There was a moment on Friday night when Broadneck’s football team had a legitimate chance to fight its way into contention for a victory against host Archbishop Spalding.

Down 16-3 but showing their ability on offense, the 11th-ranked Bruins opened the second half with a long drive down to the goal line, where they were one play away from punching in a short touchdown and making it a one-score affair.

It was a good game — until the momentum did a full 180.

First, Spalding junior defensive end Keyshawn Flowers made a ball-stripping tackle to cause a Broadneck fumble. The Cavaliers’ offense trotted onto the field, where sophomore quarterback Malik Washington promptly hit receiver Maxwell Moss in stride on an out-and-in route. Moss blazed down the middle of the field, eluding Broadneck tacklers on a 95-yard sprint to the end zone and a 22-3 lead.

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Archbishop Spalding receiver Maxwell Moss runs after a catch during the first quarter of the Cavaliers’ 38-3 win over Broadneck on September 2. (Colin Murphy)

The back-to-back plays broke the game open and highlighted a night in which the Cavaliers’ offense and defense both shined en route to a 38-3 victory over the Bruins in a prep-vs.-public showdown of Anne Arundel County football powers.

Spalding coach Kyle Schmitt, whose Cavaliers were dominant on defense a season ago, said this year’s team might shape its identity more around its young-but-emerging offense.

“We’re going to win a different way this year,” Schmitt said. “Not every game is going to be zeroes or sevens. But we’ve got the people to do it.”

That much was clear from the outset on Friday, when the Cavaliers wasted little time lighting up the scoreboard in front of their home crowd on the game’s opening drive. Behind two long runs from Kaden Curtis, Washington led Spalding 75 yards down the field and capped the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to RJ Newton for a 7-0 lead.

Spalding sophomore quarterback Malik Washington throws a pass for the Cavaliers behind block from teammates Liam Lynch (70), Caiden Leonard (77) and Jason Shipman (52). (Colin Murphy)

Broadneck responded by going 80 yards down the field, with quarterback Camrin Catterton hitting receivers Alex Passyn and Eli Harris for gains and running backs Brooks Chatlos and Ian Mauldin picking up yards, but the Bruins opted for field goal on 4th-and-goal from the 4-yard-line to make it 7-3.

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Back came the Cavs, set up with good field position at the 35-yard line after a 25-yard kickoff return by James Spencer. Washington hit Moss and Khari Wilson for gains before Hakim Simms ran in a short touchdown to make it 14-3.

The Cavs had used a no-huddle offense to drive the ball 65 yards for a score on seven plays in a little more than 90 seconds.

Washington, a two-sport standout for the Cavaliers, said the fast pace of the no-huddle offense suits Spalding’s offensive players just fine. Washington was 16-for-22 passing for 126 yards with a touchdown.

“Getting up-tempo I think we’re very good at with the playmakers we have on the edge,” Washington said. “It just feels good when you’re putting a drive together, five yards, 10 yards, everybody gets rolling, everybody gets excited, and when you punch it into the endzone there’s just no better feeling.”

Spalding notched a safety before halftime to make it 16-3, but Broadneck started the second half with the ball and reason to be confident, driving all the way down the field before Flowers and the Spalding defense came up with the game-changing turnover.

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Schmitt said it was one highlight for a defensive unit that played well a week after uncharacteristically giving up 48 points in a loss to Don Bosco Prep of New Jersey.

“Keyshawn Flowers wrecked some plays, he looked good,” said Schmitt, who noted the strong games of PJ Poknis (interception) and Braden Marrocco (defensive line) and commended the secondary for containing Broadneck receiver Eli Harris. “Our pride was hurt a little bit last week giving up 48 to a great opponent, but we challenged the defense a little bit pregame, and I thought they answered.”

Spalding’s PJ Poknis makes a tackle on Broadneck running back Ian Mauldin during the second half of the Cavaliers’ win over the Bruins. (Colin Murphy)

Moss’s ensuing catch and long touchdown run effectively sealed the win for the Cavaliers.

“As soon as I caught it, I seen there was one safety, broke a tackle, and I seen open grass,” said Moss with a smile after the game. Asked about Spalding’s abundance of weapons offensively, Moss said the Cavs are really enjoying playing together. “It’s so fun. We move fast, it keeps the defense guessing. We’re really unpredictable, and we have a really diverse offense, so we can get the ball to different guys and trust everybody to make plays, because we just have that type of talent on this team.”

Washington used a nifty shovel pass to Jameson Coffman for a 2-point conversion after Moss’s score to make it 24-3.

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Schmitt said the offense is revving behind Washington’s exceptional leadership.

“Malik’s a special player,” Schmitt said. “He’s a great leader, and our receiving corps has some really good players.”

Gavin Scruggs tacked on two rushing touchdowns for the Cavaliers, both on short runs that capped drives. Freshman TJ Moultrie had an interception in the fourth, the second of the game for the Cavs, who got one by Poknis as well, and Spalding ran down the clock for the thorough 38-3 win.

The final score likely belies Broadneck’s talent, a fact not lost on Bruins coach Rob Harris.

“I’m very proud of the team. We showed a lot of toughness and were very gritty,” said Harris. “We wore down in the second half, and that was a big mistake. We were two yards away…we got zero points, and that was the game-changing moment. We were right there. …We have a good team. We have a gritty team, and we have kids who can make plays. People are going to find out, our running backs are very, very good.

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“I actually think it’s going to get better, and I’m excited to see what we’re going to do on the rest of our schedule. [Spalding] is a team with a lot of talent, but I think we showed we have a lot of talent as well…At the end of the day, they beat us. It was a good game for a minute.”

Hakim Simms (6) and Damien Wilburn (15) celebrate Simms’ touchdown for Archbishop Spalding. The Cavaliers defeated the Broadneck Bruins, 38-3. (Colin Murphy)