Cameron Durbin had two goals entering 2025: lead Aberdeen to at least one playoff win and total 1,500 yards.
He thought those would be steep milestones. After all, it had been years since the Eagles won a postseason game, and Durbin rushed for 999 yards his junior season at John Carroll. Those benchmarks seemed mighty. They proved futile.
Durbin, The Aegis 2025 high school football Player of the Year, eclipsed 2,000 total yards with 1,543 of those coming on the ground, most among all Harford County running backs. And Aberdeen, with Durbin leading the way, won its first-round playoff game in the daunting Class 3A bracket.
“The line performed very well throughout the year and allowed me to do a lot of things I didn’t think I’d be able to do,” Durbin said. “My coach put a lot of trust in me. That’s something I’m always thankful for. I thought I was going to have a good year, but I didn’t expect it to be this.”
The senior returned to Aberdeen, where he spent his freshman and sophomore seasons, after playing his junior year at John Carroll. He feels he unlocked a new sense of confidence there that empowered him upon his return to the public school scene.
“It was more of a don’t-doubt-myself mentality,” Durbin said, reflecting on his stint with the Patriots. “I feel like I’m better than everyone else. Having that mindset, I was able to do the things that I knew were possible.”
Durbin began the year not as Aberdeen’s starting running back. He was more of a hybrid tailback and slot receiver, sharing time in the backfield with Anthony Hall, another senior and transfer from Joppatowne. That changed two games in.
Durbin left the field for two plays during the second quarter, a quick breather to allow Hall to get some touches. One on attempt, Hall bounced outside and tried to beat a defender to the sideline. He was tracked down, squished underneath two tacklers and suffered a fractured collarbone. Hall’s season was over.
Durbin knew what it meant for him.
“Now I gotta take it upon myself to step up and be more of a leader,” he said, recalling what went rushing through his head in those scary moments. “One of our big playmakers went down. Now I have to take over.”
Sensing the pressure that came with more opportunity, Durbin blossomed. He was top-10 in the state in rushing and added 19 touchdowns on 7.6 yards per carry. He also posted 473 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.
Aberdeen went 5-2 the rest of the regular season and won its opening round playoff game against Poly with Durbin as the lead back. The senior said he’s fielding college offers, has interest from several Division II and III schools and plans to sign this spring.
“My mentality at the beginning of the year, I wanted to change the program,” he said. “We hadn’t had a winning season in a long time. To be able to have the chance to turn that around, it was something I was really chasing.”
Coach of the year
Ken Brinkman, Edgewood
Brinkman took over the Rams a half decade after his last head coaching job, spending most of the time since as Edgewood’s defensive coordinator. So, he had familiarity with his players, and was additionally armed with an itch to get back in the head role.
That fueled an undefeated regular season for Brinkman’s Rams, who won by an average margin of 26 points per game and reached the program’s first state quarterfinal since 1998, to make Brinkman The Aegis’ high school football Coach of the Year.
Under Brinkman’s leadership, Edgewood has eight players on The Aegis’ All-County football team, the most of any school. The Rams were led by senior quarterback Michael Robinson, the 2024 Aegis Player of the Year who was dominant in the air and on the ground again with more than 2,000 total yards. Edgewood’s offense rushed for more than 2,500 yards, and its defense held opponents to two or fewer touchdowns in nine of 12 games.
Here’s the All-County football team:
Quarterbacks
Brycen Hunter, Patterson Mill, junior
Hunter’s 2,446 passing yards and 23 passing touchdowns led all Harford County quarterbacks.
Julian Ringgold, Havre de Grace, senior
Ringgold threw for 2,048 yards and 21 touchdowns this season, both second-most in the county, leading the Warriors to a state quarterfinals appearance.
Michael Robinson, Edgewood, senior
Last season’s Aegis Player of the Year was dominant again, throwing for 1,155 yards and 12 touchdowns, and running for 1,007 yards and 18 scores.
Running backs
Abi Archibong, Fallston, freshman
A preseason injury allowed Archibong to begin the season as the Cougars’ starting running back, and he never looked back. The freshman tallied 1,316 rushing yards on 7.7 yards per attempt with 13 touchdowns.
Jayden Harvin, Edgewood, senior
Harvin posted 884 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground and has been Edgewood’s second-leading rusher behind Robinson over the last two seasons.
Carson Shoffner, John Carroll, senior
Shoffner ran for 1,256 yards and added 364 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.
Wide receivers
Ty’Quon Billinger-Bey, Joppatowne, senior
Billinger-Bey did it all for the Mariners offense, posting 971 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns as his team’s leading receiver and rusher.
Zach Loewe, Fallston, senior
Loewe became Fallston’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns with 51 catches, 809 yards and 10 scores this season. He also starred on defense with 111 tackles and two interceptions.
Kevin Miller, Havre de Grace, junior
Miller was a top target for Ringgold, leading the Warriors with 796 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Bubba Tolson, C. Milton Wright, senior
Tolson posted 789 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, while also excelling on defense.
