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MSB Weekly Magazine – 2026-10-04

By Brian Hradsky October 4, 2026
Maryland Sports Blog Weekly Magazine

Maryland’s Weekly Sports Magazine • September 27 – October 4, 2026

Maryland Sports Blog Weekly

NFL Power Rankings After Week 3: Bills, 49ers Lead the Pack as Raiders Make Massive Jump

By Brian Hradsky Three weeks into the 2026 NFL season, the league already looks considerably different than it did…

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Catch up fast, then jump into the complete articles below.

Brian’s Take: The Week That Was

Brian's Take recaps 21 MSB opinion takes published during the week. These are the key conclusions from MSB's reporting, analysis and game coverage.

1

Orioles Finish 2026 at 79-82: Pete Alonso, Coby Mayo and Young Core Provide Bright Spots in Disappointing Season

The 2026 Orioles were disappointing, but this season was not a complete disaster. Pete Alonso was outstanding. Baltimore finally spent major money on a legitimate middle-of-the-order hitter, and Alonso responded with 43 home runs, 113 RBIs and one of the best power seasons by an Oriole in years. Coby Mayo might be the most encouraging development for the future. The batting average needs to improve and the strikeouts need to come down, but 24 home runs in 412 at-bats from a 24-year-old should have Orioles fans excited. The power Baltimore spent years hearing about finally appeared consistently at the major-league level. Brandon Young belongs in that conversation as well. Baltimore desperately needs to develop its…

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2

Ravens Add Veteran Center Andre James, Promote K’Von Wallace Amid Roster Shuffle

Signing Andre James is a logical response to a position that has been hit unusually hard by injuries. Losing one starting center is difficult. Losing three players capable of handling the position before Week 4 forces a team to search outside the organization, and Baltimore found one of the more experienced options available. The biggest question will be how quickly James can learn the offense. Ioane appears set to get the first opportunity against Tennessee, but having a veteran with 61 career starts behind him gives the Ravens significantly more flexibility than they had coming out of the Dallas game. Wallace’s promotion is also worth watching. Baltimore’s secondary has not performed consistently, and Wallace provides…

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3

NFL Power Rankings After Week 3: Bills, 49ers Lead the Pack as Raiders Make Massive Jump

Three weeks have created far more questions than answers, but Buffalo and San Francisco have done enough to earn the top two spots in the Maryland Sports Blog rankings. Kansas City remains Kansas City, Minnesota continues winning, and Las Vegas has officially gone from September curiosity to one of the NFL's most interesting stories. For Maryland fans, Baltimore's victory over Dallas was enormous. The Ravens did not dominate, and there are still issues that need to be corrected, but they won the type of chaotic, late-game battle that has slipped away from them too many times in recent seasons. At 2-1 with the entire AFC North holding the same record, every divisional game is going…

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5

Slow Start Costs Capitals in 3-1 Loss to Lightning

There is no reason to panic over this loss. Washington played Carolina and Tampa Bay on consecutive nights, on the road, and still came away from the weekend 1-1-0. More importantly, both goaltenders have given the Capitals a chance to win, and Lindgren was excellent Saturday despite taking the loss. The first period cannot become a habit, however. Washington looked tired, lost too many puck battles and spent far too much time chasing Tampa Bay instead of forcing the Lightning to defend. The Capitals were better over the final two periods, but against teams such as Tampa Bay, giving away the opening 20 minutes can be enough to decide the game. Sourdif scoring is another…

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6

Hershey Bears enter 2026-27 season with intriguing mix of proven veterans, top Capitals prospects

This might be one of the most interesting Hershey Bears teams we have covered in years. The back-to-back Calder Cup teams were veteran-heavy groups built to win immediately. This version of the Bears feels different. Hershey is still trying to win, but Bears fans are also getting an extended look at players who could become important pieces of the Washington Capitals over the next several seasons. Cristall and Parascak are the two players I will be watching most closely. Both have legitimate offensive upside, and getting them significant minutes in Hershey could be extremely valuable for their development. I also really like what Hershey has done around its young players. Brodzinski is exactly the type…

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7

Capitals Look to Stay Perfect Against Lightning in Tampa

Washington's season-opening performance was about as encouraging as the Capitals could have hoped for. Tuch immediately looked comfortable, Leonard scored, Hutson scored, Chychrun produced offensively and Thompson was excellent in net. Saturday provides a different test. The Capitals are playing their second road game in two nights against a rested Tampa Bay team desperate to respond after getting embarrassed in its opener. That makes Washington's depth especially important. If the Capitals can weather Tampa Bay's early push, stay out of the penalty box and continue receiving offense throughout the lineup, they have an opportunity to return home with a 2-0-0 record. The most encouraging development after one game is that Washington already looks capable of…

