Division 2/2A Notes
SIDELINE PERSPECTIVE
Click on the following link to view postgame reaction from Franklin's Brad Sidwall, Matt Carini and Nick Colson on their win last week over Foxboro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxcWrBxC_Qw
At the beginning of the season, Burlington coach Shawn Maguire knew that his team would experience growing pains. However, those pains have been relatively dormant so far. The Red Devils are 4-1 on the young season and have impressive wins over Woburn and Belmont. Those young players, who Maguire knew would need to produce, have. Against Woburn, sophomore Kyle Shields rushed for 205 yards and four scores. With the early success, Burlington has gained a lot of confidence. The Red Devils will have to use that confidence in the next three weeks. Burlington faces Melrose this week before facing Watertown and Reading the next two.
Of the six teams that allow the least points per game in Eastern Mass., four of them are in Division 2 (King Philip, Natick, Reading and Walpole). Tri-county and Westwood are the other two.
Of the top five teams in scoring average, four of them hail from Division 2 (Natick scores 37.4 ppg, which is tied with Holliston for highest average, Reading, King Philip and Mansfield).
In three games prior to its match against Waltham, Arlington allowed a total of 48 points. Against Waltham, the Spy Ponders allowed 56.
Plymouth teams (North and South) have a 9-0 combined record and have recorded four shut outs.
Cape Ann Large teams have a combined record of 20-5.
While Division 2 boasts many of the top teams in Eastern Mass., it also has six winless teams.
DIVISION 2 TOP 10
1. Reading (5-0) – The Rockets rushing attack has exploded this year. Against Wakefield, Reading gained over 400 yards on the ground.
2. Walpole (5-0) – Ryan Izzo keeps climbing up the all-time points ladder after tallying 16 last week against Brookline.
3. Natick (5-0) – Natick is tied with Holliston for the highest scoring average in Eastern Mass. (37.4 points per game).
4. Dracut (3-2) – The Middies bounced back from their consecutive losses by scoring 45 points in the first half against Lowell.
5. Franklin (5-0) – Franklin proved its success wasn’t a flash in the pan by dominating Foxboro. This week the Panthers play North Attleboro and look to go 3-0 against the Big Three of the Hockomock.
6. Mansfield (4-1) – In his first game back, Mike Redding’s Hornets squashed Sharon 48-13.
7. King Philip (5-0) –It is time for Warriors to show the rest of the Hockomock League what they are made of. Five of King Philip’s last six games are on the road.
8. North Attleboro (4-1) – North Attleboro travels to Franklin, and with a win, could muck up the race for the Hockomock League crown.
9. Burlington (4-1) – Burlington rolled over Woburn 33-0 in a game that was supposed to be much more competitive.
10. Foxboro (3-2) – Foxboro’s loss to Franklin isn’t enough to bounce them out of the Top 10.
On the Bubble: Canton, Belmont and Watertown.
DIVISION 2A TOP 10
1. Falmouth (5-0) – Falmouth has a nice tune up against Nauset before it faces Plymouth North next week and Marshfield the week after.
2. Plymouth North (5-0) – The Eagles face their stiffest test of the season this week when they face off against perennial power Marshfield.
3. Masconomet (4-1) – Masconomet faces rival Gloucester this week. This is the fourth meeting between the teams since 2007. The Chieftains’ record against the Fishermen in those meetings is 0-3.
4. Marshfield (3-2) – The next three weeks are make or break for the Rams. They face teams that are currently undefeated (Plymouth North, South and Falmouth) each of the next three weeks.
5. Triton (5-0) – Triton continued its assault against opposing defenses, dropping 33 points on North Reading.
6. North Andover (4-1) – The Scarlet Knights fended off a scrappy Medford team last week.
7. Wilmington (4-1) – Wilmington got back to its winning ways by blanking Hamilton-Wenham 35-0.
8. Silver Lake (3-1-1) – Silver Lake starts its league schedule against 4-1 Whitman-Hanson.
9. Plymouth South (4-0) – The Panthers have a tough test this week against Dennis-Yarmouth. D-Y’s losses this year have come by a total of four points.
10. Weston (4-1) – Weston upended DCL Large school Newton South last week and will look to do the same against another Large school in Boston Latin.
On the Bubble: Scituate, Whitman-Hanson and Duxbury.
GAMES TO WATCH
Marshfield at Plymouth North, Friday at 7 p.m. – Plymouth North has a chance to show the rest of the ACL what it is made of when the Eagles face off against Marshfield. The Rams have lost to two talented squads this season in Bridgewater-Raynham and Dracut.
Marshfield relies on a ball control offense and the Rams will have to execute that scheme to perfection this week to keep the ball out of the hands of a potent Plymouth North offense.
The Eagles will have to find a way to contain Ram quarterback Steve Sousa. Sousa has the ability to run and pass and Plymouth North will have to have an eye in the backfield at all times.
Gloucester at Masconomet, Friday at 7 p.m. – Gloucester has bullied Masconomet the past two years, including two wins in the playoffs. Masco doesn’t need to worry about facing the Fishermen in the playoffs but would like to finally beat them. This year is as good as any for the Chieftains. Evan Bunker and Chris Splinter are in their final years and both are playmakers. The key factor in this game may be the play of the Masconomet offensive and defensive lines. If the lines can hold their own, the Chieftains have a chance to upset the Fishermen.
North Attleboro at Franklin, Friday at 7 p.m. – Franklin already has the inside track to the Hockomock League title. If the Panthers beat North Attleboro, they could be undefeated on Thanksgiving when they have a huge game against King Philip. North Attleboro will have to use its speed to contain an effective Panther running attack led by Matt Carini and Nick Colson.
PLAYERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Division 2
Ryan Pollock, Reading – When teams face Reading many think about stopping Tino Perrina and Stanley Andre. However, teams are quickly finding out about Pollock. He has five touchdowns on the season, kicks the extra points and also delivers punishing hits from his safety position.
Casey Tanner, Wellesley – Tanner does it all for the Raiders. Last week he tallied 215 all purpose yards. Tanner runs the ball, catches the ball, returns kicks and also plays lockdown defense.
Nick Colson, Franklin – Colson can pass the ball and run the ball effectively. He has six rushing scores and 10 passing.
Jared Gauthier, Dracut – Gauthier is a shifty playmaker who already has six touchdowns on the season. He is a threat to go the distance whenever he touches the ball, especially when returning kicks.
Division 2A
Bryan Burch, Dennis-Yarmouth – Burch has nine touchdown passes this season, the highest total in Division 2A.
Evan Bunker, Masconomet – Bunker uses his legs to beat teams. He has nine touchdowns on the season and makes a difference on special teams as a kicker.
Terrance Staley, North Quincy – Staley has been a bright spot for North Quincy. He has nine touchdowns and over 600 yards rushing on the season.
Jaron Hargrove, Concord-Carlisle – Hargrove is an extremely dangerous back who has scored four touchdowns on the season.
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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.
