DIVISION 2 SUPER EIGHT

1. Walpole (5-0) – Walpole was idle last week, and is going into one of its toughest matchups all season against Norwood. Both teams have similar styles of play. Both rely on their running backs to provide steady offense. Walpole needs to be stouter against the run and take advantage of the opportunities it gets.

2. Natick (5-0) – Like Walpole and Norwood, Natick was idle last week. This week, the Red and Blue face Wellesley. On paper, this should be an easy win for Natick. Wellesley has an extremely accurate quarterback in Brendan Brooks and a playmaker in Casey Tanner at wide receiver. Natick must have good special teams coverage and a solid pass defense in order to win this game.

3. Mansfield (4-1) – Mansfield is coming off of a 38-0 rout of Sharon. This week, they play another team from the bottom of the Hockomock League in Oliver Ames. A win here further primes the Hornets for their playoff push.

4. Wakefield (4-0) – Another game, another insane performance for Martin Hyppolite. He had 151 yards rushing, 83 yards receiving, and three touchdowns overall in Wakefield’s 27-0 shutout of Stoneham. This week, Wakefield plays Belmont, which has won its last two games. If the Wakefield defense keeps playing at a high level, whispers about an undefeated regular season could start up.

5. Norwood (4-1) – Saturday's matchup against Walpole is a big rivalry game for both teams, and, if Norwood wins, it can cause some confusion at the top of the Herget. If Walpole wins, the conference should hinge on the Walpole-Natick battle. Norwood needs to control the clock and contain Ryan Izzo to have a chance to win.

6. Reading (5-0) – The Rockets are coming of a 41-21 win over Burlington. Stanley Andre went 6-for-6 passing for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He also notched three rushing touchdowns. That type of play from Andre is what the team needs to be successful. Reading plays a nonleague game against Division 1 Somerville this week.

7. King Philip (5-0) – King Philip keeps taking care of business. In its 28-7 win over Canton, quarterback Brandon Howard threw for three touchdowns. King Philip must not look past Fairhaven this week just because they have a tough game against Hockomock rival North Attleboro next week.

8. Bishop Feehan (3-1) – The Shamrocks follow their bye week with one of their toughest matchups of the year by meeting Coyle & Cassidy in a battle for Eastern Athletic Conference supremacy. Feehan must find a way to control Conor Henry, who is a threat to run or pass for a touchdown whenever he touches the ball.

On the outside looking in: Coyle & Cassidy, Melrose, and North Attleboro.

DIVISION 2A SUPER EIGHT

1. Duxbury (5-0) – The Dragons are coming off an 18-0 victory over Quincy. This week, they face a Hingham team that just lost to Scituate. Duxbury can’t overlook Hingham. The Harbormen have a talented team and could very well upset the Dragons. I do expect the Dragons to win, however, and that will set up an interesting battle between Scituate and Duxbury on the night of Halloween that will most likely decide who is the victor of the Patriot League Keenan Division.

2. Apponequet (5-0) – The Lakers followed their emotional victory over Seekonk with a 48-14 beatdown of Bourne. Quarterback Mike Wojtkonski had three touchdown passes and the only points Apponequet allowed were in the fourth quarter after it was leading by 48 points. The Lakers play Dighton-Rehoboth this week.

3. Scituate (5-0) – Even when you peg Scituate to lose, the Sailors surprise you and trounce their opponent. In the Sailors 28-14 win over rival Hingham, Kyle Crowley ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns. The Sailors have two tough weeks ahead of them, facing Silver Lake this week and Duxbury the next.

4. Wilmington (5-0) – Wilmington won in dramatic fashion last week, usurping the lead from Hamilton-Wenham with 1:46 remaining in the game for a 20-15 triumph. Steve Stewart had the winning touchdown run. Wilmington plays Lawrence this week, and then faces a defensively dominant Pentucket squad and always-dangerous Masconomet.

5. Gloucester (4-1) – The Fisherman lost their first game since the 2006 season in falling to Swampscott last week. They allowed 21 fourth-quarter points at home and made a costly turnover near the end of the game. Gloucester looks to get back on track against Peabody this week and is still in prime position to make the playoffs.

