WASHINGTON, D.C. (WUSA) – Early Wednesday morning, USA TODAY High School Sports announced the 2015 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Maryland Football Team. Players and coaches were recognized individually for accomplishments reached during the 2015 football season.
The ’15 Coach of the Year award was given to Eric Wallich of Damascus High School. The eighth-year Hornets coach was named the fearless leader of his alma mater in 2008, after coaching stints at Walt Whitman and Quince Orchard. The Hornets squad nearly won it all with an appearance in Maryland’s 2014 state championship game, a defeat which perhaps, carried an extra sting as Wallich’s own high school squad failed at an attempt to win it all in 1989. But this season, the former running back and his current star ball carrier, Jake Funk, found a way to get the job done at M&T Bank Stadium in dominating fashion, beating Dundalk 55-14 via seven touchdowns by Funk.
Conveniently, we’re led to the state’s Offensive Player of the Year: Jake Funk. The senior set the record this season for touchdowns with 57 on the year, while amassing 2,866 yards and 11.5 yards per carry.
On the other side of the ball, Ellison Jordan of Gilman High School in Baltimore took the Defensive Player of the Year award. The leader of one of the state’s most stout defensive units, Jordan recorded 17 sacks, 71 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles by the conclusion of the 2015 season. Not to mention, the future Nittany Lion became a Maryland record-holder with 52 career sacks.
Finally, kicker/punter Dom Maggio of Boys’ Latin earned the award for his play on special teams. The three-time All-Conference MIAA and Baltimore Sun All-Metro selection logged 34 touchbacks on kickoffs this past season and converted 11-of-16 field goal attempts, his longest, a blast from 55 yards out. If not for a sprained MCL towards the end of the season, the Wakeforest commit likely would’ve tied the single-season state record with only two field goals need to match it.