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Top 10 games of the 2024 season

tabnews August 19, 2024
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Are you ready for some high school football?

Some of Maryland's top teams will start their season this weekend.

What are the most important games on the schedule? Check out our top 10 matchups below, including several featuring USA TODAY preseason Super 25 teams.

All national team rankings are from the preseason Super 25. All state team rankings are from MaxPreps. All recruiting rankings are from 247 Sports.

1. St. Frances in Mater Dei (California), September 20

This is the third of four meetings with nationally ranked teams that Baltimore's 13th-ranked private school St. Frances will play, and the biggest, as Mater Dei is ranked No. 1.

The Monarchs, based in Santa Ana, about 20 miles southeast of Los Angeles, boast 10 players in 247 Sports' national recruiting rankings, led by junior WR Chris Henry Jr. (2026 No. 3, Ohio State), junior OT Kodi Greene (2026 No. 28, Oregon), junior WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (2026 No. 55), senior CB Chuck McDonald (2025 No. 96, Alabama) and junior DL ​​Tomuhini Topui (2026 No. 98).

The Panthers have four nationally ranked recruits: junior edge rusher Zion Elee (2026 No. 2), junior S Jireh Edwards (2026 No. 43), senior CB Blake Woodby (2025 No. 128, Auburn) and senior S Byron Baldwin (2025 No. 231, Indiana).

Watch St. Frances vs. Mater Dei (California) on NFHS Network

2. IMG Academy (Florida) in St. Frances, November 1st

The last of the Panthers' four meetings with nationally ranked opponents will also be St. Frances' first home game of the season after 10 consecutive away games, including two trips to California and another to Texas.

IMG Academy in Bradenton, about 25 miles south of the Tampa/St. Petersburg metropolitan area, begins the season as the No. 2 team in the preseason Super 25. The Ascenders boast 12 nationally ranked recruits, led by junior DL ​​Elijah Golden (2026 No. 22), junior OY Keenyi Pepe (2026 No. 39), junior S Zech Fort (2026 No. 46), junior edge rusher Jake Kreul (2026 No. 56), senior WR Donovan Olugbode (2025 No. 68, Missouri) and senior LBs Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (2025 No. 70) and Gavin Nix (2025 No. 88, Miami).

3. St. Frances in Duncanville (Texas), September 14th

The Panthers' second test against a nationally ranked opponent is the game against the 7th-ranked Panthers, who are based southwest of Dallas.

Duncanville is led by a trio of nationally ranked recruits: senior WR Dakorien Moore (2025 No. 5, Oregon), senior QB Keelon Russell (2025 No. 10, Alabama) and junior edge rusher Kevin Ford Jr. (2026 No. 66).

4. St. Joseph's Prep (Pa.) at Good Counsel, Sept. 20

This is a matchup between two teams ranked No. 1 in their states. St. Joseph's also begins the season ranked No. 15 nationally.

Based in Olney, a northern suburb of DC, Good Counsel is led by senior S Faheem Delane (2025 No. 1 state, No. 51 nationally, Ohio State) and senior WR DaMarion Fowlkes (2025 No. 10 state, Pittsburgh).

St. Joseph's in Philadelphia has three nationally ranked seniors: DL Maxwell Roy (2025 No. 153, Ohio State), LB Cameron Smith (2025 No. 167, Penn State) and RB Isaiah West (2025 No. 217, Ohio State).

5. DeMatha in Washington (Ohio), September 20

Washington ranks first in Ohio and 23rd nationally. DeMatha ranks third in Maryland.

The Tigers from Massillon, about 20 miles south of Akron, are led by senior OT Nolan Davenport (2025 State No. 12, Wisconsin).

The Stags, from Hyattsville, a suburb of DC, are led by senior RB Bud Coombs (2025 state No. 23, Maryland) and junior WR Lavar Keys (2026 state No. 10, Penn State).

6. St. Frances at Orange Lutheran (California), September 6

In their first trip to California, the Panthers will face the Lancers, who are ranked 24th nationally.

Orange Lutheran, located about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles, is led by junior LB Talanoa Ili (2026 national No. 29), junior OL Sam Utu (2026 national No. 71), senior QB TJ Lateef (2025 state No. 32, Nebraska) and senior TE AJ Ia (2025 state No. 38, Arizona State).

Watch St. Frances vs. Orange Lutheran (Calif.) on NFHS Network

7. Archbishop Spalding visits Archbishop Hoban (Ohio), 23 August

The Cavaliers begin the season ranked No. 4 in Maryland. Archbishop Hoban is ranked No. 2 in Ohio.

Spalding, located in Severn, about 15 miles south of Baltimore, is led by senior QB Malik Washington (2025 national No. 156, Maryland).

Akron-based Hoban is led by junior CB Elbert Hill (2026 national No. 54), junior OT Sam Greer (2026 national No. 222) and senior LB Eli Lee (2025 state No. 17, Ohio State).

8. Freedom (Va.) at DeMatha, September 13

The Stags will host the Eagles, who are ranked second in Virginia.

Freedom, located in Woodbridge, about 25 miles southwest of DC, is led by senior WR Carleton Preston (2025 State No. 15, Clemson).

9. Good advice at DePaul Catholic (NJ), September 6

The Falcons will play this season-opening away game against DePaul, ranked second in New Jersey.

The Spartans, based in Wayne, about 25 miles northwest of New York City, are led by senior WRs De'zie Jones (2025 national No. 228, Ohio State) and Elijah Burress (2025 state No. 13, Notre Dame), junior QB Derek Zammit (2026 national No. 220), senior S DeShawn Stewart (2025 state No. 15, Ohio State) and senior OL Michael Troutman (2025 state No. 22, Penn State).

10. Archbishop Stepinac (NY) in McDonogh, August 30

The Eagles open the season at No. 7 in Maryland and have an opening home test against Stepinac, No. 3 in New York.

McDonogh, based in Owings Mills, a suburb in northwest Baltimore, is led by senior CB Brandon Finney (2025 national No. 95, Oregon) and senior Jeff Exinor Jr. (2025 state No. 6, Penn State).

The Crusaders, based in White Plains, about 30 miles north of New York City, are led by senior OL Denzil Williams (2025 State No. 15, Boston College).

Watch Maryland high school football on the NFHS Network

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