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8

Alex Tuch Scores Twice as Capitals Open Season With 5-2 Win Over Hurricanes

If the Capitals wanted to make a statement on opening night, they accomplished it. Washington did not simply beat Carolina. The Capitals jumped on the defending Stanley Cup champions immediately and forced the Hurricanes to spend almost the entire night trying to recover. Tuch scoring twice in his debut could not have been a better start for one of Washington's biggest offseason acquisitions, while Hutson and Leonard finding the net provided another encouraging sign for the organization's younger core. Thompson deserves just as much credit. Washington took too many penalties, and against a team as dangerous as Carolina that could have turned a comfortable lead into a completely different game. Thompson made sure it did…

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9

Capitals Open 2026-27 Season With Major Test Against Defending Champion Hurricanes

This might be the perfect opening game for Washington. Carolina is the defending Stanley Cup champion, the game is on the road and the Hurricanes have consistently been one of Washington's toughest Metropolitan Division opponents. There will be no easing into the season. The Capitals look much deeper than they did a year ago. Adding Tuch, Kyrou and Jenner to an offense that already includes Ovechkin, Strome, Wilson, Dubois, Protas and Leonard gives Washington legitimate scoring options throughout the lineup. The biggest question is how quickly everything comes together. Washington has the talent and size to make this a difficult game for Carolina, but the Hurricanes will punish turnovers and defensive mistakes. The Capitals need…

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10

Hershey Bears Sign Veteran Goaltender Cal Petersen to AHL Contract

This looks like a sensible response to an unexpected change in Hershey's goaltending situation. Losing Stevenson on waivers could have left the Bears entering the season with a relatively inexperienced group, but Petersen immediately gives Hershey a veteran option with 354 combined NHL and AHL regular-season appearances. Petersen does not need to reproduce the best numbers of his NHL career to make this signing valuable. If he can provide steady AHL goaltending while Gibson and the organization's younger players continue developing, Hershey should have considerably more stability in the crease. The Bears have spent years building teams capable of competing deep into the spring. Signing Petersen gives them another experienced piece as they begin the…

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11

Washington Capitals 2026-27 Season Preview: An Aggressive Offseason Sets Up a Fascinating Year in Washington

This could be one of the most fascinating Capitals seasons since the 2018 Stanley Cup run. Ovechkin's 22nd season would already make 2026-27 historic. He enters it with 929 goals, another contract, the NHL goal-scoring record already in his possession and an opportunity to push that record even farther. But this season should not be viewed only as an Ovechkin farewell tour. Washington's offseason moves say otherwise. Tuch gives the Capitals another major goal-scoring threat. Kyrou adds speed and offensive creativity. Jenner provides versatility, experience and toughness. Leonard could be on the verge of becoming a star. Ilya Protas and Miroshnichenko have earned opening-night roster spots, while Hutson could become one of the organization's most…

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12

Jets Claim Clay Stevenson Off Waivers From Capitals, Ending Four-Year Run in Washington Organization

The Capitals knew there was a chance they could lose Stevenson when they placed him on waivers, and Winnipeg clearly saw enough value to make the claim. It is unfortunate for Washington and Hershey because Stevenson was a true organizational development success story. He went from an undrafted free agent to the ECHL, became a Calder Cup champion with Hershey and eventually worked his way into NHL games with Washington. His .912 save percentage with Hershey last season and flashes at the NHL level showed why another organization would be interested. For Stevenson, however, this could be the opportunity he has been waiting for. Instead of returning to the AHL as organizational depth, he now…

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13

Maryland Collapses After Fast Start in 48-23 Loss to Nebraska

This loss might be even more frustrating than the final score suggests because Maryland showed that it was capable of competing with Nebraska. The Terrapins dominated the first quarter, accumulated more than 200 yards and eventually built a 23-14 advantage. Maryland was not physically overwhelmed from the opening kickoff; it helped turn a winnable football game into a 25-point loss. The McDougle pick-six was obviously the biggest turning point, but Maryland's problems went far beyond one interception. Twelve penalties for 115 yards, a 1-for-14 performance on third down and another two-interception game from Washington created far too many obstacles. Nebraska is a good football team, and Maryland repeatedly made its job easier. The most alarming…

