Loyola lands No. 13; top-ranked St. Frances eyeing nation’s No. 1 spot

Thanks to quarterback Jordan Moore, Loyola Blakefield is off to a 2-0 start. The Dons are No. 13 in this week’s VSN Football Top 20. (photo – Sports Majors).

by Derek Toney

After knocking off one of the District region’s top teams, Loyola Blakefield is the big mover in the first VSN Football Top 20 of new season. The Dons up from 16th to No. 13, thanks to a 37-27 victory over defending Interstate Athletic Conference champ Georgetown Prep, ranked No. 8 in the preseason state media poll.

All 20 teams in VSN’s preseason poll are in the latest, led by No. 1 St. Frances Academy, which will look to lay claim to the nation’s No. 1 ranking Saturday evening against California’s Mater Dei, ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps.

The match, at St. John’s Bosco High in Los Angeles, will be part of the inaugural California Trinity League vs. USA Showcase.

The area Top 5 remains intact with St. Frances, Mount St. Joseph, Calvert Hall College, Archbishop Spalding and Franklin, which plays No. 6 McDonogh School Friday in a Top 10 showdown. McDonogh, Milford Mill Academy, Mervo, Dunbar and Broadneck round out the Top 10.

 

Here is the VSN Football Top 20 for week 1:

 

VSN FOOTBALL TOP 20 POLL – WEEK 1

1. ST. FRANCES ACADEMY (3-0)

Previous rank: #1

Last week: defeated American Collegiate Academy (FL), 64-0

This week: vs. Mater Dei (CA) at Trinity League vs. USA Showcase at Don Bosco Prep (CA), Sept. 14

 

2. MOUNT ST. JOSEPH (2-1)

Previous rank: #2

Last week: lost to Good Counsel, 19-7.

This week: Off; next game – vs. Kiski School (PA), Sept. 21

 

 

3. CALVERT HALL COLLEGE (3-0)

Previous rank: #3

Last week: defeated St. Mary’s Ryken, 34-14

This week: vs. Riverdale Baptist School, Sept. 13

 

4. ARCHBISHOP SPALDING (2-0)

Previous rank: #4

Last week: defeated Bishop Moore (FL), 56-14

This week: at Bullis School, Sept. 13

 

5. FRANKLIN (1-0) 

Previous rank: #5

Last week: defeated St. Anthony’s (NY), 33-15

This week: at No. 6 McDonogh School, Sept. 13

 

6. MCDONOGH SCHOOL (2-0)

Previous rank: #6

Last week: defeated Berks Catholic (PA), 38-7

This week: vs. No. 5 Franklin, Sept. 13

 

 

7. MILFORD MILL ACADEMY (1-0)

Previous rank: #7

Last week: defeated No. 19 New Town, 14-12.

This week: at Hereford, Sept. 13

 

8. MERVO (1-0)

Previous rank: #9

Last week: defeated then-No. 8 Dunbar, 20-14.

This week: vs. Poly, Sept. 13

9. DUNBAR (0-1)

Previous rank: #8

Last week: lost to then-No. 9 Mervo, 20-14

This week: vs. Digital Harbor, Sept. 13

 

10. BROADNECK (0-1)

Previous rank: #10

Last week: lost to Potomac, 30-27

This week: at Old Mill, Sept. 13

 

11. HOWARD (1-0)

Previous rank: #11

Last week: defeated Reservoir, 19-14

This week: at South Hagerstown, Sept. 13

 

12. DUNDALK (1-0)

Previous rank: #13

Last week: defeated Century, 34-14

This week: vs. Concordia Prep, Sept. 13

 

13. LOYOLA BLAKEFIELD (2-0)

Previous rank: #16

Last week: defeated Georgetown Prep, 37-27.

This week: vs. Dulaney, Sept. 13

 

14. GLENELG (1-0)

Previous rank: #14

Last week: defeated Marriotts Ridge, 14-7

This week: vs. Smyrna (DE), Sept. 13

 

15. ARUNDEL (0-1)

Previous rank: #12

Last week: lost to North Point, 55-32

This week: vs. Severna Park, Sept. 13

 

16. ST. MARY’S (0-2)

Previous rank: #15

Last week: lost to Delmar (DE), 42-35

This week: vs. Annapolis Area Christian School, Sept. 13

 

17. RIVER HILL (1-0)

Previous rank: #18

Last week: defeated Atholton, 33-8

This week: at Mount Hebron, Sept. 13

 

18. LIBERTY (0-1)

Previous rank: #17

Last week: lost to Linganore, 35-7

This week: at Walkersville, Sept. 13

 

19. NEW TOWN (0-1)

Previous rank: #19

Last week: defeated New Town, 14-12

This week: at Owings Mills, Sept. 13

 

20. ELKTON (1-0)

Previous rank: #20

Last week: defeated Bohemia Manor, 43-0.

This week: at Edgewood, Sept. 13