Walpole 41, Needham 7 -- Ryan Izzo scored five touchdowns as the Rebels won easily. The senior back is 4 points away from tying the state scoring record. Walpole plays unbeaten Natick next week.
Whittier 30, Manchester Essex 16 -- A Nate Allen run followed by a fumble recovery in the endzone had Whittier on top, 16-0, after three quarters. A wild fourth quarter ended with Whittier a winner, 30-16.

From Globe Correspondent Mike Carraggi:

Last year’s No. 1 team gave this year’s top squad a run for its money, but in the end, a strong second half performance by Xaverian resulted in a 14-6 Catholic Conference victory over BC High at Viola Stadium.

In a tense finish, BC High (4-4, 1-1) stopped the Hawks on a fourth-and-one with 16 seconds left, and a 30-yard pass from Brendan Collins to Brandon Cippola followed by a spike set up a Hail Mary situation with two ticks on the clock. However, the stubborn wind that fueled a cold night knocked the ball down short of the goal, where Xaverian’s (9-0, 2-0)Chris Tamasi intercepted it to end the suspension.

"I thought we really dominated the second half," Xaverian coach Charlie Stevenson said.

Xaverian unleashed its punishing rushing attack after halftime, breaking a scoreless tie with two third-quarter touchdowns.

From Globe Correspondent Amara Grautski:

As the sunlight continued to fade on a blustery day at White Stadium, so did Brighton’s chances of clinching a Boston South title and securing a trip to the playoffs.  

Although Latin Academy turned the ball over three times on a fumble and two interceptions, it was the Bengals miscue at the end of the third quarter that changed the tide of the game, helping the Dragons hold on to a 14-0 victory. 

When Latin Academy (3-1, 7-2) punted on fourth down from its own 19-yard line, Brighton mishandled the ball on the return. Senior Ohimai Aisiku, who had already caught an interception at the end of the first quarter, recovered for the Dragons.  

“I think Brighton could have had a situation where they could have gained some momentum,” said Latin Academy coach Rocco Zizza. “The ball bounced our way on that kick…the wind was a factor. The ball actually came back about 6 (or) 7 yards in the air and hit the ground and hit a kid. And the kid was doing what he was supposed to be doing, but because of the weather that’s what happened.” 

The Bengals weren’t able to retaliate on their only fourth-quarter possession. Brighton (3-1, 3-5) put the ball into the hands of Kevin DePina five of its last nine plays. And aside from an 18-yard rush, the running back had to fight for short gains. There was only one pass attempt made by quarterback Jonathan Rosa during the final possession, which fell incomplete.  

“You win some you lose some,” said Brighton coach James Philip, who believes the Dragons are strong competitors. “It’s a matter of not blocking and tackling and not running the ball well.” 

When Brighton turned the ball over on a failed fourth down conversion, Dragons running back Cuong Nguyen ran the ball 50 yards downfield and the clock down to zero.   

Before tomorrow's SAT challenge, here's a look at the top games we'll be at tonight. Good luck on the tests tonight ... and tomorrow.

Cohasset 14, Abington 0: A long touchdown pass with 40 seconds to play in the half put Cohasset on top at the break and the Skippers went on to take a 14-0 win.

Xaverian 14, BC High 6: Both offenses stagnant in scoreless first half but Xaverian scored twice in the third quarter to take control and went on to win.

Lincoln-Sudbury 7, Acton-Boxboro 0: An Owen Pagano touchdown was all L-S needed to spoil the night for A-B and Bill Maver.

Latin Academy 14, Brighton 0 Final: LA stays alive in playoff hunt.

Dighton-Rehoboth 29, Fairhaven 8: Each team scored second-quarter touchdowns at it was tied at halftime, 8-8. But three Greg Croteau touchdown passes put the Falcons up, 29-8, and that's the way it ended.

Natick 35, Weymouth 12: Weymouth jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead thanks to an opening kickoff return but the Red & Blue have scored three times and lead 21-6 after three quarters. Natick went on to a 35-12 win. Walpole is next for Natick.

Four Belmont High school athletic events have been postponed in light of the town's recent tragedy involving one of its own students.

Yesterday afternoon, a Belmont High student was killed by an MBTA train from the Fitchburg line, crossing the tracks near the high school. A moment of silence will be observed before each contest. The girl's name has not been released.

Today's freshman football contest against Lexington has been moved to Monday at 3:30 p.m., at Lexington High. Today's varsity field hockey tournament game with Marblehead will be played Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Belmont High. Tomorrow's girls soccer tournament game against Pentucket will be played Sunday at 4 p.m., at Belmont High. And finally, today's varsity football contest with Lexington will be moved to Sunday at 1 p.m., at Lexington High.

Michael Grossi and Mike Carraggi of The Boston Globe pick this weekend's high school football games. Think your high school football knowledge is mightier than that of the Mikes? Feel free to agree, disagree, or pick your own games in our comments section.

