Division 2/2A Notes

With the beginning of the season in the rear view mirror and the end in sights, it is about time that some playoff races got figured out. The Patriot League has one of the most intriguing battles to sort out. The league is split in two divisions and only one team can get a playoff spot. Therefore, the Patriot League has decided to have a playoff to determine which team will get the spot in the playoffs.

The No. 1 team from the Keenan Division will play the No. 1 team from the Fisher Division for the right to play in the playoffs. The winner of the Silver Lake-Duxbury game gets the top spot in the Keenan Division. The Fisher Division, however, is much more unsettled. Hanover, Rockland, Middleboro and North Quincy are all 3-1 in the Fisher right now. The good thing is that the Rockland faces Hanover and North Quincy faces Middleboro. The scenario for the No. 1 spot is this: if Rockland wins, it needs a North Quincy win to be No. 1. If Hanover wins, it needs Middleboro to win to be No. 1. If North Quincy wins, it needs Hanover to win to be No. 1. If Middleboro wins, it needs Rockland to win to be No. 1.

DIVISION 2 PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Ryan Izzo, Walpole – Izzo ran over Braintree in Walpole’s 48-21. He carried 23 times for 290 yards and four touchdowns. He was also active in the passing game, catching three passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. Izzo seems to be hitting his peak at the right time. The Rebels have three tough games ahead, headlined by the Nov. 14 game at Natick.

DIVISION 2A PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Brady Murphy, Fairhaven – Murphy scored 10 of his teams 22 points against Greater New Bedford. The senior signal caller rushed for 229 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdown and 2 two-point conversions. Much of his yardage resulted from a new play that Fairhaven employed in the game. The play was an end sweep where the backs would block for Murphy and he would run behind them.

DIVISION 2 GAME OF THE WEEK

Reading 27, Wakefield 6 – In a game that featured two explosive offenses, Reading clamped down defensively and dominated the Warriors en route to a 27-6 victory. The Rockets weren’t able to do much offensively, but they did capitalize on their sustained drives. Wakefield seemed totally off. The Warriors didn’t run enough and passed way too much. The victory gives Reading a slight advantage as the only truly tough team remaining is Melrose.

DIVISION 2A GAME OF THE WEEK

North Andover 37, Triton 35 (2 OT) – This game went to two overtimes and what saved the game for North Andover was a failed two point conversion by Triton. Zac Iavonella ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns for North Andover while quarterback Brandon Walsh passed for 134 yards and three touchdowns. The win keeps North Andover alive in the race for the Cape Ann Large title.

DIVISION 2 SUPER EIGHT

1. Walpole (8-0) – Walpole is finished with its cakewalk part of the schedule after demolishing Braintree 48-21. Ryan Izzo ran for 290 yards, had 61 yards receiving and scored five times for the Rebels while Sonny Mastromatteo continued his steady play, going 8-13 for 125 yards and three touchdowns. In the upcoming weeks, The Rebels play the toughest part of their schedule with Natick sandwiched between games against Needham and Weymouth. This week, Walpole faces Needham. This will be a good test due to the ground attack of Needham and its impressive defensive front.

2. Natick (8-0) – Natick had a scare last week against Needham. Without quarterback Scott McCummings due to injury, Natick won 7-0 against Needham. But a win is a win and Natick is still undefeated. This week, the schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Red and Blue. They play Weymouth team that should be hungry after an embarrassing loss to Dedham.

3. Mansfield (7-1) – The Hornets eliminated King Philip from any potential playoff berth with their 32-7 victory over the Warriors. Shawn Doherty racked up 199 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. This week is a huge week for the Hornets. They play at North Attleboro on Friday in game that will decide the winner of the Hockomock League.

4. Reading (8-0) – The Rockets forced their will upon Wakefield last week in their convincing 27-6 victory over the Warriors. While being a primarily offensive team, Reading was dominant on defense. The defense held Martin Hyppolite to under 100 yards and forced John Amentola to throw numerous incomplete passes. Reading plays a Belmont team that has some talent this week.

5. Bishop Feehan (6-1) – The Shamrocks really know how to win. They dominated previously undefeated Attleboro last week. The defense didn’t allow a first down after Attleboro’s first drive and held Matt Campbell to 18 rushing yards. Feehan is on track to make it back to the playoffs after winning the Super Bowl last year. The Shamrocks play Durfee this week, and next week, they face Somerset for the Eastern Athletic title.

6. North Attleboro (6-1) – After tuning up Sharon, North Attleboro has its sights set on Mansfield. The Red Rocketeers have reeled of six straight wins since their opening day loss to Bishop Feehan. North Attleboro needs to have an effective passing game against Mansfield to pull of an upset.

7. Melrose (7-0) – Melrose is still under the radar and still winning. The Red Raiders still haven’t allowed more than 14 points in a game. They beat Burlington 40-14 last week. Jack Pizzotti is powering the Red Raider attack. Against Burlington, Pizzotti ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more. This week, they play Malden before they play Reading and Wakefield in the last two weeks of the season.

8. Wakefield (5-1) – The Warriors run is over. They got physically beaten by Reading at home last week. I covered the game and was perplexed with the play-calling. Wakefield has one of the best running backs in the state in Martin Hyppolite, but Wakefield came out throwing the ball. Hyppolite touched the ball 16 times on the day. He should have the ball for around 30. The Warriors look to get back on track this week against Winchester.

On the outside looking in: Coyle & Cassidy, Norwood and King Philip.

DIVISION 2A SUPER EIGHT

1. Duxbury (8-0) – Duxbury rolled over Whitman-Hanson last Thursday 31-6. Ian Whitney was the catalyst for the Dragons, catching three balls for 188 yards and three touchdowns. The Dragons stand at 8-0 heading into a huge match-up against Silver Lake at home. The winner of the game takes the No. 1 spot in the Keenan Division heading into the Patriot Bowl.

