Gilman is general of the Wildecats

Two years ago, Wilde Lake High boasted a talented, senior-laden squad that finished 12-2 and went all the way to the Class 3A state finals. But after the season, the Wildecats lost an astounding 16 starters to graduation. Not to mention their longtime coach, Doug Duvall, abruptly retired.

Naturally, expectations were lower heading into 2009. But first-year coach Mike Harrison took a team full of sophomores and juniors and led the Wildecats to a respectable 7-4 season and a playoff berth.

"After 2008, I was left with one returner on defense and five on offense," Harrison said. "The one guy back on defense? That was E.J. Gilman."

E.J. Gilman is the unquestioned leader of Wildecats football. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound junior linebacker-running back is a three-year varsity player and a two-year starter. One season after he backed up the veterans, Gilman exploded for over 100 tackles. Last year he didn't quite reach those totals - he had 80 tackles, three sacks and an interception - but he added a team-high 775 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns at running back. For his efforts he was named an All-County linebacker.

But individual statistics tell less than half of E.J. Gilman's story. His impact is felt in the locker room, on the sidelines, in practice, on Friday nights. Even as an underclassman, he was a natural leader.

"He's really worked hard to lead his teammates," Harrison said. "Kids listen to him and respect him. They're confident he knows what he's doing when he's running the defense out there."

In the locker room, the chatter dies when Gilman gets up and walks out to practice. During pregame warm-ups, his teammates anticipate his pep talks. And in battle, he's the one taking charge, calling out defensive signals and changing coverages.

As the Wildecats' general, Gilman has become equal parts motivator and mentor.

"I try to set the bar and lead however I have to," Gilman said. "If any of my teammates are doing something wrong or something bad happens I try to pick them up.

"After the first loss to River Hill, I told everyone it was a long season and we were going to make the playoffs," he explained. "I said I felt we had some of the best players in the state and if we all go to work together we're going to win."

Gilman's premonition proved correct.

Gilman isn't a fiery, emotional leader. In fact, he doesn't say much at all unless it's warranted. But he will deliver a speech before games, mostly because it's what's expected of a team leader.

"I'm not Ray Lewis out there, but I say enough to get everyone ready," Gilman said. "First we usually pray and then me and one other player gives a pep-talk and we get everyone fired up."

On the field, he doesn't have to yap and yell. His play speaks for itself.

In the first round of the playoffs, Wilde Lake found themselves in a grind-it-out affair with Atholton. After Gilman put his team ahead with a second quarter touchdown run, Atholton answered with a pair of touchdowns after halftime.

Thus, Wilde Lake trailed by seven with 1:50 remaining in the game. But they had the ball at their own 20-yard line. Riding their quarterback's arm and Gilman's legs, the Wildecats moved 75 yards in 1:25. With the ball at the Atholton 5 and just 25 seconds left, Harrison called the team's last timeout.

Conventional wisdom called for a pass play. But conventional wisdom never met E.J. Gilman.

"As I'm communicating with the team, E.J. stops me and says, 'Coach just give me the ball on 'power' and I'm going to score.' I looked at him and said, 'We can't do that, we don't have any timeouts.'

"And he said, 'Listen coach: I. Will. Score.' The kids all looked at E.J. and they believed him. So did I. We ran 'power' and he plowed it into the end zone."

Afterwards, Gilman explained what was going through his mind.

"During that last drive I had that little extra that players feel when they're doing well," Gilman said. "I felt like I couldn't be stopped."

Unfortunately for Wilde Lake, their two-point conversion to win the game failed. Still, the loss doesn't diminish Gilman's courageous play.

"He's a go-to kind of kid and he's not afraid of a challenge," Harrison said.

Demanding the ball in the clutch is the mark of a leader. So is never leaving the field or taking a play off, two sins Gilman has never been accused of. Harrison said Gilman is always around the ball making plays, despite certain physical limitations.

Gilman isn't tall (5-10), isn't especially fast (4.65 40-yard dash) and isn't Arnold Schwarzenegger in the weight room. But he is the most dominant player on the field.

How's he do it?

Gilman attributes his uncanny instincts to his dedication in practice. He says his cat-quick reaction time is a result of work on the basketball court. And those devastating hits he delivers on a weekly basis? Gilman says that's all psychological.

He tells a story about his hardest hit. More than three years ago, when Gilman was playing eight grade football in his hometown of Avon, Mass., he hit a kid so hard his eyes lost focus. When the kid finally got up, he wobbled slightly. Then he tumbled over like a Jenga pyramid.

"After hits like that running backs are scared to run near me - they tense up," Gilman said. "I like that feeling. It means I've got them beat."

The problem for Gilman is that he won't be doing much intimidating outside of Howard County. The All-County defender may be Wilde Lake's best player, but that's probably not enough to warrant a Division I scholarship. With a less-than-ideal height and 40 time, he's likely destined for I-AA, according to his coach.

"The height-speed combination puts him in a quandary when a school like Maryland comes in," Harrison said. "He's built like a corner, but he doesn't run like a corner. So that's why he'll probably be a I-AA kid. But that's OK - he'll do well wherever he plays."