Abington at Cohasset

Grossi – Two unbeatens face off in this dandy on the South Shore . Whichever team wins this game will have a stranglehold on the South Shore League. Abington has advanced to the playoffs each of the last four seasons and Cohasset was the last team other than the Green Wave to make the playoffs. Other than pitting two undefeated teams against each other, this game also features a duel between two talented running backs. Dana Valentine has led the way for the Skippers this year while Kristian LaPointe has been a factor back for Abington. I’ll take Abington’s experience in this battle.

Carraggi – In Jim Kelliher's first year as coach of Abington, Johnny Bench led Major League Baseball with 45 homers. In Peter Afanisiw's first year as coach of Cohasset, the artist formerly known as David Ortiz hit 54 bombs. With the talent gap being so small between the teams (and probably in the Skippers' favor), I'll take the experience and coaching of the Green Wave as they head toward their 5th straight league championship.
 
Xaverian at BC High

Grossi – Although Xaverian is considered the class of Massachusetts football, the Hawks still have to go through reigning Catholic Conference and Division 1 champ BC High. The Eagles seem to have hit their stride as of late, scoring 90 points in their last two games. While the offense has gotten it going, the defense is still a little shaky. Xaverian is coming off a victory over St. John’s ( Shrewsbury ) that established it as the top team in Massachusetts. I think Xaverian keeps its quest to get to the playoffs by dethroning the Eagles.

Carraggi – Much will be made of this game, but Xaverian couldn't be on more of a roll. Teams simply don't run over the state's best only to fall to a team with as many vulnerabilities as BC High. If you stop one aspect of Xaverian's game, the rest of the machine doesn't miss a beat. Stop the pass? Meet Joe Colton. Slow the run? Alex Phelan time. To have a chance, the Eagles will need to build an early lead, which has been perhaps the Hawks' only chink in their armor.

Whittier at Manchester Essex

Grossi – Commonwealth (Large) supremacy is on the line in this clash between two offensive juggernauts. Manchester Essex has put up 48 points or more in three of its last four games, including dropping 64 on North Shore . Whittier is fresh off handing Chelsea its first loss of the season. The difference in this game will be the defense. Whittier allows 13 points per game while Manchester Essex allows 22. I think Whittier gets one more stop and beats the Hornets
 
Carraggi – I lived in Everett for 19 years. I have driven everywhere from Gloucester to Attleboro to Nashua to Springfield. But if I had to drive to Manchester, I simply wouldn't know where to go. There, I said it. Don't tell my boss.

Uh, Hornets win this one.

Fairhaven at Dighton-Rehoboth

Grossi – With a win, Fairhaven takes the South Coast League crown. The Blue Devils have won its last four games, including an upset of King Philip. Dighton-Rehoboth is undefeated in league play and got back in the win column last week after losing to Coyle and Cassidy two weeks ago. My pick is Fairhaven . The Blue Devils have too many weapons for Dighton-Rehoboth to corral.

Carraggi – I have a feeling that if Dighton-Rehoboth wasn't victimized by a fluky fumble return and a missed extra point and had a perfect record to show for it, then the Blue Devils wouldn't be such a chic pick. The Falcons will be one step closer to the playoffs after this one, but it won't come easy. Fairhaven's Taylor Motta, the division's leader in touchdowns with 14, is said to be a relentless runner.

Central Catholic at Methuen

Grossi – Central Catholic travels to Methuen in an interesting crossover between Merrimack Valley Large and Small schools. Central Catholic is on a seven game win streak and controls its own destiny. Methuen has been rolling thanks to quarterback Cal Carroll. Bank on Central Catholic to win this one. The Raiders have stingy defense and if they can stop Carroll, they have a good chance of winning.

Carraggi – Methuen does not boast as much star power as other MVC contenders, but it has been a strong all-around team all season. Unfortunately, that won't be enough to stop a Central Catholic team on a mission. Quarterback Andrew Oullette is one of the more well-rounded athletes around, and with the two defenses so evenly matched (both allowing about 12 points per game), he will be the difference.

Carraggi - 7-3 (3-2 last week)
Grossi - 7-3 (4-1 last week)

From the Globe's Robert Hohler:

For the first time in five years, soccer players in the Boston public schools are scheduled to play an all-star game tonight at White Stadium as part of the city's quest to boost pride, participation, and a competitive edge in interscholastic sports. The city revived the game with help from the Boston Scholar Athlete program, which Mayor Thomas M. Menino created in August with a $1 million grant from Suffolk Construction Co.'s Red & Blue Foundation to address serious inadequacies in the city's high school sports system.

Soccer was the first sport to benefit from the project, with teams receiving new uniforms as well as equipment they lacked, including goals at several practice fields. Intramural programs were formed at schools without interscholastic soccer, and players at every level were coached to place a greater emphasis on academic achievement.

The girls game is scheduled for 6 p.m., the boys play at 7:30 p.m.

From Globe Correspondent Ryan Thomas:

One day after the boy's Boston City League Championship soccer game between Madison Park and East Boston was called in the 75th minute due to a skirmish stemming from a controversial call that decided the game, Madison Park has decided to withdraw from the MIAA State Tournament.

The decision was made during a team meeting Thursday that involved school headmaster Charles McAfee and coach Joao Gomes.  All parties agreed that it was in the school's best interest to end the season, Gomes said.

