The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association MIAA A Conference football playoff race is beginning to take shape, with Archbishop Spalding leading at 5-2 overall and 4-0 in league play. The Cavaliers were idle the previous week and have three games remaining as they pursue a fifth consecutive championship.
Archbishop Spalding is scheduled to visit Calvert Hall on Friday, play at St. Mary’s and face Loyola Blakefield in the regular-season finale on Nov. 6. Those games give the league leader a remaining schedule involving several teams in the playoff race.
Archbishop Spalding and McDonogh Lead the A Conference Race
McDonogh is 7-1 overall and 3-1 in league play. The Eagles defeated Loyola Blakefield 56-19 after losing at Archbishop Spalding on Oct. 9, and their remaining schedule begins with a visit to Mount St. Joseph this week before a game at Concordia Prep the following week.
McDonogh will then travel to Gilman on Nov. 7. St. Mary’s is scheduled to visit Loyola Blakefield on Friday evening, and the source states that the Saints need to defeat Loyola Blakefield and Mount St. Joseph before closing their league schedule at Archbishop Spalding to keep their playoff hopes alive.
A win over Loyola Blakefield would likely clinch a playoff spot for St. Mary’s, according to the source. Loyola Blakefield and Calvert Hall each play six league games because of the Turkey Bowl, while the other teams play seven, and the four playoff seeds will be determined by winning percentage with head-to-head results serving as the first tiebreaker.
Contenders Face Important Games
Calvert Hall is 3-4 overall and 1-2 in league play. The team is scheduled to host Archbishop Spalding on Friday before visiting Gilman the following week.
Gilman and Mount St. Joseph are each 1-3 in league play and remain in contention. Gilman is scheduled to visit Concordia Prep on Saturday before hosting Calvert Hall and McDonogh, while Mount St. Joseph is scheduled to host McDonogh on Saturday.
Concordia Prep is 4-3 overall and 2-3 in league play after defeating Calvert Hall 17-14. Concordia Prep is scheduled to host Gilman on Saturday and close its league schedule at McDonogh the following week.
The source states that Concordia Prep likely needs at least one more win to remain in contention, while two wins would clinch a playoff spot. The remaining A Conference schedule leaves multiple teams competing for the available playoff positions.
John Carroll Leads the B Conference
John Carroll leads the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference at 6-1 overall and 4-0 in league play after being idle the previous week. Archbishop Curley and Mount Carmel are tied for second at 3-1 in league play and are scheduled to meet Saturday at Under Armour Stadium.
Archbishop Curley is 3-4 overall after defeating St. Paul’s 21-12 in a Homecoming game. Mount Carmel is 6-1 overall after defeating Boys’ Latin 24-0.
Severn is 5-2 overall and 3-2 in league play after defeating St. Vincent Pallotti 33-13. Severn is scheduled to visit St. Paul’s on Friday before closing its regular season at Archbishop Curley the following week.
Boys’ Latin is 4-2 overall and 2-2 in league play and is scheduled to visit John Carroll on Friday night. Boys’ Latin will then host St. Vincent Pallotti and St. Paul’s to close the regular season.
St. Paul’s is 2-4 overall and 2-2 in league play and is attempting to reach the postseason and defend its title. St. Vincent Pallotti is 0-6 overall and 0-4 in league play.
MSB Analysis
Archbishop Spalding’s 4-0 league record gives the Cavaliers the clearest position in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association MIAA A Conference football playoff race, but the remaining schedule includes games against several contenders. McDonogh also remains in strong position, with Mount St. Joseph and Concordia Prep preceding its Nov. 7 visit to Gilman.
John Carroll leads the B Conference, while Archbishop Curley and Mount Carmel are tied for second before their meeting at Under Armour Stadium. Winning percentage will determine the A Conference playoff seeds, with head-to-head results serving as the first tiebreaker.
Source: Original report