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14

Towson Suffers Heartbreaking 41-40 Loss to Monmouth as Defensive Breakdowns, Costly Penalty Prove Fatal

This one is brutal. Towson should have won this game. The offense put up 40 points. Indorf threw four touchdown passes. Towson went 6-for-6 in the red zone and converted nine third downs. Even after surrendering the lead, the Tigers drove down the field and scored on fourth down with 1:41 remaining. The offense did enough. The defense did not. You cannot build a 27-17 lead and then allow an opponent to turn that into a 41-34 advantage. You cannot tie the game at 34 in the fourth quarter and immediately surrender a 75-yard touchdown drive. And when you are 0-5 and desperately trying to win your first game, you absolutely cannot take a stupid…

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15

Cameron Edge Leads Morgan State Past Villanova in 38-35 Thriller

This feels like one of the biggest wins Morgan State has earned under Damon Wilson. Beating Towson was significant. Following it by going on the road and beating Villanova makes the Towson victory look less like one great afternoon and more like evidence that Morgan State has taken another step as a program. Cameron Edge changes what is possible for this team. Morgan State has frequently relied on defense and physical football under Wilson. Saturday showed the Bears can win a completely different type of game. Villanova scored 35 points and rushed for nearly 200 yards, meaning Morgan State needed its quarterback to go win the football game. Edge did exactly that. Throwing for 444…

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16

Navy Falls Short Against Air Force, 14-9, in Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy Opener

This was a frustrating loss because Navy's defense played well enough to win the game. Holding Air Force to 14 points, shutting the Falcons out for the entire second half and forcing two interceptions should have been enough. Instead, Navy converted just one third down, rushed for only 110 yards and failed to capitalize after getting the ball at the Air Force 49 early in the fourth quarter. The biggest concern is the running game. Navy's offense is built around forcing defenses to respect the option and then punishing them when they overcommit. Air Force largely took that element away Saturday, and outside of the 68-yard Gutierrez-to-Brasfield touchdown, Navy struggled to generate explosive offense. Gutierrez…

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17

Girl Scout Unit 58 Meeting Set for November 20, 2026, at Hammond High School Media Center

The upcoming Girl Scout Unit 58 meeting at Hammond High School highlights the school’s role as a supportive community hub that extends beyond athletics and academics. Hosting such gatherings contributes to leadership development and community engagement among young women in Howard County, showcasing the school’s commitment to fostering diverse extracurricular opportunities. Source: Original report

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18

Towson Generals Boys Varsity Football Shut Out Chesapeake 12-0 at Home

The Towson Generals' 12-0 shutout win over Chesapeake demonstrates their defensive strength and effective game management. This kind of balanced performance is essential as they look to build momentum for the remainder of their season and position themselves well for the playoffs. Maintaining such defensive consistency will be key for Towson's success moving forward. Source: Original report

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19

Reservoir High School to Host SGA General Assembly on May 26, 2027

The SGA General Assembly at Reservoir High School offers a valuable platform for student leaders to develop governance skills and actively contribute to the school community. Events like this promote leadership and engagement among the Reservoir Gators, reinforcing a culture of student involvement that benefits the entire student body beyond athletics and academics.Source: Original report

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21

Parkville Knights Mixed Varsity Badminton Falls 2-9 to Western School of Technology

While the Parkville Knights faced a tough challenge against Western School of Technology, matches like this provide valuable experience for the team. Competing against strong opponents allows the Knights to identify areas for improvement and build resilience as the season continues. Maintaining focus on development and teamwork will be key for Parkville's badminton program moving forward. Source: Original report

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By the Numbers

35

Full stories

5

Sports sections

21

MSB Takes

8

Days covered

Quote of the Week

“Our fans showed up in record numbers for the Frederick Keys during our 2026 return to affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles, and that franchise-record season is exactly why we wanted to get these 2027 packages in their hands as early as possible,” said David Krakower,…

Frederick Keys Baseball Announce 2027 Season Ticket Packages After Franchise-Record 83-Win Season

This Week in Maryland Sports

Friday, October 2

Thursday, October 1

Tuesday, September 29

Monday, September 28

Saturday, October 3

Wednesday, September 30

Sunday, September 27

Sunday, October 4

Full Issue

Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Ravens

Washington Capitals and Hershey Bears

Maryland College Sports

Maryland High School Sports

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