Archbishop Spalding Hands McDonogh First Loss, 20-7, Behind Denius' Two Touchdowns

Game #6 Archbishop Spalding Hands McDonogh First Loss, 20-7, Behind Denius' Two Touchdowns Eagles' unbeaten start ends as Cavaliers control the scoreboard in MIAA A Conference matchup. SEVERN, Md. — Friday, October 9, 2026 — McDonogh's unbeaten start to the 2026 football season ended Friday night as Archbishop Spalding defeated the Eagles, 20-7, in an MIAA A Conference matchup. The loss dropped McDonogh to 6-1 after six consecutive victories, while Spalding improved to 5-2. Running back Gabe Denius led the Cavaliers' offense, rushing for 71 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Denius opened the scoring with a four-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter, giving Spalding a 7-0 advantage. McDonogh answered early in the second quarter. Running back Basil Oshegbo broke free for a 68-yard touchdown run with 9:01 remaining before halftime. Tony Traglia converted the extra point, tying the game at seven. But Spalding responded less than four minutes later. Denius scored his second touchdown on a 17-yard run with 5:32 remaining in the second quarter, restoring the Cavaliers' seven-point advantage. Spalding entered halftime ahead 14-7. Neither team scored in the third quarter, leaving McDonogh within one possession entering the final period. But the Cavaliers extended their lead early in the fourth when Ahmad Prettyman scored on a one-yard touchdown run. The extra-point attempt failed, leaving Spalding ahead 20-7. McDonogh was unable to respond. Quarterback Jackson Herbert completed 27 of 47 passes for 175 yards but threw two interceptions and did not record a passing touchdown. Oshegbo provided the Eagles' lone scoring play and finished with 96 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Receiver Rob "Sonny" Moore caught four passes for 53 yards. Despite running 68 offensive plays compared with Spalding's 54, McDonogh struggled to translate its possessions into points. The Eagles generated 11 first downs to Spalding's 10 but managed only seven points. Spalding quarterback B. Snowden Jr. completed six of 12 passes for 68 yards and an interception. The Cavaliers relied heavily on their rushing attack and defense to secure the victory. For McDonogh, the defeat ended a strong opening stretch that included victories over Riverdale Baptist, Haverford School, Benedictine, St. Mary's and Calvert Hall. The Eagles will look to regroup when they travel to Loyola Blakefield on October 16. DMV Gridiron Takeaway: McDonogh's first defeat highlighted the importance of offensive efficiency against strong conference opponents. Despite generating more plays than Spalding, the Eagles scored only once and were unable to overcome the Cavaliers' rushing production. Final Score: Archbishop Spalding 20, McDonogh 7 Top Performers - Basil Oshegbo, RB: 9 carries, 96 rushing yards, 1 touchdown. - Jackson Herbert, QB: 27-of-47 passing, 175 yards, 2 interceptions. - Rob "Sonny" Moore, WR: 4 receptions, 53 yards. - Gabe Denius, Archbishop Spalding: 9 carries, 71 yards, 2 touchdowns. Scoring Highlights - Q1, 2:39 — Spalding: Denius 4-yard touchdown run. - Q2, 9:01 — McDonogh: Oshegbo 68-yard touchdown run. - Q2, 5:32 — Spalding: Denius 17-yard touchdown run. - Q4, 11:32 — Spalding: Ahmad Prettyman 1-yard touchdown run. SEO Tags: McDonogh vs Archbishop Spalding, McDonogh Eagles Football, Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers, Basil Oshegbo, Jackson Herbert, MIAA A Conference, Baltimore High School Football, DMV Gridiron, [SASN.TV](http://sasn.tv/) McDonogh Team Article: McDonogh's Unbeaten Run Ends at Six, but Eagles Remain in MIAA A Race Jackson Herbert, Basil Oshegbo and Carlos Ferguson have fueled McDonogh's strong start as team prepares for Loyola Blakefield. OWINGS MILLS, Md. — October 9, 2026 — McDonogh's first six games produced six victories, an explosive passing attack and several impressive performances against opponents from Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. But the Eagles' unbeaten run ended Friday night with a 20-7 loss to Archbishop Spalding. McDonogh now stands at 6-1 entering another important MIAA A Conference matchup against Loyola Blakefield. The Eagles opened the season with a 22-14 victory over Riverdale Baptist, followed by a 35-25 win over Haverford School. Quarterback Jackson Herbert played a central role in those victories, throwing for 281 yards against Riverdale Baptist and four touchdowns against Haverford. Herbert continued his production against Benedictine, connecting with Carlos Ferguson for three touchdowns in a 28-7 victory. Ferguson finished that game with 111 receiving yards and three scores. Running back Basil Oshegbo has also been a consistent contributor, providing rushing production throughout the season. McDonogh demonstrated its ability to win a close conference contest September 25, rallying past St. Mary's, 14-10, on Herbert's fourth-quarter touchdown run. The Eagles then defeated Calvert Hall, 24-10, behind two Herbert touchdown passes and an 86-yard scoring run by Matthew Tees. Against Archbishop Spalding, however, McDonogh's offense struggled to find the end zone. Oshegbo's 68-yard touchdown run accounted for the Eagles' only points, while Herbert threw two interceptions. The loss provided a reminder of the challenges awaiting McDonogh in MIAA A Conference competition. With Loyola Blakefield next on the schedule, the Eagles will have an opportunity to respond immediately. McDonogh's season has already demonstrated considerable offensive potential. The next challenge will be translating that production into consistent results against the conference's strongest opponents. DMV Gridiron Season Outlook: McDonogh remains a contender in the MIAA A Conference despite its first defeat. The Eagles' passing attack, rushing depth and ability to win close games provide a strong foundation, but offensive efficiency will be critical as conference competition intensifies. SEO Tags: McDonogh Eagles 2026 Football, McDonogh School Football, MIAA A Conference, Jackson Herbert, Basil Oshegbo, Carlos Ferguson, Baltimore High School Football, DMV Gridiron, [SASN.TV](http://sasn.tv/) 6–1 Season record 165 Points scored 100 Points allowed | Date | Opponent | Result | | -------- | ------------------- | ------- | | Aug. 28 | Riverdale Baptist | W 22–14 | | Sept. 5 | Haverford School | W 35–25 | | Sept. 18 | Benedictine | W 28–7 | | Sept. 25 | St. Mary's | W 14–10 | | Oct. 2 | Calvert Hall | W 24–10 | | Oct. 9 | Archbishop Spalding | L 7–20 |