OFFENSE: Gone are Nick Elko and Brandon Johnson-Farrell, who comprised one of the most electric touchdown machines in state history. But that doesn’t mean the Wildcats won’t be putting up a ton of points. Billy Cosh steps into the spotlight to take the reigns as quarterback, and he’ll run Arundel’s spread offense with a wide array of talented receivers to choose from.

“It’ll be different people, but it’ll be the same look,” Markiewicz said. Cosh, son of University of Maryland football assistant coach Chris Cosh, will likely rely on Syracuse-bound Alec Lemon as his main target. Receivers Sean Fitzgerald, R.J. Harris and Auraum Nuiriankh are also in line for productive seasons.

Dererick Rhodes and Mitch Reese will be the main threats coming out of the backfield for the Wildcats, but both should be part of the passing game as well.

One of the keys to running the spread is for the quarterback to have ample time to throw the ball, and Arundel’s offensive line should provide Cosh with just that.

The line, which Markiewicz considers a top strength on the team, is two deep at each position with three integral seniors returning, in Matt McGuire, Matt Jovineli and J.R. Lloyd.

DEFENSE: The Wildcats will run their traditional 3-5 scheme, and they’ll rely on speed at all positions to stay a step ahead of the opposition.

“Right now we’re probably about as fast as we’ve ever been,” Markiewicz said. “That’s probably our strength.”

The front eight will anchor the defense, and three senior transfers will make a difference for the Wildcats. Corey Lavender, who was an all-conference tight end at his high school in Texas, will rush off one of the edges. C.J. Rice (Cardinal Gibbons) and Blake Alderman (South River) will be a part of a strong linebacking corps that also includes returning junior Bobby Partilla.

“We’re looking forward to the things that they’re going to be able to do,” Markiewicz said.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The biggest unknown for Arundel is its special teams. Elko and Johnson-Farrell didn’t just run the offense for the Wildcats last year – Elko was the kicker, and Johnson-Farrell was a game-breaking kick returner.

Lemon may be in line to return kicks, but he might not be doing it on a full-time basis.

“I don’t want to put him in a position where he gets beat up doing too much,” Markiewicz said.

Alderman figures to do the placekicking, and based on early returns from preseason practice, he should fight right in. Markiewicz said that during one practice he made eight out of 10 field goal attempts from 42 yards.

Cosh, the backup punter last year, will likely earn the job this season.

OUTLOOK: Despite key losses from last year’s 4A state runner-up squad, Arundel figures to be in the mix for the top spot in the county. With a blend of experience, an accurate quarterback and blazing speed on both sides of the ball, the Wildcats have what it takes to make a deep playoff run.

“If we can get some breaks, if we can understand that to do what we did last year we have to do the same things that we did but we’re going to have to do them a little bit better and understand that that’s not the goal it’s just the end of the process, we can definitely do it again,” Markiewicz said. “But to look down the road and go, ‘We’ve got to get back there,’ that’s the wrong approach. Too many things can happen between now and then.”

– Compiled by Avi Creditor