Spalding scores a big national win
Calvert Hall, Loyola, McDonogh and Mount St. Joe also pull off big regional victories
For those who thought the Archbishop Spalding football team would take a major step back in 2025, after the graduation of star quarterback Malik Washington, there may be a need for some recalculations. Yes, the Cavaliers did lose their season opener, on the road in Indiana, to nationally ranked Brownsburg, but the Cavaliers rebounded this week to absolutely overpower another national power, with a 58-28 humbling of Ohio's Bishop Hopan, Saturday night at Spalding.
The Cavs may not be able to go undefeated, as they did a year ago, but they remain the favorite to win another MIAA A Conference title in 2025, which would be their third straight.
Those with plans to challenge Spalding for the A Conference crown, however, came up with some impressive wins as well last week.
Playing in Wilmington, Delaware at Salesianum School, McDonogh, which has appeared in the last two MIAA title games, defeated St. Anthony's (NY), 38-21, to improve to 2-0. Also at Salesianum, Mount St. Joseph moved to 2-0 with a 14-7 victory over Mount Zion Prep.
Closer to home, Calvert Hall, playing its season opener, scored a 33-7 win over Penn Charter, while Loyola Blakefield traveled to Scranton, Pa. and routed Scranton Prep, 45-13. St. Mary's also opened its season this week with a 48-0 win over Bishop Ireton. Also in the A Conference, Concordia Prep was defeated, 35-0, by Bishop McNamara and Gilman lost to Bullis School, 16-13.
In the B Conference on Friday, Boys' Latin and St. Paul's each suffered heartbreaking, one-point losses, with the Lakers falling to Landon School, 21-20, and St. Alban's edging the Crusaders, 29-28.
John Carroll picked up the lone win for the B Conference on Friday, blanking St. Stephen & St. Agnes, 27-0. Other results included St. Vincent Pallotti falling to Georgetown Prep, 25-22, and St. John's Catholic Prep losing to Potomac School, 28-12.
On Saturday, Archbishop Curley traveled to Hagerstown and topped St. James, 30-28, while Our Lady of Mount Carmel defeated Annapolis Area Christian, 28-17.
This weekend features another exciting slate of non-conference action for teams in both the A and B Conferences, with several playing Maryland public schools, which kickoff their seasons this week. The lone contest featuring two MIAA schools has Curley visiting Calvert Hall on Friday night, for a B vs. A encounter. Here is the complete rundown on the MIAA football schedule for Friday and Saturday.
Friday, Sept. 5
A Conference
Loyola Blakefield at Georgetown Prep, 6:30 pm
Archbishop Curley at Calvert Hall, 7 pm
Hun School (NJ) at Archbishop Spalding, 7 pm
Broadneck at St. Mary's, 7 pm
B Conference
John Carroll at Landon, 3:30 pm
Severna Park at Boys' Latin, 4:15 pm
Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Bishop Ireton, 4:30 pm
Severn at Annapolis, 6 pm
St. John's Catholic Prep at Oakdale, 6:30 pm
St. Vincent Pallotti at Oakland Mills, 7 pm
Indpendent
Annapolis Area Christian at Ben Franklin, 4 pm
Saturday, Sept. 6
A Conference
Long Island Lutheran (NY) at Concordia Prep, 12 pm
St. Michael the Archangel (Va.) vs. McDonogh, at Riverbend HS, 12 pm
Haverford (Pa.) at Gilman, 1 pm
St. Mary's Ryken at Mount St. Joseph, at Under Armour Stadium, 7 pm
B Conference
North East at St. Paul's, 12 pm