6. Masconomet (3-3) – Three down, three up for Masco. After losing its first three games, Masco has come back to win its last three and is eying a playoff berth. Last week, the Chieftains trounced Lawrence, 42-15. All of Masco’s points were either scored via a touchdown run or an interception returned for a touchdown. This week, Masco faces Triton, with Wilmington and Pentucket on the docket for the following weeks.

7. Pentucket (4-1) – Another game, another shutout. Pentucket has shut out its opponent in four consecutive games and has not allowed a point since the second quarter of its season-opener against North Reading. The Sachems have a tough schedule ahead, facing Amesbury, Wilmington and Masconomet in the coming weeks.

8. North Quincy (4-1) – The newcomer to the super eight. Since the Red Raiders opening-game loss to Scituate, they have only allowed seven points and shut out three teams along the way. The offensive and defensive lines are the strength of the team. North Quincy has a favorable schedule the rest of the way and looks to be in control of the top spot in the Fisher Division.

On the outside looking in: Silver Lake, Seekonk and Old Rochester

DIVISION 2 GAME TO WATCH

Walpole at Norwood – This game is one of those games that is a must-see. You have Ryan Izzo, who could be the best running back in the state, facing a team that is really tough against the run. Also, Norwood’s Jorges Antoine is a special talent at running back and is overlooked as one of the better backs in Division 2. This game has the chance to be a classic where it is either going to be a defensive struggle or one team will take over and win convincingly. Personally, I think Walpole will pull it out in the end.

(Another good game will be Coyle & Cassidy vs. Bishop Feehan. This most likely will decide who wins the Eastern Athletic Conference. My prediction is that Coyle will finally get over the hump and beat the Shamrocks.)

DIVISION 2A GAME TO WATCH

Seekonk at Wareham – Wareham loaded the beginning of its schedule with some tough teams. Now that Wareham is in conference play, the team has begun to win games. This will be a test for Wareham as Seekonk is a solid football team with a lot of grit and defensive intensity. My prediction is that Seekonk will pull this one out with a lot of help from running back Bobby Jeannotte.

DIVISION 2 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Conor Henry, Coyle & Cassidy – Conor Henry is an athlete. He can pretty much do it all. He had 173 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown in Coyle & Cassidy’s 28-7 triumph over Cardinal Spellman. He also kicked three extra points.

Matt Carini, Franklin – Carini propelled Franklin to victory over Foxboro. He rushed for 181 yards and had two touchdowns in the 24-7 win.

Stanley Andre, Reading – Andre is starting to come into his own for the Rockets. His 6-for-6 passing for 120 yards against Burlington shows that he can make good decisions. His three rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns show that he knows how to find the end zone. If he keeps up this play, Reading will go a long way.

Casey Tanner, Wellesley – Tanner is a playmaker at wide receiver. He and quarterback Brendan Brooks have tremendous chemistry. He is also a threat to take the ball to the house on special teams.

DIVISION 2A PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kyle Crowley, Scituate – Crowley was instrumental in keeping Scituate’s winning streak alive. He ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns against rival Hingham in Scituate’s 28-14 victory.

Chris Splinter, Masconomet – Splinter was on both sides of the stat sheet for Masco. He returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown and had a touchdown rush on offense.

Ross Carlson, Gloucester – The speedy back for the Fishermen ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns in the game against Swampscott, but it wasn’t enough as Gloucester fell to Swampscott 28-20.

Mike Wojtkonski, Apponequet – The quarterback threw for three touchdowns in Apponequet’s 48-14 drubbing of Bourne. He also added a punt return for a touchdown.

INTERESTING STATS

There are six undefeated teams in Division 2. Three of those teams are in the Middlesex League (Reading, Wakefield and Melrose)… Pentucket is 0-1 at home and 4-0 on the road… Division 2 has the second-, third- and fifth-leading scorers in Eastern Mass. Ryan Izzo has 97 points, Tino Perrina has 96, and Martin Hyppolite has 86. Kevin Murphy leads EMass with 122 points.