What are Maryland's best in-state high school football matchups in 2024? 8 must-see games

When it comes to Maryland high school football, there is no shortage of big games in 2024.

Here are eight of the biggest games on the schedule, involving 16 of Maryland's top 21 teams, according to the MaxPreps preseason rankings . Listed at the bottom of each game writeup are each team's other key games against top-25 squads this season.

All recruiting rankings are by 247 Sports.

No. 1 Good Counsel at No. 3 DeMatha, Oct. 18

Good Counsel finished the 2023 season 10-1, including two victories over DeMatha (35-28 in the regular season and 7-0 in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game), and was No. 1 in the final Maryland media state poll. Those were DeMatha's only two losses as the Stags finished 9-2 and No. 2 in the final poll.

Good Counsel, located in Olney, a northern suburb of D.C., is led by senior S Faheem Delane (2025 state No. 1, national No. 51, Ohio State) and senior WR DaMarion Fowlkes (2025 state No. 10, Pittsburgh).

DeMatha, located in Hyattsville, a suburb of D.C., is led by senior RB Bud Coombs (2025 state No. 23, Maryland) and junior WR Lavar Keys (2026 state No. 10, Penn State).

Other big games for DeMatha: at No. 4 Archbishop Spalding, Aug. 31; at No. 6 Gonzaga, Oct. 12; vs. No. 11 Bishop McNamara, Nov. 1.

Other big games for Good Counsel: vs. No. 6 Gonzaga, Nov. 1; vs. No. 11 Bishop McNamara, Nov. 9.

Maryland vs. USA: What are the biggest high school football games involving Maryland teams?

No. 7 McDonogh at No. 4 Archbishop Spalding, Sept. 13

Spalding went 10-2 last year and repeated as the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association's A Conference champion, finishing No. 3 in the state media poll. McDonogh finished 7-3, crushed Spalding 40-7 in its season finale and was No. 10 in the final poll.

Spalding, located in Severn, about 15 miles south of Baltimore, is led by senior QB Malik Washington (2025 national No. 156, Maryland).

McDonogh, located in Owings Mills, a northwest suburb of Baltimore, is led by senior CB Brandon Finney (2025 national No. 95, Oregon) and senior Jeff Exinor Jr. (2025 state No. 6, Penn State).

Other big games for Archbishop Spalding: vs. No. 3 DeMatha, Aug. 31; vs. No. 7 McDonogh, Sept. 13; vs. No. 8 Concordia Prep, Oct. 11; vs. No. 9 Loyola Blakefield, Oct. 25; at No. 15 Mount St. Joseph, Nov. 2; at No. 20 Calvert Hall, Sept. 20.

Other big games for McDonogh: vs. No. 8 Concordia Prep, Oct. 25; at No. 9 Loyola Blakefield, Sept. 21; at No. 15 Mount St. Joseph, Oct. 4; vs. No. 20 Calvert Hall, Oct. 11.

Watch Maryland high school football on NFHS Network

No. 6 Gonzaga (D.C.) at No. 5 St. John's (D.C.), Nov. 9

These two WCAC rivals in the nation's capital will meet in the regular-season finale. Last year's matchup went to overtime, with St. John's prevailing, 23-20. St. John's finished 5-5, Gonzaga 6-5.

St. John's is led by senior S Tariq Hayer (2025 DC No. 2, Rutgers), senior LB DeAngelo Bowden (2025 DC No. 7, South Florida), junior Hakim Satterwhite (2026 DC No. 2), junior edge rusher Tariq Boney (2026 DC No. 4) and junior RB Breyon Williams (2026 DC No. 6).

Gonzaga is led by senior S Kainoa Winston (2025 DC No. 1, national No. 43, Michigan), junior edge rusher Carter Meadows (2026 DC No. 1, national No. 105), senior CB Lonnie McAllister (2025 DC No. 3, Stanford), junior LB Kedric Golston II (2026 DC No. 3) and senior CB Devenchi Arnold (2025 DC No. 6).

Other big games for Gonzaga: at No. 1 Good Counsel, Nov. 1; vs. No. 3 DeMatha, Oct. 12; vs. No. 9 Loyola Blakefield, Sept. 13; vs. No. 11 Bishop McNamara, Oct. 26.

Other big games for St. John's: at No. 1 Good Counsel, Oct. 11; vs. No. 3 DeMatha, Oct. 26; at No. 11 Bishop McNamara, Oct. 19.

