After going 11-1 and winning area’s toughest league, Calvert Hall College left little doubt it was the unanimous No. 1 team in the Baltimore metro area.

Tuesday afternoon, the Cardinals became state-certified. The Towson private school was voted No. 1 in the final statewide media poll. It’s the first time Calvert Hall has finished atop the state rankings.

“I’m extremely humbled to have our school even considered in the Top 10,” said Calvert Hall coach Donald Davis. “We’re keeping some good company. There are coaches with a lot of wins in there like Biff Poggi [Gilman], Bob Milloy [Good Counsel] and Bill McGregor [DeMatha].”

It’s the second time this season Calvert Hall was ranked No. 1. In week six, the Cardinals ascended the top spot after rallying to beat then-No. 1 Gilman School, 26-21, in the first night football game at Russo Stadium.

Their stay was short as Georgetown Prep upended the Cardinals, 17-14, the following week in Rockville. Calvert Hall claimed its final four decisions, including the Turkey Bowl over Loyola Blakefield to win the MIAA A crown for the first time, and its first football championship in since sharing the MSA A crown in 1982.

The Cardinals (290) received seven first-place votes to edge Class 4A state champ Urbana from Frederick County (286). Gilman finished third with 279 votes.

Class 4A semifinalist Broadneck finished seventh with Anne Arundel County rival Arundel eighth. Class 3A state champ Wilde Lake finished 10th after not being ranked in the final regular poll. The Wildecats defeated then-No. 1 Damascus in the state semifinals.

Old Mill placed 12th and River Hill, which lost to Wilde Lake in the 3A East Region finals, finished 18th. A pair of champions, MIAA B titlist Archbishop Spalding and 1A state champ Dunbar, finished 20th and 22nd, respectively.

Class 3A state runner-up Franklin placed 23rd.  A host of local schools received consideration including North Harford, Hammond, 1A state finalist Havre de Grace, Eastern Tech, Loyola Blakefield, Maryland Christian, South Carroll, Archbishop Curley and McDonogh School.

 

Maryland High School Football Media State Poll (FINAL) 

FREDERICK — The Maryland High School Football State Poll, in its 21st year,
is based on a statewide voting by sports reporters. Schools are ranked by
points received. The number in parenthesis reflects first-place votes. LW is
last week¹s ranking. The rankings are compiled by Sheldon Shealer.

Rank, School, Record, Points, LW

1. Calvert Hall College (7), 11-1, 290, 3
2. Urbana (5), 13-0, 286, 8
3. Gilman School, 7-2, 279, 2
4. Good Counsel, 10-2, 263, 5
5. Wise, 12-2, 247, 7
6. DeMatha, 9-3, 223, 4
7. Broadneck, 10-3, 212, 21
8. Arundel, 10-2, 194, 9
9. McDonough, 13-1, 193, 19
10. Wilde Lake, 11-3, 181, NR
11. Damascus, 12-1, 179, 1
12. Old Mill, 9-2, 163, 10
13. Eleanor Roosevelt, 9-3, 149, 20
14. Gaithersburg, 11-2, 129, 13
15. Sherwood, 10-2, 126, 6
16. Suitland, 9-2, 120, 11
17. Quince Orchard, 9-3, 92, 12
18. River Hill, 10-2, 85, 22
19. North Point, 9-2, 77, 16
20. Archbishop Spalding, 9-3, 60, NR
21. Middletown, 12-2, 51, NR
22. Dunbar, 13-1, 50, NR
23. Franklin, 11-3, 40, NR
24. Huntingtown, 9-4, 33, NR
25. Westlake, 9-2, 32, 15

Also Receiving Votes: North Harford (11-1, 31), Hammond (10-2, 12), Seneca Valley (8-3, 12), Havre de Grace (11-3, 11), Linganore (7-3, 11), Queen Anne¹s (12-1, 11), Georgetown Prep (7-4, 9), Eastern Tech (11-2, 8), Fort Hill (9-4, 8), Flowers (8-3, 8), Loyola Blakefield (6-5, 4), Maryland Christian (13-0, 4), South Carroll (11-1, 4), Archbishop Curley (9-3, 3), McDonogh School (6-4, 2).