MIAA
Since the pandemic, outside of national power St Frances, who plays a national schedule, Archbishop Spalding has been the best football program in the Baltimore area for all but a week. The Cavaliers won both of their two games in the abbreviated Spring ‘21 season, then won all of their league games in the Fall ‘21 season, before getting upset by McDonogh in the MIAA A semifinals. That was the one week since the pandemic the Cavs weren’t the best team in Baltimore not named St Frances, who has five straight national top 10 ranking under their belt.
The Cavaliers set out on a mission in ‘22 to finish the job, and that they did. Last season, the Cavaliers went through their league slate unbeaten for a second season in a row, boasting a +27.5 point differential average while doing so.
The Cavaliers sealed the deal on their first MIAA A championship by burying McDonogh in the semifinal rematch, 41-6, then put away Calvert Hall, 34-10, in the title game. This season, through two league games, the Cavaliers look every bit of the MIAA’s best.
The Cavaliers took a 34-10 victory over McDonogh in their league opener, then followed that with a sound 27-3 win over Calvert Hall on Friday, after staking a 21-3 advantage at intermission. Cavaliers Jamison Coffman recorded two touchdown receptions, and ran for another score, as the hosts won their 22nd in 23 games versus Maryland opponents since the pandemic. Junior defensive end Delmar White supplied nine tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks in the victory. The Cavaliers (4-1) host Pallotti (1-3) on Friday.
Loyola continued their impressive run in the 2023 with a 24-21 win over Mt St Joseph’s, holding off the Gaels after racing to a 17-0 halftime lead. This, a week after mounting a 35-0 halftime lead over Gonzaga and finishing with a 35-29 win over the Eagles, earning Dons coach Anthony Zehyoue Ravens Coach of the Week honors.
If it were permissible, ‘Coach Z’ would have put himself among the contenders this week, considering the Dons suffered a 40-0 loss to the Gaels last season. The Dons (2-1) visit McDonogh (1-2) on Friday, who had their game with Archbishop Carroll DC cancelled on Saturday due to the weather. Gilman moved to 3-1 with a 28-13 victory over Pallotti. The Greyhounds visit Mt St Joe (2-3) on Saturday.
MIAA B
Concordia Prep (3-1) was idle last week and travel to Archbishop Curley (2-2) on Friday, a week after the Friars registered a 30-14 win over Boys Latin (1-3). Friars senior running back Caron Madison rushed for 150 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries in the win. Madison has scored ten touchdowns in four games.
St Mary’s recorded their first win of the season with a 16-10 overtime victory versus John Carroll (2-2). The Saints, who finished 11-0 and as MIAA B champions in ‘22, travel to Boys Latin on Friday. Both St Paul’s (2-2) and Mount Carmel (2-2) were idle last week, and the two meet this week with the Crusaders hosting the Cougars.
HS Sports Analyst
Willie, a native of Chicago, and now a resident of Columbia for 40 years, is an educator at Homewood Center in Howard County, after spending 12 years as a real estate agent, following 10 years of running a small men’s retail company. Willie has contributed to Max Preps, Digital Sports, and Varsity Sports Network. Willie has produced MPSSAA top 25 rankings for both football and basketball for 15 years, across various platforms. From a large ‘sports family’, Willie’s brother Mike led Reservoir High to the 3A basketball state title game in 2018, while his nephew Anthony serves as the Indianapolis Colts College Scouting Coordinator.