Arundel High School vanquished its demons pretty resoundingly last fall.
On the way to a 12-1 season and the Class 3A football championship, the Wildcats managed to steer clear of some of the pitfalls that had doomed previous runs at a state title.
There was no big lead that slipped out of their grasp like a wet bar of soap, which is what happened in the 4A state final back in 2007 against Quince Orchard. And the injury bug didn’t take a big bite out of them at the wrong time, which was the case in 2022, leading to a 31-14 loss to North Point in the 4A-3A championship game.
“I go back and look at those pictures, and I’ll say it again. We had 15 starters out, including the starting quarterback,” Arundel coach Jack Walsh said of the 2022 team, which finished 10-3. “So, it was kind of like, ‘Man, this team is good enough to win it, and we just can’t shake the injury bug.’ So, you felt a little like, ‘Hey, maybe this isn’t going to happen for us.'”
But last season, there was not much doubt, especially after the Wildcats got a quick defensive stop and touchdown against Linganore in the 3A championship game on Dec. 7 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.
There was a mild illness that circulated through the team in the week leading up to the game, raising some concerns and a few ‘oh no, here we go again’ thoughts. Ultimately, everyone was ready to go by game time.
The Wildcats calmed their nerves and kept their poise, allowing their talent to shine through. They dominated the Lancers, a perennial power from Frederick County, for a 35-7 victory and their first state championship in football since 1975. It also marked the first state title for an Anne Arundel County football program since 2011.
“You know, it’s kind of a long, winding road of perseverance, and it all kind of came to fruition for us,” said Walsh, who has been on the coaching staff at Arundel for 20 years and is in his eighth season as the head coach.
What got the Wildcats over the finish line? They had a big and talented senior class, comprised of 27 players and 17 starters. All the players and coaches were on the same page and focused on the task at hand. There were no competing agendas. And everyone was willing to put in the work to get the job done.
“I felt like we had more leadership from the seniors and even some of the juniors,” said Naseem Tention, who caught a 46-yard touchdown pass in the state final and will see time at receiver and running back this season as one of five returning starters. “I feel like we wanted it more, and we all listened to the coaches more.”
With so many new faces in prominent positions this fall, Arundel faces questions of whether it can maintain the same high level and challenge for another state championship. But within the team, there are no doubts, at least none that anyone expresses out loud.
“The standard is the standard. It does not change,” Walsh said. “Our goal is to compete at the state level. To say state championship every year, wouldn’t that be fantastic? But that’s not reality. I think you get to the final four, and then it depends on matchups and who’s healthy.
“But, at Arundel High School, yeah, that’s the expectation.”
On the field, Tention figures to receive most of the carries as the primary running back. Isaiah Fox, a four-year starter, is back on the offensive line at right tackle. Darius Burton is back at receiver after leading the team in catches as a sophomore last season. And junior Kaden Schurr will take over as the team’s quarterback.
Due to the increased size of the school’s enrollment, the Wildcats are moving from Class 3A back to Class 4A-3A, which will bring a fresh crop of challengers.
“I am looking at it just how we came into last season,” Tention said. “We had a lot of good players last season. But if we didn’t put in the hard work, we wouldn’t have won. So, I feel if we can do the same this year we can have the same outcome. It’s about leadership and wanting it more than everybody else who thinks they want it.”
Photo Credits: Courtesy of Jack Walsh
Issue 294: August / September 2025
Originally published Aug. 13, 2025