Tevonte Williams, Aberdeen, senior
Williams was the Eagles’ leading receiver with 550 yards and seven touchdowns.
Tight ends and fullbacks
Mason Holmes, Aberdeen, junior
Holmes was integral in helping the Eagles be the only Harford County team to rush for more than 3,000 yards.
James Westervelt, John Carroll, junior
The Patriots’ leading receiver posted 433 yards on 31 catches.
Offensive linemen
Kayden Blaine, Bel Air, junior
Blaine was a key cog in the Bobcats’ line that opened holes for over 2,000 yards worth of rushing.
Isaiah Deyo, Edgewood, junior
Deyo helped Edgewood rush for more than 2,500 yards and protected one of the area’s most dynamic quarterbacks.
Cole McCumbers, Fallston, senior
McCumbers didn’t miss a snap at center over the past two seasons and paved the way for the Cougars’ potent ground game
Owen Reilly, Bel Air, junior
Reilly was another key factor, paving the way for an offense that ran for more than 2,100 yards.
Cole Shea, Fallston, senior
Shea, a two-way starter, helped Fallston run for 2,693 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Xavier Stacker, Joppatowne, senior
This is Stacker’s third consecutive season with All-County recognition.
All-purpose
Michael Griffin Jr., Fallston, junior
Despite an injury that sidelined Griffin for Fallston’s final two regular season games and the postseason, the quarterback collected 2,009 total yards and 22 total touchdowns.
Collin Rogers, Aberdeen, senior
Rogers totaled 2,606 yards from scrimmage (1,544 passing) with 32 total touchdowns on 7.4 yards per rushing attempt.
Shamari Whitmore, Edgewood, senior
Whitmore racked up 863 all-purpose yards for the Rams’ offense and special teams to go along with five offensive touchdowns and three kickoff and punt return scores. He also started at cornerback.
Defensive linemen
Tyrone Elee, Joppatowne, sophomore
The younger brother of St. Frances star and Maryland signee Zion Elee had a similarly stellar sophomore season with the Mariners with 92 tackles and 12 sacks.
Makhi Feaster, Bel Air, junior
Feaster finished with 70 tackles and three sacks this season.
Jonathan Gettle, Bel Air, senior
Gettle had 64 total tackles and 10 sacks this season.
Cameron Stepp, C. Milton Wright, senior
Stepp, a two-time All-County nominee, racked up 79 tackles and 11 sacks and helped the Mustangs reach the state quarterfinals.
Xzaiver Whittington, Aberdeen, junior
Whittington’s nine sacks and 12 tackles for loss led the Aberdeen defense.
Bryson Worthy, Havre de Grace, junior
Worthy’s 15 tackles for loss were among the most in the county.
Linebackers
Khalil Brice, Edgewood, senior
Brice’s 94 tackles led the Rams during their deep playoff run.
Maurice Butler, Edgewood, senior
Butler was just behind Brice, but added 10 tackles for loss and four pass breakups.
William Grimm, Havre de Grace, senior
Grimm totaled 80 tackles for the Warriors this season.
Mason Hemelt, Patterson Mill, junior
Hemelt posted 83 tackles, three forced fumbles, two sacks and two interceptions.
Finn Rebasti, Fallston, senior
Rebasti totaled 60 tackles, eight for a loss, and two interceptions in just six games due to an injury cutting his season short.
Michael Shelley, Havre de Grace, junior
Shelley posted 84 tackles, manning the middle of a dominant Warriors defense.
Ryan Stem, C. Milton Wright, senior
Stem starred on both sides of the ball, posting 88 tackles and two interceptions returned for touchdowns while adding 625 rushing yards and and six offensive scores.
Defensive backs
Malique Garrison, Joppatowne, senior
Garrison collected 66 tackles three interceptions this season.
Trent Richter, Fallston, junior
Richter’s four interceptions and six pass breakups led Fallston.
Malachi Robinson, Edgewood, sophomore
The younger Robinson brother was a two-way star, totaling 46 tackles and three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He was also the Rams’ leading receiver.
Kyion Greenwood, Edgewood, senior
Greenwood’s 10 pass breakups led Edgewood to go along with 52 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He also accounted for 582 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns on offense and special teams.
Brady Quinn, Patterson Mill, senior
Quinn’s 95 tackles led the Huskies defense. He also posted five pass breakups and three interceptions.
Specialists
Braxton Marchand, C. Milton Wright, senior
Marchand converted 86% his field goal attempts this season and made 30 of his 33 extra point tries. His 52 total kicking points were most in Maryland’s Class 2A this year.
Yeam Zakari, Havre de Grace, senior
Zakari connected on two field goals of 40 yards or more in the state playoffs, including a 45-yarder that proved the difference in a two-point victory over Patterson Mill in the second round.
Have a news tip? Contact Taylor Lyons at tlyons@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/TaylorJLyons.
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