Want to know who the best football teams are in Eastern Massachusetts? We’ve got you covered.
Each Thursday, our Eastern Mass. Football Power Rankings will clue you in on the top teams, players and games, as well as highlight performances from the week before.
Think your team has been left off unfairly or deserves a higher spot? Let us know in the comments section below.
DIVISIONS 1, 1A
1. (1) Everett (8-0) (1A, Greater Boston League): Quarterback Jonathan DiBiaso broke the 25-year-old state record for career touchdown passes, as the Crimson Tide opened Greater Boston League play with a 41-14 drumming of 1-6 Medford. DiBiaso threw for six TDs in the rout, giving him 88 for his career, three more than former record holder, Brockton’s Tom Colombo. All of DiBiaso’s touchdowns were in the first half, as the Crimson Tide jumped out to a 41-0 lead. The Crimson Tide will continue league play at Somerville at 7 p.m. Friday.
2. (2) BC High (5-3) (1, Catholic Conference): The Eagles began the Catholic Conference portion of their schedule with a 44-7 rout of 2-5 Malden Catholic. Quarterback Bartley Regan threw for three TDs, with teammate Gordon McLeod on the receiving end of two. The Eagles will host No. 7 Xaverian at 7 p.m. Friday.
3. (3) Chelmsford (7-1) (1, Merrimack Valley Conference): The Lions extended their winning streak to five with a 33-17 decision over 3-5 Central Catholic. Connor Brimley and Jake Mansicalco both returned interceptions for touchdowns, while running back Eddie Sheridan ran two in. The Lions will be at 5-3 Lowell at 7 p.m. Friday.
4. (4) Catholic Memorial (5-1) (1, Catholic Conference): The Knights defeated 3-4 St. John’s Prep of Danvers 26-7, as Armani Reeves found the end zone twice – on a 35-yard run and 72-yard punt return. They’ll host Malden Catholic at 1 p.m. Saturday.
5. (6) Lincoln-Sudbury (8-0) (1A, Dual County League): The Warriors trailed 14-10 at the half against 4-4 Westford but kept their perfect season intact with a 28-0 second half, for a 38-14 win. Chris Giorgio put the Warriors ahead and then more than sealed the victory with three rushing touchdowns in the second half. The Warriors will be at Acton-Boxborough at 7 p.m. Friday.
6. (7) Bridgewater Raynham (6-1) (1A, Old Colony League): The Trojans trounced 6-2 Dartmouth 30-6 on the road, as Branden Morin and Nick Schlatz rushed for more than 160 and 130 yards, respectively. Each back also had a TD. The Trojans will be at a 4-4, battle-tested Barnstable team at 6 p.m. Friday, with the winner taking the sole lead in the Old Colony League standings.
7. (8) Xaverian (5-3) (1, Catholic Conference): After three straight losses, the Hawks finally found their footing with a 27-9 win over 4-4 St. John’s Shrewsbury. Chris Calvanese and Maurice Hurst each had a pair of rushing touchdowns. The Hawks will need to be on top of their game to come out with a win at BC High at 7 p.m. Friday.
8. (10) Billerica (7-1) (1, Merrimack Valley Conference): The Indians defeated 5-3 Lowell 40-30 in a wild game that saw the teams score 35 points combined in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Nick LaSpada had three TDs – two passing, one rushing, Cam Slatton two – both receiving, and Byron Ramirez two – both rushing. The Indians will be at 5-3 Andover at 7 p.m. Friday.
9. (On the Bubble) North Andover (7-1) (1A, Cape Ann League): Running back John Iannone had more than 160 yards on the ground and three TDs, while quarterback Brandon Walsh added two rushing touchdowns, as the Scarlet Knights defeated 5-3 Revere 34-6 for their seventh straight win. Their only loss came in their first game of the season, when they fell 30-20 to Andover back on Sept. 9. The Scarlet Knights will be at 3-4 Peabody at 7 p.m. Friday.
10. (5) Needham (6-2) (1, Bay State Conference): The Rockets impressive five-game winning streak came to an end with a 49-24 loss against 7-1 Natick. The Rockets led 24-21 after a Mike Vespa rushing touchdown early in the second half, however, Natick would close the game with four unanswered scores. The Rockets are in for another tough test, as they’ll travel to 5-3 Framingham at 7 p.m. Friday.
On the Bubble: Weymouth (6-2), Andover (5-3), Lynn English (6-2), Lowell (5-3), Framingham (5-3)
DIVISION 2, 2A
1. (1) Duxbury (8-0) (2, Patriot League): The Green Dragons took care of business at 1-7 Silver Lake, coming away with a 34-7 win. Quarterback Matt O’Keefe threw three touchdown passes, while Don Webber and Jon Hurvitz caught two a piece. The Green Dragons will host 4-4 Hanover at 7 p.m. Friday.
2. (4) Dennis-Yarmouth (8-0) (2A, Atlantic Coast League): The Dolphins now haven’t given up a point since Oct. 7, as they recorded their third shutout in a row in a 28-0 win over 2-6 Plymouth South. Dylan Hodsdon caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Montalto and then took a punt back 72 yards for a score in the first quarter. Montalto added two rushing touchdowns in the second. The Dolphins will host 4-3 New Bedford at 7 p.m. Friday in what should be a tough test.
3. (2) Mansfield (7-1) (2, Hockomock League): Behind a 237-yard, two-score day by running back Greg Donahue, the Hornets weathered a ferocious comeback and defeated 4-4 Barnstable 34-33 in overtime. The Hornets led 27-10 with just over three minutes remaining before Barnstable went on its late run. Donahue scored the game-tying TD in overtime before Matt Bukuras hit the game-winning extra point. The Hornets will be at 4-4 Franklin at 7 p.m. Friday.
