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Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association

Archbishop Spalding continues to march up national rankings as it dominates MIAA competition in historic fashion

The undefeated Cavaliers has now won four conference games by a combined score of 185-0

Archbishop Spalding has moved with precision throughout the 2024 high school football season, building a 7-0 record thus far and flattening four MIAA A Conference rivals by a combined score of 185-0. (Photo by John Bowers)
Archbishop Spalding has moved with precision throughout the 2024 high school football season, building a 7-0 record thus far and flattening four MIAA A Conference rivals by a combined score of 185-0. (Photo by John Bowers)
October 7, 2024

Since its inception in 1995, the MIAA has had several teams spend time in various national rankings. Even among teams that were not nationally ranked, it has had some of its top programs dominate the rest of the MIAA A Conference. In 2024, however, Archbishop Spalding is putting forth a historic season that is well on its way to being the most dominant in league history.

The Cavaliers are ranked No. 1 in Baltimore by the Baltimore Sun and No. 1 in the Washington metro area by the Washington Post. Spalding is also ranked No. 1 in Maryland by Sports Illustrated and No. 20 in the country by SI.

Following Friday's 54-0 win over St. Mary's, Spalding (7-0 overall) improved to 4-0 in the A Conference and has now outscored its league rivals, 185-0. With three league games left on its regular season schedule, as well as two potential post-season games, the Cavaliers have an opportunity to become the first A Conference team go through a season with having a point scored against it, while setting the margin for the largest point differential for a season.

To date, the 2017 St. Frances Academy team, which left the A Conference the following year to become a national independent, has been the most dominant. The Panthers finished that season ranked in the Top 10 of four national polls, including No. 4 by USA Today, and won six regular season games by a combined score of 250-36 with three shutouts. The margin of total victory was 214 points, which is the current record for the regular season. Those Panthers also won two playoff games by a combined score of 93-14.

Gilman has had five teams finish a season nationally ranked - 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012 and 2015 and the most dominant of those, as far as MIAA Conference play is concerned, was the 2005 team which allowed just 7 points in five league games and outscored it league opponents 144-7. The 2015 Greyhounds had just one shutout in going undefeated through six regular season games, but posted a combined score of 263-64 for a total point differential of 199 points.