Football: First, second team defense

KIRK BROOKS
Mount St. Joseph, linebacker

Brooks anchored a defense that yielded only 7.6 points per game in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference, as the No. 7 Gaels shared the league title with No. 3 Loyola.

The Gaels dealt Loyola (9-1) its only loss, 24-7, with Brooks helping to slow outstanding Dons quarterback Leon Kinnard and running back Terence Garvin. The Gaels' only loss was to McDonogh, 14-7.

Overall, the Brooks-led defense gave up 12.3 points per game. Brooks, a 6-foot, 220-pound senior, roamed from sideline to sideline,making 98 tackles.He also had 16 sacks.

CHRIS BURNETTE
Gilman, lineman

Burnette, a solid 6-4, 250-pound senior,was a three-year starter for the Greyhounds. Hard-nosed and physical with good instincts, Burnette moved from second-team All-Metro as a junior last season to first team this year.

He and All-Metro linebacker Joey Ehrmann were bright spots in the worst season the Greyhounds (4-5) have had under coach Biff Poggi in the past decade.

Burnette made 73 tackles, 20 behind the line of scrimmage, and had eight sacks. Despite the team's losing season, Burnette and the defense held MIAA A Conference foes to 76 points in five games.

Penn State, Rutgers and Stanford are interested in Burnette.

TEDDY DARGAN
MilfordMill, lineman

Dargan was one of the area's top two-way linemen.Defense was his specialty, and it's where he likely will play at the University of Maryland. The 6-3, 290-pound senior is ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the state by Rivals.com.

On defense for the Millers (5-5),Dargan made 57 tackles, had five sacks and forced two fumbles coming off a junior season in which he had 78 tackles, 19 in the backfield, and 12 sacks. He started this season coming off an ankle injury and had to deal with being double-teamed.

The injury affected him early on, but by midseason he was on his game.Milford Mill lost five games by a total of 20 points.

JOEY EHRMANN
Gilman, linebacker

Ehrmann, the son of former

Baltimore Colt Joe Ehrmann, now an assistant coach at Gilman, had three excellent seasons for the Greyhounds and will play at Wake Forest.

A 6-3, 200-pound linebacker, Ehrmann was a senior leader and anchored a defensive unit that gave up just 76 points in five games in MIAA A Conference action.

Ehrmann, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds, had a team-leading 117 tackles (87 unassisted), 31 for losses, and 16 sacks and picked off three passes.

Also a tight end, Ehrmann was the key blocker on the corner and had nine receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns.

JASON FISCHER
Hereford, defensive back

Fischer's versatility was an asset for the No. 5 Bulls (13-1) in their run to the Class 3A state championship game against Damascus. Fischer played defensive back, quarterback (when starter Tyler Brown was injured late in the season) and receiver and was a return specialist.

A 5-11, 195-pound senior with quickness and excellent field vision, Fischer had three interceptions and returned one for a touchdown.He also ran back two punts for touchdowns and averaged 14.4 yards on 22 returns.

Fischer had a receiving touchdown and threw four touchdown passes among his five completions in 12 attempts.

J.J. HICKS
Broadneck, defensive back

Hicks, one of the metro area's top athletes, was a four-year varsity player for the No. 9 Bruins (9-3) and was a standout in the secondary and as a wide receiver and occasional kick returner.

The 6-2, 200-pound senior, who also is one of the area's top basketball players, led Anne Arundel County in interceptions with seven and was as good a coverman on deep balls as anyone in the area because of his speed and athleticism.

Hicks had 40 receptions for 911 yards and 16 touchdowns, including an 81-yard pass from Kyle Colleran with 55 seconds left to beat Old Mill, 31-28, and prevent the Bruins from falling to 0-2.

JOHN HOLLAND
Arundel, defensive back

A repeat first-team selection, Holland had another sterling season in the secondary for the Class 4A state runner-up Wildcats (13-1). The 5-9, 170-pound senior tied the Anne Arundel County record for interceptions (12) last season and had four this season.

The drop in interceptions was because opponents learned not to throw in his area. Holland broke up 22 passes this season and was in on 50 tackles, 31 unassisted.

Arundel coach Chuck Markiewicz (who has spent seven of his 20 seasons at Arundel) said Holland is as good a defensive back as he has coached.

MARLON JOHNSON
St. Mary's, lineman

Johnson, a powerful, 6-4, 225-pound senior defensive end, was a key player for the No. 15 Saints (8-3) in their MIAA B Conference championship season. Going 8-1 in league play, including the 26-20 title win over two-time defending champion Archbishop Spalding, the Johnson-led defense gave up only 61 points.

Adept at rushing the quarterback or stopping the run on his corner, Johnson has excellent first-step acceleration,which he used to invade the backfield of opponents and record a team-best 13 sacks.

Johnson also led the Saints in tackles (95), with 21 for losses. He plans to visit Toledo and Liberty, his main college choices.

ZACH MARTIN
River Hill, linebacker

Martin, a repeat first-team All- Metro choice, led a defense that posted a state-record 11 shutouts and gave up only 21 points total in its other three games.

Martin led the 2A champion Hawks in tackles (146, 101 unassisted) for the third straight year, and 21 of his tackles were behind the line. The senior also had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

In three seasons at linebacker, Martin, 5-10 and 180 pounds, amassed nearly 450 tackles and had 60 tackles for losses.On offense, he ran for more than 1,300 yards and had 13 touchdowns.

Schools interested in Martin include Maryland, Richmond, and

William and Mary.

KEON REDHEAD
Dunbar, linebacker

He was the uncontested leader of the No. 2 Poets' defense,which gave up just 11.3 points per game overall and 8.4 in nine league games on the way to a second straight Class 1A state title.

Redhead, a muscular 5-9, 220-pound senior and three-year starter, led the Poets (14-0) in unassisted tackles (88) and total tackles (170) while forcing four fumbles and recovering four.

An inspirational player, Redhead roamed from sideline to sideline stalking ball carriers with reckless abandon. His teammates rallied around him as he constantly reminded them of their main goal -- to win a state title for their late coach Ben Eaton, who died in August.

RYAN SCHLOTHAUER
Eastern Tech, lineman

He was a senior leader for the No. 6 Mavericks' defense that gave up just six points in six league games to win the Baltimore County 3A-2A League. Schlothauer's play at defensive end led the team to a 13-1 record and a berth in the Class 2A state final,which the Mavericks lost to No. 1 River Hill, 14-7.

Schlothauer, 6-5 and 220 pounds, had 75 tackles, with 41 of them unassisted, and racked up a team-leading 11 sacks. He also had three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in the state final.

Schlothauer, also a tight end, caught eight passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns. He also was a skilled blocker for a wing T offense that gained more than 3,200 yards rushing and outscored foes, 497-73.

Related topic galleries: Boston Bruins, College of William and Mary

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