DeMatha Extends Its Win Streak to 22 with an Impressive Season-Opening Win Over Archbishop Spalding

In a showdown of the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams in Maryland, No. 2 DeMatha avenge a 26-10 season-opening loss to No. 3 Spalding in 2024 by rolling to a 35-14 win over the visiting Cavaliers, in the 2026 opener for both programs, Friday at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex.

Senior AJ Grant, a transfer from Bishop Gorman (Nev.) had three rushing touchdowns for the Stags. Junior Austin Barber added a scoring catch and returned a punt for another score for DeMatha (1-0).

Junior Keith Miller and sophomore Brian Snowden each scored for No. 3 Spalding (0-1). It's the second straight season opening loss for the Cavaliers, who lost to Indiana's Brownsburg, 36-23.

Track our Live Score Update blog below to follow the action as it happened.

Pregame

The 2026 Maryland high school football season kicks off Friday night with No. 3 Archbishop Spalding and No. 2 DeMatha meeting in heavyweight season opener at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex.

DeMatha brings a 21-game winning streak into the matchup. Spalding happens to be the last team to beat the Stags.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Follow this page throughout the game for live score updates, highlights and key moments.

Refresh This Page Throughout the Game for Live Updates

That's it. DeMatha ties the school record with its 22nd straight victory, defeats Spalding, 35-14.

DeMatha goes to Victory formation.

DeMatha gets ball back with 2:37 left in regulation.

Marks still in at quarterback for Spalding.

Kick is good. DeMatha 35, Spalding 14 with 5:27 left in regulation.

TOUCHDOWN DEMATHA. Austin Barber with a 40-yard punt return for touchdown.

Auburn commit James Pace with a sack for DeMatha. Spalding to punt with 4th-and-15 with 5:34 left in regulation.

Spalding gets ball back at its 13 after forcing punt. 7:27 left in regulation. Spalding needs two touchdowns.

DeMatha calls timeout, facing 3rd-and-10 from its 46 with 8:28 left.

DeMatha falls on Spalding's onsides kick.

Spalding goes 44 yards for its second touchdown.

Kick good. DeMatha 28, Spalding 14. 10:37 left in regulation.

TOUCHDOWN SPALDING. Keith Miller with the TD catch on a halfback pass.

Spalding facing 4th-and-10 calls timeout deep in DeMatha's territory. 10:42 left in regulation.

End of three: DeMatha 28, Spalding 7. Cavaliers on move to start fourth.

Back-to-back false starts puts Spalding at Stags' 20.

Demus' runs have Spalding inside DeMatha's 10.

Justin Marks in for Snowden to start Cavalier drive.

Keith Miller with another big return. Spalding starts drive at Stags' 44.

needs to answer on next drive.

Low snap on what appeared to be a fake punt by Spalding gives DeMatha ball at Stags' 47. Next play, Grant goes the distance for TOUCHDOWN. 28-7 with 3:41 left in third.

DeMatha collapses pocket and gets to Snowden to force 4th-and-7 from Spalding's 47.

Keith Miller with nice punt return to put Spalding at midfield.

Spalding drops Willford for five-yard loss. Spalding will get ball back.

DeMatha starts drive at its 45. 5:48 left in third.

Spalding goes 3-and-out. DeMatha to get ball back up 21-7.

Touchback. Spalding gets first possession of the second half at its 20.

Impressive start to second half for DeMatha with a nine-play, 65-yard drive.

Extra point good. DeMatha 21, Spalding 7. 6:46 left in the third.

TOUCHDOWN DEMATHA. TJ Grant scores from six yards out.

Another Saab pass to Barber gets ball to Spalding 21

Saab with a big 3rd down to put ball in Spalding's territory

DeMatha gets the second half kickoff

First half stat: DeMatha with 181 yards: 92 rushing and 89 passing

First half stat: Spalding with 169 yards: 118 rushing and 51 passing

DeMatha dodged a bullet as an open Spalding receiver was ruled out of bounds.

Jackson Osman misses 36-yard field goal to end first half. DeMatha 14, Spalding 7 at halftime.

DeMatha sacks Snowden at Stags' 37. Spalding use last timeout with 20 seconds left.

Spalding uses second timeout with 40 seconds left and the ball at midfield.

Big run by Gabe Denius gives Spalding a first down at its 36. Timeout Spalding with a minute left.

Spalding has all three timeouts left and the ball at its 23.

Spalding to get ball back with 1:11 left before halftime.

DeMatha with interception to stop Spalding drive with 2:46 left in second

Spalding gets first down on Keith Miller catch

Spalding with a 4-and-3 at Stags' 23. DeMatha calls timeout with 4:21 left in the first half.