The controversial call was a handball against the Cardinals that referee Savas Trellopoulos deemed inside the 18-yard box, which led to a penalty shot by East Boston midfielder Carlos Andres Ruiz who buried the goal for the 1-0 win. 

"I was disappointed with the call; it was outside the 18 [yard box]," Gomes said of the season-ending handball.  "But (the players) can't take it out with anger.  We always preach self responsibility and respect.  Hopefully this will send a message."

After shouts and gestures cascaded from the Madison Park sideline disagreeing with the call, Venude Depina allegedly threw the ball off of Trellopoulos's head. 

"They had every right and reason to be upset with the call, but you can't justify a wrong with another wrong," Gomes added.

Depina, who had not been carded all season, will have his actions reviewed further by Madison Park, with possible disciplinary action to follow.

The 10-seed Cardinals were scheduled to face No. 7 seed Peabody in the Division 1 North tournament Sunday, Nov. 8.

As we enter year 1 of the Curse of Teixiera....

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR...

Game of the week:

(Catholic Conference) – Xaverian at BC High, Friday at 7

BC High should once again be respected after a pretty slow start, but Xaverian will not fear the Eagles. The Hawks have dropped a bomb on the Massachusetts football scene, and have a bigger goal than just the Catholic Conference that eluded them last year and went to BC High.

That being said, BC High can effectively end Xaverian's stellar season with a home win, while at the same time start viewing a successful title defense as a possibility. The Eagles, though, need to find a way to consistently move the ball against good defenses, and Xaverian is the best.

Other to watch:

(Merrimack Valley Conference) – Central Catholic at Methuen, Friday at 7

Methuen has made its mark in the MVC this year, and with the points system in the Merrimack Valley Conference, this game has huge implications. Central Catholic may very well be the front-runner in what is a stacked MVC (Large), and Methuen can continue to make waves in the MVC (Small).

GOING FOR TWO

Every week, your trusty, neighborhood reporter covers one or two games a week. This year, we’ll be breaking the game down and making observations in ways that the hectic weekend schedule does not allow.

Last week's game – Xaverian 42, St. John's (Shrewsbury) 14

What more can be said of the X-Men? Truth be told, many saw them as an underdog to St. John's, but a quick 21-0 first-quarter lead quenched any worries in Westwood.

Rams, Boxers, Fishermen, and Bulldogs. Halloween costumes? No. Great high school football matchups? You bet. Here are the key matchups as we get ready to turn the calendar to November.

Brockton 13, Leominster 9 Final: No. 2 ranked Boxers held off surprising Leominster. Brockton scored all its points in the third quarter.

Natick 35, Needham 0 Final: Scott McCummings has given the Red and Blue a 7-0 lead after one quarter on a 4-yard run. CJ Dawson scored in second quarter and Natick has a two-touchdown lead at the half. The margin was 28-0 after three.

Gloucester 45, Lynn English 7 Final: Conor Ressel and Jordan Shairs each have two touchdowns and the Fisherman dominated this NEC showdown. Ressel broke the school's single-game rushing record with 257 yards.

Mansfield 14, KP 7: Jeff Hill hauled in a 37-yard TD pass and Mansfield lead after one. In the second, Brandon Howard scored on a short run for KP and Shawn Doherty scored for Mansfield.

Marshfield 10, Falmouth 0: After a scoreless first quarter, Marshfield got a touchdown and field goal (from Sean Griffin) to take a 10-0 halftime lead.

Michael Grossi and Mike Carraggi of The Boston Globe pick this weekend's high school football games. Think your high school football knowledge is mightier than that of the Mikes? Feel free to agree, disagree, or pick your own games in our comments section.

Falmouth at Marshfield

Grossi – This game has the makings of a classic. With a win, Marshfield all but wraps up the Atlantic Coast League title. A Falmouth win moves the Clippers one step closer to the league title. The real question is whether or not the Falmouth defense can get Marshfield off the field. The Rams like to have long, sustained drives that eat up clock. Falmouth needs stops on third down, so it can get the ball in the hands of its explosive triple-option offense. I think the Rams take this one 27-21 because they've been in this type of pressure packed situation before.

Carraggi – Falmouth has been facing questions all year of whether or not they are legit. It doesn't get more legit than taking down a Rams team that was a preseason favorite to take the Atlantic Coast League. Give me the hungry Rocky over the experienced Apollo any day.

Lynn English at Gloucester

Grossi – Except for Masconomet, Gloucester has swatted away all of its opponents with ease. Lynn English has posted gaudy numbers out of its spread attack. The Bulldogs only loss came to Beverly , which Gloucester shut out 41-0. That is why I think Gloucester takes this one 34-19.

Carraggi – Gloucester's offense is downright scary. It has scored 33 points per game this season en route to a perfect 7-0 start. And it still looks up to Lynn English's 34 ppg. The difference, as is with most championship teams, is defense. And when the Fishermen need a big stop tonight to win in a shootout, they'll get it.
 
