After 36 years, Easton Makes its First Appearance Ever in the Maryland Media State Poll

The lone Talbot County football-playing school debuts in the Top 25 just ahead of league rival Stephen Decatur, the top vote-getter just outside of the rankings, while St. Frances stays an undisputed No. 1.

NCAA Division I prospect Ja'Zir Dickerson blows past Kent Island defenders en route to a touchdown in last week's 49-7 victory. | Easton High School Football

In another week with almost no turnover in the rankings, there is one newcomer who warrants the headline.

Easton is off to a 3-0 start, and for the first time in the 36-year history of the Maryland Media High School Football State Poll, the Warriors have cracked the Top 25. Easton enters this week at No. 25 after climbing from the “Others Receiving Votes” category following a 49-7 rout of Kent Island.

Easton and Stephen Decatur, which sits just outside the Top 25, are co-favorites in the Bayside Conference this season. Both programs were expected to be strong, and both have been bolstered by transfers that have turned them into small-school state championship contenders.

This is the 36th year of the Maryland Media State Poll, which is based on a statewide vote of sports reporters, including High School On SI’s Maryland rankings.

Linganore, Oakdale Inch Higher in the Rankings

Elsewhere, two Frederick County programs moved up, with Linganore swapping places with Wise at No. 7 and Oakdale moving past Mount St. Joseph for No. 13.

Top 5 Remains Unchanged

St. Frances Academy remains the undisputed No. 1, followed by DeMatha, Archbishop Spalding, McDonogh and Quince Orchard.

Among ranked teams, St. Charles made the biggest jump, moving from No. 25 to No. 22 after handling former No. 21 Patuxent. Patuxent’s loss opened the door for Easton.

Looking Ahead to Undefeated Teams Clashing This Week

This week’s schedule features a pair of matchups between state-ranked teams: No. 4 McDonogh takes on No. 18 St. Mary’s-Annapolis, while No. 17 Loyola Blakefield faces No. 23 Bullis. There are also two notable public-school matchups featuring undefeated teams, with No. 7 Linganore taking on Walkersville and No. 13 Oakdale facing Damascus. No. 20 North Point will also be tested by Patuxent, which fell out of the rankings this week to make room for Easton.

Maryland High School Football Media State Poll

Schools are ranked by points received. The number in parentheses reflects first-place votes. LW is last week’s ranking. Sheldon Shealer compiles the rankings.

Rank, School, Record, Points, LW

1. St. Frances Academy (10), 4-0, 250, 1

2. DeMatha, 3-1, 240, 2

3. Archbishop Spalding, 2-2, 229, 3

4. McDonogh, 4-0, 220, 4

5. Quince Orchard, 3-0, 208, 5

6. Good Counsel, 2-2, 204, 6

7. Linganore, 3-0, 184, 8

8. Wise, 2-0, 179, 7

9. Sherwood, 3-0, 164, 9

10. Dunbar, 3-0, 159, 10

11. Calvert Hall, 2-1, 156, 11

12. Huntingtown, 3-0, 132, 12

13. Oakdale, 3-0, 119, 14

14. Mount St. Joseph, 3-1, 115, 13

15. Milford Mill Academy, 2-1, 113, 15

16. Broadneck, 2-1, 92, 16

17. Loyola Blakefield, 3-0, 86, 19

18. St. Mary’s-AA, 2-1, 83, 17

19. Mergenthaler Vo-Tech, 2-1, 72, 20

20. North Point, 1-2*, 69, 18

21. Guilford Park, 3-0, 57, 22

22. St. Charles, 3-0, 36, 25

23. Bullis School, 3-0, 31, 24

24. Winston Churchill, 3-0, 26, 23

25. Easton, 3-0, 7, NR

Others Receiving Votes: Stephen Decatur (3-0, 5 points), Fort Hill (3-0, 3), Bishop McNamara (3-1, 1), Flowers (1-1, 1), Patuxent (2-1, 1), Riverdale Baptist (3-1, 1).

*-Record reflects a forfeit loss