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Nine weeks are down, and there’s one week to go. Tonight and tomorrow will mark the end of the regular season for every public school team in the state of Maryland, and there’s no better way to enter the playoffs than topping nine weeks of hard-nosed gridiron play with heated rivalries and pressure-packed contests ramified by playoff implications.
Our Game of the Week is a long-time WCAC rivalry between MSA ranked No. 1 DeMatha (9-0) and No. 14 Good Counsel (6-3). While DeMatha is favored by three touchdowns, Good Counsel running back Mohamid Ibrahim and defensive players like Joshua Paschal should boast the Falcons in this pivotal intra-conference slate.
Other games to watch on Friday are Middletown (8-1) at No. 16 Walkersville (9-0), No. 3 Damascus (9-0) at No. 20 Montgomery Blair (8-1), No. 8 Old Mill (9-0) at No. 19 Annapolis (9-0), No. 13 Georgetown Prep (7-1) vs. Episcopal (Va.) (7-0), No. 17 Franklin (7-1) at Dundalk (8-1), and Tuscarora (8-1) at Oakdale (7-2).
Reporter Ben Spector will cover Middletown-Walkersville, a game that features two of the top teams in Class 2A, and the two favorites out of the 2A West. Middletown is coming off an emphatic 27-point win against Oakdale a week ago, a team Walkersville only beat by one touchdown in Week 7. The Knights have been on the upswing since the one-point loss to Linganore during Week 3. The Lions, on the other hand, haven’t lost a game since their collapse in the Class 2A final in 2015. Both are locked in the playoffs.
In Anne Arundel County, two unbeatens collide as traditional 4A power Old Mill squares off with Annapolis. Old Mill has outscored their opponents by an average of 32.5 points while Annapolis had bested its opponents by 28.4 points per game. The winner gets homefield advantage in the 4A East.
Since the one-point loss to No. 5 Gonzaga (D.C.), Georgetown Prep has has outscored teams 167-22, including three shutouts in five games. If the Little Hoyas want to stay atop the IAC, they’ll need to get past undefeated Episcopal from Virginia.
Franklin and Dundalk have both secured playoff berths in the 3A North, but the No. 2 seed and a home playoff game next week is on the line.
In Frederick County, Oakdale, who roared to a 6-0 start and came mere minutes away from taking down 2A power Walkersville, is on the verge of watching the playoffs from the stands if things don’t fall their way against Tuscarora tonight. The Titans will lock-up the No. 2 seed in the Class 3A West behind Damascus with a W. If the Bears win, they’ll grab the No. 2 seed and likely play Tuscarora again next week. But a loss may send Oakdale packing if the cards don’t fall their way.
Who says high school football is just for Friday nights? The Saturday afternoon slate of games may be the best match-up’s we’ve had on a weekend all year.
MSA will provide coverage of No. 12 Fort Hill (9-0) and No. 25 Allegany (9-0), one of the country’s best rivalries on Saturday at 12:30 pm. NFL Films ranked Allegany-Fort Hill as a top 10 high school sports rivalry in the country.
No. 2 St. John’s (D.C.) will host No. 5 Gonzaga (D.C.) in a pivotal intra-conference match-up to determine the No. 2 seed in the WCAC playoffs.
No. 6 St. Frances Academy (9-1) and No. 15 Mount St. Joseph (7-2) are set to clash on Saturday at 2:00 pm in an MIAA tilt.
Follow Maryland Sports Access throughout the weekend for Week 10 coverage of high school football.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Kyle McFadden on Twitter
The @MDSportsAccess GOTW is a WCAC clash between No. 1 @DeMathaFootball & No. 14 @gcfootball. It will also be aired on @espn.
No. 1 DeMatha (9-0) at No. 14 Good Counsel (6-3), Friday at 8:00 pm on ESPNU; follow @k_fadd for coverage
USA Today prediction: No. 1 DeMatha 35, No. 14 Good Counsel 14
McFadden’s prediction: No. 1 DeMatha 42, No. 14 Good Counsel 21
MSA FEATURED GAMES
Middletown (8-1) at No. 16 Walkersville (9-0), Friday at 7:00 pm; follow @bspec21 for coverage
USA Today’s prediction: No. 16 Walkersville 20, Middletown 13
McFadden’s prediction: No. 16 Walkersville 14, Middletown 13
No. 12 Fort Hill (9-0) at No. 25 Allegany (9-0), Saturday at 12:30 pm; follow @k_fadd for coverage
USA Today’s prediction: No. 12 Fort Hill 35, No. 25 Allegany 20
McFadden’s prediction: No. 12 Fort Hill 28, No. 25 Allegany 21
NOTABLE GAMES
No. 5 Gonzaga (D.C.) (7-2) at No. 2 St. John’s (D.C.), Saturday at 2:00 pm
USA Today’s prediction: No. 2 St. John’s 27, No. 5 Gonzaga 14
McFadden’s prediction: No. 2 St. John’s 35, No. 5 Gonzaga 31
No. 3 Damascus (9-0) at No. 20 Montgomery Blair (8-1), Friday at 6:30 pm
USA Today’s prediction: No. 3 Damascus 42, No. 20 Blair 14
McFadden’s prediction: No. 3 Damascus 49, No. 20 Blair 21
No. 6 St. Frances Academy (9-1) at No. 15 Mount St. Joseph (7-2), Saturday at 2:00 pm
USA Today’s prediction: No. 6 St. Frances Academy 24, No. 15 MSJ 20
McFadden’s prediction: No. 6 St. Frances Academy 17, No. 15 MSJ 14
No. 8 Old Mill (9-0) vs. No. 19 Annapolis (9-0), Friday at 6:30 pm
USA Today’s prediction: No. 8 Old Mill 41, No. 19 Annapolis 27
McFadden’s prediction: No. 8 Old Mill 35, No. 19 Annapolis 28
No. 13 Georgetown Prep (7-1) vs. Episcopal (Va.) (8-0), Friday at 7:00 pm
USA Today’s prediction: No. 13 Georgetown Prep 13, Episcopal 6
McFadden’s prediction: No. 13 Georgetown Prep 14, Episcopal 13
No. 17 Franklin (7-1) vs. Dundalk (8-1), Friday at 7:00 pm
USA Today’s prediction: No. 17 Franklin 26, Dundalk 14
McFadden’s prediction: No. 17 Franklin 35, Dundalk 14
Tuscarora (8-1) at Oakdale (7-2), Friday at 7:00 pm
USA Today’s prediction: Oakdale 42, Tuscarora 24
McFadden’s prediction: Tuscarora 42, Oakdale 35
