Upper Marlboro, Maryland – With the high school football season kicking off this weekend, excitement is building in Maryland. There are several intriguing storylines to watch as teams prepare for another year of competition.
One major highlight is the transition of DaLawn Parrish, who achieved remarkable success at Henry A. Wise with 179 wins and six state titles over 18 seasons. After leading Wise to the championship in 2023, he has taken on a new role as the head coach at Westlake, close to his home in Charles County. Parrish, who originally founded the Wise program in 2006, is now in charge of a Westlake team that finished 6-6 last season with a young roster. He recognized the potential in the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference (SMAC), mentioning the community’s strong support for athletics at Westlake.
Parrish’s new challenge starts with tough road games against Northern-Calvert, who won the Class 3A title in 2021, and the 2023 state finalists, Calvert and Huntingtown. Meanwhile, Steve Rapp has stepped into the lead coaching role at Wise, having been part of several championship runs as the team’s offensive coordinator. Rapp feels that managing expectations is crucial for achieving success.
Wise will look to continue its dominance in Class 4A, featuring talented players like Trent Wilson, an Oklahoma commit, and DeCarlos Young, one of the state’s top dual-threat athletes. With Parrish at Westlake, there is potential for the SMAC to become a premier public league given its recent championship contenders.
The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), the largest private school league in the state, will also see changes. The A Conference expands to eight teams with Concordia Prep and St. Mary’s joining, while the B Conference welcomes St. Vincent Pallotti back after a tough stint in the A. With exciting talents like Malik Washington leading Archbishop Spalding, the race for the championships is heating up.
In a unique twist, St. Frances is gearing up for an intense national schedule, expected to cover over 18,000 miles with challenging matchups across several states. Their journey includes high-profile games against California teams and promises to test their strength early in the season.
As the season unfolds, the hopes for teams like Fort Hill and Dunbar to capture their fourth consecutive championships are palpable. Both schools boast long-standing winning traditions and will face each other on September 13, making it a highly anticipated clash.
As fans gather to watch the games unfold, the 2024 high school football season in Maryland promises thrilling action and the emergence of new narratives, championships, and opportunities for aspiring young athletes.
