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(Enlarge) River Hill senior Kevin Johnson is the second straight Hawks’ player to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors, following in the footsteps of Michael Campanaro. Johnson ran for 1,220 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. He also led the Hawks with 251 receiving yards on 12 receptions. (Staff photo by Drew Anthony Smith)

All-county football -- offense

Soon after River Hill's 2008 season was over, when the uniforms had been turned in and the state championship banner hung in the gym, Hawks fans started to wonder who would lead them after the departure of a number of talented seniors?

The answer was a 6-foot-1, 165-pound, lightning-fast Kevin Johnson.

"I didn't really pay attention to all the (preseason hype)," said Johnson, the Columbia Flier/Howard County Times Offensive Player of the Year. "I was focused on trying to win a state championship, and I knew we had a lot of good guys coming in that not a lot of people knew about."

Johnson knew what he was talking about. Transfer Brent Kluge came over from Hereford to rush for more than 1,000 yards, Harry McLaughlin moved up from the JV to throw for 11 touchdowns, and Nick Bonhag caught a team-high 15 passes. River Hill won its seventh straight county title, fifth straight region title and extended its winning streak to 40 games before losing in the state final.

The Hawks' top threat, however, was Johnson, who will join 2007 and 2008 Offensive Player of the Year Michael Campanaro at Wake Forest University next season.

"We knew he had the potential, he just had to step into that role that was left open," coach Brian Van Deusen said. "Carrying the ball 20 times a game and taking that pounding was pretty impressive."

Johnson, a senior captain, ran for 1,220 yards, averaging 8.9 yards per attempt, and scored a team-high 15 touchdowns. He had 12 receptions for a team-high 251 yards (20.9 per catch) and three more touchdowns. He also excelled on special teams, averaging more than 16 yards (12-for-198) on punt returns, and more than 20 (6-for -21) on kickoff returns.

In addition, he was stellar at cornerback, the position he is projected to play at Wake Forest. Johnson intercepted three passes and made 26 tackles. In two seasons as a starter, he did not give up a touchdown pass.

"I did want teams to throw the ball my way more, but at the same time, I could use the rest after playing offense," Johnson said.

And how did Johnson, who weighs 40 pounds less than Kluge, withstand 48 minutes of collisions every week?

"I didn't really take a beating, never really got hurt," he said. "I didn't see (my weight) as a weakness. When I get the ball I'm going to put a move on (the defenders). I'm not going to try to run over linebackers."

Now, Johnson is focused on preparing for his college career at Wake Forest. He says he would like to put on at least five pounds before next fall, and if he redshirts, another 5 to 10 pounds. "I think I might grow another inch or two," Johnson said.

If that happens, Johnson will have the Division I size to match his Division I ability.

Named to the all-county first-team offense:

Quarterback

Kalvin Seamonson, Atholton. Seamonson led the Raiders to their best season in school history, passing for 1,360 yards, rushing for 446 and throwing or running for 24 touchdowns (16, 8). He passed for three touchdowns in a win over Wilde Lake and rushed for almost 150 yards in a win over Glenelg to clinch second place in the county.

"Kalvin probably won a couple of one-pointers for us; at times, he was our MVP," coach Kyle Schmitt said. "He made me look smart sometimes with his ability to break big plays out of nothing."

Running backs

A.J. Bonavitacola, Howard. A stress fracture in his hip sidelined the 5-10, 180-pound Bonavitacola for five of Howard's 10 games, but the senior still was able to rush for more than 900 yards and ten touchdowns.

"He was our offense," coach Bruce Strunk said. "He was our workhorse and we were a different team without him."

His signature performance came against River Hill when he rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Bonavitacola will play for New Hampshire next season.

Shannon Maura, Glenelg. Maura ran the ball 16 times a game and gained more than 1,000 yards with seven touchdowns.

Maura also had 11 receptions for another 130 yards and two touchdowns.

"He had a tremendous season. He's just a hard-nosed football player," coach Butch Schaffer said.

Maura, 5-7, 160, rushed for more than 170 yards in a comeback win over Reservoir.

Khalil Viera, Wilde Lake. Viera made the most of his one varsity season, rushing for more than 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, and racking up almost 1,300 all-purpose yards.

