Aaron Thompson

With the high school football season over, there's just one more thing many of the Baltimore area's top players want for the holidays: another measure of respect.And that's what will be on the line tomorrow in the inaugural Baltimore-Metro All-Star football game at Johns Hopkins -- a matchup that despite it's "metro" label lacks players from public schools in Baltimore, Carroll and Harford counties.Nevertheless, the game will pit a squad comprised of players from the private and parochial schools that comprise the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and Baltimore public high schools against the best from schools in Anne Arundel and Howard counties.

Offense Player of the YearAaron Thompson, Mount St. Joseph, senior (6-1, 200): The transfer from Forest Park runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash. With 314 carries, 2,325 yards and 37 touchdowns over 10 games (average of 31.4 carries, 233 yards, 3.7 touchdowns), he was tops among all area running backs. His single-season yardage has him third in the state all-time (behind McDonough's Sherron Gudger, 2,741, 1991, and Kent's Bruce Green, 2,388, presently), and his single-season touchdowns tie him for the area lead with Randallstown's Larry Washington (1990)

The traditional football belief is that defense wins championships. But it doesn't hurt if your offense scores on every full possession in the second half.Behind running back Aaron Thompson and quarterback Lucas Phillips, No. 6 Mount St. Joseph turned its game yesterday with No. 14 Gilman into a offensive highlight film, totaling four second-half touchdowns for a 42-23 victory.Playing at home, the Gaels (5-1) failed to score a touchdown on just one possession in the second half -- when they ran one play to end the game.

As time expired in yesterday's Mount St. Joseph-Loyola game, about a dozen Gaels ran up a hill behind the west-end goal post to tear down a sign that read: "Crush the Gaels."It has been a year since Loyola beat Mount St. Joseph, costing the Gaels not only a chance to win the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title outright, but a perfect season and the area's No. 1 ranking.Redemption arrived for the No. 15 Gaels yesterday, knocking off the host and No. 12 Dons, 34-27.

Mount St. Joseph can score points.The Gaels can rack up big-time numbers in field events. They'll find some more success in the sprints. And for good measure, St. Joe will strike again in distance races."

1. How will the Terps handle life after LaMont Jordan? For four seasons, Maryland's offense had a go-to guy in running back LaMont Jordan, who set school records in career rushing yards, rushing attempts and 100-yard games. With Jordan now in the NFL with the New York Jets, Maryland turns to running back by committee, including Marc Riley, Chris Downs, Bruce Perry and Jason Crawford. Riley, a senior and the most experienced, carried six times for 15 yards last year. 2. Is senior quarterback Shaun Hill the answer?

After last week's rout at the hands of DeMatha, ranked No. 2 in The Washington Post among District of Columbia-area teams, running back Aaron Thompson and his Mount St. Joseph teammates had something to say."We went extra hard in practice this week, because after last week, this game was critical," said Thompson. "We knew we had to make a statement."Anyone who saw the No. 7 Gaels' (3-1) blow out visiting Edmondson, 48-8, yesterday had to hear the message loud and clear.Thompson (6 feet 1, 200 pounds)

COLLEGE PARK -- Maryland senior wide receiver Jason Hatala set the scene last night for a three-way battle for the team's No. 1 quarterback job next fall. "I can't wait for the drama to begin," said the scrappy Hatala of the competition between returning starter Calvin McCall, gifted sophomore Latrez Harrison and versatile junior college transfer Shaun Hill. "It's going to be a real fight. I just hope they all throw the ball to me a lot." Hatala didn't exactly get his wish last night, as he caught just one pass for nine yards as the Red turned back the White, 24-14, in the annual scrimmage at Byrd Stadium that signals the end of spring practice.

COLLEGE PARK - On a night when Maryland's seniors bade a memorable farewell to Byrd Stadium, an 18-year-old with zero college football experience played with the poise of the veterans. With Tony Okanlawon out for the third straight game with an unspecified illness and Dennard Wilson, his replacement, sidelined with a strained hamstring, the Terps dipped into their depth chart and started Domonique Foxworth at cornerback. A true freshman out of Baltimore County's Western Tech, Foxworth did not play in the Terps' first nine games and was on course for a redshirt season, but he didn't look like a rookie last night.