The Forsberg 5

Game of the week? Peter Colombo and the Brockton Boxers host Dracut tonight. (Globe File Photo)

The Forsberg 5 is back for another season of mildly educated prognostications. We're jacked and pumped for the new high school football campaign and hope you enjoy the weekly picks.

We avoided a sophomore slump last fall by cobbling together a respectable season (but it certainly wasn't Pedroia-like). After a stellar freshman efforts in which we posted a .739 winning percentage (102-36 overall), we slipped a bit last year and finished with a .718 winning percentage (117-46).

Our goal last season was a .750 winning percentage and we'll set the bar there again this year. As always, feel free to leave your comments telling us how wrong we're going to be about picking against your favorite school.

• No. 13 Chelmsford over Bridgewater-Raynham -- Chelmsford coach Bruce Rich always does a nice job in challenging his squads with quality nonleague opponents early in the season (see their lone loss last year, to Acton-Boxboro in Week 2) and he's found a solid upper-division matchup here with an always gritty B-R squad. While the Lions - the defending Division 1A Super Bowl champions - graduated 25 seniors, including many of their skill players (including All-Scholastics QB Tim Rich and TE Chris Smart) we think they'll be just fine this year while competing with Dracut and Tewksbury for the Merrimack Valley Conference title. The Trojans bring back a solid nucleus from a team that labored through a 5-5 campaign last fall.

• No. 1 Everett over Waltham -- Some will wonder if the Hawks are simply gluttons for punishment. Having flown from the Greater Boston League to the Dual County League this fall, there's no need for Waltham to meet Everett, but the familiar foes lock horns here in Week 1. Kudos to coach Paul Mayberry for challenging his troops, particularly a group that's rebuilding this fall. "I really think the only thing that's going to help this team is the experience; we have to play," Mayberry said. "The more we play, I think, the better we are going to get."

• No. 16 Xaverian over No. 17 Duxbury -- Forget that this is a Division 1 team meeting a Division 2A squad. Duxbury's Shane DiBona is a Division 1 college talent and he'll lead a Dragons squad looking to take down an upper-division power. Duxbury wasTHISclose to earning a playoff berth last year, falling to Patriot League champ Hingham late in the season. Games like this will serve the Dragons well moving forward and, while we think Xaverian's depth helps the Hawks prevail, we guarantee both teams will gain something from this matchup.

• Beverly Hills over Marshfield -- 90210 is back this fall, and we're not just talking about the TV show (though, after watching the first episode of the new 90210, we're probably more excited for this game than setting our DVR for the CW). We very much enjoyed this matchup in 2006 and it produced a great atmosphere (Check out the photos from that game.) In the end, as talented as this Marshfield team figures to be this fall, cross-country trips never bode well for the pros, let alone first-time high school travelers. And, yes, we're aware the Normans actually play in area code 90212, but that's doesn't sound nearly as cool.

• No. 6 Brockton over No. 8 Dracut -- This is our game of week and we'll preface our pick with a reminder to check out the blog tonight for live updates and video highlights from Brockton.

  Even with a first-year head coach (Jeff Moore takes over for Pat Murphy), Dracut beefed up its schedule this fall by adding both Brockton and Everett -- the two most decorated Division 1 programs in Eastern Mass. That move alone shows the Middies are pretty serious about the 2008 season and they've got the talent to back it up. It starts with the no-huddle, spread offense they utilize and it's one of the more exciting attacks you'll find in high school football. But we believe Brockton -- unlike many of Dracut's opponents -- has the athleticism to counter the Middies. Meanwhile, we're not so certain Dracut can match up with the horses Brockton will trot out up front. Both teams will put points on the board, and while the Middies have to be thrilled the weather is no longer a concern with the game moved to tonight, we'll take the Boxers at home.

And here are five quick-hits for opening weekend:

• Walpole over Framigham -- Framingham is better than its 5-6 record from last fall reveals, but the Rebels bring back too much talent, including Division 2 Player of the Year Ryan Izzo, who should kick off the 2008 season with a bang.

• St. John's Prep over Masconomet -- The Chieftains picked a good time to go up against the Division 1 power (St. John's Prep limps in after a disappointing 6-5 campaign, while Masco comes off an ultra-successful 10-2 season and a visit to the playoffs). Trouble for the Chieftains lies in the fact that they're rebuilding their offensive line, a matter exacerbated by the size and athleticism of the defensive front the Eagles' will trot out. Like Duxbury vs. Xaverian, we think both sides will find positives in a matchup that features Division 1 vs. Division 2A, but the Catholic Conference team with more depth prevails again.

• Methuen over Bishop Fenwick -- Let's remember Methuen nearly topped Dracut last Thanksgiving and showed quality improvement down the stretch. Plus, Bishop Fenwick is Tarr-less now and we see the Rangers emerging with a season-igniting win.

• Manchester Essex over Pope John -- The disappointment from falling to Brighton in the Division 4 Super Bowl lingers for Manchester, but a chance to atone -- and finally play inside Gillette Stadium (as the Division 3A Super Bowl shifts to Stonehill this year) -- is probably reason enough to get back to the big game.

• Weymouth over Wellesley -- "Rolls" Royce Terrell takes a regular-season test drive as Weymouth kicks the tires on the 2008 season.

2008 season overall: 0-0
2007 season overall: 117-46 (.718)
2-year total overall: 219-82 (.728)