ALL DMV TOP 50 by Josh Ilori | Top 10

DMV Top 50 Teams 10 – 1

10 – Episcopal Maroon (2016 Record: 8 – 1) Head Coach: Panos Voulgaris, Conference: Interstate Athletic Conference

The Maroon are coming off a conference title in 2016 and Coach Voulgaris has them poised to win another one. One of the most dynamic passers in the DMV Senior Seth Agwunobi returns to an offense that put up 31.9 points a game last season. He’ll have help from Senior WR Sergio Portobanco and RBs Senior Perris Jones and Junior Jaden Bailey. The Maroon defense will be led by Seniors DE Tola Banjoko, LB Ricky Miezan and Junior FS Litchfield Ajavon.

9 – Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers (2016 Record: 9 – 2) Head Coach: Kyle Schmitt, Conference: MIAA A

2016 was the year that the Cavaliers showed they’ll be a force to be reckoned in Baltimore area football. The Cavaliers had a dynamic offense led by now graduated QB Evan Fochtman (Navy) posted 44.3 points per game last year. Junior Jayden Umbarger is projected to start under center and he’ll have weapons Senior RB Julius Chestnut, running behind a powerful offensive line, anchored by Jahmeer Carter, and on the outside, WRs Senior Jamari Jones and Junior Brevin Easton. On the other side of the ball Temple commit LB Daesean Winston, Senior DE Chris Ford and Junior FS Sean Spencer return to a unit which shutout opponents 3 times last season.

8 – Westfield Bulldogs (2016 Record: 13 – 2) Head Coach: Kyle Simmons, Conference: Virginia 6A

The Bulldogs are coming off their second straight state title. However, when they take the field and try for another time Coach Simmons will not have Rehman Johnson (Sioux Falls University) under center. It appears that Sophomore Noah Kim leading the Westfield offense. Kim’s development will be aided by Senior TE Nolan Cockrill along with Juniors WRs Eugene Asante and Taylor Morin. On the defensive side of the ball Juniors LB Israel McClain, DE Joel Cheifetz and CB Saadiq Hinton come back to a unit which allowed 14.5 points an outing last season.

7 – McDonogh Eagles (2016 Record: 8 – 3) Head Coach: Dom Damico, Conference: MIAA A

Coach Damico’s squad is coming off a second-place finish in Baltimore’s premier football conference last season. With the talent McDonogh has coming back, they’re set to be one of the top teams in Maryland again. Virginia Tech commit DeJuan Ellis will lead the offense with fellow Seniors WR B.J. Farrare, T Will Knutsson, and Junior RB Jabriel Johnson. On defense Penn State commit DT P.J. Mustipher and Senior FS Darius Pickett will lockdown private school offenses throughout the DMV.

6 – Wise Pumas (2016 Record: 14 – 0) Head Coach: DaLawn Parrish, Conference: Maryland Class 4A

Last season saw the Pumas win their second straight state title and extend their winning streak to 28 games. After finishing 2016 ranked on USA Today’s Super 25 high school rankings Wise established themselves as not only the premier public school program in the DMV but as a top one nationally. Wise is in great position to win their third consecutive state title. Florida State commit CB A.J. Lytton, fellow Seniors FS Demetri Morsell and CB Brandon Harrell Jr. return to a defense which held opposing offenses to a mind boggling 4.9 points per contest. On offense Seniors QB Keiron Black (a transfer from Bell in DC) and RB John ‘MooMoo’ Oliver will be called on to lead one of the state’s most electric units.

5 – Gonzaga College Eagles (2016 Record: 8 – 3) Head Coach: Randy Trivers, Conference: WCAC

Year in and year out Gonzaga College is one of the best private school teams in the region, making it to the playoffs the past 3 seasons. Senior Ts Aidan Rafferty and Jack Keenan will anchor an offense which averaged 31.1 points per game last season. With the graduation of Sam Brown (Butler) either Freshman Caleb Williams or Junior Sam Sweeney will take over under center. Whoever wins will the competition have Senior RB/LB Jason Labbe II and Junior WR Dean Engram to help them adjust to facing WCAC defenses.

4 – Bishop Sullivan Catholic Crusaders (2016 Record: 7 – 3) Head Coach: Chris Scott, Conference: VISAA

After building Ocean Lakes into a powerhouse Coach Scott appears to be well on his way to doing the same thing at Bishop Sullivan. Despite losing players like Khalan Laborn (Florida State) and Tahj Capehart (Maryland) the Crusaders shouldn’t miss a beat this season. 5-star Ohio State commit LB Teradja Mitchell, Senior SS Mondo Walker and Junior CB Tayvion Land return to a defense which held opponents under 10 points during 5 games. On offense Maryland commit QB Tyler DeSue will lead a unit which posted 35.8 points a night alongside Junior RB Jake Low and Senior WR Armani Chatman.

3 – St. John’s College Cadets (2016 Record: 8 – 4) Head Coach: Joe Casemento, Conference: WCAC

Even though they’re coming off a trip to the WCAC Championship game the Cadets enter 2017 with a number of questions. Due to several transfers out of the program, St. John’s will look a lot different this season. Senior transfer Kevin Doyle will replace Kasim Hill (Maryland) under center and he’ll look to teammates RBs Junior Keilan Robinson, Freshman Antwain Littleton and WRs Senior Charles Briscoe III, Sophomore Rakim Jarrett and Freshman Zion Larkins to compete on a national level. The Cadets defense will be led by Virginia Tech commit Cam Goode, DE Caleb Okechukwu and DBs Senior D.J. Brown, Juniors Quinten Johnson, Aman Greenwood and Sophomore Luke Hill.

2 – St. Frances Academy Panthers (2016 Record: 10 – 2) Head Coach: Biff Poggi, Conference: MIAA A

The Panthers aren’t only the top football team in Baltimore, but have the most talented roster in DMV football. With Coach Poggi back in from a couple years on Harbaugh’s staff at Michigan St. Frances has the potential to become a powerhouse. The defending MIAA A Champions have been bolstered by several transfers including the top player in the state Senior T Jaelyn Duncan. It appears that transfer Juniors Logan Holgorsen and Mississippi State commit Jalon Jones will split time under center for an offense which features Senior WRs Randy Fields and Tyree Henry among others. On defense, former Cadet Junior LB Shane Lee will team up with star Senior DE Eyabi Anoma to lead one of the best front 7s in the nation.

1 – DeMatha Catholic Stags (2016 Record: 12 – 0) Head Coach: Elijah Brooks, Conference: WCAC

Despite losing a heart breaker to open the season, the Stags succeeded in showing their merit on the grandest of stages. Perrenially, DeMatha is one of the top programs in the nation and is coming off their fourth straight conference title. Even though Coach Brooks has lost players like RB Khory Spruill (Delaware), LB Grant Donaldson (Air Force), QB Beau English (Air Force), DE Chase Young (Ohio State) and T Marcus Minor (Maryland) from 2016 the Stags are poised to be great in 2017. QB Ty Lenhart takes over as the starter and he’ll have weapons Sophomore RB Marshawn Lloyd along with Junior WRs DeMarcco Hellams and Jermaine Johnson Jr. On the defensive side Seniors DT Austin Fontaine, and Pittsburgh commits LB John Morgan and CB Jud Tallandier II return to a unit which allowed 13.4 points per game.