Paint Branch debuted in the Maryland State Football Top 25 Tuesday, and Fort Hill fell one spot to No. 25 after a 56-3 rout of Mountain Ridge.
During the 1990s, Montgomery County was a powerhouse in Maryland public high school football, often with six or seven public schools landing in the state poll.
However, over time, the rise of private school football and a more widespread distribution of talent across the state have significantly reduced that dominance. This year, only Quince Orchard represented MoCo in the Top 25 until Northwest joined after Week 2.
Now, the county has three teams in the rankings.
Paint Branch checks in at No. 21 this week after a 7-0 victory over former No. 16 Northwest. Both teams sit at 5-1, though Paint Branch’s only loss came from a season-opening forfeit. Despite the defeat, Northwest remains in the Top 25 at No. 23, while No. 6 Quince Orchard continues to lead the MoCo contingent.
Paint Branch is the sole newcomer to the rankings this week, in a relatively stable Top 25. The previous week’s top teams largely maintained their positions, going 22-3 overall. Notable games included No. 8 McDonogh’s win over then-No. 14 Calvert Hall. Northwest and Huntingtown, which fell out of the Top 25, were the only other ranked teams to lose.
Archbishop Spalding holds steady as the unanimous No. 1, followed by St. Frances Academy, Riverdale Baptist, DeMatha, and Good Counsel. While there was some shuffling near the bottom, Huntingtown’s exit was the only major change.
This marks Paint Branch’s first appearance in the rankings since finishing No. 19 in 2021 with an 8-2 record.
Looking ahead, this week features two high-stakes matchups: No. 4 DeMatha vs. No. 5 Good Counsel, and No. 7 Wise against No. 16 Flowers.