Keith Miller's 70-yard kickoff return gives Spalding life at Stags' 30.

Extra point kick good. DeMatha 14, Spalding 7. 6:07 left before halftime. Scoring drive: Five plays, 85 yards.

TOUCHDOWN DEMATHA. Saab goes up top for 45 yard pass to junior Austin Barber.

DeMatha on move after Saab pass to Chase Erwin.

Correction: Eight plays, 27 yards.

Spalding makes extra point. 7-7 with 8:41 left before halftime. Scoring drive: Nine plays, 27 yards.

TOUCHDOWN SPALDING. Snowden scores from two yards out.

Snowden scrables for first down.

Fourth-and-5 from DeMatha's 25, Spalding calls timeout.

Spalding faces a 3rd-and-long. Snowden has thrown six straight incomplete passes.

Spalding starts at DeMatha's 37.

Spalding will have good starting position after an unsportsmanlike penalty on DeMatha after Grant's TD.

Extra-point good. DeMatha 7-0 with 11:56 left in the secong quarter. Stags went 27 yards in four plays.

TOUCHDOWN DEMATHA. Grant with a 1-yard score.

DeMatha at Spalding's 1 to end the opening quarter. A 12 and 8-yard run by TJ Grant has Stags in position. 0-0 after one.

DeMatha with good field position at Spalding;s 27 for next drive.

Spalding to punt ball back to DeMatha.

Spalding to start drive at its 12.

DeMatha to punt after getting two yards in drive.

DeMatha starts at Spalding's 33 for next drive.

Spalding to punt after a three-and-out,

Spalding starts second drive at its 14.

DeMatha prepares to punt. Two holding penatlies including one negating a huge run from Cam Willford spoiled drive.

Two holding penalties hurting DeMatha.

Grant with a 6-yard run.

DeMatha's first possession of the season with starts at its 11.

Spalding faced with a 4-and-3 from Stags' 47 will punt,

Spalding crosses into DeMatha territory.

Snowden completes 10-yard pass for a 1st down.

Spalding gets the kickoff and stats at their 19.

Spalding is wearing white tops and bottoms while DeMatha is wearing red tops with white pants.

It's about 81 degrees under partly cloudy skies in Landover.

We're roughly 12 minutes from kickoff!

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

What: No. 3 Archbishop Spalding vs. No. 2 DeMatha Catholic
When: Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex

Preview

There's little debate entering the season about St. Frances Academy's status as Maryland's No. 1 high school football team.

The race immediately behind the Panthers gets its first major test Friday night.

No. 2 DeMatha and No. 3 Archbishop Spalding meet in a season opener featuring the reigning champions of two of the state's premier conferences.

DeMatha Brings 21-Game Win Streak

DeMatha, ranked No. 2 in the High School on SI Maryland preseason Top 25 rankings, has won the last two Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Capital Division titles. The Stags return quarterback Tristian Saab, who directed the team to an 11-0 mark as a junior last season.

On defense, DeMatha is led by Auburn commits James Pace, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound defensive end, and Kynair Crumb, a 6-1, 195-pound safety. The Stags will bring a 21-game winning streak – one shy of the school record – into Friday’s showdown.

Spalding Was the Last Team to Beat DeMatha

Spalding also owns a distinction no other team has managed in nearly two years: The Cavaliers are the last team to defeat DeMatha, beating the Stags 24-10 in their 2024 season opener. The Cavaliers are scheduled to play two more WCAC Capital powers – St. John’s College (D.C.) and Our Lady of Good Counsel – to start the 2026 campaign.

Spalding (10-2 last season), the consensus preseason No. 3 team in Maryland, has won four straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championships. Brian Snowden, who took over as quarterback just two games into his freshman season last year, is back to lead the Cavaliers’ offense. Senior wide receiver Myles McAfee, a Maryland commit, returns after suffering a season-ending lower leg injury in the 2025 season opener.

Brock Frisby, a 6-3, 265-pound lineman committed to Virginia Tech, will anchor Spalding’s defense.

New Coaches Debut on Both Sidelines

Friday will also mark the head-coaching debuts of R.G. Green at Spalding and Bryce Bevill at DeMatha. Green, a longtime Naval Academy assistant, takes over for Kyle Schmitt, who left Spalding in January to become the tight ends coach at his alma mater Maryland.

Bevill, a former DeMatha star who has held coaching and administrative positions at the high school, college and NFL levels, is the Stags’ interim coach this season for legendary headman Bill McGregor, who’s stepping away from the sidelines for personal reasons (serving this season as the program’s director of operations).

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