The fourth week of the area high school football campaign is off and running as South Carroll defeated Manchester Valley, 26-13, in Carroll County action Thursday evening.

Senior back A.J. Rodrigues rushed for 159 yards and three touchdowns for the Cavaliers, and Caleb Blum added a 24-yard scoring run. The Cavaliers, who reached the Class 2A/1A state final, have won 13 straight regular season decisions.

The weekend slate kicks into full swing Friday afternoon, highlighted by a Top 5 showdown between second-ranked Spalding and defending MIAA A Conference champion Calvert Hall in the MIAA A opener for both.

A pair of 3-0 teams meet in Harford County as Edgewood hosts Harford Tech. Fourteen local teams enter the weekend undefeated.

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

No. 2 Spalding (3-1) at No. 3 Calvert Hall (2-2)

When: Friday, 4 p.m.

The MIAA A Conference schedule kicks off with a matchup of title hopefuls. The defending champ Cardinals rebounded from a loss to nationally-ranked Lipscomb Academy (TN) two weeks ago with a 21-6 home victory over Mount Zion Prep as senior quarterback Noah Brannock threw two scores.

Spalding gained arguably the most impressive non-league victory by MIAA A squad, routing Washington Catholic Athletic Conference stronghold Gonzaga, 41-21, in the District behind four touchdown catches by senior wideout Max Moss.

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The Cavaliers handled Calvert Hall, 37-14, last season.

Harford Tech (3-0) at Edgewood (3-0)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

The only matchup on this weekend’s slate of undefeated area squads highlights this UCBAC Chesapeake battle. Edgewood handled C. Milton Wright last weekend as Cesar Travers threw for two touchdowns and Isaiah Megginson rushed for two scores.

Harford Tech got past Green Street Academy in Baltimore City. The Cobras are led by wide receiver/defensive back Junior Aderomileh and linemen Jake Walker and A.J. Baldwin.

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Harford Tech forfeited to Edgewood last season because of COVID-19 concerns.

Oakland Mills (2-1) at No. 15 Atholton (3-0)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Atholton looks to remain unbeaten in Howard County play. The Raiders routed Centennial as senior quarterback Miles Scott accounted for three scores and Dillan Watkins ran for touchdowns of four and 33 yards.

After a shutout loss to Wilde Lake two weeks ago, Oakland Mills broke out with a season-high 43 points against Hammond last weekend. Xavier Patterson and Shane King each scored two touchdowns.

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The Scorpions defeated Atholton, 26-20, last season. The squads along with Glenelg shared the Howard County championship.

No. 1 St. Frances (3-0) at Dutch Fork-S.C. (5-0)

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

South Carolina is the latest stop in St. Frances’ national road schedule. The Panthers, ranked No. 3 nationally by USA Today, took care of defending Florida Class 8A state champ Venice, 34-17, rushing for 432 yards. Senior running back Durell Robinson, who recently committed to Boston College, rushed for 119 yards.

Dutch Fork, ranked No. 22 in the latest MaxPreps national poll, has won 67 of its last 68 decisions as well as five of the last six South Carolina 5A state titles. Wide receiver Antonio Williams, a Clemson commit, is Dutch Fork’s top player.

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No. 10 Loyola (1-2) at No. 4 Mount St. Joseph (2-2)

When: Saturday, 1 p.m.

Loyola makes its return to MIAA A Conference play. The Dons left temporarily after the 2018 season after back-to-back winless seasons in league play.

Loyola suffered a tough second straight overtime loss in a 36-30 decision to St. Mary’s last weekend as the visiting Saints hit a field goal on the final play of regulation. The Dons lost in double overtime to Georgetown Prep (22-21) on a two-point conversion following a roughing-the-kicker penalty.

Mount St. Joseph was routed by Montgomery County’s Good Counsel, ranked No. 2 in the State Football Media Poll. A pair of Winston Watkins touchdown throws to Peyton Youngbar was the only highlight for the Gaels.

Mount St. Joseph defeated the Dons, 49-6, in the last meeting in 2018.

THURSDAY

Carroll County

South Carroll 26, Manchester Valley 13

FRIDAY

Top 15

Patterson (1-1) at No. 7 Mervo (2-0), 3:45 p.m.

Mount Zion Prep (1-2) at No. 8 Concordia Prep (3-1), 4 p.m.

