Orlando aims at O'Bryant

Josh Carrington has been the center of O'Bryant's run as even his coach looks to him. (Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff)

Manchester Essex (11-0) has firepower. Lots of it. Its 38.3 points per game are best in Eastern Mass. Quarterback Pat Orlando has thrown 21 touchdown passes, which is easily tops in Division 4 and fifth in EMass.

"Throughout the years - not just on the field, but in the classrooms and the weight room and just as a leader - he's a special kid," coach Mike Athanas said.

But the threat doesn't end there. Tailback Brian Ciccone is deadly with 18 rushing scores and Ben Kekeisen has 15 scores of his own, both top 10 in the division.

"It's a lot of hard work that the kids put in," Athanas said. "It's a great feeling and it's been a great season."

However, Manchester Essex has been here twice and fallen flat twice. The Hornets don't avoid that fact, they embrace it.

"The day after we lost last year, they were thinking about this year, ready to go. They don't want it to happen again," Athanas said. "They need to go out and do it on Tuesday to go get to that next step. It's that simple."

The Commonwealth Small champs will run into a buzz saw of an O'Bryant team. The Boston South champs are also undefeated (10-0) and feature their own talented passer.

Quarterback Josh Carrington was drawing Division 1 looks for much of the season and has served as an ideal team leader for coach Kevin Gadson. The first-year coach has relied on Carrington's experience to lead his team.

"It's a great benefit to have a senior behind there that's been through three years of experience," Gadson said.

Manchester Essex has an idea of what it will be facing at Reading High School.

"They run that shotgun spread type of look real well," Athanas said. "They're not overpowering, but they've got great speed and they get to the hole quick."

Carrington is complemented by back Omari Alfred (11 rushing TDs) and a defense that has allowed only 5.9 points per game - best in EMass. The game will come down to which yields first, O'Bryant's defense or Manchester Essex's offense.

"We're just preparing like we prepared for any other team all season long," Gadson said.

"It's definitely a challenge," said Athanas. "It's a playoff game and we wouldn't expect to play anyone that's not real good."

Tri-County (8-2) already has achieved its greatest season in school history. The Cougars, this year's Mayflower Small representatives, are playoff-bound for the first time, but the time for exuberance has come and gone.

"It's a great sense of accomplishment for them," coach Dan MacLean said. "They know what's at task now. They've got to focus and move forward to the playoffs. I think we're ready to do that."

Quarterback Lucas Mistler is Tri-County's primary threat, rushing for 12 touchdowns and throwing for seven.

"He's having the season of a lifetime," MacLean said, while noting his quarterback's humility. "He's a modest type of kid. He thanks his [offensive line] every week and thanks his teammates around him. He puts the team first."

Tuesday night at Taunton High, Tri-County will contend against a Pope John team that lost some spark from last year's offensive juggernaut but fought down the stretch to earn a 7-4 record and its playoff spot.

Justin Nascimento shoulders the load, scoring 13 TDs and converting more 2-point tries (14) than anyone in the division.

Last year, a loss to West Bridgewater bounced the Tigers, but MacLean knows his opponents, the Catholic Central Small champs, will be ready.

"They're a very physical, hard-nosed, smashmouth type of football team," he said.

MacLean said his squad responded when it needed to against Holbrook/Avon Nov. 15 in a big game to clinch the league title.

"It wasn't enough to want to keep fighting. They want to keep winning," he said.