Countdown to football

The 2022 high school football season kicks into full gear this weekend in the Baltimore area with the start of public school play, after a handful of private teams provided an appetizer last weekend with their season debuts.

No. 6 Dunbar and ninth-ranked Mervo, who brought state titles to the area last year, begin their respective title defenses on Friday. For the second straight year, there will be six classifications for the state public playoffs in November.

Here’s a look at some of the best games of the weekend followed by the complete schedule.

No. 5 McDonogh School (1-0) at Gonzaga College-D.C. (1-0)

When: Friday, 6:30 p.m.

The Eagles, coming off a 21-2 season-opening win over Mount Zion Prep, head south to take on the perennial Washington Catholic Athletic Conference power. Gonzaga, ranked No. 6 in the District region by the Washington Post, won, 23-7, last season in Owings Mills.

No. 12 Franklin at No. 7 Milford Mill Academy

When: Friday, 6 p.m.

Baltimore County’s most successful programs over the last decade kickoff the 2022 campaign against each other. Franklin won, 19-13, last year on a touchdown late in regulation, and has won 11 of 14 meetings (including postseason) between the two since 2010.

No. 11 Broadneck at No. 4 Archbishop Spalding (0-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

The defending Anne Arundel County champion Bruins begin their season against one of the best in the MIAA A Conference. Spalding dropped a 48-28 decision to New Jersey powerhouse Don Bosco Prep in its debut last weekend.

St. Ignatius-OH (1-0) at Mount St. Joseph (1-0)

When: Saturday, 2 p.m.

Mount St. Joseph, which handled St. Mary’s-Ryken in its opener last weekend, opens its home schedule against perennial Cleveland-area power St. Ignatius. The Gaels fell, 20-6, to Ignatius last year in Cleveland.

No. 1 St. Frances (1-0) vs. DeSoto-TX (1-0)

When: Saturday, 8 p.m.

St. Frances’ whirlwind tour across the country hits the Lone Star State for the Interstate 20 Classic in Fort Worth. DeSoto will feature a pair of Texas commits in wide-out Johntay Cook and running back Tre Wisner.

FRIDAY

Top 15

No. 6 Dunbar vs. Digital Harbor at Latrobe Park, 3:45 p.m.

No. 14 Gilman School (1-0) at Archbishop Curley, 4 p.m.

Pikesville at No. 15 Concordia Prep (0-1), 4 p.m.

New Town at No. 8 Loyola, 4:30 p.m.

Edmondson at No. 9 Mervo, 6 p.m.

No. 12 Franklin at No. 7 Milford Mill, 6 p.m.

No. 5 McDonogh (1-0) at Gonzaga-D.C. (1-0), 6:30 p.m.

Century at No. 10 Dundalk, 7 p.m.

Life Christian Academy-VA (1-1) at No. 2 Calvert Hall College (1-0), 7 p.m.

No. 11 Broadneck at No. 4 Spalding (0-1), 7 p.m.

Wilde Lake at No. 13 Atholton, 7 p.m.

Anne Arundel County

North County at Old Mill, 7 p.m.

Severna Park at Meade, 7 p.m.

Baltimore City

Lake Clifton at Forest Park, 3:45 p.m.

Baltimore County

Dulaney at Owings Mills, 4 p.m.

Towson at Patapsco, 4 p.m.

Hereford vs. Eastern Tech at CCBC-Essex, 6:30 p.m.

Perry Hall at Lansdowne, 6:15 p.m.

Randallstown at Catonsville, 6:30 p.m.

Howard County

Centennial at Oakland Mills, 7 p.m.

Glenelg at Hammond, 7 p.m.

Marriotts Ridge at Howard, 7 p.m.

Reservoir at Mount Hebron, 7 p.m.

River Hill at Long Reach, 7 p.m.

UCBAC

Havre de Grace at Bel Air, 7 p.m.

North East at C. Milton Wright, 7 p.m.

North Harford at Perryville, 7 p.m.

Rising Sun at Elkton, 7 p.m.

Non-league

ConneXions at Benjamin Franklin, 3:45 p.m.

SEED School at Reginald Lewis, 3:45 p.m.

John Carroll at Landon, 5 p.m.

City College at Glen Burnie, 6 p.m.

Edgewood vs. Mount Carmel at Eastern Regional Park, 6 p.m.

Brunswick at South Carroll, 6:30 p.m.

Harford Tech at Sparrows Point, 6:30 p.m.

Liberty at Walkersville, 6:30 p.m.

Linganore at Kenwood, 6:30 p.m.

Smithsburg at Francis Scott Key, 6:30 p.m.

Arundel at High Point, 7 p.m.

Bullis vs. St. Mary’s at Pascal Field, 7:30 p.m.

Frederick at Aberdeen, 7 p.m.

Kent County at Bohemia Manor, 7 p.m.

Loch Raven at Joppatowne, 7 p.m.

Manchester Valley at Williamsport, 7 p.m.

Overlea at Fallston, 7 p.m.

Pallotti at Georgetown Prep, 7 p.m.

Poly at Northeast, 7 p.m.

Severn at Maryland School for the Deaf (1-0), 7 p.m.

South River at Westminster, 7 p.m.

Southern at Patterson Mill, 7 p.m.

Western Tech at Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, 7 p.m.

Winters Mill at St. John’s Catholic Prep, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

Top 15

St. Ignatius (OH) at No. 3 Mount St. Joseph, 2 p.m.

No. 1 St. Frances (1-0) vs. DeSoto-TX (1-0), Interstate 20 Classic at Herman Clark Stadium (TX), 8 p.m.

Baltimore County

Woodlawn at Parkville, 1 p.m.

Non-league

St. Paul’s (1-0) at St. James, 12 p.m.

Crofton at Laurel, 2 p.m.

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