The Forsberg 5

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Even 3,000 miles away, we had a slight brush with Massachusetts high school football this week. Making our way up to Hollywood via Santa Monica Blvd., we zipped past Beverly Hills High School -- the California school that Marshfield topped out here in Week 1.

As you can probably imagine, they don't make high schools like this in Massachusetts. This campus would make most Massachusetts colleges blush.

But that was Week 1. It's Week 5 now and, while there's not a whole lot of must-see games on this weekend's schedule, we soldier on with the latest edition of the Forsberg 5 (home teams in caps).

• Marshfield (3-1) over DENNIS-YARMOUTH (2-1) -- Speaking of the Rams, they kick off Atlantic Coast League play with a top challenger to their conference crown. We think the Dolphins are still having nightmares from last year's all-run, all-the-time attack by Marshfield (one drive ate up the entire third quarter). We expect more of the same this week, and the same result as the Rams take the first step in defending their ACL title.

• Norwood (3-1) over NEEDHAM (4-0) -- Norwood already showed it could hang with the big boys of the Herget by taking Natick to the wire. Can the Mustangs topple a Carey frontrunner? We think they will based on a more challenging early-season slate. Needham, however, is allowing only 4.8 points per game through four weeks, so it's up to the Rockets' defense to rise in the season's biggest challenge.

• No. 19 Billerica (3-0) over ANDOVER (1-2) -- We find this to be a very intriguing matchup. On the visitor's side, you've got a young Indians squad that's turning heads with a fast 3-0 start led by a dazzling freshman quarterback (Nick LaSpada). On the home side, you've got an Andover squad that doesn't want to fall further out of the Merrimack Valley Conference race after succumbing to defending league champ Chelmsford last week. We can totally see a desperate Andover team pulling out a crucial win here, but we're putting our faith in Billerica that they're truly a contender this year.

• No. 2 Dartmouth (3-0) over SOMERSET (3-0) -- We're thinking Somerset should simply put Dartmouth in the final weeks of its schedule and see what happens. After all, the Raiders always seem to be undefeated entering this matchup (and, unfortunately, don't leave with that 0 in the loss column). No upset here, but this game will help Somerset immensely when it's time to meet league rivals Coyle & Cassidy and Bishop Feehan.

• Apponequet (3-0) over SEEKONK (2-0) -- Not a whole lot to go on here as Seekonk has yet to beat a team with a win, while Apponequet has feasted on a trio of one-win squads. We think the visitors have played the better teams so far and they'll emerge with a win that puts them in the driver's seat in the South Coast Conference.

This week's quick-picks.

• ACTON-BOXBORO (2-1) over Concord-Carlisle (2-1) -- The Patriots' only loss came in overtime and we think they'll put up an early fight, but A-B is too hungry for a win after last week's loss to BC High.

• North Attleboro (2-0) over FOXBORO (0-3) -- Don't be deceived by Foxboro's 0-3 record. Yes, the Warriors are struggling, but they played three quality nonleague opponents (Dartmouth, Feehan, Central Catholic) and dive into league play with a big rivalry game at home. All that said, we think North finds a way to win this game.

• MILLIS (3-0) over Holliston (1-1) -- Millis is the feel-good story of the fall and we think the confidence the Mohawks have built the first three weeks of the season is going to help them find a way to win this game. After some lean years, the Millis fans need to pack those stands tonight and support their football team.

• St. John's Prep (4-0) over BROCKTON (1-3) -- Total trap game for St. John's Prep, especially coming off a short week. Brockton, while it posted a rather embarrassing effort last week against Xaverian, thrives in games like this against a top-ranked foe. But the defense is too suspect at this point and the offense is sputtering. We see the Prep getting creative and putting this game away early.

• Xaverian (3-1) over SOMERVILLE (2-1) -- We worry the Xaverian hype machine is going to explode at its seams if the Hawks put together another dominating effort to improve to 4-1 leading up to a showdown with Everett in two week's time. Listen, we liked what we saw from X in the win over Brockton, but let's remember that Brockton did everything short of intentionally running into its own end zone to give the Hawks that game.

  When Everett fell to St. John's Prep Monday, we put up a blog entry asking people who should be No. 1 and we were swarmed with posts from Xaverian supporters who think the boys from Westwood should at least be among the top 5. This baffles us.

  Xaverian fans you realize your team lost to No. 8 Duxbury, right? You do remember you're coming off a sub-.500 (5-6) campaign in 2007? You realize you've beaten teams this season with a combined record of 3-8. Let's ease up with the posts suggesting Xaverian is a top 10 team. The Hawks very well may be, but we'll find that out for sure as the season goes along.

Last week: 7-3
Year to date: 30-10 (.750)