Division 2A North preview

Division 2A North preview

This division features one undefeated school in Marblehead and 4 schools with only one loss.

1. Marblehead 7-0
2. North Reading 7-1
3. Danvers HS 6-1
4. Gloucester  6-1
5. Melrose 5-2
6. Wakefield 4-3
7. Bedford HS 5-1
8. Wayland 3-4

  Marblehead are the team to beat but they should face stiff competition in the second round.

1 v 8 Marblehead is the Champion of the Northeast football league. This league has Peabody (D1A), Danvers and a good Beverly team. Marblehead scored the most points 240 and gave up the least 63. Coach James Rudolff will leads the Magicians and they are the team to beat. They should easily beat Wayland in the open round.

2 v 7 North Reading v Bedford HS. North Reading shared the Cape Ann Large League Title with Triton with a 3-1 record. Bedford Buccaneers can not be taken lightly. They are the Dual County Small champions. Their problem is they give up a lot of points. I see N Reading emerging

3 v 6 Danvers HS v Wakefield. The Danvers Falcons placed 2nd in the Northeast football league. Their only blemish was a 7 point loss to Marblehead. The Falcons have some heavy lifting to do it they want to face Marblehead again. Wakefield Warriors will have to be just that if they are to overcome Danvers in Danvers. Wakefield took care of business in league play 4-0 and winning the Middlesex Freedom League.  Pick Danvers Falcons

4 v 5 Gloucester v Melrose. Gloucester Fisherman are Northeast South Champions beating out both Winthrop and Revere. Christian Sanfilippo has 96 point this year and is lead fisherman. Melrose counters with Mike Pedrini accounting for 96 points also. The Red Raiders would do well to catch the fishermen. Pick Fishermen from Gloucester.


Pick Marblehead Magicians will beat Danvers Falcons in the final

Division 1A South

Division 1A South

D1A South
1	King Phillip	7-0
2	Wellesley	8-0
3	Natick	6-1
4	Mansfield	5-1
5	Marshfield	6-1
6	Bridgewater-Raynham	4-3
7	Hingham	4-3
8	Attleboro	3-4

     








       This bracket has the most prolific teams in the state. Marshfield and Mansfield have both played in 10 Super bowls. * Bridgewater-Raynham 9 and Natick 8. King Phillip is the only school that has NOT played in the final Championship game and they are undefeated.

1 v  8  King Phillip (Wrentham) v Attleboro. King Phillip  are the #1 ranked school and they won the Kelly/Rex League. They already beat Attleboro and Mansfield in League play. King Phillip has the best defense only giving up 64 points this year. They will again beat Attleboro who give up 179 this year.

4 v 5 Mansfield and Marshfield usually play for the Championship but not this year. This is the best opening round game beside Haverhill v Everett. Each of these schools came in second in their perspective Leagues. Marshfield are kicking themselves this year for playing in a very weak conference since they have the same record and Mansfield but lost out in ranking. . This game is a toss-up but I am picking an upset with the Rams beating Mansfield.

3 v 6 Natick v Bridgewater-Raynham. B-R is the only team to beat Xaverian ; snapping a 25 game win streak. The Trojans other loses were against undefeated Duxbury, Dartmouth and St John's Prep. Natick might wish they were playing D1. Natick will rely on their sturdy RB Malik Williams (742 yds). I will give Natick the edge with home field.

2 v 7  Wellesley v  Hingham. Wellesley is undefeated winning the Bay State Conference Herget  winning the league for the first time since 1999. The league also has Natick and Milton. They have the  best defenses in Division 1A giving up only 55 points.  7 of their games they held opponent to 7 or less. JR Jack Tishman lead the Raiders in the air and on the ground. Hingham will try to keep it close

While King Phillip already beat Mansfield, and Wellesley already beat Natick (both potential second round games for prospective teams) I am picking Wellesley to be the new King of D1A South this year.

Friday  Attleboro at King Philip, 7; Bridgewater-Raynham at Natick, 7; Marshfield at Mansfield, 7.   Saturday    Hingham at Wellesley, 1.

MAssachusetts Division 2A South preview 2016

Division 2A South 

D2A South
1	Falmouth	7-0
2	Westwood	5-2
3	Silver Lake	6-1
4	Medfield	5-2
5	Milton	5-2
6	Scituate	5-2
7	Somerset-Berkley	5-2
8	Norwood	3-4

       This bracket has 3 league champions in Falmouth, Westwood and Somerset-Berkley. Falmouth HS is the #2 ranked school in the state. 

