by Aaron Grayagray@digitalsports.com(See video interview below)Alec Lemon's visit to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the Maryland State/Nike high school football combine Saturday was a grim reminder of what happened there in December.
His
Arundel squad entered the fourth quarter with a 16-point lead but gave up four touchdowns in the final period and fell to Quince Orchard, 36-30, in the Class 4A state championship in front of 8,317 fans.
"This brings back memories ... a lot of good ones and a lot of bad ones," said Lemon, a junior wide receiver, who also plays defensive back and returns kicks for the Wildcats. "Those last seven minutes, I'm still trying to get over that."
But that was then and this is now. Lemon, who is drawing Division I interest, was upbeat Saturday and said his overall experience at the combine was a good one.
"It's good to see how you compare to everyone else in the state," said Lemon, who recently visited Louisville, UConn, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. "It's been a nice day. Great weather."
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Gambrills resident had 70 receptions, 969 yards and 13 touchdowns last season as a junior. Every time he hooked up with Delaware State-bound quarterback Nick Elko, the team averaged 14.1 yards.
To the rest of the state's surprise, Arundel made a spirited run towards the state title. It was the Wildcats' third appearance in the state championship (they won it in 1975 and were runners-up in 1979) and it was also the fifth straight season Arundel advanced to the playoffs.
They snapped Suitland's 25-game home winning streak with a 14-13 victory in the state semifinals and forced the rest of the state to acknowledge them.
"It gave us and Anne Arundel County a lot of respect," Lemon said. "Everyone was doubting us. No one thought we could get past PG County schools and we proved them wrong at Suitland."
Lemon predicted that the Wildcats can make a similar run next season. It's hard to argue with him.
Arundel brought up 10 junior-varsity players before its playoff run and Elko will likely be replaced by sophomore Billy Cosh under center. Wildcats' coach Chuck Markiewicz said the team will continue to run its patented no-huddle, spread offense out of the shotgun.
Three starting offensive linemen - J.R. Lloyd, Matt Jovinelli and Matt McGuire - along with Mitch Reece and Dererick Rhodes in the backfield will all be back next fall.
On defense, four starters return including middle linebacker Bobby Partilla and Lemon, who will play both ways.
