DeMatha (3-0) at No. 1 McDonogh (3-0)When: Friday, 7 p.m.Coaches: Elijah Brooks, DeMatha, Dom Damico, McDonoghKEY PLAYERS TO WATCHDeMatha: DE Chase Young, Sr.; OL Marcus Minor, Sr.; RB Khory Spruill, Sr.; QB Beau English Sr.; LB Grant Donaldson, Sr; WR Delante Hellams, Sr.; OL Victor Oluwatimi, Sr.; OL-DL Zach Lyons, Sr.; OL-DL Austin Fontaine, Jr.McDonogh: RB Mylique McGriff, Sr.; QB DeJuan Ellis, Jr.; OL Jordan McNair, Sr.; DL PJ Mustipher, Jr.; LB Andrew Frailer, Sr.; FB-DE Chris Smith, Jr.; WR BJ Farrare, Jr.; RB Jabriel Johnson, Soph.; LB Andrew Hurdle, Jr.; WR Marquis Thornes, Sr.KEYS TO VICTORYSeveral coaches from out-of-state national powers expressed interest in playing McDonogh this fall, but Damico figured why jet around the country when you can find that kind of competition just down the road.High school football fans in Maryland have to be happy about that.McDonogh vs. DeMatha pits the No. 1 team in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference against the No. 1 team in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and the No. 1 team in The Baltimore Sun against the No. 1 team in The Washington Post.DeMatha, the three-time defending WCAC champion, is ranked No. 4 in USA Today's Super 25 and No. 6 in MaxPreps' Freeman Rankings. McDonogh, which finished in a three-way tie for second in the A Conference last fall, is not nationally ranked and is No. 85 in the Freeman computer rankings.Neither Damico, who has been at McDonogh 23 years, nor Brooks can remember the last time the two teams met — or if they ever have — but they will play twice in a row with DeMatha, located in Hyattsville, hosting next year."This is going to be a great matchup for the state," Brooks said. "I think everyone wanted to see these two programs go at each other for the past couple years, so it should definitely be a good game."The Eagles are No. 3 in the state media poll while DeMatha is No. 1. Each team has some of the top players in the state, but McDonogh is the underdog, largely because of DeMatha's depth at key skill positions.Still both teams boast smart, agile, dual-threat quarterbacks in Ellis (Virginia Tech) and English (Air Force) as well as key running backs (McGriff, Spruill) and a fleet of receivers."Offensively, they have playmakers all over the field," Brooks said of the Eagles, "starting with their quarterback DeJuan Ellis. He causes fits for everyone they play. We have to do a good job of trying to get to him and not let him kill us with his feet. They have outstanding receivers, a great line and a good running back, so we're very nervous about their offense."Brooks said he expects the game to be won at the line of scrimmage, where both teams boast some of the top lineman recruits in the country.Damico needs few words to describe the Stags' offense: "Incredible athletes, giant linemen and a lot of them."The Stags lost one of their key players, Anthony McFarland, a four-star running back looking at Alabama, Miami and Maryland among others, when he broke his leg in a pre-season scrimmage, but Damico said his loss doesn't make much difference because of the Stags' depth."They have a very strong run game, a couple backs that really run the ball hard, five really big, strong offensive linemen that move the pile and a very smart quarterback in Beau English, a very good deep ball thrower who understands what to take when the defense gives it. He's a good decision-maker on his underneath throws, so they've got a lot of weapons and Beau does a good job distributing the ball."Damico said the key for his team will be stopping Spruill and the Stags' ground game."If we can tackle their run, I think that's going to be the early sign," Damico said. "Making them go to page three and four of their playbook gives us a fighting chance. Our quarterback is dynamic. They've got to stop him throwing the ball and running the ball. We have enough weapons on the offense to hopefully thin them out and make plays, so I think we'll be OK in that regard. Our biggest concern is can we stop their run?"OTHER GAMES TO WATCHNo. 3 Broadneck at No. 14 Annapolis, Friday, 6:30 p.m.No. 5 Howard at River Hill, Friday, 7 p.m.No. 7 Calvert Hall at Riverdale Baptist, Friday, 7 p.m.