Archbishop Spalding football completes a special season with a MIAA A Conference three-peat

by Derek Toney

Archbishop Spalding quarterback Malik Washington had two words for coach Kyle Schmitt as they embraced in the waning seconds of Saturday evening’s MIAA A Conference championship game.

“Thank you.” Washington said, tightly holding the man he’s known since middle school.

“I love Malik Washington. Everything you see is genuine,” said Schmitt. “He’s an amazing teammate, he’s revered in our school because he’s an incredible classmate. He’s what Archbishop Spalding is all about.”

The late Mike Whittles, who’s smiling from the heavens, now has pretty good company in Spalding football lore. Washington completed the greatest career by a Cavalier player as Spalding defeated McDonogh, 31-7, in front of an estimated 2,000 at Calvert Hall’s Paul Angelo Russo Stadium.

Washington, who’s committed to the University of Maryland, threw two touchdown passes and ran for another. Chase Gorman rushed for 113 yards. 

After allowing their first touchdown in MIAA A play, the Cavaliers (12-0 overall), the consensus No. 1 team in Maryland, reeled off the final 31 points to complete their finest season.

In a brief break from taking pictures with family, friends and teammates and a couple of video interviews, Washington reflected on his Spalding journey.

“It’s the relationships that I’ve built, the field product is what it is,” said Washington. “The relationships I’ve built off the field will live forever.”

What he did on the field will be remembered as well, securing a place as the most successful quarterback in MIAA A history. Washington didn’t lose as a starter in MIAA A play, going 25-0 including playoffs; 18-0 in the regular season.

He’s the first starting quarterback to win three straight MIAA A titles. 

“He’s the best player I’ve ever coached…he’s one of the best players ever in Baltimore and the state of Maryland,” said Schmitt. “He deserves everything he gets…He’s going to do great things.”

Washington didn’t have an overwhelming stat line Saturday, but still showed why he’s one of the nation’s elite quarterbacks. With Spalding trailing for the first time since its season opener, Washington called his number, breaking a tackle before falling into the end zone for a 13-yard score. 

The drive was set up by junior Aaron Igwebe’s 59-yard kickoff return, following the first touchdown allowed by the Cavaliers in nearly three months. 

“When you get to these championship rounds you’re going to get hit in the face,” said Washington. “We had a great stretch of people not scoring on us, but it’s part of the game…We know how to bounce back.”

With 40 seconds left before halftime, Washington completed two passes, the latter to Myles McAfee on a post pattern, giving Spalding the lead for good. 

Entering the drive, Washington was just 2-for-10 for 5 yards. He went 6-for-8 for 62 yards in the second half, including a six-yard scoring throw to Cam Miller.

Spalding methodically chipped away at McDonogh and the clock with Gorman, who rushed for 102 yards (18 carries) in the second half. Antonio Ledbetter added an 8-yard score in the fourth quarter.

Schmitt said Washington’s strike to McAfee before halftime was the turning point.

“The pick they had on fourth down was like a punt. Then we pinned them and we get the touchdown to Myles,” said Schmitt. “Getting the ball first in the second half was big and getting the field goal put us up by 10. Once we got up two possessions, they were going to have trouble coming back.”

After losing, 45-0, in the first meeting, McDonogh put Spalding and the huge audience at Russo Stadium on notice early Saturday evening. The Eagles (10-2) went 59 yards in 14 plays, capped with Penn State commit Jeff Exinor, in the Wildcat formation, barreling into the end zone.

It was first time Spalding trailed in a game since early in the second half of its match with DeMatha Aug. 31. It was the first touchdown scored on Spalding in 459 minutes and 35 seconds. 

The momentum lasted 82 seconds. Igwebe returned the ensuing kickoff, and McDonogh was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the tackle, setting Spalding at the Eagles’ 17-yard line.

A year ago, McDonogh scored first on Spalding in the MIAA A final at Towson University. 

Forty points later, the Cavaliers hoisted the Mike Whittles/MIAA A championship trophy.

It was deja vu, all over again, for McDonogh, which had an interception in the end zone in the second quarter, and failed to score after reaching the 5-yard line early in the second half.

“The guys battled. We couldn’t covert in the red zone,” said McDonogh coach Hakeem Sule. “On the other side they got Malik…you really can’t stop him.”

Washington is the third quarterback to go undefeated in MIAA A play, joining Gilman School’s Marco Simmons (10-0; 2004-2005) and Shane Cockerille (11-0 regular season, 15-0 with playoffs; 2011-12).

Washington, who went 33-4 overall as a starter, credited his Spalding support line.

“I’m so proud of my team, I couldn’t had done it by myself,” said Washington. “My team, my coaching staff, they were here for me every step of the way. Nobody in Maryland has beaten Archbishop Spalding as long as I’ve been starting.”

Spalding outscored MIAA A foes, 384-10, (including playoffs) this season. The Cavaliers posted eight shutouts in their 12 games.

Spalding’s run of 24 straight regular season league victories tied with Gilman (2010-2014) for the longest in MIAA A history. The Cavaliers’ 25-game run, including playoffs, is also a record. 

Spalding joins Gilman (1998, 1999, 2002, 2005), Loyola (2008; 11-0), McDonogh (2014; 11-0) and St. Frances Academy (13-0; 2017) as undefeated MIAA A champions.

Schmitt said a big reason for the Cavaliers’ success is limiting distractions.

“We’re really big on no drama,” said Schmitt. “It’s competitive as heck everyday in practice and guys have to fight, they’re some pretty good players who didn’t play that much tonight, you eliminate all that drama…it’s very cliche but it’s very process driven.”

And the result is history.

“It’s been an amazing ride, filled with ups and downs, but we battled through all of it,” said Washington, who won his final 16 games. “We did what we had to do every step of the way and I’m super proud of those dudes.”