Division 2/2A Notes
SIDELINE PERSPECTIVE
It is that time of the year again. Over the course of the next four weeks, league title races will clear up and the playoff contenders will be separated from the pretenders.
Click on the following link to view a post game interview of Scituate Football coach Herb Devine after his team beat Whitman-Hanson 21-16.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f9vm4xAyNI
One playoff contender is Reading and the Rockets might be going forward without running back Tino Perrina. Perrina injured his knee in the second quarter of last week’s rout over Belmont. Perrina is, by far, the leading scorer in Eastern Mass, with 25 touchdowns and 150 points. The loss of him takes a huge dimension away from the Rocket attack. Perrina was a threat running and in the passing game. He was also a ball hawk in the secondary.
However, the loss of Perrina shouldn’t slow down Reading as much as some think. The coaching staff will keep the team focused and will prepare them for the weeks to come. Also, Reading already had a multitude of other offensive options. Ryan Pollock will step in as the primary back. He is good enough to be the number one option on any other team around. Pollock is quick yet has the power to run over others. Reading might also resort to passing more. Stanley Andre is a more than capable passer (he can also beat you with his legs). The Rockets have a couple of receivers including Brian Bourque, who is fast and tall (nearly 6’ 4”). It is safe to assume that Reading still should represent the Middlesex League in the Division 2 playoffs, but the Rockets might not be as explosive.
Another star back in Division 2 has been fighting injuries. Ryan Izzo missed last week’s game against Dedham with an ankle injury. Izzo was held out of the game mainly due to the poor weather conditions. Another factor that could have played into that decision is that the Rebels have some tough games at the end of the year against Natick and Needham and a healthy Izzo will be necessary if Walpole hopes to win them.
DIVISION 2 TOP 10
1. Reading (7-0) – Even if Tino Perrina is out, Reading has the weapons to overcome his loss.
2. Walpole (7-0) – Ryan Izzo was held out against Dedham due to the poor weather conditions. Even without him, the Rebels didn’t miss a beat, shutting out Dedham 35-0.
3. Natick (7-0) – The Red and Blue have so many options on offense it is almost unfair. This week, we’ll see whether or not fellow unbeaten Needham can slow down Natick.
4. Franklin (7-0) – There was no let down in sight against Taunton. Franklin coasted past the Tigers 42-14 and will look forward to playing the lower teams on the Hockomock League totem pole.
5. Dracut (5-2) – Dracut handled Chelmsford thanks to the efforts of Matt Silva and Jared Gauthier. The two hooked up three times for touchdowns.
6. Mansfield (6-1) – The way things are going, Mansfield might be the best team not to make the playoffs.
7. King Philip (6-1) – King Philip has a huge game this week against Mansfield. The Warriors have to win two of their three games leading up to Thanksgiving to have a shot at the Hockomock League title.
8. Methuen (5-2) – The Rangers pulled off a huge upset over Division 1 Andover last week.
9. Foxboro (5-2) – Foxboro can feast on Canton and Oliver Ames before facing King Philip and Mansfield the final two weeks of the season.
10. Lexington (5-2) – Lexington’s schedule doesn’t get any easier. The Minutemen travel to 5-2 Winchester this week.
On the Bubble: North Attleboro, Burlington and Winchester.
DIVISION 2A TOP 10
1. Falmouth (7-0) – The Clippers keep proving doubters wrong. They throttled Plymouth North last week.
2. Marshfield (5-2) – The ACL crown pretty much comes down to this week’s game against Falmouth.
3. Masconomet (5-2) – The Chieftains have two losses this season. The combined record of the teams that beat them is 14-0. Masconomet faces 6-1 Wilmington this week.
4. Wilmington (6-1) – This week’s match against Masconomet could go a long way in deciding the CAL Large title.
5. Duxbury (5-2) – Duxbury crushed former Top 10 member Silver Lake last week. This week, the Dragons take on an improved Whitman-Hanson squad.
6. Plymouth North (5-2) – The Eagles have fallen the past two weeks. They have failed to score a point and have given up 54.
7. Scituate (6-1) – Scituate breaks into the Top 10 after beating Whitman-Hanson last week. The Sailors face North Quincy this week.
8. Dennis-Yarmouth (5-2) – The Dolphins could easily be 7-0 this season if they got a few breaks. Dennis-Yarmouth’s losses have come by a combined four points, including a loss where the Dolphins failed on a 2-pt. conversion with a minute left in the game.