No. 9 Loyola Blakefield at No. 8 Concordia Prep, Sept. 28

These two schools, each located in Towson, last played in 2021, with Concordia Prep rolling to a 41-9 victory.Concordia Prep went 11-1 last year, winning the MIAA B Conference championship and finishing No. 7 in the final state media poll. Loyola Blakefield finished 7-4 and was No. 11 in the final poll.

Concordia Prep is led by senior edge rusher Sidney Stewart (2025 state No. 36, Maryland) and junior TE Destin Mitchell (2026 state No. 9).

Loyola Blakefield is led by junior CB Khary Adams (2026 state No. 4, national No. 53).

Other big games for Concordia Prep: at No. 4 Archbishop Spalding, Oct. 11; at No. 7 McDonogh, Oct. 25; vs. No. 11 Bishop McNamara, Aug. 31; at No. 15 Mount St. Joseph, Sept. 21; at No. 20 Calvert Hall, Nov. 1.

Other big games for Loyola Blakefield: at No. 4 Archbishop Spalding, Oct. 25; at No. 6 Gonzaga, Sept. 13; vs. No. 7 McDonogh, Sept. 21; at No. 15 Mount St. Joseph, Oct. 19; vs. No. 17 Milford Mill, Nov. 1; vs. No. 20 Calvert Hall, Nov. 28; vs. No. 22 Georgetown Prep, Sept. 6.

No. 23 Patuxent at No. 14 Huntingtown, Sept. 28

These Calvert County rivals are used to playing close games against each other. Patuxent won 41-31 last year and 20-19 in 2022. Huntingtown prevailed 7-0 in 2021.

Huntingtown finished 10-3 last year. The Hurricanes are led by senior DL Evan Powell (2025 state No. 44, West Virginia).

Patuxent went 11-2 last year and finished 22nd in the state media poll.

Watch Patuxent vs. No. 14 Huntingtown on NFHS Network

No. 15 Mount St. Joseph at No. 20 Calvert Hall, Sept. 28

These two teams are Baltimore city and MIAA A Conference rivals. Mount St. Joseph went 7-5 a year ago, including a 14-7 victory Calvert Hall, and finished 23rd in the final state media poll. The Cardinals finished 4-7 in a rare down year.

MSJ is led by senior CB Angelo Ross (2025 state No. 50, East Carolina).

Calvert Hall features senior DL Asaiah Hamond (2025 state No. 31), senior TE JT Taggart (2025 state No. 41, Maryland) and senior LB Alijah Hammond (2025 state No. 58).

Other big games for Mount St. Joseph: vs. No. 4 Archbishop Spalding, Nov. 2; vs. No. 7 McDonogh, Oct. 4; vs. No. 8 Concordia Prep, Sept. 21; vs. No. 9 Loyola Blakefield, Oct. 19; vs. No. 11 Bishop McDevitt, Aug. 24.

Other big games for Calvert Hall: vs. No. 4 Archbishop Spalding, Sept. 20; at No. 7 McDonogh, Oct. 11; vs. No. 8 Concordia Prep, Nov. 1; vs. No. 9 Loyola Blakefield, Nov. 28.

No. 17 Milford Mill at No. 16 Oakdale, Sept. 6

These two teams will open the season against each other for the second straight year. Oakdale won last year's opener on the road, 22-21, en route to a 14-0 season and MPSSAA Class 3A state championship, finishing No. 6 in the final state media poll. Milford Mill went 9-3 in 2023.

Milford Mill's leaders are senior OL Amory Hills (2025 state No. 46, Maryland), junior S Koby Sarkodie (2026 state No. 6) and junior Damon Ferguson (2026 state No. 8).

Other big games for Milford Mill: at No. 9 Loyola Blakefield, Nov. 1

No. 18 Fort Hill at No. 21 Dunbar, Sept. 13

Fort Hill, located in Cumberland, has won eight of the last 10 MPSSAA Class 1A state championships, including the last three. Dunbar, located in Baltimore, has won three straight Class 2A state championships and has won 12 state titles in all.

Last year, Fort Hill finished 13-0 and No. 8 in the final state media poll. Dunbar finished 11-0 and No. 12 in the final poll.

Dunbar is led by senior OL Joshua Blackston (2025 state No. 15).

No. 18 Fort Hill vs. No. 21 Dunbar on NFHS Network

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This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: What are Maryland's best in-state high school football matchups in 2024? 8 must-see games