Maryland high school football notebook (10/18/2023)

Blake and Walter Johnson are undefeated in MoCo; Games to Watch and this week's Maryland State Media Football Poll

To the surprise of few, especially in Montgomery County, Quince Orchard is again undefeated and appears headed to another Class 4A state championship appearance. But the reigning champ Cougars aren’t the only unbeaten from Montgomery.

Blake and Walter Johnson are both 7-0 with two games remaining in the regular season. Blake got one of its biggest victories in recent years with a 34-13 rout of Paint Branch last weekend.

The Bengals last defeated Paint Branch in 2014. Blake’s 7-0 run is the best start in program history.

"Hard work is the only explanation for this," Blake coach Bryon Marshall said to the Washington Post. "In the offseason, in the weight room, just commitment to a common goal. This is a group that wants to be great."

The Bengals used six second half turnovers to pull away (led 14-7 at halftime). Blake went 8-4 last season, losing to Dundalk in the Class 3A state quarterfinals.

Currently, Blake is the overall No. 1 seed for the upcoming 4A/3A state playoffs. The Bengals have Northwood and Blair on the road to complete the regular season.

Junior Kai Cooper caught a touchdown pass for Blake in its victory over Paint Branch last week. The Bengals are off to a 7-0 start.

Photo courtesy of Blake Athletics

For just the sixth time since 1974, Walter Johnson will have a winning season. The Wildcats, who defeated Wheaton, 46-6, last weekend, have had three straight winning seasons.

Walter Johnson, which had one winning season (2011; 6-4) between 2004 and 2019, sits atop the 4A North Region playoff standings. The Wildcats and Quince Orchard (West Region) are the only undefeated teams in 4A.

Senior quarterback Charlie Blessing said Walter Johnson, despite being undefeated, is still fighting for respect.

“People have this thing about WJ, saying we're not a football school," Blessing said to the Washington Post. "I say play us next week. We'll have fun."

Walter Johnson has arguably its toughest challenges ahead at Sherwood (5-2) Thursday and Winston Churchill (6-1), fresh off an upset win over previously undefeated Northwest last weekend.

Games to watch in Week 8

Northern-Calvert (5-2) at Calvert (6-1) - Calvert appears primed to beat its Southern Maryland Athletic Conference rival for the first time since 2016.

Old Mill (6-1) at Glen Burnie (5-2) - Old Mill looks to move closer to the Anne Arundel County title against an up-and-coming Glen Burnie squad hoping to make a charge at the No. 2 spot in the 4A East Region playoff standings.

Perry Hall (7-0) at Milford Mill (6-1) - The surprising Gators put their perfect mark on the line against defending Class 2A state champ Millers, with the winner moving into prime position for the Baltimore County Division I crown.

Quince Orchard (7-0) at Northwest (6-1) - Defending 4A state champ Cougars look to take the final step towards another perfect regular season against Northwest, who’s responsible for their only blemish (2019 4A state semifinals) in the last three-plus seasons.

No doubt for Good Counsel in state rankings

After holding off DeMatha last weekend, Good Counsel is the unanimous No. 1 in the Maryland State Media Football poll.

The Falcons (6-1), who defeated the previously undefeated Stags in overtime (35-28) received all 12 first-place votes to hold the top spot for the seventh consecutive week.

The top 5 remain intact with DeMatha, Archbishop Spalding, Quince Orchard and St. Frances. Wise, Flowers, Oakdale, Concordia Prep and Milford Mill make up the second 5.

Winston Churchill, coming off a victory over previously undefeated Northwest, debuts at No. 24. Defending Class 1A state champ Fort Hill moved from No. 18 to 14th,

Northwest took the biggest fall this week, going from 15th to No. 25.

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

Rank, School, Record, Points, Last week’s rank

1. Good Counsel (10 first place votes), 6-1, 250, 1

2. DeMatha, 6-1, 242, 2

3. Archbishop Spalding, 6-1, 229, 3

4. Quince Orchard, 7-0, 218, 4

5. St. Frances Academy, 2-5, 213, 5

6. Wise, 6-1, 200, 8

7. Flowers, 6-1, 187, 6

8. Oakdale, 7-0, 183, 7

9. Concordia Prep, 6-1, 167, 9

10. Milford Mill Academy, 6-1, 159, 11

11. Georgetown Prep, 5-1, 150, 13

12. Bishop McNamara, 6-1, 140, 12

13. North Point, 7-0, 133, 14

14. Fort Hill, 7-0, 116, 18

15. Loyola Blakefield, 3-2, 107, 17

16. Mount St. Joseph, 5-3, 98, 21

17. McDonogh, 4-2, 88, 16

18. Dunbar, 5-0, 77, 19

19. Patuxent, 7-0, 54, 23

20. Linganore, 5-1, 53, 25

21. Riverdale Baptist, 4-3, 39, 22

22. Old Mill, 6-1, 38, 24

23. Broadneck, 5-2, 27, 25

24. Winston Churchill, 6-1, 26, not ranked

25. Northwest, 6-1, 16, 15