"He displays a tremendous amount of quickness and balance, and it worked to our favor," coach Mike Harrison said.

Viera showed Ray Rice-like moves, going down on one hand before breaking a 70-yard touchdown run against Atholton and making a diving catch for a game-winning touchdown against Hammond.

Wide receivers

Terrence Drew, Oakland Mills. Drew, a junior, was the Scorpions' leading receiver, with 19 catches for 384 yards and two touchdowns.

In a loss to Hammond, he had catches of 61 and 68 yards.

Michael McCarthy, Mt. Hebron. At 6-3, 190, McCarthy gave Vikings quarterback Clint Huber a big target, catching 50 passes for nearly 800 yards and seven touchdowns.

"Mike's a tremendous talent. With his size and his body control he can really go up and get it," coach Ross Hannon said.

McCarthy had three games with more than 100 receiving yards.

Ryan Raines, Atholton. Raines became a big-play specialist for Atholton by returning a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown, scoring on a fumble return and catching two touchdown passes.

"He's big, and he can run. And he's a great kid," coach Kyle Schmitt said.

Spencer Wilkins, Mt. Hebron. Wilkins had 57 catches for more than 1,000 yards (almost 18 yards per catch) and 10 touchdowns, and scored four TDs on special teams, including a punt return against River Hill.

"He had a tremendous season," coach Ross Hannon said. "He didn't come off the field for us, started every game, made every practice, and he competed in the rain."

Tight end

Nick Bonhag, River Hill. Bonhag (6-3, 240) showed brute strength on defense, but he also ran precise routes and made fingertip catches on offense.

"Beyond the number of catches and even the running game, he was just a great blocker for us," coach Brian Van Deusen said.

Bonhag caught a team-high 15 passes for 196 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed for another seven.

Tackles

Max Coale, River Hill. At 6-4, 250, Coale was strong and smart. He is considering studying and playing football at Princeton, Lehigh or Colgate.

"He was one of our strongest kids and one of our best blockers," coach Brian Van Deusen said. "(He's) just an all-around great football player."

Coale was the anchor on a line that cleared the way for 3,889 rushing yards (7.5 per attempt) and 56 touchdowns.

Josh Veslany, Mt. Hebron. At 6-1, 265, the senior captain was the chief protector in Mt. Hebron's passing game.

"We had 313 pass attempts, and at left tackle, he had no sacks given up," coach Ross Hannon said.

Guards

Luis Gutierrez, Long Reach. After losing two 300-pound all-county linemen, the Lightning turned to Gutierrez. The 5-10, 215 pound junior was credited with 21 pancake blocks, and paved the way for Kwasi Sarpong to gain more than 900 rushing yards, and a team total of 2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns.

"Kwasi got most of, if not all of his yards, running through the 0-1 hole, and that's Luis," coach Pete Hughes said. "We ran our whole offense behind this kid. He's a devastating blocker."

Austyn Martin-McRae, Wilde Lake. At 6-foot, 250 pounds, Martin-McRae was the main man behind the Wildecats' 2,500-yard, 30-touchdown rushing season.

"He's the prototypical offensive guard -- he pulls and trap blocks," coach Mike Harrison said. "He's got very good balance ... and he worked hard in the weight room."

Center

Pat O'Donnell, Howard. The 5-11, 215-pound senior was the leader of a young offensive line.

"He was by far my best lineman -- a two-year starter, and a coach on the field," coach Bruce Strunk said. "I don't think there was a better center out there,"

Kicker

Amir Shahegh, River Hill. Shahegh sent nearly half (41) of his 85 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks (a school record) and averaged more than 57 yards per kick.

"He came to us from soccer, worked out all summer, and really increased his leg strength," coach Brian Van Deusen said.

He was two-for-two on field goals and made more than 85 percent (53-for-62) of his extra points.

All-purpose

Armani Dixon, Marriotts Ridge. On a winless team, the 6-foot, 200-pound Dixon was a bright spot.

"We scored 17 touchdowns this year and he scored 11 of them," coach Ken Hovet said. "He's a legit Division I AA player."

Dixon rushed for 569 yards and six touchdowns, caught 17 passes for another three touchdowns, and returned a kickoff for a score.

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