9. North Andover (5-2) – In their first league game of the season, the Scarlet Knights succumbed to Newburyport.
10. Bedford (4-2) – Bedford beat Weston last week thanks to Leon Barnes. Barnes rushed for 237 yards, scored five times, intercepted two passes and it was his first career start.
On the Bubble: Triton, Whitman-Hanson and Plymouth South.
GAMES TO WATCH
Division 2
King Philip at Mansfield, Friday at 7 p.m. – This game has major implications on the Hockomock League race. Mansfield needs a victory to keep hope alive in the league. King Philip doesn’t need a win, but it will make life a little easier if it gets one. Also, a Warrior win would legitimize them as a true contender.
Natick at Needham, Friday at 7 p.m. – Natick faces its first true test this week when the Red and Blue travel to undefeated Needham. The Rockets are coming off a big win against Weymouth and would like to slay one of the top teams in the state.
Division 2A
Falmouth at Marshfield, Friday at 7 p.m. – This game is pretty much for all the marbles. Marshfield clinches the league title with a victory. This is because the Rams will have only Sandwich left on their league schedule after this game and Sandwich already has two losses in the league. Falmouth needs a win to keep its playoff aspirations alive.
Wilmington at Masconomet, Friday at 7 p.m. – This dogfight will go a long way towards clearing up the playoff picture in the CAL Large. Both teams enter undefeated in CAL Large play.
PLAYERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Division 2
Scott McCummings, Natick – McCummings’ play has led to Natick’s gaudy offensive stats. The quarterback has eight passing touchdowns and four rushing for an offense that scores nearly 41 points a game.
Jared Gauthier, Dracut – Gauthier has 13 touchdowns this season and is coming off a game where he scored four touchdowns and had over 100 yards receiving.
Cal Carroll, Methuen – Carroll scored Methuen’s two touchdowns in its upset over Andover. Although a quarterback, Carroll has amassed 12 rushing touchdowns this season.
CJ Logan, Watertown – Logan has been instrumental in Watertown’s football resurgence. He has 10 rushing touchdowns and two passing this season.
Nik Busharis, Mansfield – Busharis was the back-up last season but got some valuable game experience. That experience has led to good things this season. The quarterback leads Division 2 with 15 touchdown passes.
Division 2A
Leon Barnes, Bedford – In his first career start, Barnes rushed for 237 yards, five touchdowns and intercepted two passes. The emergence of Barnes could lead to another dimension in Bedford’s pass-happy offense.
Chris Splinter, Masconomet – Splinter did it all last week, passing for 100 yards, rushing of 70 and had 100 receiving. Those stats really show the versatility and explosiveness he possesses.
Nelson Baptiste, Falmouth – Baptiste is one of the many scoring threats that Falmouth utilizes. He is the Clippers leading scorer with eight touchdowns and 54 points.
Jake Quinn, Hingham – Quinn returned to the Hingham line-up last week and immediately produced. Quinn passed for a touchdown, rushed for one and made five extra points.
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Look for updates from:
- Bob Holmes: A Reading resident (Go Rockets!) and Boston College graduate, Holmes is the Boston Globe High School Sports Editor. We remind you now that his weekly picks are often made in jest so everyone just calm down when he picks against Everett for 11 straight weeks.
- Mike Carraggi: An Everett native (Go Tide!), Mike attends Eastern Nazarene college and is entering his second year with the Globe. He'll focus on Division 1 this fall, which means he'll spend a lot of time in his hometown, which Forsberg thinks is cool because the Tide have that Fried Dough cart.
- Emily Wright: A Hyannis native (Go Barnstable Red Raiders!), Emily is a senior at Emerson College and has been with the Globe since the end of July. She'll cover Division 1A and will be the first intern we've trusted to navigate her way to Dennis-Yarmouth or any other school on the Cape.
- Mike Grossi: A Lexington native (Go Minutemen!), Mike attends Northeastern and has been with the Globe for two months. He'll cover Division 2 and 2A and unsuccessfully lobbied to include Lexington in the preseason Top 20.
- Jonathan Raymond: A native of Benicia, Calif. (a suburb of San Francisco), Jonathan attends Northeastern and has been working at the Globe since the end of June. He will be focusing on Division 3 and is likely woefully underprepared for covering a game in a foot of snow.
- David Carty: A native of West Bridgewater (Go Wildcats!), David is a senior at Emerson College and has been working at the Globe for a year. He'll cover Divisions 3A and 4 because, "small school ball is in my blood."
- The bench: You'll also catch updates from our regional contributors, including Globe North's Julian Benbow and South's Monique Walker. Correspondent Brendan Hall will have updates from the Globe West coverage area and will often try to sneak in Central Mass. news.