King Philip at Mansfield

Grossi – Mansfield has its back against the wall. The Hornets need a win to stay alive in the playoff race. Assuming Franklin wins its next three games (which it should), King Philip needs to beat Stoughton and either Mansfield or Foxboro to make the winner of the Warriors Turkey Day game against Franklin the league champ. Also, a win over Mansfield could solidify King Philip’s standing as a top team. I don’t think that will happen. I think Mansfield takes the game 33-25.

Carraggi – What does King Philip have to do to be respected? Maybe a win against Mansfield? Nope. Followed by one over Xaverian? Meh. Then beating the New Orleans Saints? Close. Fine, King Philip, beat the 2007 Patriots, then we'll talk. Prediction: Mansfield 1,000,000, King Philip 0. (Translation: King Philip lost a good team, which even the best teams do at times. They have throttled mostly every other team. What more can they do? King Philip shuts up the doubters tonight....or at least some of them.)

Natick at Needham

Grossi – This game pits two unbeaten teams against each other. Natick hasn’t been challenged at all this season. The Red and Blue score nearly 41 points a game and gives up only 7 points a game. Needham has the best chance so far to give the Red and Blue a game. The Rockets will have to have their best day defensively to have a chance. However, I think Natick is too much, on both sides of the ball, for Needham and takes this one 34-7.

Carraggi – Too much is being made out of the records in this one. Natick wins, and to quote the great Stan Lee, “'nuff said.”
 
St. John’s ( Shrewsbury ) at Xaverian

Grossi – This game is, unofficially, for the title of best team in the state. Both teams are similar in terms of scoring. Both score around 30 points per game and both give up around 10. St. John’s ( Shrewsbury ) has a terrific quarterback, a big receiver and a space eating defensive tackle. Xaverian will have to be hitting on all cylinders in this game. Xaverian’s tough schedule has to catch up to it some time and I think that is this week. I’ll take St. John’s ( Shrewsbury ) 21-17.

Carraggi – Bob Holmes would have you think Xaverian is overrated because a hellacious schedule and enormous expectations may finally be bogging down the Hawks (who still win.) Don't let him fool you, he just wants Reading to be No. 1. To spite him, Grossi, and everyone west of 495, Xaverian pulls this one out.

Carraggi - 4-1 (4-1 last week)
Grossi - 3-2 (3-2 last week)

As we attempt to go an entire blog without making a lame Halloween reference....

On November's doorstep, the landscape of Division 1 will start to be carved out this week. We already know who the contenders are, but there are teams who can single-handedly shape it with one big upset.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR...

Game of the week:

(Nonleague) – St. John's (Shrewsbury) at Xaverian, Saturday at 1:30

In most cases, a nonleague game would take a backseat to a Division 1 game. But this contest is an early Christmas gift to any high school football fan. Heck, at the rate some cities and stores are decorating for Christmas (it's still October people), we might have jolly ol' St. Nick show up for the coin toss.

These two schools are unquestionably the best their respective part of Massachusetts has to offer at this level. Can Xaverian compete with what is being called by many the best St. John's team in years?

The Hawks may end up thankful they have had their will tested with back-to-back nail-biters, because they may find themselves in another this weekend. Both teams are statistically identical, boasting immaculate records and outscoring their opponents 3:1.

Here's a quick preview of the Pioneers for those who haven't picked up a Worcester Telegram & Gazette in a while (all stats courtesy of maxpreps.com):

Quarterback Griffin Murphy, who has thrown for 20 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards, also leads the team in rushing. Along with Christian Dulmaine and John Vassar, St. John's rushes for over 200 yards a game. Richard Rogers has been a ball magnet, hauling in 23 receptions for 381 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Others to watch:

(Merrimack Valley Large) – Central Catholic at Chelmsford, Friday at 7

The MVC (Large) crown may not be attainable right now for Chelmsford, but the Lions are arguably the most dangerous team out of the playoff race right now. Central Catholic needs a win to stay afloat in the ultra-competitive conference.

(Greater Boston League) – Medford at Everett, Friday at 7

Coach John DiBiaso will welcome former line coach and current Medford head coach Rico Dello Iacono back to the home of the defending GBL champs. Medford has three wins this season, which is a significant improvement over last year's zero. Dello Iacono has his kids believing that anything is possible, but beating the Tide is a tall order for even the most battle-hardened teams, never mind a team that is just getting its legs back under it.

(Catholic Conference) – BC High at Malden Catholic and St. John's Prep at Catholic Memorial, Friday at 7

Malden Catholic has a real chance to solidify itself as a player in the Catholic Conference if it can beat BC High. A loss for the defending Division 1 champs would be a severe disappointment and an earlier exit from the playoff picture than was expected.

Catholic Memorial's hot start is all but a distant memory now, as are St. John's Prep's dominating teams of years past. Still, a win puts either team in contention to knock Xaverian off its manifest destiny.

GOING FOR TWO

Every week, your trusty, neighborhood reporter covers one or two games a week. This year, we’ll be breaking the game down and making observations in ways that the hectic weekend schedule does not allow.

Last week's game – Xaverian 28, Bridgewater-Raynham 26 (3 OT)

SIDELINE PERSPECTIVE

It is that time of the year again. Over the course of the next four weeks, league title races will clear up and the playoff contenders will be separated from the pretenders.

