So we don't have any confusion, a team's "First Four" are the four players we feel need to be at the top of their opponents list of players to watch.
#3 Xaverian vs. St. John's Prep
- On the Line: Catholic Conference title
- 2009 Result: Xaverian 21 - St. John's Prep 16
- Xaverian First Four: FB/LB Chris Tamasi, O/DL Kevin Ihlefeld, RB/DB Joe Colton, QB Chris Calvanes
- St. John's Prep First Four: RB/DB Tylelr Coppola, OL/LB Nate Cyr, TE/DE Ryan Deslisle, QB Tommy Gaudet
- Breakdown - This is usually the one of the biggest and most meaningful Thanksgiving Day game in the state, and this year will be no different. If SJP can pull off the upset, then they open the door for a new state champion, as it would create a three-way tie and send the Eagles to the playoffs. Xaverian will earn the right to defend their title with a win.
Xaverian looks to me to be the clear-cut favorite solely because of their defense. This squad has done a good job bottling up and slowing down everyone they've played, including a lightning fast Everett team. Xaverian's defensive line does as good a job as any swallowing up blockers. Because Ihlefeld and company are so difficult to block, they slow the movement of offensive linemen to the second level. This allows Tamasi and his fellow linebackers the ability to freely read and react. St. John's Prep has an outstanding offensive line, but they'll need to find a way to get bodies on the Xaverian linebackers so Copolla can get into the secondary. Prep also boasts an option game that is quite possibly second to none.
St. John's Prep hopes work horse back Tyler Coppola can carry them to a win that would cause a log jam atop the standings. Their offensive line will be the key. This unit is for sure one of the top five in the state, and their ability to handle the Xaverian front seven will be a major deciding factor. Prep, much like Everett, has the talent to block some of Xaverian's better rushers one on one, but they must prove that early. By not having to turn to a double team, they'll be able to get bodies on the linebackers, easing the pressure on quarterback Tommy Gaudet and Coppola. On defense, solid play on third down will be the key. The Eagles have struggled a bit getting teams off the field, and if that trend continues, look for Xaverian to pour it on. #5 Methuen vs. Dracut
- On the Line: Merrimack Valley Small title
- 2009 Result: Dracut 28 - Methuen 14
- Methuen First Four: QB Cal Carroll, RB Ryan Savastano, WR Raudy Minaya* (heatlth status is questionable), OL/DL Steve Dizazzo
- Dracut First Four: QB Matt Silva, WR Chris Malonis, RB Keith Hamel, LB Zach Bassett
- Breakdown: This will be a battle of the swaggadocious. Both teams have a built-in chip on their shoulders, and if you have gotten a chance to watch them play, you know exactly what I mean.
In some ways, Dracut must feel like a team of destiny. They started the season terribly, getting out-played and out-manned by Marshfield and Westford. Since then, they have picked it up tremendously, rattling off seven of their last eight. Not only that, but the status of Methuen's biggest receiving threat, Raudy Minaya, is still somewhat up in the air. The catalyst behind their resurgence has been quarterback Matt Silva, who has had a hand in 33 touchdowns. His favorite target has been Chris Malonis, who has found pay-dirt 19 times. The Middies' achilles heel is without question their defense. They are giving up the second most points in the league (25.3), and the unit almost cost them wins against Billerica and Lowell. If they give up 30-plus, they won't be going back to the playoffs.
Methuen has done one thing better than all their opponents: be physical. Steve Dizazzo leads what is in my opinion the most gritty offensive line in Division 2, and Cal Carroll is one of the best in the state at executing the zone read. If Carroll is able to get running back Ryan Savastano going early, it won't matter if Minaya is playing or not. On defense, they are as prepared as anyone for Matt Silva. Every explosive attack they've seen, they've dealt with. The Rangers are only allowing 14.3 points per game, and while I expect Dracut to score more than that, if it's close at the end, you have to like Methuen.
Lowell Catholic at Pope John
- On the Line: Catholic Central Small title
- 2009 Result: Pope John 44 - Lowell Catholic 14
- Lowell Catholic First Four: RB Brian Waruhiu, QB MacKenzie Flynn, WR/DB Evan Conway, OL/DL Cameron Hilner
- Pope John First Four: WR Malcolm Brown, QB Robert McMaster, RB Jevon Brown-Simpson, QB Malcolm Brown-Simpson* (health status is questionable)
- Breakdown: Last year, Pope John absolutely smacked their rival behind a big day in the air for the Tigers. The good news? Last year's quarterback for Pope John, Justin Nascimento, has moved on. The bad news? Malcolm Brown is back, and he has topped the 1000 yard mark, at times making defenses look helpless. Never the less, both teams are much more evenly matched, and with a playoff birth on the line, expect this one to be a whole lot closer.
Lowell Catholic looks like perhaps the most well rounded team in all of Division 4A. Not only are they scoring the most points per game, but they are second in points allowed, their 7.8 trailing only the 7 West Bridgewater is yielding. Brian Waruhiu leads the offense from his running back position. The Crusaders have outscored league opponents 193-20 thanks to a defensive line that has been able to clog lanes and rush the passer all season. Their keys to winning are clear: feed Waruhiu, and pressure the quarterback. For Pope John, they too have done some serious damage to opponents on offense. Even without starting quarterback Malcolm-Brown Simpson, the Tigers have been able 78 points their last two games. Their defense hasn't been as dominant as Lowell Catholic's, but it has still gotten the job done when they've needed to. Their defense will need to prevent LC from having long, drawn out drives that eat away at the clock and keep the Pope John play makers off the field.
No comments:
Post a Comment