2007 All-County football team

Friday, Dec. 14, 2007

Doug Rollins

Chopticon junior defensive back

Resume: Rollins helped lead the Braves to a county-best 6-5 overall record and a spot in the Class 3A South Region playoffs.

An All-SMAC first-team performer, he led the conference in interceptions with seven — three vs. Great Mills on Nov. 2 — and was second in tackles with 83.

He also had 20 assists, one sack,one fumble recovery and two touchdowns — a 92-yard interception return in a victory over Leonardtown on Sept. 20 and a 40-yard interception return in the win over the Hornets.

High praise: ‘‘Doug is a high-impact player. He’s always around the ball. He creates big plays for us and eliminates big plays for the opposition.” —Chopticon coach Tony Lisanti

Coach of the year

Anthony Pratley

Leonardtown (first season)

Resume: In just one campaign, Pratley has given Leonardtown football a new look.

The 2007 season was appearing to look like the previous ones before it when Leonardtown lost its first four games. But, a victory over Great Mills on Oct. 5 and two more in successive weeks against North Point and Calvert gave the Raiders their first three-game winning streak since October 1997. It was also the first time since 1998 that the team had won at least three games in a season.

The Raiders finished 3-7 that season as they did in 2007, but Pratley’s motto ‘‘Play the next play” has changed the program’s mindset.

High praise: ‘‘He had a great year being able to take a team that has only won one game the past so many years and win three. He was able to motivate these young men to believe in him and his system.” — Great Mills coach Bill Griffith

First team

Offense

QB Leo Kyte, Chopticon junior: 94 for 189, 1,100 yards passing, 10 TDs, 9 INTs; second in the SMAC in passing yards

RB Marco Sawyer, Chopticon senior: 143 carries, 674 yards, 4 TDs; 5 catches, 54 yards

RB Charles Tawiah, Great Mills senior: 175 carries, 1,229 yards, 9 TDs, second-leading rusher in SMAC; 29 receptions, 261 yards, TD, fourth-leading receiver in SMAC; rushed for 275 yards and 3 TDs vs. Patuxent on Nov. 9; second-team All-SMAC

RB Mike Hebb, Leonardtown senior: Led SMAC with 1,287 yards rushing; averaged 6.8 yards per carry; scored 6 TDs; 104 receiving yards; second-team All-SMAC

WR Carlyle Tanner, Chopticon senior: 29 catches, 397 yards; 7 TDs, second in the SMAC in receptions and touchdowns

WR Alvin Dyson, Great Mills senior: 20 receptions, 268 yards, TD

OL Travis Popielarchek, Chopticonjunior: Second on team in pancake blocks at 6 foot 4, 305 pounds

OL Glenn White, Chopticon senior: Led team in pancake blocks, gave up just one sack all season; second team All-SMAC; ‘‘Glenn is one of the most consistent linemen we’ve had here. He is a three year starter with great feet and quickness.” — Lisanti

OL Wes Wathen, Chopticon senior: Was responsible for making the calls in the Braves’ protection scheme as the team’s center; a two-year starter.

OL Aaron Rodenizer, Great Millsjunior: 10 pancake blocks, allowedjust 2 sacks

OL Corey Cook, Leonardtown senior: Anchor of Raiders’ offensive line; was a big force in allowing Hebb to run for big yardage

ST Andy Gainey, Chopticon senior: Kicked 3 game-winning field goals against La Plata, Thomas Stone and Potomac; first-team All-SMAC

Defense

DL Dion Davis, Chopticon junior: 37 tackles, 23 assists, sack

DL White: 46 tackles, 17 assists, 2 sacks; second-team All-SMAC

DL Derrick Petett, Great Millssophomore: 76 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, forced fumble

DL TJ Schmidt, Leonardtown senior: 15 tackles, 3 assists, 4 sacks, caused fumble

LB Jimmy O’Grady, Chopticon junior: 62 tackles, 19 assists, 5 sacks, fumble recovery, 2 forced fumbles; second-team All-SMAC

LB Glenn Thompson, Chopticonjunior: 34 tackles, 23 assists, 3 sacks, fumble recovery

LB Keane Flores, Great Mills senior: 106 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 4 passdefenses

LB Stephen Norris, Leonardtown senior: 33 tackles, 16 assists, 2 INTs, 2 pass defenses, fumble recovery, caused fumble

DB Derek Bell, Chopticon senior: 44 tackles, 26 assists, 3 INTs

DB Rollins: 83 tackles, 20 assists, sack, fumble recovery, 7 INTs, 2 TDs; first-team All-SMAC

DB Ryan Dishman, Leonardtownsenior: 19 tackles, 8 assists; 7 sacks, third in SMAC in sacks.

Honorable mentions

T.J. Shomper, Chopticon seniorlinebacker

Christian Rosado, Great Mills senior defensive back

Okeche Elele, Leonardtown senioroffensive lineman

Bruce Julian, Leonardtown senior quarterback