WCAC ranked as a Top 10 toughest high school football league

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A recent article by <a href="http://highschoolfootballamerica.com">highschoolfootballamerica.com</a> rated the most challenging high school football leagues in America. The list was created using the High School Football America algorithm, which NFL Play Football powers. According to that algorithm, the WCAC (Washington Catholic Athletic Conference) is ranked as the 9th toughest football league in the nation. At first glance, it seems like the teams that have the most teams ranked by HFSA have the better ranking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The WCAC has three teams that the HFSA ranked: DeMatha Catholic (No. 23), Good Counsel (No. 77), and Gonzaga (No. 211). Those three teams are in the WCAC Capital Division. The article also mentions St. John's College and Bishop McNamara, which leads me to believe that the HFSA was explicitly<strong><em> talking about the Captial Division</em></strong> (with all due respect to the Metro Division).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a rumble every year regarding WCAC Capital division conference play. This past season, DeMatha defeated Good Counsel in the WCAC Capital championship game. Last season, Good Counsel won the division title. This past season, I saw a couple of matchups between DeMatha, Good Counsel, St. John's, and Gonzaga. I was able to watch the DeMatha/Gonzaga and Good Counsel/St. John's College matchups and the atmosphere for both games were electric (Good Counsel and Gonzaga were the home teams).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To me, one of the big reasons that the WCAC Capital division is challenging is because of the fantastic amount of talent spread out among those teams. DeMatha, Good Counsel, Gonzaga, and St. John's have legit Division I athletes across the board. On top of the demanding conference schedule, these teams also schedule tough out-of-conference games. Sometimes, those games involve tough teams from out of state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at some of the top players on each team that I've had an opportunity to watch in person. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DeMatha Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='212349' first='Lavar' last='Keys'] | 2026 | Wide Receiver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='418998' first='Zion' last='Smith'] | 2026 | Offensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1313563' first='Elijah' last='Lee'] | 2026 | Running Back</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1090374' first='Evan' last='Jones'] | 2026 | Wide Receiver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>James Pace | 2027 | Edge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='401996' first='Darrell' last='Carey'] | 2026 | Defensive Back</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Good Counsel</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaden Lindsay | 2027 | Offensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1156101' first='Karon' last='Spencer'] | 2026 | Edge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='402022' first='Rowen' last='Walsh'] | 2026 | Tight End</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cayton Kubah-Taylor | 2026 | Linebacker</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='711671' first='David' last='Jackson'] | 2026 | Defensive Tackle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1291840' first='Anthony' last='Sweeney'] | 2027 | Edge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gonzaga</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1312935' first='Carter' last='Meadows'] | 2026 | Edge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='402027' first='Tyson' last='Harley'] | 2026 | Edge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. John's College</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='212348' first='Jordan' last='Harrison'] | 2026 | Offensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nye Woods | 2027 | Quarterback</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='212345' first='Drew' last='Williams'] | 2026 | Quarterback</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kai Connelley | 2026 | Safety</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='212257' first='Breyon' last='Williams'] | 2026 | Running Back</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1313279' first='Adrian' last='Hamilton'] | 2026 | Offensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='402024' first='Tariq' last='Boney'] | 2026 | Edge </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='945023' first='Tyric' last='Powell'] | 2026 | Athlete</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1348710' first='Tyler' last='Butler-Simpson'] | 2027 | Defensive Back</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='769742' first='Stefan' last='Rogers'] | 2028 | Wide Receiver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QUICK THOUGHTS ON THESE PLAYERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gonzaga has two of the best defensive edges in the conference, state, and nation. As it stands, St. John's, Good Counsel, and DeMatha have a wealth of Division I prospects on their roster. I didn't list him, but Good Counsel's [player_tooltip player_id='477498' first='Jackson' last='Rice'] (2027 QB) is one to watch. He passes the eye test. A strong off-season and