1 v 8 Falmouth Clippers v Norwood. For the first time since joining the Atlantic Coast League the Falmouth High School football team has won the league title. FHS finished off a historic 4-0 run through league play and beating perennial Champion Marshfield, and 7-0 regular season. It is the 1^st time the Clippers have won a league Championship in 20 years. The Clippers have only been to 1 Super Bowl and lost so they are your sentimental favorite. with the help of D2A second leading scorer, senior Michael LaFrange and their senior signal caller Nick Couhig.  They will beat Norwood.     

  4 v 5 Medfield v Milton.     This game will feature two 5-2. Milton came in 3^rd in the Herget League behind Wellesley and Natick, two D1 schools. Medfield was 3^rd in the Tri- Valley behind Westwood and Holliston a D2A and D3 school…hmmmm. Medfield will need thier home field advantage to get by Milton. Pick Milton

 2-7  Westwood Wolverines v Somerset Raiders.   This game will feature the Tii Valley League champions (Westwood) against the Eastern Football Champs Somerset-Berkley. Westwood Wolverines went into the season feeling great since they had a brand new playing surface. Westwood’s Antonucci brothers, senior Robbie (68 points scored) and junior Jake (48 points) will power the Wolverines. This will make Westwood’s Superintendent John Antonucci especially proud. Somerset-Berkley  also won the Eastern League finally knocking off perennial power Bishop Feehan. They also  beaten Martha’s Vinyard away. This game is also for league bragging rights. I see the Wolverines from Westwood (they have same helmet design as Michigan University) keeping a perfect record on their new turf.                                                                                      

 3 v 6  (6-1) Silver Lake (Kingston) will play at home against Scituate. Silver Lake's only loss was against Patriot Keenan league Champion and the #1 school in the state Duxbury. Silver Lake is run by coach Chris Digiacomo in this second year got the Lakers to a great 6-1 record. This skill will be on display against a good Scituate Sailors team. The Sailors finished 2nd behind Hanover in the Patriot Fisher League. Pick Lakers                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

  The pick: I see Falmouth again in a battle with the traditional power Westwood Wolverines. I am picking the Falmouth to Clip the Wolverines again and win the south. Falmouth will be just to difficult to bring down. 

Division 1A North playoffs preview

Division 1A North

D1A North
1	Lincoln-Sudbury	6-1
2	Reading Memorial	5-2
3	Chelmsford	3-4
4	Westford Academy	3-4
5	Peabody	3-4
6	Revere	3-4
7	Malden Catholic	2-5
8	Cambridge	3-4

            This should be called the 3-4 bracket. Only 2 teams have a winning record here. Look for defending Division 2 North champion Reading Memorial to bring home some more hardware this season. The second-seeded Rockets (5-2) lost to Central Catholic and Lexington, but ride the momentum of a 31-0 win over Arlington in their season finale into the playoffs. Lincoln-Sudbury (6-1) should roll into the North final, but Reading’s experience and schedule gives the Rockets the advantage.                                                                                      

  The pick: Reading over Lincoln-Sudbury          Friday    Cambridge at Lincoln-Sudbury, 7; Peabody at Westford, 7; Malden Catholic at Reading, 7; Revere at Chelmsford, 7.

Massachusetts division 1 South Playoff preview

Division 1 South 

D1 South
1	Xaverian	6-1
2	Newton North	6-1
3	BC High	4-2
4	Catholic Memorial	4-3
5	Needham	4-3
6	Braintree	4-3
7	Brockton	4-3
8	Franklin	2-5

            There is one team to beat in the South and that is Xaverian Brothers. Xaverian has been the top seed in the south for 4 straingt years. They are also the reigning Super Bowl Champions the last 2 years. Xaverian (6-1) has had the South on lock since the inception of the current MIAA playoff system. Seniors Mekhi Henderson and AJ Ryan lead a defense that has pitched three shutouts in its past five contests. Franklin will be cannon fodder in this warm up test for XB.

3 v 6  BC High features the best running back in the state in Danny Abraham. Braintree has to lock down Abraham but this task is to much for them.

 2 v 7 Newton North has a very talented wide receiver in Bryce Adam. They will host seventh-seeded Brockton (4-3) could prove to be a difficult out.

4 v 5 5^th ranked Needham will not have to travel far (West Roxbury) to play Catholic Conference opponent Catholic Memorial. All CM’s loses were against Catholic schools, so the Knights will take their neighbor to task. 

                                                                                                                            

I see Xaverian again marching to the final again and beating Catholic Conference foe BC High again with their stellar defense to represent the South for the 5^th consecutive year. Hoping for a surprise like Newton North knocking off the big boys.