Panthers are unanimous selection; McDonogh and Spalding also crack Top 5

The Maryland High School Football State Poll, now in its 31st year, announced its first rankings of the 2021 season and its first poll since 2019.
St. Frances Academy, which is ranked 8th nationally by MaxPreps, was an unanimous choice as the top team, despite losing its season opener to St. Thomas Aquinas (FL), in Miami on Saturday. The Panthers received all 10 first place votes from a panel of state media members.
Prince George’s County’s DeMatha Catholic took the second spot, followed by McDonogh School, Good Counsel from Montgomery County and Archbishop Spalding in the Top 5.
Other local teams making the initial poll include Mount St. Joseph at No. 8, Calvert Hall College (9th), Franklin (No. 10), St. Vincent Pallotti (No. 11), Milford Mill Academy (16th) and Loyola Blakefield at No. 21.

MARYLAND STATE FOOTBALL MEDIA PRESEASON POLL

FREDERICK — The Maryland High School Football State Poll, in its 31st year, is based on a statewide voting by sports reporters.
Schools are ranked by points received. The number in parenthesis reflects first-place votes.
The rankings are compiled by Sheldon Shealer.
Rank, School, Record, Points (1st place votes)
1. St. Frances Academy, 0-1, 250 (10)
2. DeMatha Catholic, 1-0, 232
3. McDonogh School, 0-0, 229
4. Good Counsel, 1-0, 221
5. Archbishop Spalding, 1-0, 214
6. Quince Orchard, 0-0, 200
7. Henry A. Wise, 0-0, 188
8. Mount St. Joseph, 1-0, 182
9. Calvert Hall College, 1-0, 167
10. Franklin, 0-0, 148
11. St. Vincent Pallotti, 1-0, 146
12. Bullis School, 0-0, 132
13. Georgetown Prep, 0-0, 130
14. Sherwood, 0-0, 121
15. Linganore, 0-0, 102
16. Milford Mill Academy, 0-0, 95
17. St. Mary’s Ryken, 0-1, 78
18. Northern-Calvert, 0-0, 72
19. Northwest, 0-0, 66
20. Charles H. Flowers, 0-0, 56
21. Loyola Blakefield, 0-0, 50
22. Eleanor Roosevelt, 0-0, 41
23. North Point, 0-0, 35
24. Huntingtown, 0-0, 30
25. Damascus, 0-0, 23
Others receiving votes: Bishop McNamara (1-0, 11 points); Broadneck (0-0, 11); Middletown (0-0, 6); Douglass-Prince George’s (0-0, 4); Paint Branch (0-0, 3); Concordia Prep (0-0, 2); Mervo (0-0, 1).