River Hill High School football coach Brian Van Deusen understands how close his team was to winning a state title last year. He also understands that it won?t be an easy ride through the Howard County this season en route to the playoffs.
Van Deusen?s Hawks have won the county title for three years, and last year they won the Class 3A East Region title in the playoffs before losing to eventual state champion Gwynn Park (Prince George?s) in the semifinals. It was the furthest River Hill had made it into the state playoffs in school history.
“I think we?ll be better than last year, but I?d say the county is getting more competitive each year,” Van Deusen said.
He?s not the only one to see it that way.
“I think everyone in the county looks extremely solid,” said Glenelg coach Butch Schaffer. “We?re going to have our hands full every week. It?s definitely going to be a challenge every Friday night.”
The county race won?t be the same as it has been in previous years. New coaches are in place at Glenelg and Howard. Seth Willingham takes over at Oakland Mills, Howard welcomes new boss Al Feldblum, and Schaffer takes over at Glenelg.
“They?re going to be at the top of the league,” Van Deusen said of Glenelg.
“I think we have a really good group of seniors that?s going to provide excellent leadership,” Schaffer said. “We?re going to go as far as they take us.”
Marriotts Ridge joins the league for its inaugural season, and coach Ken Hovet will play with no seniors.
“I?ve been in that situation ? 10 years ago when we started,” Van Deusen said. “We had a couple rough years there earlier. Ken will do a good job over there, and in a couple years they?ll be a good team to deal with.”
Another change is the implementation of 7 p.m. Friday games throughout the season.
“It?s the first year playing night games all the way through, so that?s kind of exciting, too,” Wilde Lake coach Doug DuVall said.
DuVall sees the league as more balanced now than it ever has been.
“Centennial should do well this year,” DuVall said. “They?ve been running the same offense, and they return a lot of seniors.”
The Eagles were 4-6 overall in 2005 but are among a number of programs primed to close the gap in the county.
“They open with River Hill,” said DuVall, noting that the Hawks historically handle the Eagles. “If [River Hill doesn?t] just paddle them, it gives an indication that they?re growing up.”
Centennial coach Jamie Wagner says depth and attitude will prove the difference.
“I expect to see improvement from last year,” Wagner said. “We have outstanding leadership, and the attitude is the best I?ve ever seen it.”
The consensus amongst the coaches is that the competition could be the best ever, too.
“It usually comes down to those last two weeks,” Van Deusen said.