Click on the following link to view a post game interview of Scituate Football coach Herb Devine after his team beat Whitman-Hanson 21-16.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f9vm4xAyNI

One playoff contender is Reading and the Rockets might be going forward without running back Tino Perrina. Perrina injured his knee in the second quarter of last week’s rout over Belmont. Perrina is, by far, the leading scorer in Eastern Mass, with 25 touchdowns and 150 points. The loss of him takes a huge dimension away from the Rocket attack. Perrina was a threat running and in the passing game. He was also a ball hawk in the secondary.

However, the loss of Perrina shouldn’t slow down Reading as much as some think. The coaching staff will keep the team focused and will prepare them for the weeks to come. Also, Reading already had a multitude of other offensive options. Ryan Pollock will step in as the primary back. He is good enough to be the number one option on any other team around. Pollock is quick yet has the power to run over others. Reading might also resort to passing more. Stanley Andre is a more than capable passer (he can also beat you with his legs). The Rockets have a couple of receivers including Brian Bourque, who is fast and tall (nearly 6’ 4”). It is safe to assume that Reading still should represent the Middlesex League in the Division 2 playoffs, but the Rockets might not be as explosive.

Another star back in Division 2 has been fighting injuries. Ryan Izzo missed last week’s game against Dedham with an ankle injury. Izzo was held out of the game mainly due to the poor weather conditions. Another factor that could have played into that decision is that the Rebels have some tough games at the end of the year against Natick and Needham and a healthy Izzo will be necessary if Walpole hopes to win them.

Call it the calm before the storm. Welcome to Friday night football with great matchups across the state. Stick with us for:

1. Abington 21, Hull 7 final: Less than a minute into the quarter, senior captain Kristian LaPointe scored on a 1-yd run and kicked the extra point to put the Green Wave ahead, 7-0. And, with less than a minute until the half, senior Ian Campbell scores on a 9-yard run. LaPointe kicks the extra point for a 14-0 score at halftime. There was no scoring in the third quarter. An 80-yard drive by Hull results in a touchdown by Dan Shea in the fourth quarter. Mark Mainini kicks the extra point. 14-7, Abington. With a minute left to play Andrew Crosta hits LaPointe with a 15-yard pass in the back right corner of the endzone. LaPointe hits the extra, and the final score is 21-7 Abington.
2. Methuen 14, Andover 7 final: Two Cal Carroll scoring runs led the Rangers past host Andover.
3. Needham 18, Weymouth 8 final: Kevin Cray has all three touchdowns as the Rockets jumped out to a 18-0 lead after one half and never looked back.
4. Scituate 21, Whitman-Hanson 16 final: Morgan Billings had two touchdowns and the Sailors held on for the Patriot League win.
5. King Philip 28, North Attleboro 20 final: Brandon Howard's TD pass has KP on the board but Dylan Rayburg has answered for the Bombardiers. In the second quarter, Joe Kummer's TD pass gave NA the lead but KP came back to tie the score at the half on another Howard TD pass. In the second half Howard threw another TD pass and ran for the final score.

SIDELINE PERSPECTIVE

We have now passed the midway point of the high school football season and the races for league crowns are beginning to take shape. Here is a midseason report for each league in Division 2 and 2A and what to look forward to in the weeks to come.

DIVISION 2 – Division 2 might be the deepest division in the state. D2 boasts four undefeated teams, including Natick, Walpole, Reading and Franklin. All of those teams reside in the Globe’s top 20 with the first three all ranked in the top five. With that much talent at the top, the playoffs should be very entertaining.

BAY STATE (HERGET)

It is a two horse race in the Bay State (Herget). Natick and Walpole are both undefeated at this point and are on a collision course for the league title. The two play each other the second to last week of the season in Walpole. However, before that, both teams have to play undefeated Needham and 5-1 Weymouth, the class of the Bay State (Carey). Wellesley has a good chance to finish the season above .500 and the Raiders turkey day clash against Needham is always a good one. Milton and Norwood have both fallen on tough times and start the latter portion of their schedules with 2-4 records. Dedham has had a tough season so far and will look to pick up a win or two in the second half.

HOCKOMOCK

The Hockomock League can make a case as the toughest league in Eastern Mass. Six teams currently sport above .500 records, led by 6-0 Franklin. The Panthers have the inside track to the league title. The remaining teams on Franklin’s league schedule have a combined record of 7-17. One of those teams left on the Panther schedule is King Philip. The two play on Thanksgiving in game that could decide the league crown. Speaking of King Philip, the Warriors were stunned last week when they fell to Fairhaven. However, that game doesn’t have any effect on league standing. The Warriors face a gauntlet of tough games as they play the crème of the crop of the Hockomock League in the following weeks. Other interesting games on the Hockomock League slate the next couple of weeks are King Philip at North Attleboro, North Attleboro at Mansfield, King Philip at Mansfield and Mansfield at Foxboro.