No. 2 Spalding (3-1) at No. 3 Calvert Hall (2-2), 4 p.m.

Pallotti (1-2) at No. 13 Gilman (3-1), 4 p.m.

Carroll-D.C. at No. 11 McDonogh (1-2), 7 p.m.

Dunbar-D.C. (2-1) vs. No. 6 Dunbar (3-0) at Sugar Cain Field, 7 p.m.

John Carroll (1-2) vs. No. 9 St. Mary’s (3-0) at Pascal Field, 7 p.m.

Meade (2-1) at No. 14 Broadneck (2-1), 7 p.m.

No. 12 Dundalk (3-0) at Westminster (2-1), 7 p.m.

Oakland Mills (2-1) at No. 15 Atholton (3-0), 7 p.m.

No. 1 St. Frances (3-0) at Dutch Fork-S.C. (5-0), 7:30 p.m.

Anne Arundel County

Chesapeake-Anne Arundel (2-1) at Severna Park (2-1), 7 p.m.

Crofton (3-0) at South River (1-2), 7 p.m.

Glen Burnie (2-1) at Arundel (2-1), 7 p.m.

Old Mill (1-2) at Annapolis (1-2), 7 p.m.

Baltimore City

Carver Vo-Tech (0-2) at Edmondson (1-1), 3:45 p.m.

Lake Clifton (2-1) at City (1-2), 3:45 p.m.

Poly (3-0) at Forest Park (0-2), 3:45 p.m.

Reginald Lewis (1-2) at Douglass (1-0), 3:45 p.m.

Baltimore County

Franklin (0-2) at Perry Hall (2-1), 6 p.m.

Overlea (0-3) at Randallstown (0-2), 6 p.m.

Kenwood (1-2) at Hereford (2-1), 6:30 p.m.

Sparrows Point (2-1) at Pikesville (1-2), 6:30 p.m.

Western Tech (0-3) vs. Eastern Tech (1-2) at CCBC-Essex, 6:30 p.m.

Carroll County

Winters Mill (1-1) at Century (0-3), 6 p.m.

Francis Scott Key (1-2) at Liberty (2-1), 6:30 p.m.

Howard County

Glenelg (2-1) at Centennial (1-2), 6:30 p.m.

Marriotts Ridge (1-2) at Reservoir (0-3), 7 p.m.

River Hill (3-0) at Mount Hebron (1-2), 7 p.m.

Wilde Lake (1-2) at Hammond (0-3), 7 p.m.

UCBAC

Bel Air (3-0) at C. Milton Wright (2-1), 7 p.m.

Fallston (3-0) at Patterson Mill (2-1), 7 p.m.

Harford Tech (3-0) at Edgewood (3-0), 7 p.m.

Havre de Grace (0-3) at Joppatowne (2-1), 7 p.m.

North East (0-3) at Bohemia Manor (3-0), 7 p.m.

North Harford (0-3) at Elkton (2-1), 7 p.m.

Perryville (2-1) at Rising Sun (1-2), 7 p.m.

Non-league

Maret-D.C. (1-1) at Severn (3-0), 4:30 p.m.

Digital Harbor (0-3) at North County (0-3), 5:30 p.m

Richard Wright-D.C. (1-3) at Southern (1-2), 6:30 p.m.

Aberdeen (0-3) at Northeast (1-2), 6:30 p.m.

ConneXions Academy (0-3) vs. Green Street Academy (2-1) at Babe Ruth Field, 7 p.m.

Mount Carmel (1-1) at Riverdale Baptist (1-2), 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

Top 15

No. 5 Milford Mill (3-0) at Owings Mills (2-1), 12 p.m.

No. 10 Loyola Blakefield (1-2) at No. 4 Mount St. Joseph (2-2), 1 p.m.

Baltimore County

Loch Raven (1-2) at Patapsco (3-0), 12:30 p.m.

Catonsville (2-1) at Parkville (0-3), 1 p.m.

Dulaney (1-2) at Towson (0-3), 1 p.m.

Howard County

Howard (2-1) at Long Reach (2-1), 1 p.m.

MIAA

Curley (1-1) at Boys’ Latin (2-1), 12 p.m.

Non-league

Annapolis Area Christian (0-3) at O’Connell-VA (1-2), 12 p.m.

Derek Toney is content editor of Varsity Sports Network, a high school sports news network that became part of The Baltimore Banner in August 2022. 

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