Week 4 Key Matchups

These match-ups will go a long way in deciding the outcomes of these games...

• #6 CM Defense vs. Steve Cuipa - For the first time this season, a team was able to take away the Bishop Guertin option attack.  All Cuipa did was throw for 175 yards (without his top target) en route to another blowout win.  Nonetheless, Guertin's bread and butter is the option, and when they have it clicking, they are damn near unstoppable.  If the CM defense can force him to find other ways to make plays, I think they win running away.  But if Guertin can establish themselves on the ground early, we could be in for a mini-shocker.
• #2 Everett Defensive Backs vs. Barnstable Receivers - Too many good players on both teams to start naming names, so we'll talk strict X's and O's.  4 teams have the talent in the defensive backfield to go man to man on Barnstable's receivers and win that battle: Brockton, BC High, Lynn English, and Everett.  This is huge.  If they force Barnstable QB DJ Crook into going to his second and third read, giving Everett's supremely athletic front 7 the chance to apply pressure, Everett may very well win big.
• Dracut Defensive Line vs. Billerica Offensive Line - Methuen was able to make Billerica's Nick LeSpada uncomfortable in the pocket by bringing defenders off the edge, but what seems to have been overlooked is the job the Dracut defensive line did.  Because they were so low and aggressive, Billerica couldn't constantly slide linemen out to pick up the blitz (and the few times they tried, a DT came untouched up the middle).  If Dracut can mirror the job the Rangers did last weekend, they too have a shot at knocking off the Indians.
• St. Johns Prep vs. Brockton's Two-Headed Backfield - We know Mroz to Louis-Jean is tough to beat, but what makes Brockton my favorite to win the state crown this year is their depth in the backfield.  With a healthy Trevone Offley (who was a load last weekend against Xaverian) and the shifty Joshua Brewster, the Boxers don't need to air it out at all.  The test for SJP will be to force them to.  Mroz is the least experienced player, and while he hasn't showed how green he is yet, there were signs of inexperience last weekend.  For Prep to pull off this upset, they need to make slowing Offley and Brewtser their priority.