MERRIMACK VALLEY (SMALL)

Dracut seems to be the frontrunner so far, but the Middies can’t over look Methuen (which beat them last year) and an explosive Lawrence team. The Middies have beaten the likes of Everett and Marshfield this year, but also stumbled to two straight losses to Billerica and Central Catholic. Dracut faces Chelmsford and Andover the next two weeks. Methuen starts the second half of the season with a surprising 4-2 mark. The Rangers face a tough schedule the rest of the way and will have to pull off an upset or two to have a shot at the play offs. Lawrence is an explosive team that others will have to look out for and Tewksbury has already acted as giant killers, taming Lincoln-Sudbury and Billerica.

MIDDLESEX

It is pretty safe to expect to see Reading in the playoffs come December. The Rockets are one of the most complete teams in the state and could possibly be the best team in the state. Tino Perrina leads the Rockets high octane offensive attack. Perrina is averaging nearly four touchdowns a game. No other team is undefeated in Middlesex League play except Watertown, which hasn’t played a league game yet. Watertown has been a great story; winning its first five games before dropping last weeks contest against Archbishop Williams. Belmont, Lexington, Winchester and Burlington all enter the second leg of the season with above .500 records, but those teams don’t have enough talent to compete with Reading.

Top-ranked Xaverian held on to beat No. 7 Everett, 19-13. Everett was down 19-7 heading into the fourth and closed the gap to 6 points. But Xaverian's defense stopped a pair of late Everett scoring chances and held on. The teams were tied at 7 after one quarter. Everett scored on a 76-yard run by Vondell Langston. Xaverian scored on a 21-yard pass from Alex Phelan to Garret Connolly. But in the second quarter, the Hawks scored two quick touchdowns to take a 12-point lead into the break and the scored remained that way thru the third quarter.

In a matchup of unbeaten ISL teams, Brooks held off visiting Rivers, 30-27.

Here's a look at some of the key games across EMass tonight:

Cohasset 14, Mashpee 6: The Skippers improved to 6-0, handing Mashpee its first loss of the year. Cohasset overcame numerous turnovers to remain atop the South Shore League with Abington.
Andover 28, Chelmsford 21: Nick price scored the game winner for host Andover. It's all tied up after three quarters in Andover. Andover's Chris McConnell and Chelmsford's Andy Basler each have caught TD passes and the score was tied at the half.
Franklin 14, North Attleboro 7: Make that 6-0. Unbeaten and host Franklin held on to beat North Attleboro thanks to two touchdown passes by Nick Colson. The scoring passes give him 12 for the fall.

Michael Grossi and Mike Carraggi of The Boston Globe pick this weekend's high school football games. Think your high school football knowledge is mightier than that of the Mikes? Feel free to agree, disagree, or pick your own games in our comments section.

Xaverian at Everett

Grossi - This brawl showcases two contrasting teams. Xaverian has an explosive offense and a punishing defense. Everett has some dangerous weapons on offense but has yet to find a groove. The real question in this game is which offensive line will protect the quarterback best and open holes for the running backs. I think Xaverian will have more success doing that and will win 27-17.

Carraggi – For an in-depth preview of this game, check out the Division 1 Dish on our high school sports blog. The Tide and the Hawks are both deep, complete teams, but Everett's rushing attack is based more on speed than Xaverian's, and with inclement weather on the forecast, that may be the difference. Xaverian will have little room for error, but Everett will have even less. The X-Men take this one.
 
North Attleboro at Franklin

Grossi – Franklin is riding high after knocking off Foxboro. The Panthers have a complete offensive attack with Nick Colson and Matt Carini. North Attleboro is a team predicated on speed and will have to use that speed to set edges on defense and bottle up the Panther running attack. However, I say Franklin pulls it out in the end with a 25-14 victory.

Carraggi – A Franklin win would mean the Hockomock League gets a little clearer. Which all but guarantees a North Attleboro victory.
 
Marshfield at Plymouth North

Grossi – Plymouth North comes into this game with a spotless record. However, the Eagles have yet to be tested this season. The Rams, on the other hand, played a brutal non-league schedule to prepare itself for ACL play. These two teams usually play each other close. Marshfield won three years ago and last year while the Eagles won two years ago. I think that the Eagles continue the back and forth nature of the rivalry by winning this one 17-13.

Carraggi – All signs point to this one being a grinder for both teams. Marshfield has put itself through a gauntlet thus far, and the toughness and perseverance garnered in the first five games will do the Rams a huge favor in this one.
 
Mashpee at Cohasset

Grossi – Another week, another undefeated opponent for Mashpee. The Falcons blanked Norwell 21-0 last week and now face Dana Valentine and 5-0 Cohasset. Like last week, I think Mashpee pulls out the win. The Falcon defense has been better than Cohasset's and their offense is nearly are potent.

Carraggi – The Skippers are going to feel right at home in the rainy conditions, steering the ship to a 6-0 start. Not that it matters, because Abington is going to successfully defend its South Shore League crown.
 
CM at Bishop Guertin

Grossi – After traveling out to Longmeadow last week, Catholic Memorial endures another long drive up to New Hampshire . This week, however, the long drive back won’t be a pleasant one. I think Guertin upends the Knights bid for a perfect season. Guertin has spanked all its opponents so far, outscoring teams by an average of 39 points per game.

