Local upstarts Mount St. Joseph and North Harford gained statewide recognition Tuesday as the newest entrants in the state media Top 25 poll.

Off to a 2-0 start, North Harford enters the poll at No. 25. The Harford County school opened the season with a 31-21 victory over Hereford, avenging a pair of blowout losses in 2009.

After winning two games last season, Mount St. Joseph has recorded victories over Bishop McNamara (then-ranked No. 13 in state poll) and Edmondson.  The Gaels and North Harford are part of a 10-team local contingent in this week’s state rankings.

After suffering a 33-6 loss to New Jersey powerhouse Don Bosco Prep last weekend, Gilman School fell from No. 1 to second behind DeMatha Catholic. The Greyhounds, ranked No. 1 in the latest VSN metro area Top 20, will have the opportunity to reclaim the state’s top spot when they face the Stags Saturday night at Morgan State University’s Hughes Stadium.

Arundel and River Hill remained firm in the Top 10 at five and six, respectively. Calvert Hall College inched up three spots to No. 14 while Broadneck remained 15th.

Old Mill stayed at No. 19 while Loyola and Poly, who entered the poll last week, each moved three spots to 20th and 22nd, respectively. McDonogh School was the highest team in the other team considered category, only two votes out of No. 25.

The other locals receiving votes include South Carroll, Patterson, Dunbar, Archbishop Spalding and Boys’ Latin.

Maryland High School Football Media State Poll

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. DeMatha (6), 2-0, 294, 2
2. Gilman School(5), 2-1, 284, 1
3. Good Counsel, 1-1, 272, 3
4. Damascus (1), 2-0, 269
5. Arundel, 2-0, 254
6. River Hill, 2-0, 239, 6
7. Linganore, 1-0, 214, 8
8. Sherwood, 2-0, 209, 9
9. Quince Orchard, 1-1, 195, 7
10. Eleanor Roosevelt, 2-0, 188, 11
11. Douglass-PG, 2-0, 179, 10
12. Suitland, 2-0, 175, 13
13. Bowie, 2-0, 139, 14
14. Calvert Hall College, 3-0, 137, 17
15. Broadneck, 2-0, 115, 15
16. Huntingtown, 2-0, 112, 18
17. North Point, 2-0, 90, 22
18. Seneca Valley, 2-0, 89, 21
19. Old Mill, 1-1, 78, 19
20. Loyola Blakefield, 1-1, 60, 23
21. Wise, 1-1, 58, 24
22. Poly, 2-0, 47, 25
23. Catoctin, 2-0, 25, NR
24. Mount St. Joseph, 2-0, 24, NR
25. North Harford, 2-0, 19, NR

Others Receiving Votes: McDonogh School(2-0, 17), South Carroll (2-0, 16),
Patterson (2-0, 15), Georgetown Prep (2-0, 14), Dunbar (1-1, 13), McDonough
(2-0, 13), Clarksburg (1-1, 8), Westlake (1-1, 8), Gaithersburg (2-0, 6),
Thomas Johnson (1-1, 6), Archbishop Spalding (1-2, 5), Fort Hill (2-0, 4),
Queen Anne's (2-0, 4), Boys' Latin (2-0, 2), Chopticon (1-1, 2), Gwynn Park
(1-1, 2).