2. Apponequet (8-0) – Apponequet probably proved a lot of doubters wrong with last weeks performance against Coyle & Cassidy. The Lakers snatched a victory away from Coyle, winning 28-21. The next two weeks, the Lakers face Case and Greater New Bedford, two teams that are in the bottom third of the South Coast League. An interesting game remains on Thanksgiving when Apponequet plays Old Rochester. That game could decide the SCL winner. Another note: Jack Gaynor suffered an injured knee and his status for the remainder of the season is unknown. Lineman Tate Doehler suffered a separated shoulder against Coyle as well.

3. Gloucester (7-1) – The Fisherman trounced Lynn Classical 49-0 last week. One thing that I have learned from seeing the summaries from Gloucester games is that the scoring is spread out among four or five players. The Fisherman’s versatility is what makes them hard to handle. They face Lynn English this week. With a win, Gloucester is back in the playoffs to defend its Super Bowl title.

4. Masconomet (5-3) – Masconomet has one of the most potent running game’s out there. Evan Bunker is a combination of size and speed. He ran for 136 yards and scores on the first play of Masco’s first drives at the beginning of each half. The Chieftains play Pentucket this week. With a win and a North Andover loss, Masco will be back in the playoffs.

5. Silver Lake (6-2) – Silver Lake has taken care of business so far in the Keenan Division. The Lakers are 4-0 and beat Hingham last week 10-7. The Lakers aren’t scoring a lot of points, but their defense has been stout. This week is the biggest game of the year for them, an away game against undefeated Duxbury.

6. Lynn English (5-2) – The Bulldogs have quietly put together a solid campaign. Led by quarterback Jesse Fowler, Lynn English is in the thick of the playoff race. In the Bulldogs two losses, they have only lost by a combined eight points. This week will be a true test for Lynn English as it faces Gloucester. A win for the Bulldogs puts them in the driver’s seat for the Northeastern Large title.

7. Scituate (6-2) – After two losses to Silver Lake and Duxbury, Scituate got back on track with a 14-13 win against Quincy. With the win, the Sailors clinched a winning season after winning two games last season. This week, the Sailors face Whitman-Hanson in a very winnable game for them.

8. North Quincy (6-2) – North Quincy has the opportunity this week to position itself as the top team in the Patriot Fisher. The Red Raiders need to win and they need Hanover to beat Rockland in order to be the No. 1 seed out of the Fisher. Last week, North Quincy hammered Randolph 34-6.

On the outside looking in: Wilmington, Pentucket and Hanover.

DIVISION 2 GAME TO WATCH

Mansfield at North Attleboro, Friday at 7 p.m. – This game is for all the marbles. The winner wins the Hockomock title and the chance to represent the league in the playoffs. North Attleboro has won all its games after losing its first of the season. Mansfield has done the same. This game looks to be more of a defensive battle as both teams allow less than two touchdowns per game.

DIVISION 2A GAME TO WATCH

Silver Lake at Duxbury, Friday at 7 p.m. – This game is for most of the marbles. The winner of this game is the number one seed out of the Keenan Division. That means that the winner of this game has the opportunity to play for a Patriot League title. Both teams play well defensively. If Silver Lake can score some points (they only score about 16 a game) this game could be tight.

DIVISION 2 PLAYERS TO WATCH

John O’Connell, Dedham – the quarterback led his team to its first home win since 2005. O’Connell had a hand in all of Dedham’s touchdowns in its 25-7 victory over Weymouth. O’Connell passed for 180 yards and three scores while rushing for 101 yards and an additional score.

Shawn Doherty, Mansfield – Doherty rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns in a big win over King Philip. Doherty put the game out of reach as both of his touchdowns were in the fourth quarter and cemented the win for the Hornets.

Moses Acloque and Jorges Antoine, Norwood – Antoine helped the Mustangs crawl out of a 19-0 deficit. Antoine rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown. It was Antoine’s eighth straight 100-yard game. Acloque had five sacks for the Mustangs. Two of those sacks came on the final Framingham drive.

Tommy Romero, Bishop Feehan – Romero completed six passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns for the Shamrocks as they shut out previously undefeated Attleboro.

Jack Pizzotti, Melrose – the talented quarterback ran for two scores, both over 30 yards. He also passed for two more, both of them covering more than 20 yards.

DIVISION 2A PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chris Modlish, Pentucket – Modlish rushed for 142 yards, caught a touchdown and ran for two more to keep Pentucket in the race for the Cape Ann Large league title.

Jesse Fowler, Lynn English – Fowler passed for 246 yards on 16-21 passing and had three touchdown passes in a victory over Revere.

Anthony Raddatz, Quincy – Raddatz caught four passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns but his performance couldn’t lift Quincy over Scituate.

Melikke Van Alstyne, Salem – Van Alstyne had a historic day against Peabody. He rushed for 191 yards and three touchdowns. He now holds the all-time rushing record for Salem with 3,354 yards on the ground. He broke Matt Horgan’s nine year old record. He needs just two touchdowns to pass Horgan for the most touchdowns in Salem history.

INTERESTING STATS

Masconomet rushed for 381 yards against Wilmington. In that game, Evan Bunker scored on the first play of Masco’s first drive of each half (runs of 53 and 62 yards)…Outside of games against Burlington and Cambridge, Reading has allowed more than 7 points once…The top three teams in the EAC (Bishop Feehan, Somerset and Coyle & Cassidy) have a better record on the road than at home (11-2 away vs. 4-5 home).