Everett visits proving ground

No. 2-ranked BC High looks for redemption

When BC High and Everett clash tonight in a battle of Division 1 titans, both teams will have something to prove.

For fourth-ranked Everett (3-1), it will be about proving it's still top dog in returning to the field for the first time since a shocking 20-7 loss to St. John's Prep Sept. 29. BC High, ranked No. 2, wants to show doubters the Eagles can topple Everett, which was on the winning end of a lopsided 26-6 affair when the teams met in last season's Division 1 semifinals.

BC High was outclassed in that game. The Eagles were unable to manage a play from scrimmage in Everett territory until the third quarter, and never forced the Tide to punt.

BC High coach Jon Bartlett said he isn't obsessing over Everett, though. The Eagles, he said, want to treat the visiting Tide just like any other good team.

"What we're trying to prove is we're a very good team, whether we're playing Everett or anyone else," he said. "The fact is that Everett, they're the defending Super Bowl champions, so it's exciting in that regard. But we're just approaching it as playing a very good nonleague opponent."

The upset at the hands of St. John's was Everett's first regular-season loss since Nov. 22, 2001. A win over a team with a résumé like BC High (4-0, with wins over quality opponents Acton-Boxboro and Brockton by a combined 35 points) could give the Tide their customary swagger back. Similar to his BC High counterpart, though, Everett coach John DiBiaso isn't lending any additional importance to the game.

"We just take it one game at a time. These are still regular-season games," he said. "[BC High] is a very good team. It's the regular season, it means something, but it doesn't mean everything."

The Tide coach also said he wasn't worried about his players showing rust from the 10-day layoff.

"We've practiced very hard for two weeks. They've had time to heal, so healthwise we're 100 percent, which is a good thing."

As he has an undefeated team, Bartlett isn't about to mess with success.

"We're sticking to the same routine. We just have to work hard in practice," he said. "The kids are focused, they know it's a big week. But again, they're just focusing on attention to detail. We're going in confident."

In other key games, No. 7 Dracut (3-1) will play host to third-ranked St. John's Prep (4-1). The Prep is looking to bounce back from a 28-13 loss to Brockton, which came just three days after its upset win of Everett.

The Middies, who beat Brockton in their season opener, 34-32, are coming off a 20-14 win over Central Catholic. Dracut's 48-26 loss at Everett in Week 2 remains the lone blemish on its record.

In a battle of defending Super Bowl champions, Gloucester (4-0) of Division 2A will play host to Division 3's Swampscott (3-1) tonight. The Fishermen, coming off a 67-6 win over Barnstable, have already topped Beverly and Winthrop from the Northeast Small this season, and will look to add the Big Blue to that list.

Amesbury (4-0) is just a win away from tying its victory total from last season, when it went 5-5. Tomorrow, the Indians will visit Georgetown (3-0), another undefeated squad in Cape Ann Small, in a matchup between teams with hopes for the postseason.

In an important Boston South matchup, O'Bryant (4-0) will take on defending Super Bowl champion Brighton (3-0) tonight at Boston English.