MIAA A
After suffering their first loss since the ‘22 opener in week two, the defending MIAA A champion Spalding Cavaliers posted a solid, if not pretty performance in their league opening win over McDonogh on Thursday. The Cavaliers 31-14 victory pushed them to 3-1 on the season, while the Eagles slid to 2-1.
Though the Cavaliers have faced a tough slate in their first four games, with Don Bosco Prep NJ, Broadneck, and Imhotep Charter PA preceding the matchup with the Eagles, some of the struggles the offense has seen for significant portions of each of the four games has been self-inflicted, with turnovers and penalties.
Thursday’s affair was no different, as the Cavaliers offense had managed just one touchdown through deep in the second quarter. That’s when Cavs junior quarterback Malik Washington let loose with a 55 yard scoring strike to give the visitors a 17-14 lead just before intermission. The Cavaliers defense held the Eagles scoreless the rest of the way, and the offense added two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. The Cavs host Calvert Hall on Friday, while the Eagles head to Archbishop Curley on Saturday.
Loyola’s (1-1) early season roller coaster ride hit a new peak on Saturday when the Dons shocked Gonzaga before a home crowd, and registering what is arguably the program’s best win since last winning the MIAA A championship in 2008, and finishing undefeated at 11-0.
Saturday, the Dons raced out to a 35-0 halftime lead over the Eagles, and hung on for a 35-29 victory. Gonzaga came into the contest ranked among the top 300 (#269) teams in the country by High School Football America, after starting 3-0 and outscoring their first three opponents, 104-7, including a 24-0 shutout of Calvert Hall.
The Dons hit big play after big play in the first half and it proved to be too much to overcome for the Eagles. The fireworks began when Ezra Carter took the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, which was followed by an 84 yard ‘pick 6’ by Sam Navarre on the Eagles third play from scrimmage.
Ninety-five seconds into the game, and the Dons held a 14-0 lead. The Dons went ahead 28-0 on their first two possessions of the second quarter, as quarterback Brad Seiss scored on two scoring runs. Then, with under two minutes remaining in the first half, Jayden Moore ripped off a 76 yard touchdown run to give the Dons a 35-0 lead.
The Eagles had cut the deficit to 35-22 early in the fourth quarter and scored another touchdown in the final minute, but the Dons prevailed. Moore finished with ten touches producing 156 yards from scrimmage. Outside of the long run by Moore, the Dons were limited to 154 yards of offense, but his run and the scores by the defensive unit and the special teams gave the Dons their first official victory of the season.
The Dons opened the season like gangbusters, breaking out to a 21-0 lead over Dunbar in week one, and threatening the Poets 26 game winning streak. But, just before halftime, gunshots rang outside the stadium and the game was ended, and the Dons couldn’t claim victory in a game they probably deserved to. Then, in week two, the Dons suffered a 23-7 setback to Georgetown Prep, who play in the DC area’s second toughest private school league, the IAC. Seven days later, the Dons notched their best win in 15 years. The Dons visit Mt St Joe on Friday.
Calvert Hall slid to 2-2 with the Cardinals 16-10 loss to Riverdale Baptist. The Cards offense struggled, completing just 8 of 21 passes for 131 yards, and averaged just 3.8 yards per carry. Mt St Joe (2-2) saw the same ultimate result in their contest with nationally ranked Good Counsel on Saturday, losing to the Falcons, 38-8. The Gaels will look to regroup when they go see the Loyola Dons on Friday. Gilman (2-2) rose to .500 with their 45-0 rout of Boys Latin, bolstered by their defensive unit, who picked off five interceptions, and limited the Lakers to 114 yards of offense, and 2.6 yards per play. The Greyhounds travel to Pallotti (1-2) on Friday. The Panthers were idle in week three.
MIAA B
Concordia Prep opened their league play with a 49-22 victory over St Paul’s on Saturday, to move to 3-1 overall. The Saints are the MIAA B favorites, and were bestowed the #3 ranking in this week’s Baltimore Sun Top 15 rankings, which not only is the highest ranking in their program’s history, but the highest ranking ever for a MIAA B program.
The Saints defense and the running prowess of senior quarterback Keshawn Mister were just too much for the Crusaders, who slid to 2-2. The Saints defensive unit produced nine tackles for loss, two sacks, and three turnovers. Mister, for his part, rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Junior linebacker Sidney Stewart registered seven tackles, three for loss, a sack, and a blocked punt for the Saints. Crusaders senior quarterback Austin Gordon threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions. Both the Saints and Crusaders are idle this week.
Archbishop Curley (1-2) won their first game of the season in week three, edging Lawrenceville School of New Jersey, 22-21, behind their senior running back, Caron Madison, who rushed 18 times for 152 yards and scored all three of the Friars touchdowns. Dating back to last season’s opener, in 13 games, Madison has rushed for 1,804 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Friars host Boys Latin (1-2) on Friday, who are coming off of a 45-0 loss to Gilman.
St. Mary’s (1-1) earned their first victory of the season with a 20-15 win over Archbishop Carroll DC. The Saints travel to John Carroll (1-2) on Friday. The Patriots won their first game this season with a 22-13 win over Bishop O’Connell VA. Mount Carmel slid to 2-2 in a 28-21 loss to St James. Cougars freshman quarterback Jack Saboi completed 23 of 39 passes for 315 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Cougars are idle this week.
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.