Maryland high school football notebook (9/21/2023)

Southern-Garrett suspends its season after two games; St. Frances gets in the win column; Top games to watch and the latest Top 25 State media rankings

OAKLAND, MARYLAND – The 2023 football season is over for Southern-Garrett High. The Rams have disbanded after playing two games.

According to the Cumberland Times-News, Garrett County Public School officials and Southern administrators made the decision after Southern postponed its junior varsity game with Tucker County (West Virginia) on September 11 with only 12 healthy players.

The next day, the Rams forfeited their varsity contest with Fort Hill for having a small number of healthy players.

“The decision was made due to the early occurrence of several player injuries and a concern for the greater risk of injury to the remaining players,” a release from Garrett County Public Schools read. “Additionally, moving up JV players would also put them at higher risk on the varsity level than continuing to play other JV teams.

“The focus of the school’s football program now shifts to the Junior Varsity team. The aim is to build a healthy, strong, and competitive team of young athletes who will enjoy participating in the sport.

“By doing so, the administrators feel that this will provide an opportunity to further develop the JV team, making for a more positive outlook for the future of the football program at SGHS.”

Friday night lights at Southern-Garrett High School have gone dark after Garrett County and the school jointly decided to cancel the remainder of the Rams' 2023 varsity football season. The decision was based on safety concerns after the team emerged from its last game with only 12 healthy players and had to forfeit last week's game with Fort Hill

Southern’s varsity players will have the option to play on the junior varsity. The Rams had three seniors on the varsity team, and they can play in the junior varsity games with approval from the opposing head coach.

Southern had just 17 players in uniform for its Sept. 8 game against Moorefield (West Virginia). The Times-News said two players suffered knee injuries and several others were banged up. More than one player quit the team.

The Rams lost to Moorefield, 43-8. Southern lost to Mountain Ridge, 49-0, in the season opener September 1.

Per Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association rules, Southern’s remaining opponents will have the option to claim a forfeit win because Southern disbanded after playing at least one game.

Finally, a win for St. Frances

After nearly 7,300 miles over five states, St. Frances tasted victory over the weekend. The Panthers defeated Utah’s West, 21-6, for their first victory of the season.

Senior quarterback Michael Van Buren accounted for all three scores for the Panthers. The University of Oregon commit scored two rushing touchdowns and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Damon Hall.

The Baltimore City private school, which opened the season No. 4 in SBLive/Sports Illustrated’s Power 25 national rankings, went through a gauntlet to start 2023 with SBLive’s Top 25 squads Buford (Ga.), St. John’s Bosco (Calif.) and Chaminade-Madonna (Fla.) along with Illinois power East St. Louis.

The Panthers went winless, knocking them out of the Top 25 as well as the top in Maryland’s state media poll, a position they’ve held for nearly five years.

St. Frances will get a chance to regain its luster Friday evening against SBLive/Sports Illustrated’s No. 1 Mater Dei (California) at Johns Hopkins University. Mater Dei has won 33 of its last 34 decisions, including a 34-18 home victory over St. Frances in 2019, with Carolina Panther rookie quarterback Bryce Young leading the way.

Maryland's top high school football games to watch in Week 3

Calvert Hall (2-2) at Archbishop Spalding (3-1): The Cardinals look to atone for a pair of blowout losses to Cavaliers in 2022, including a 34-10 drubbing in the MIAA A Conference championship game.

Glenelg (2-1) at Reservoir (3-0): The undefeated Gators, under first-year coach Matt Banta, look to continue their best start since 2007 and serve notice as a contender in Howard County.

Linganore (3-0) at Oakdale (3-0): Frederick County rivals and Class 3A state championship contenders collide.

Mater Dei (4-0) vs. St. Frances (1-4) at Johns Hopkins University: A disappointing season for St. Frances can take a major positive turn with an upset of the nation’s No. 1 and California’s top squad in Mater Dei.

Mount St. Joseph (2-2) at Loyola Blakefield (1-0): This Maryland Top 25 match-up features squads hoping to contend for the MIAA A Conference championship.

Maryland High School Football Media State Poll (9/19/2023)

This biggest news in this week's Maryland High School Football Media State Poll is the drop of Calvert Hall from No. 10 all the way to No. 24 after a 16-10 loss to previously unranked Riverdale Baptist.

Riverdeale Baptist gained entry into the poll with the victory at No. 16. No one else in the rankings moved more than two spots, up or down. Quince Orchard did mover past Archbishop Spalding, going from No. 5 to No. 4 with the Cavaliers moving back one spot. Concordia Prep moved into the Top after defeating St. Paul's 49-22 in its MIAA B Conference league opener.

Here is this week's complete Maryland High School Football Media State Poll.

Rank, School, Record, Points, LW

1. Good Counsel (8), 2-1, 248, 1

2. DeMatha (2), 3-0, 242, 2

3. St. Frances Academy, 1-4, 228, 3

4. Quince Orchard, 3-0, 222, 4

5. Archbishop Spalding, 3-1, 210, 5

6. Flowers, 3-0, 200, 6

7. Rock Creek Christian, 2-2, 190, 7

8. Wise, 2-1, 179, 8

9. Oakdale, 3-0, 170, 9

10. Concordia Prep, 3-1, 157, 11

11. Georgetown Prep, 3-0, 146, 12

12. Milford Mill Academy, 2-1, 137, 13

13. Loyola Blakefield, 1-1, 129, 15

14. North Point, 3-0, 123, 14

15. Northwest, 3-0, 111, 16

16. Bishop McNamara, 4-0, 101, 17

17. McDonogh, 2-1, 85, 19

18. Broadneck, 2-1, 67, 20

19. Mount St. Joseph, 2-2, 63, 18

20. Riverdale Baptist, 2-1, 62, NR

21. Northern-Calvert, 3-0, 46, 22

22. Dunbar, 1-0, 36, 21

23. Fort Hill, 3-0, 32, 23

24. Calvert Hall, 2-2, 26, 10

25. Damascus, 2-1, 10, 25

Others Receiving Votes: Calvert (2-0, 8), Linganore (3-0, 8), Patuxent (3-0, 8), Frederick (2-1, 4), Mountain Ridge (3-0, 2).