Carraggi – Catholic Memorial's win over Longmeadow was impressive, but Bishop Guertin is truly among the best New Hampshire has to offer. If the Knights pull off the upset, they will come back to West Roxbury as a legitimate threat to Xaverian's Catholic Conference stranglehold. But I wouldn't count on that.

SIDELINE PERSPECTIVE

Click on the following link to view postgame reaction from Franklin's Brad Sidwall, Matt Carini and Nick Colson on their win last week over Foxboro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxcWrBxC_Qw

At the beginning of the season, Burlington coach Shawn Maguire knew that his team would experience growing pains. However, those pains have been relatively dormant so far. The Red Devils are 4-1 on the young season and have impressive wins over Woburn and Belmont. Those young players, who Maguire knew would need to produce, have. Against Woburn, sophomore Kyle Shields rushed for 205 yards and four scores. With the early success, Burlington has gained a lot of confidence. The Red Devils will have to use that confidence in the next three weeks. Burlington faces Melrose this week before facing Watertown and Reading the next two.

Of the six teams that allow the least points per game in Eastern Mass., four of them are in Division 2 (King Philip, Natick, Reading and Walpole). Tri-county and Westwood are the other two.

Of the top five teams in scoring average, four of them hail from Division 2 (Natick scores 37.4 ppg, which is tied with Holliston for highest average, Reading, King Philip and Mansfield).

In three games prior to its match against Waltham, Arlington allowed a total of 48 points. Against Waltham, the Spy Ponders allowed 56.

Plymouth teams (North and South) have a 9-0 combined record and have recorded four shut outs.

Cape Ann Large teams have a combined record of 20-5.

While Division 2 boasts many of the top teams in Eastern Mass., it also has six winless teams.

As we send out an APB for Tom Brady.....

One of the most exciting aspects of Division 1 football this year has been the addition of the Merrimack Valley Conference (Large). Billerica, Chelmsford, Central Catholic and Andover all stand tall at 4-1, but with league play starting up, that will all change.

The MVC was already so powerful that the MIAA broke up the conference into the Large and the Small, the latter of which resides in Division 2. Maybe the powers that be should break the Division 1's portion into a MVC (Supersize)?

Please note that, unlike other conferences, the Large will not have a champion based off league record, but instead league points. A Large team that defeats a Small team gets one point, and a victory against a fellow Large team gets two points. At the end of the season, the Large team with the most points gets in.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR...

Game of the week:

(Nonleague) – Xaverian at Everett, Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Any swagger that the Crimson Tide may have lost over the last season-and-a-half could be earned back with a win over top-ranked Xaverian. The Hawks have been the favorites to win the division since training camp, and as long as they don't get completely annihilated, they should remain the favorites.

As far as the X's and O's go, Everett has a little less size in the trenches than in the past, which may present matchup nightmares against Xaverian's line of wooly mammoths. The Hawks should feature a steady diet of running backs Joe Colton and Matt Tuleja to begin the game, and when the linebackers start cheating up, quarterback Alex Phelan may see an opportunity to show off his golden arm.

Everett has won the first two of a three-game Catholic Conference gauntlet, but this will be its toughest test. Linebacker Mike LaRochelle could be a key defensive player for the Tide in this one, as Phelan will go across the middle as often as he will down the sidelines. Everett's running back by committee will keep fresh bodies in the backfield, but 6-5, 280-pound Cam Colwell will swallow up gaps, allowing linebackers Mike Hyatt and Cal Cuff to get to business.

Others to watch:

(Nonleague) – Brockton at Pinkerton (N.H.), Saturday at 1 p.m.

Just minutes away from yours truly, powerhouse Pinkerton Academy is to New Hampshire what Brockton is to Massachusetts. And you thought all the Granite State had to offer was dashing high school sports reporters.

(Nonleague) – Catholic Memorial at Bishop Guertin (N.H.), Friday at 7 p.m.

Think Expedia.com knows CM coach Alex Campea by name? Of course, the Longmeadow trip makes the visit to Bishop Guertin seem like a hop, skip, and jump away. And don't forget to add this juggernaut to the list of top teams up north. The 6-0 Cardinals have outscored opponents by an average score of 43-4. CM is officially for real is they pull this one off.

(Merrimack Valley Large) – Chelmsford at Andover, Friday at 7 p.m.

Andover has not beaten Chelmsford since 1998, and in the last 26 years are 4-21-1 against the Lions.

This game could have huge implications in deciding who will be the champion of the quietly dominant Merrimack Valley Conference (Large). Both squads are 4-1 and facing another MVC (Large) team for the first time this year.

GOING FOR TWO

Every week, your trusty, neighborhood reporter covers one or two games a week. This year, we’ll be breaking the game down and making observations in ways that the hectic weekend schedule does not allow.

