Several MIAA football teams kickoff their 2024 seasons this weekend
From neighborhood rivalries to national and regional showdowns, MIAA squads face interesting match-ups
by Derek Toney
MIAA football league contests are still a couple of weeks away, but several of the league's programs are taking to the field this weekend as the 2024 season kicks-off. Here is a preview of some this week's top contests involving MIAA schools.
Gilman School at Boys’ Latin School
When: Friday, 3:30 pm
These two MIAA schools, separated by less than two miles in Baltimore City, kick off their respective seasons. Gilman won, 45-0, last season.
The Greyhounds (3-6 last season; 1-5 in MIAA A) will be led by all-conference performers in seniors Cam Brown (wide receiver) and two-way linemen Brian Checkley and Bryce Wilson. Senior linemen Will Bagby (Cornell commit) and Ridge Ritter, both all-league selections in 2023, return for Boys’ Latin (3-6, 2-4 in MIAA B).
Archbishop Spalding at Archbishop Hoban (Ohio)
When: Friday, 7 pm
Spalding, the two-time defending Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association champion Cavaliers start its 2024 campaign against the top squad in the Cleveland metro region. Hoban (13-2 last season), which reached the Ohio Division 2 state finals last year, is led by Ohio State University commit Eli Lee (linebacker) and defensive back Tylan Boykin (Eastern Michigan).
Senior quarterback Malik Washington, a Maryland commit, is back to anchor Spalding's offense. The Cavaliers (10-2 last season) also have Power 4 pledges Alijah Jones (Northwestern), Jayden Shipps and Delmar White (both Maryland) on defense.
Mount Zion Prep at McDonogh School
When: Friday, 6 pm
The Eagles begin what they hope will be a championship season. McDonogh (7-3 last season) lost in the MIAA A Conference finals last year and return several key playmakers including senior wide receiver Jeff Exinor (Penn State) and junior signal caller Braeden Palazzo, and defenders Brandon Finney (defensive back; Oregon), Kamden Laudenslager (linebacker; North Carolina) and Elijah Crawford (line; Syracuse).
Mount Zion went 5-5 last season, including a 22-6 loss to McDonogh. Mount Zion, under new coach Pat McDonald, will also play national heavyweights DeMatha Catholic, St. Frances Academy and IMG Academy (Fla.) this season.
Virginia Academy at Calvert Hall
When: Friday, 7 pm
Where: Paul Angelo Russo Stadium
University of Maryland commit and 3-Star tight end JT Taggart will lead the Cardinals into their season opener as The Hall seeks to bounce back from a 4-7-1 season in 2023, which included a 40-28 loss to arch-rival Loyola Blakefield in the Turkey Bowl. Virginia Academy went 6-6 last year.
Mount St. Joseph vs. Bishop McDevitt (Pa.)
When: Saturday, 4 pm
Where: Smalls Field, York (Pa.)
The Gaels take on one of Pennsylvania’s best as part of the two-day York (Pa.) Rose Bowl. Mount St. Joseph fell, 20-14, to McDevitt last year.
The Baltimore school (7-5 in 2023), which reached the MIAA A Conference semifinals, will be led by returning all-league picks Sean Curtis (defensive end; Lafayette commit) and AJ Korkosz (tight end). McDevitt (13-1 in 2023), whose only loss came in the Pennsylvania Class 4A state semifinals (won title in 2022), features senior quarterback Stone Saunders, who’s committed to Kentucky.