a breakout junior year will help his recruitment. We might be having different conversations about him this time next season. From a skill-position standpoint, St. John's has many returning talent, especially in that 2026 class. [player_tooltip player_id='212257' first='Breyon' last='Williams'] (running back) is challenging, and [player_tooltip player_id='402024' first='Tariq' last='Boney'] (linebacker) is a menace on defense. I'm a big fan of DeMatha's [player_tooltip player_id='212349' first='Lavar' last='Keys']. If somebody told me they thought he was the most exciting offensive player returning this upcoming season in the WCAC, I'd agree with the person 100 percent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Good Counsel has a few linemen (including the tight end) prospects (Jaden Lindsey, [player_tooltip player_id='711671' first='David' last='Jackson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1291840' first='Anthony' last='Sweeney'], and [player_tooltip player_id='402022' first='Rowen' last='Walsh']). Walsh, the tight end, is a little bit under the radar but still has received a few Division I offers. I think more will be coming his way, especially when the college prospect camps start up later this summer. Cayton Kubah-Taylor is a player I recently evaluated on PRZ Maryland. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The scary thing about all of this? Most likely, plenty more prospects on these teams are currently under-the-radar. The DMV has a wealth of talent. The WCAC Capital division is fortunate enough to be a beneficiary of a talent-rich region. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other articles to read</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-souther-maryland-skills-players-to-know-part-1/">Southern Maryland&nbsp; 2025 Season Players to Know - Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/meet-some-of-the-iacs-offensive-stars-in-the-2026-class-pt-1/">Meet some of the IAC's offensive stars in the 2026 Class – Pt . 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/meet-some-of-the-iacs-playmakers-at-the-skill-positions-pt-2/">Meet some of the IAC's playmakers at the skill positions – Pt . 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/scouting-the-iac-skill-position-players-part-3/">Scouting the IAC Skill Position Players - Part 3</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-1/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-2/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar - Pt. 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-3/"><strong>Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 3</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-western-maryland-skill-players-to-know-part-1/">2025 Season: Western Maryland Skill Players to Know – Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-1/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-2/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-3/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations - Part 3</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-next-wave-scouting-md-dcs-2026-class-film-review-pt-1/">The Next Wave: Scouting MD/DC's 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-next-wave-scouting-md-dcs-2026-class-film-review-pt-2/">The Next Wave: Scouting MD/DC's 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/scouting-the-ranked-2026-maryland-prospects-running-backs/">Scouting the ranked 2026 Maryland prospects: Running Backs</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-marylands-top-2026-running-back-prospects-part-2/">Evaluating the ranked 2026 running backs: Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/the-new-editions-evaluating-wrs-in-the-md-2026-rankings/">The New Editions: Evaluating WR's in the MD 2026 Rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/the-new-editions-new-edge-defenders-in-the-md-2026-rankings/"><strong>The New Editions: New edge defenders in the MD 2026 rankings</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-the-newcomers-to-the-md-2026-rankings-quarterbacks/">Evaluating Quarterbacks in the updated Maryland 2026 rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-tight-ends-in-the-updated-maryland-2026-rankings/">Evaluating Tight Ends in the updated Maryland 2026 rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-prospects-from-the-first-state-3a-standouts-pt-1/"><strong>Evaluating prospects from The First State: 3A standouts – Pt. 1</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-prospects-from-the-first-state-2a-standouts-pt-1/"><strong>Evaluating prospects from The First State: 2A standouts – Pt. 1</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/evaluating-prospects-from-the-first-state-1a-standouts-pt-1/"><strong>Evaluating prospects from The First State: 1A standouts – Pt. 1</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/dmv-off-season-live-evalations-part-1/"><strong>DMV off-season live evaluations: Part 1</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/dmv-off-season-live-evalations-part-2/">DMV off-season live evaluations: Part 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/marylands-class-of-2027-in-depth-analysis-of-the-top-5/">Maryland's Class of 2027: In-Depth Analysis of the Top 5</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/evaluating-the-ranked-2026-md-linebackers-in-the-top-10/">Evaluating the ranked 2026 MD linebackers in the Top 10</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->