Last week's game – Everett 14, BC High 13

Xaverian got three touchdown passes from Alex Phelan and rolled to a 42-0 win over Hudson Catholic (NJ). Catholic Conference rival St. John's Prep also headed out of state and also won, 20-9, over Mt. St. Joseph's of Maryland.
In other games:
Everett beat BC High, 14-13
Chelsea remained undefeated, beating Shawsheen, 28-27

We'll have updates and highlights from four of the top games in EMass tonight. Stay right here for:
1. Brockton 27, Fitchburg 12: Sam Previte threw two first-half TD passes to Albert Louis-Jean and Trevon Offley scored a third TD as the No. 2 Boxers took a 20-0 lead at the half and cruised to their fourth win of the fall.
2. Bridgewater-Raynham 21, Attleboro 20: The Trojans stopped All-Scholastic running back Matt Campbell on a two-point conversion run in the last minute of play to take the Old Colony League thriller. Ryan Araujo's touchdown run eartly in the fourth quarter put Attleboro on top of B-R. Campbell had Attleboro's other touchdown. Isiah Johnson scored on a 2-yard run to give the Trojans a 7-0 lead after one.
3. Franklin 27, Foxboro 13: Matt Carini had two long touchdown runs and caught an 82-yard scoring pass as the Panthers took a 21-point lead at the half and went on to take a 27-13 win. Nick Colson's 10-yard TD pass gave the Panthers their final points of the half. Mike Delaney's third-quarter touchdown kept Foxboro in the game with a quarter to play.
4. Burke 24, Latin Academy 21: One week after having its game postponed because officials didn't show up, Burke showed a week off isn't a bad thing, stunning Latin Academy. Burke improved to 3-1 overall, 1-0 in the Boston South. LA fell to 3-2, 1-1.

SIDELINE PERSPECTIVE

*** This segment is a mash up of random thoughts and observations over the past week in High School Football.

One of the biggest surprises so far has been the play of the Watertown Red Raiders. Watertown enters the fifth week of the season with a 4-0 record after defeating Weston 14-10 last week. This is amazing considering the fact that Watertown’s program was so down just a couple years ago that it needed to move out of the Middlesex League and become an independent. Much of the turnaround can be credited to coach John Cacace. Cacace has improved the football culture in Watertown and the system he has implemented has really worked.

After recording one win in the past two years (the win was by forfeit), Brian Chamberlain has Sharon at a .500 record this year (2-2).

King Philip is outscoring its opponents 140-0 in the first half. The Warriors lead Division 2 in scoring offense and scoring defense.

Mansfield has yet to score a point in the third quarter this season.

When Cape Ann (Large) teams are playing at home, they are nearly impossible to beat. Masconomet, Pentucket, Triton, North Andover and Wilmington have a combined 12-1 record at home.

Every team in the Patriot (Keenan) League has at least one victory on the road.

There are seven teams from Division 2 in the Globe's Top 20. Five of those seven are in the Top Ten. Two Division 2A teams are in the Top 20.

As we wonder who got the worst deal: the Patriots going to London or Catholic Memorial going to Longmeadow.....

It took us a couple weeks to crank out the first Division 1 Dish this year, but good things come to those who wait.

With the addition of the Merrimack Valley Conference Large, Division 1 has proved to be even deeper than last year. The MVC Large boasts three Globe Top 20 teams (No. 5 Billerica, No. 17 Chelmsford, and No. 16 Central Catholic), the same amount as the vaunted Catholic Conference (No. 1 Xaverian, No. 15 BC High, and No. 14 Catholic Memorial).

In addition to those heavyweights, D-1 is also home to No. 2 Brockton and No. 8 Everett, a pair of perennial EMass contenders.

If the past four weeks have taught us anything, it's that anything can happen. We've had defending champion BC High stumble out of the gate, last year's laughingstock Medford climb out of the gutter, and even the Detroit Lions won a game. (Oh, wait. Detroit isn't a high school team?)

With league schedules just starting to kick into gear for most of squads, there is much to be won and lost. In essence, the season is just starting.

And remember to check back all season as we review the week that was, preview the week that will be, and toss in a couple of trick or treats along the way.

(NOTE: If you might recall, last year the top individual performances in Division 1 would get a shout-out in this space. This year, we encourage you to read about the shining stars in every Monday's edition of The Boston Globe.)

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR....

Game of the week:

(Nonleague) – BC High at Everett, Saturday at 2 p.m.
Thanks to question marks on both teams, this grudge match isn’t quite as juicy as it should be. Last year, Everett beat the Eagles in the regular season, only to be bounced by the eventual champs in the semi-finals. Now both teams hook up having lost a combined three games after losing just two in the entire regular season last season.

Still, both programs boast some of the best coaching minds in the state, along with enough talent to make most teams green with envy. Neither team has enjoyed the success they envisioned at the season’s start, but we may still have another potential postseason matchup on our hands.

The Northeastern Conference principals today voted not to absorb the Greater Boston League into the NEC. The vote was 6-6 with the GBL needing eight votes to make the move. In another vote, the NEC ADs voted 10-2 against allowing Masconomet to join the conference. The Greater Boston League has seen its numbers drop in recent years with Peabody and Revere joining the NEC and Arlington and Waltham leaving to join the Dual County League. Five teams remain in the Greater Boston League: Medford, Malden, Everett, Cambridge, and Somerville.