Crab Bowl to showcase Md. and DC area talent

The second annual Crab Bowl - the only statewide high school football all-star game in Maryland - will take place on Dec. 19 at Towson University, and rosters for the Washington and Baltimore teams were announced earlier this week.

Led by five-star defensive end J.R. Ferguson, who played at St. John's Catholic Prep before transferring to Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military Academy, many of the top prospects from the state are expected to be on hand.

The game will consist of players split on two different regional teams. The D.C. regional team will consist of players from Montgomery, Prince George's, Calvert, St. Mary's and Charles counties, while the Baltimore regional team will consist of players from Anne Arundel, Howard, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Frederick, Washington, Alleghany, Cecil, Harford, Carroll, Garrett and the Eastern Shore.

Ferguson teams with linebacker Nick Forbes to lead the Baltimore defense. Ferguson - who isn't committed but is considering LSU, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Miami, Oklahoma and others - is ranked as the No. 19 prospect in the country. Forbes, a Cal commitment, is ranked as the No. 73 player in the nation. They are the only two players from the state who are ranked in the Rivals100.

Other defenders of note on the Baltimore squad include defensive backs Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest commit) and Kyle Fuller (Virginia Tech commit) and athlete Josh Furman (uncommitted), who could play both ways as a defensive back and a running back.

On offense, four-star fullback Zach Zwinak (Penn State commit) and Furman highlight the running game, while quarterback Billy Cosh (Kansas State commit) will be targeting four-star Penn State commitment Adrian Coxson and others. Three-star Wisconsin commitment Robby Havenstein will lead the offensive line for Baltimore.

While the Baltimore roster is impressive, it will be hard-pressed to defeat a loaded Washington team. Led by stars from Good Counsel and DeMatha Catholic, the Washington team is balanced and star-studded on both sides of the ball.

On offense, Rivals250 offensive tackle Arie Kouandjio (uncommitted but considering Alabama, Cal, Notre Dame and others) will lead an offensive line designed to stop Ferguson, while running back Marcus Coker (Iowa commit) will help provide the rushing attack.

But it's the defense of Washington that appears to be the true strength of the team. Four-star defensive backs Louis Young (soft Stanford commit) and Titus Till (Maryland commit) will patrol the secondary, while linebackers Aramide Olaniyan (plays in Virginia but hails from Maryland) and Troy Gloster (West Virginia commit) lead the front seven. Good Counsel and DeMatha each boast five players on the Washington team.

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