Others to watch:

(Nonleague) – Brockton at Fitchburg, Friday at 7 p.m.
Fitchburg just suffered its first loss of the season to powerhouse St. John’s. However, the Red Raiders remain one of the top dogs in Central Mass. and look to prove it in a game against one of EMass’s best.

(Nonleague) – Catholic Memorial at Longmeadow, Friday at 7 p.m.
In the same week that fellow Catholic Conference teams St. John’s Prep and Xaverian go to Maryland and New Jersey, respectively, Catholic Memorial should count its blessings it only needs to travel the 91.23 mile route Mapquest suggests.

Fun fact: Longmeadow high school is located on a little stretch of land called Grassy Gutter Road, which sounds utterly reprehensible.

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, Somerville 7
As touched on in the game story, Xaverian’s mental focus made just as big of an impression as did its on-field play. The Hawks were coming off a physical win against big-time rival Brockton, and were staring at a two week stretch that consisted of going to Marlyand followed by facing Everett. Regardless, while Xaverian did not pull away until late, it kept Somerville out of the game from the opening kickoff.

Coach Charlie Stevenson has always been regarded as a savvy tactician, but it should be noted how he utilized his team’s well-rounded talent perfectly in very difficult conditions. Despite having one of the area’s best all-around quarterbacks in Alex Phelan, he shied away from the passing game until the rain subsided in the second half, when Highlander defenders seemed to be shell-shocked by the sight of the football replacing the raindrops.

While Massachusetts High School football is a run-first sport, it is refreshing to see the teams in possession of multiple strong backs that do not always line up in the same power formation that Everett has seemed to perfect. One reason Xaverian is not bound by this formation is the presence of Matt Tuleja, a true fullback who lays crushing blocks and can still run with the best of them. Joe Colton may be the shining star of that backfield, but without Tuleja, Colton’s success would be much harder to come by.

KING (AND THE REST) OF THE HILL

1.Xaverian (4-0) – Yes, the Hawks are that good. After finishing with a tough-luck 7-4 record last season, the high school football gods have rewarded Xaverian with the most complete team around.

2.Brockton (3-1) – As Globe columnist Bob Ryan reiterated on Monday, it is often better to be lucky than good – but it's best to be both. Brockton has been outscored over its last three games after romping on BC High, and is a well-executed Taunton punt away from being 2-2. Still, it's hard seeing a team putting any more than three touchdowns on the board against this defense, with cornerback Albert Louis-Jean or without him.

3.Billerica (4-0) – If Division 1 had an MVP award, quarterback Nick LaSpada would be the front-runner at this point. He got a Dracut-sized monkey off his back last week, and it is truly scary to think what this sophomore can become.

4.Everett (2-1) – OK, so the outlandish expectations Everett has had the last decade makes any loss look weightier than it really is. But the Middies laid a true whoopin' on the Crimson Tide in Week 2, and Everett has not been dominant in a game yet. Like with the Patriots, could we be seeing a dynasty in transition?

5.Chelmsford (3-1) – Finally beating Acton-Boxboro should give the Lions the sense that this season could be something special. Chelmsford still has to run the Merrimack Valley gauntlet, but it has to feel good about its chances as long as its handing the ball off to the division's leading scorer, Joe Gennaro.

6.Catholic Memorial (3-0) – Catholic Memorial will put its undefeated record on the line when it visits Longmeadow. CM spent its bye week traveling there.

7.BC High (2-2) – As vulnerable as BC High looks this year, a win at Everett would get the Eagles right back on track. Graduation has hit the young men on Morrissey Blvd. hardest on the offensive side of the ball. Outside of a five-touchdown performance by Ra'ees Wingard in Week 2, they have yet to consistently move the ball.

8.Central Catholic (3-1) – The Red Raiders are quietly establishing themselves as a top threat in Division 1. With Haverhill, Lowell, and Lawrence all on deck, Central has a chance to get in a great position for the stretch run.

9.Andover (2-1) – Anchored by quarterback John Hennessy's five rushing touchdowns and seven passing touchdowns, the Golden Warriors (D-1 leading 32.3 ppg) keep scoring over, and over, and over, Andover, Andover again.

10.St. John's Prep (1-3) – Could Prep really be heading for another sub-.500 season, something that has happened only a handful of times in Jim O'Leary's quarter-century at the helm?

11.Malden Catholic (2-2) – Malden Catholic's season became a lot more promising when coach Bob Almeida moved receiver Quinn McDonough to running back. Since he switched positions, he has scored eight touchdowns and his team is 2-0.

12.Medford (2-1) – Realistically, the Mustangs could have had two wins all year and considered it a step forward. With two wins in their first two games under rookie head coach Rico Dello Iacono, Medford has developed some confidence.

13.New Bedford (1-2-1) – New Bedford has experienced things in its first four games some teams don't experience in a year. After tying Silver Lake, it combined with Attleboro to put 92 points on the board in a 50-42 loss.

14.Somerville (1-3) – Sure, the Highlanders are have dropped three straight, but two of those teams are undefeated (Xaverian and Falmouth) and the other was to Malden Catholic, all on the road. Somerville's league play doesn't start until next weekend, so a win this week against Stoughton would get coach Harry Marchetti's team in a more optimistic position.

15.Lowell (1-3) – Early in the season, Lowell looks to be the odd man out in the stacked MVC Large.

16.Malden (1-3) – The Golden Tornadoes seem to be nothing more than Bronze Breezes these days, but a stout defense (16 ppg alowed) has kept them hanging around in their three losses. Once the offense gets a firmer grasp on first-year coach Joe Pappagallo's system, expect Malden to turn some of those close losses into wins in the second half of the season.

17. Cambridge (0-4) – Are we sure this is the same team that featured current Bryant Bulldog Ray Doucette? The usually offensive-minded Falcons are the only team in D-1 scoring less than 10 ppg (9.5).

18. Durfee (0-4) – The Hilltoppers have allowed a stunning 44 ppg. No team in Central or Eastern Mass. has allowed more.