Breakdown of Cavaliers’ 2017 schedule

Daesean Winston will be one of several big-play performers returning for Archbishop Spalding. The Cavaliers finished No. 2 in VSN’s Top 20 last fall.

With the start of practice for the 2017 high school football season approaching, Varsity Sports Network’s Derek Toney takes a look at the regular season itinerary for select area teams.

Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers 

2016 record: 9-2 (MIAA A Conference runner-up)

2016 review: The Cavaliers enjoyed their best showing in the MIAA A and finished No. 2 in the final VSN Top 20. The Anne Arundel County school graduated a talented senior class, led by quarterback and VSN Offensive Player of the Year Evan Fochtman, but will be explosive offensively again in 2017 with all-league receiver Jamari Jones leading the charge.

2017 opponents’ win/loss record (from 2016): 77-40 (.658)

Toughest 2017 opponent: St. Frances Academy. The Panthers had an amazing turnaround going from last place in 2015 to the MIAA A crown and area’s top-ranking last fall. The east Baltimore school, led by four-star defensive end Eyabi Anoma, will be the team to beat in the MIAA A in 2017.

Most intriguing 2017 opponent: Bishop Moore. The Orlando school, which won the Florida Class 5A state crown in 2015 (quarterfinalist in 2016), will be the centerpiece of Spalding’s daunting pre-MIAA A schedule (Class 4A state semifinalist Annapolis and perennial WCAC power Good Counsel are other matchups). Offensive linemen Eric Seidelman, a Central Florida commit, will lead the Hornets.

By a number: 8. Games Spalding scored at least 42 points last season.

2017 schedule

Sept. 1 at Annapolis (11-2)

Sept. 8 vs. Bishop Moore (11-2)

Sept. 15 vs. Good Counsel (6-5)

Sept. 22 vs. Loyola Blakefield (5-6)

Sept. 29 vs. McDonogh School (8-3)

Oct. 6 vs. Friendship Collegiate Academy (10-2)

Oct. 14 at Calvert Hall College (7-5)

Oct. 20 vs. St. Frances Academy (10-2)

Oct. 28 at Gilman School (2-9)

Nov. 4 at Mount St. Joseph (7-4)