Football Game of the Week: No. 1 Archbishop Spalding vs. No. 2 St. Frances

No. 1 Archbishop Spalding (7-1) vs. No. 2 St. Frances (8-1)When: Friday, 7 p.m.Where: Utz Field, Patterson ParkCoaches: Kyle Schmitt, Spalding; Henry Russell, St. FrancesLast meeting: Spalding won, 28-14, last seasonKEY PLAYERS TO WATCHSPALDING: QB-S Evan Fochtman, Sr.; RB-LB Julius Chestnut, Jr.; SB-WR Jamari Jones, Jr.; WR Larry Brown, Jr.; OL-DL Cody Winokur, Jr.; LB Corey Gaines, Sr.; LB-FB Nick Vermillion, Sr.; LB Daniel Hood, Jr.; WR-LB; DaeSean Winston, Jr.; S Sean Spencer, Soph.; DB Darion McKenzie, Sr.ST. FRANCES: RB Gary Brightwell, Sr.; TE Myles Wright, Sr.; QB Isaiah Robinson, Sr.; OL James Goodwin, Sr.; LB Sam Thomas, Sr.; DB Jordan Swann, Sr.; DB Caleb John, Sr.; DL B'Ahmad Miller, Sr.; OL Darrian Dalcourt, Soph.KEYS TO VICTORYIn its bid to go from winless in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference to undefeated champion in a single year, St. Frances takes on its second top-ranked team in three weeks.The Panthers and Spalding are unbeaten in the conference along with Mount Saint Joseph, so with no A Conference postseason, the final three weeks will be their playoffs.The race kicked into gear for both teams when they knocked off preseason favorite McDonogh. St. Frances defeated the then-No. 1 Eagles, 34-20, two weeks ago, while the Cavaliers won, 31-16, last week.Spalding has the program's first No. 1 ranking, and the Panthers will try to take it for themselves Friday for the first time in school history.Offensively, both teams have a lot of weapons, including Cavaliers quarterback Evan Fochtman and running back Julius Chestnut and St. Frances quarterback Isaiah Robinson and running back Gary Brightwell.With those kinds of athletes, Russell said, big plays are a concern on both sides. He noted Fochtman's 70-yard pass to Jamari Jones 27 seconds before halftime as the touchdown that broke the McDonogh game open.&quot;Spalding's had some big plays that have been momentum-shifters. McDonogh is a prime example with that touchdown pass right before the half, and that was kind of it for McDonogh,&quot; Russell said. &quot;We're going to try to make them drive the field, and I'm sure they feel the same. We have some kids who can score from anywhere. The team that gets the most explosive plays is going to be the one that comes out on top.&quot;His Panthers have that ability at several positions, especially with Robinson, who has thrown for 1,468 yards and 17 touchdowns, and Brightwell, who averages 6.9 yards per carry with 798 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.To Schmitt, whose team has lost only to Good Counsel, big plays will be key, but so will offensive efficiency. The Cavaliers have scored 50 touchdowns this season while rarely turning the ball over.&quot;The turnovers, they're key in any big game,&quot; Schmitt said. &quot;We assess five factors in a football game that we think win and lose them, and turnovers is really the uncontrollable. It's the one that the ball, where it bounces or if you throw it to the wrong team, it can change a game.&quot;Spalding is the highest-scoring team in the A Conference, averaging 45 points per game and winning by an average of 32 points. Fochtman has gained 2,113 total yards and scored 26 touchdowns (16 passing, 10 rushing). Chestnut has run for 715 yards and 17 touchdowns and also has a touchdown reception.With all that, Russell said it's easy to overlook the Cavaliers defense, which is allowing just 13.5 points per game. Only Loyola Blakefield has scored more than 20 points against Spalding, but the Dons lost that game, 63-24.St. Frances is stingy on defense as well, allowing just 16.2 points per game. The Panthers' average margin of victory is 12 points — the Cavaliers' is 32 — but their nonleague schedule was tougher. Still, against their common A Conference opponents — McDonogh, Calvert Hall and Loyola — Spalding won by an average of 27.3 points and St. Frances by an average of 10.That doesn't mean much to Schmitt. The Panthers have knocked off the No. 1 team in South Carolina, South Pointe; beaten a strong Bishop Sullivan (Va.) team; and led Paramus Catholic (N.J.) at halftime before falling, 38-20.&quot;Their depth on both sides of the ball is better than anybody in the league, where we've got to stay healthy,&quot; Schmitt said. &quot;We're basically two platoons, but the ability to keep up with them up front on both sides of the ball is a real challenge.&quot;OTHER GAMES TO WATCHNo. 4 Mount Saint Joseph at No. 3 McDonogh, Friday, 7 p.m.Century at South Carroll, Friday, 7 p.m.Glenelg at No. 5 Howard, Friday, 7 p.m.Mervo at Poly, Friday, 7 p.m.

Football Game of the Week: No. 1 Archbishop Spalding vs. No. 2 St. Frances

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