No. 6 St. Frances (6-1) at No. 1 McDonogh (5-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Coaches: Henry Russell, St. Frances; Dom Damico, McDonogh
Last meeting: McDonogh won, 40-0, last year
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
ST. FRANCES: RB Gary Brightwell, Sr.; TE Myles Wright, Sr.; QB Isaiah Robinson, Sr.; WR Randy Fields, Jr.; OL James Goodwin, Sr.; LB Sam Thomas, Sr.; DB Jordan Swann, Sr.; DB Caleb John, Sr.; DL B'Ahmad Miller, Sr.; OL Darrian Dalcourt, So.
MCDONOGH: RB-LB 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, So.; LB Andrew Hurdle, Jr.; WR Marquis Thornes, Sr.
KEYS TO VICTORY
As the season has gone along, this has increasingly become one of the most anticipated games in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference. St. Frances has put together an exceptional start under Russell and much of the rest of the former Gilman coaching staff that moved over last spring. But have the Panthers come far enough to knock off the conference favorite?
Both teams are undefeated in the conference.
The Eagles have lost only to DeMatha, ranked No. 5 in USA Today's Super 25, in a 49-28 game that might have gone differently had Farrare's early interception return for a touchdown not been nullified by a penalty.
Russell said he's having trouble finding a weakness in McDonogh on either side of the ball. The addition of dual threat quarterback Ellis, who transferred from Bishop O'Connell (Va.), gives McDonogh many dimensions on offense combined with McGriff, Johnson and a handful of receivers. Their lines, anchored by McNair and Mustipher, can be immovable and they're solid all around on defense.
Damico said Ellis has been making great decisions and the combination of his ability to throw and run can make a lot of things happen. McGriff, the conference's most durable back, can pile up the yardage, but he is also playing linebacker this year and is capable of making a big play there as well.
"We have to hope McDonogh makes some mistakes," Russell said. "They've got it going right now. We've got to hope their players don't connect at some point or they make a mistake and we have to capitalize on it. They don't have any weaknesses, so we have to get a couple of breaks."
Russell said he's shocked that the Panthers are 6-1 against a tough early season schedule. They've beaten the No. 1 team in South Carolina, South Pointe, as well as a strong Bishop Sullivan team from Virginia. Their only loss was to Paramus Catholic (N.J.), 38-20, in a game St. Frances led at the half.
The Panthers have beaten their first two A Conference opponents — Calvert Hall and Gilman — by a combined 40-10.
Russell said Robinson has been doing a great job of spreading the ball around. Brightwell has been picking up a lot of yardage and freshman running back Osman Savage has given the Panthers another rushing option. Defensively, he said the players have picked up coach Stan White's complicated scheme and are executing well.
"I don't think they've got a weak spot on defense," Damico said. "They all play with really great aggression and a high skill set. Offensively, they're well coached and they're running Gilman's offense from last year with some really good athletes. We've got to make them drive the ball and our defense is going to have to tackle [Brightwell], and we have to eliminate the big plays."
While the Eagles rolled in last year's meeting, St. Frances upset them two years ago, winning 8-3, forcing the Eagles to share the A Conference title with Gilman, which they went on to beat in the season finale.
While the personnel on the field has changed since then, both coaching staffs are familiar with each other, and Damico and Russell believe it will come down to the team that plays the cleanest game.
"Penalties, turnovers need to be eliminated," Damico said. "The team that makes the least amount of mistakes and gives up the least amount of big plays will probably win the game. I see it coming down to who can make the plays in the last quarter. I think it's going to be a close game."
With four teams left undefeated in the A Conference — McDonogh (1-0), St. Frances (2-0), Archbishop Spalding (2-0) and Mount Saint Joseph (1-0) — every game is critical to winning the conference. With the regular-season winner or winners declared champion, most coaches have said it will likely be a shared title this fall. Of course, none of them want that.
"With this pressure, it's basically playoff football every week," Russell said. "With no playoffs, there's no room for error."
OTHER GAMES TO WATCH
Northwestern at Reginald Lewis, Friday, 3:45 p.m.
No. 12 Bel Air at Aberdeen, Friday, 7 p.m.
Riverdale Baptist at No. 2 Archbishop Spalding, Friday 7 p.m.
Gilman at No. 9 Calvert Hall, Friday, 7 p.m.