
Juppe impressed in his first varsity season with his “dominant run blocking,” per coach Kyle Schmitt. He also added six catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.
Blake Wanless, Spalding, senior, center
Wanless did not surrender a single sack for an offense that averaged 41 points per game and went undefeated. He was considered the “best offensive lineman” according to Schmitt.
Tyreus Brown, Broadneck, junior, offensive guard
The right guard was a “dominant run blocker” and “solid pass protector,” according to Harris and the key to Broadneck’s ability to run the ball.
Chris Smotherman, Annapolis, senior, offensive guard
The Panthers two-sport athlete unleashed 17 pancake blocks upon opposing defenses while only allowing one sack.
Zach Boyd, Annapolis, junior, offensive tackle
The junior Al Laramore Award nominee led his Panthers with 20 pancake blocks without surrendering a sack.
Kyle Lucas, Spalding, senior, offensive tackle
The right tackle did not let opposing defenses touch his quarterbacks once and made it possible for the offense to rush for 2,187 yards and average 374 yards per game overall.
Naseem Tention, Arundel, junior, all-purpose
Arundel’s Swiss army knife rushed 63 times for 426 yards and eight touchdowns, led receivers with 34 catches for 588 yards and seven touchdowns and returned kicks for 386 yards.
Cooper Welch, Spalding, senior, kicker/punter
The Navy commit was all but perfect in his final season, converting 58 of 58 extra point attempts, going 7 for 9 on field goals and averaging 41.6 yards on 17 punts.
First team defense
Brandon Gorham, Arundel, senior, defensive end
The Delaware commit compiled 36 solo tackles, 25 assisted tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, five fumble recoveries (three for touchdowns), two force fumbles, and returned an interception for a touchdown in the state final.
Delmar White, Spalding, senior, defensive end
The Maryland commit was indomitable in his final season until an ACL tear claimed him in the regular season finale. He totaled 34 tackles, 12 for loss, with eight sacks and two forced fumbles.
Zack Philpott, Spalding, junior, defensive tackle
Among a crowded and competitive Cavaliers defense, Philpott contributed 29 tackles as well as two tackles for loss and four sacks.
Elijah Wright, Glen Burnie, senior, defensive tackle
The senior was second on his team with 77 tackles and a whopping 27 tackles for loss. He finished with five sacks.
Noel Norman-Williams, Old Mill, senior, inside linebacker
The 6-foot, 195-pounder recorded a county-leading 145 tackles, 62 solo, with 14 for loss and eight sacks.
Nick Oliver, Arundel, senior, inside linebacker
The leading overall tackler in the 3A state final (eight solo, four assisted) finished his season with 36 solo tackles, 52 assisted, 11.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Ben Liguori, Spalding, senior, outside linebacker
A key component to limiting opponents to 34 points this fall, the 5-foot-9, 160-pounder registered 56 tackles, five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Justin Snell, Spalding, junior, outside linebacker
The 6-foot junior totaled 54 tackles and eight tackles for loss in only eight games.
Tyrin Chinn-Thompson, Broadneck, senior, defensive back
Out of 100 total tackles, 66 were solo. He also grabbed 13 tackles for loss, a sack, three pass breakups, one forced fumble and four interceptions — three for touchdowns, two in the postseason.
Trent Gillis, Spalding, senior, defensive back
The Navy commit stacked 45 tackles with six tackles for loss, one interception, one fumble recovery and six pass breakups for a defense that shut out eight opponents this fall.
Sean Johnson, Spalding, junior, defensive back
Johnson was Spalding’s top cover corner, tallying 39 tackles, a force fumble and an interception.
Alijah Jones, Spalding, senior, defensive back
The Northwestern-bound safety finished with 53 tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception he returned for a touchdown.
Junie Pack, Old Mill, freshman, defensive back
The freshman splashed onto the county scene with 31 tackles and eight interceptions, as well as 16 passes defended.
Jayden Shipps, Spalding, senior, defensive back
The three-star Maryland commit claimed 37 tackles, six tackles for loss and an interception for a defense that only permitted one passing touchdown all season.
All-County second team offense
Finn Mulvihill, South River senior quarterback
CJ Watkins, Broadneck senior quarterback
Chase Gorman, Spalding senior running back
Charlie Runco Severn junior running back
Kameryn Henry, Meade senior running back
Kam Miller, Spalding freshman wide receiver
Aaron Igwebe, Spalding junior wide receiver
Cole Cavanaugh, Severna Park junior wide receiver
Zamari Cottom, Southern senior tight end
Kyonte Brown-Siscoe, Annapolis senior center
Kris Shenton, Crofton senior offensive guard
Dylan Scarborough, Arundel senior offensive tackle
Colt Brennan, St. Mary’s senior offensive tackle
Tino Dispenza, Arundel senior offensive guard
Jules Floyd, Severn junior athlete
Brandon Feinblatt, Arundel senior kicker/punter
All-County second team defense
Gordon Harris, Glen Burnie senior defensive end
Spencer Long, Broadneck senior defensive end
Adeteoye Onyekaba, Crofton senior defensive tackle
Ryan Eshenbaugh, Arundel senior defensive tackle
Aidan Pongratz, St. Mary’s senior inside linebacker
Kevin Berzins, St. Mary’s senior inside linebacker
Dakari Martin, Glen Burnie senior outside linebacker
Connor Adams, Old Mill senior outside linebacker
Calvin Smith, Annapolis junior defensive back
Makel Wilder, Old Mill junior defensive back
Jonathan Coleman, Arundel junior defensive back
Jonah Brown, Broadneck junior defensive back
Daniel Growney, Severn senior defensive back
Ben Adams, South River senior defensive back
Have a sports tip? Email kfominykh@baltsun.com or DM @capgazsports on Instagram.