There's a New No. 1

By Sheldon Shealer

The votes have been tallied and as expected there's a new No. 1 in Maryland.

For the first time since the rankings were started in 1990, Gilman is the top-rated team in the state. The Greyhounds edged Eleanor Roosevelt by three points for the No. 1 spot in the second-closest vote for No. 1 in state poll history.

Both teams made strong early season statements as Gilman beat DeMatha, 14-0, in a rain-soaked opener two weeks ago -- DeMatha's first loss to a Baltimore school since 1966, and Eleanor Roosevelt ripped Woodbridge (Va.), 67-0, despite not having its All-State running back in the lineup. Gilman blanked Archbishop Spalding, 48-0, this past weekend. Gilman collected seven first-place votes. Roosevelt had five.

Gilman started the year at No. 3. Its move to No. 1 marks its highest ranking ever, topping the one week the program spent at No. 2 in 1993. Roosevelt, meanwhile, stayed in the No. 2 position, the highest position that program has ever attained.

Gilman becomes the 15th school to hold the state's No. 1 ranking. Also, for the first time since 1996, there will not be a wire-to-wire No. 1 team. Seneca Valley went coast-to-coast as No. 1 in 1997 and 1999, while DeMatha took the honors in 1998.

DeMatha, the preseason No. 1 this year, fell to No. 5, allowing Suitland and Seneca Valley to each move up a spot into third and fourth, respectively.

Elsewhere, there was not much movement in the Top 20. Positions 6-10 remained unchanged with Sherwood, Urbana, Westlake, Damascus and Randallstown. Last week's ranked team's combined for a 17-3 record, and two of the defeats were suffered to higher-ranked teams. Oakland Mills, a 34-7 loser to state-ranked Mount St. Joseph, and Annapolis, a 38-28 loser to unranked Old Mill, fell from the poll. Wilde Lake's four-point loss to No. 10 Randallstown set the Wildecats back a few spots.

The newcomers to this week's poll are No. 19 Paint Branch, a 43-20 winner over Wheaton, and No. 20 Fort Hill, a 43-22 winner over Hammond. For Fort Hill, it marks a return to the Top 20 after not spending a week in the ranking last year for the first time in history.

RECORD SETTERS

Jason Jackson ran wild in Oxon Hill's 40-14 victory over H.D. Woodson (D.C.). The senior's 353 rushing yards bested the school record of 303 sey by Walter Cross, who now plays for Michigan. Jackson's performance rates as the eighth-best single-game rushing effort in state history, and the best in Prince George's County.

TOP PERFORMANCES

Joe Peeler, Mount St. Joseph, Quarterback. Peeler tossed five touchdown passes in the Gaels' 34-7 victory over Oakland Mills. Peeler finished 12-of-23 for 262 yards.

Larry McClain, Forestville, Running Back. McClain rolled up 357 all-purpose yards in Forestville's 22-20 win over Coolidge (D.C.). McClain was a Small School All-State selection as a junior last year.

Kelvin Collins, Old Mill, Running Back. Collins rushed for 266 yards and a school-record five touchdowns as Old Mill defeated Annapolis, 38-28, in a battle of Anne Arundel County heavyweights.

IN CASE YOU WHERE WONDERING

Polytechnic's 60-6 loss to Eastern Tech is believed to be the school's most lopsided loss and its first football loss to a Baltimore County school. Polytechnic has fielded football teams for more than 100 years.

STREAK BUSTERS

The following winning or losing streaks ended last week:

Northeast-AA's state-long 30-game losing streak ended with a 6-3 victory over Atholton. Northeast had won twice during the stretch, but had to forfeit the victories. Northeast's last official victory came in Week 10 of 1996, a victory over Chesapeake-AA.

Dulaney's 21-game losing streak ended with a 26-0 victory over Towson. Dulaney's streak was the second-longest in Maryland, handing the title of longest active losing streak to South Hagerstown (19 games).

Thomas Johnson edged Middletown, 12-7, ending the Knights' 29-game regular-season win streak and their 27-game home regular-season win streak. Middletown's last inseason loss at home was in 1994. Middletown's previous regular-season loss was to Thomas Johnson to start the 1997 season.

AROUND THE STATE (Week 1 Notes)

Allegany rolled up 490 yards in a 57-6 victory over Bishop Walsh ... Eleanor Roosevelt's 478 rushing yards -- minus All-State running back Edwin Rios, who's out following an appendectimy -- rates among the Top 10 single-game team efforts in state history. In the process, Roosevelt slammed Woodbridge (Va.), 67-0. ... One, and counting. Gaithersburg's Kreg Kephart, who replaced legend John Harvill, guided the Trojans to a comfortable 39-7 victory last week in his debut as head coach. Harvill retired with 312 wins. ... Speaking of rookie coaching success, the following new coaches won openers with their teams last week: Charles Harley (Forestville), Bryan Gruver (Victor Cullen), William Spencer (Central). ... North Hagerstown has lost every season opener since 1989. The Hubs' last Game 1 victory was a 21-12 win over Boonsboro in 1988. For a large part of the opening-game losing streak, the Hubs faced a daunting task in Fort Hill. The last two years, however, North has opened with losses to Bowie. ... Speaking of Fort Hill, the Sentinels witnessed 20 points being scored in a matter of seconds in its 43-22 win over Hammond. The fireworks started when Fort Hill took a 7-0 lead. Hammond returned the next kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, making it 7-6, only to have Fort Hill return the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a score and a 14-6 lead. ... There were 27 shutouts involving Maryland high school teams last week. ... Seneca Valley's 36-6 victory was the Screaming Eagles' 40th straight win. Urbana pushed its win streak to a Frederick County record 26 with a 35-0 win over Largo. Gilman has won 23 in a row. ... Lansdowne opened the season with a 54-0 victory over Harford Tech. Lansdowne scored only 150 points all of last season. ... In Friends School's first official MIAA contest, it fell to Boys' Latin, 7-3. Friends was an associate member, but was requested to join as a league member this year.

LOOKING AHEAD

There is only one contest between state-ranked teams this week. However, that doesn't mean the state is thin on quality matchups:

No. 19 Paint Branch travels to No. 13 Watkins Mill for a Friday clash. Both won their season-opening contests. The winner stands to gain valuable points toward a possible playoff spot.

Suitland (1-0) visits High Point (1-0), Friday in a P.G. County 4A contest. Suitland carries a lofty state ranking into the contest. High Point is coming off a 22-19 win over Friendly.

Linganore visits Damascus in a non-contest between neighboring and rival schools. The game has been dubbed the Battle of Mount Airy, the town where the dividing line exists between Montgomery County's Damascus and Frederick County's Linganore. Both teams are 1-0.

Expect an offensive shootout when Mount St. Joseph visits McDonogh on Friday at 3:45 p.m. MSJ (2-0) is averaging 40.5 points per game. McDonogh scored 34 points in a season-opening win at Chambersburg (Pa.). McDonogh has not lost to any team other than Gilman since 1997.