4. (3) Walpole (7-1) (2A, Bay State Conference): The Rebels bounced back from their first loss of the season with a 34-0 win over 3-5 Newton North – their third shutout of the season. Craig Hanley had three touchdowns in the rout, Shane Blass two. Blass also rushed for more than 200 yards. The Rebels will be at 2-6 Dedham at 7 p.m. Friday.
5. (5) Natick (7-1) (2A, Bay State Conference): The Red and Blue trailed 6-2 Needham 24-21 just after halftime but rallied to close the game with four unanswered scores for a 49-24 road win. Quarterback Troy Flutie and running backs Nick Lee and Brian Dunlap each had a pair of rushing touchdowns, while Flutie added another one through the air. The Red and Blue will host 2-6 Wellesley at 7 p.m. Friday.
6. (6) King Philip (6-1) (2, Hockomock League): The Warriors were on a bye. They’ll host 6-2 Attleboro at 7 p.m. Friday in a key league game.
7. (7) Swampscott (7-1) (2A, Cape Ann League): Quarterback Michael Walsh had six touchdowns – four passing, two rushing – as the Big Blue trounced 3-5 Danvers 47-14. A.J. Baker was on the receiving end of three of Walsh’s TDs. The Big Blue have a huge game at 6-2 Beverly at 1 p.m. Saturday.
8. (8) North Attleborough (7-1) (2, Hockomock League): Quarterback Spyro Varetimos had two touchdowns – one passing, one rushing – as the Red Rocketeers took down 4-3 Oliver Ames 27-12 on the road. They’ll have a bye before a huge game at 7-1 Mansfield at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11.
9. (9) Wakefield (7-1) (2A, Middlesex League): Dan Cardillo took the opening kick back to the house, as the Warriors walloped 2-6 Stoneham 37-7. Six different Warriors got credit for touchdowns in the rout. The Warriors will be at a surging Reading team at 7 p.m. Friday. After a slow start, 5-3 Reading has now won four in a row.
10. (On the Bubble) Beverly (6-2) (2A, Cape Ann League): After trailing 14-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Panthers went on to score the next five touchdowns on way to a 33-21 win over winless Gloucester. Brendan Flaherty had more than 100 yards and two TDs on the ground. The Panthers will host 7-1 Swampscott at 1 p.m. Saturday.
On the Bubble: Tewksbury (5-3), Attleboro (6-2), Melrose (6-2), Reading (5-3), Whitman-Hanson (6-2)
Best of the Rest: DIVISIONS 3, 3A, 4, 4A, 5
1. (1) Concord-Carlisle (8-0) (3, Dual County League): The Patriots jumped out to a 38-7 lead at 2-6 Weston on way to a 38-21 win. The Patriots scored all of their points in the first half before calling off the dogs. They’ll be at 3-5 Wayland at 7 p.m. Friday.
2. (2) Holliston (6-1) (3, Tri-Valley League): Running back Jake Frechette had a milestone day, as the Panthers beat previously-undefeated, 7-1 Millis 35-13 on the road. With a 152-yard night, Frechette broke the Panthers’ career rushing mark. He’s now at 3,109 yards. The Panthers will be at 5-3 Medway at 7 p.m. Friday.
3. (3) East Bridgewater (8-0) (4, South Shore League): The Vikings took care of business against 1-7 Bishop Stang, coming away with a 28-6 win. Four Vikings scored rushing touchdowns in the rout. The Vikings will be at 6-2 Abington at 7 p.m. Friday.
4. (4) Cardinal Spellman (8-0) (4, Catholic Central League): The Cardinals recorded their fourth shutout of the season in a 29-0 win over 2-6 Bishop Fenwick. They’ve yet to give up more than eight points in a game. Pat Hinkley and Dan Kustka each had a pair of touchdowns. The Cardinals will be at 2-5 Austin Prep at 3 p.m. Friday.
5. (5) Arlington Catholic (7-0) (4, Catholic Central League): It was the Bernard Lynch show, as the Cougars’ running back rushed for 240 yards and three touchdowns (all over 50 yards) in a 34-0 rout of 1-6 Archbishop Williams. The Cougars will host 2-6 Bishop Fenwick at 2 p.m. Saturday.
6. (6) Hopkinton (7-1) (3, Tri-Valley League): The Hillers scored five touchdowns in the opening quarter on way to a 42-22 win at 2-6 Bellingham. Alex Hulme scored the first three. The Hillers will be at 2-6 Medfield at 7 p.m. Friday.
7. (7) Pembroke (7-0) (3, Patriot League): The Titans shutout 4-4 Hanover 20-0 on the road to remain unbeaten. They’ll be at 1-7 Middleborough at 7 p.m. Friday.
8. (9) Bourne (8-0) (3A, South Coast League): Joe Epps had two rushing touchdowns as the Canalmen handed 6-2 Dighton-Rehoboth its second loss of the season, 22-6. The Canalmen will host 5-3 Apponequet at 7 p.m. Friday.
9. (10) Mashpee (8-0) (4, South Shore League): Jordan Keli’inui had more than 100 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, as the Falcons defeated 3-4 Cohasset 27-7. The Falcons will be at 5-3 Hull at 7 p.m. Friday.
10. (8) Millis (7-1) (4, Tri-Valley League): The Mohawks suffered their first loss of the season 35-13 against Holliston. They’ll look to bounce back when they host 2-6 Bellingham at 7 p.m. Friday.
On the Bubble: Westwood (7-1), St. Mary’s (6-2), Hamilton-Wenham (7-0), Newburyport (6-2), Oliver Ames (4-3)
Statistics and results compiled from a variety of media sources, primarily our local Patch.com sites and the Boston.com standings.
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