Week 10 Radar Recap

Only one big surprise came out of the games we had on our radar.

• Everett over Malden - This win speaks volumes about how prepared and well coached Everett teams are.  Looking at their rosters, both squads returned plenty of familiar faces from teams that fought to a 13-7 Crimson Tide win last year.  But from yesterday's outcome, you would have never known.  Everett dropped 38 points on the Golden Tornadoes in the first half, with junior quarterback John DiBiaso finding senior Matt Costello for two of those scores.  The Everett defense even got in on the action when sophomore Ryan Pietrantonio recovered a fumble in the end zone.  If there were any weaknesses Malden hoped to exploit, they weren't able to.  All that's left for Everett now is to make sure everyone stays healthy in their Thanksgiving Day game against Cambridge, then prepare for another tun at a title.
• Xaverian over Catholic Memorial - You get the feeling Catholic Memorial coach Alex Campea will be fielding a team of ticked-off, highly talented players next year.  For the second time in as many weeks, the Knights fought hard and put themselves in a position to knock off one of the best teams in the state, but came up short.  Xaverian, on the other hand, was able to make some key halftime adjustments that lead to two Joe Colton third quarter touchdown runs.  The win gives the Hawks sole possession of first place in the Catholic Conference after BC High upended St. John's Prep.
• New Bedford over Brockton - Yes, you read that right.  New Bedford was able to do exactly what we said they were capable of doing: out-play a Brockton team that had been looking more and more beatable.  New Bedford finished off their win with a physical drive that spanned close to nine minutes.  From the opening kickoff, it was New Bedford who looked like the defending Big 3 champs.  They raced out to a 14-0 halftime lead, and controlled the line of scrimmage all day.  The win is huge for New Bedford, as it assures that for the first time since 2001, a team other than Brockton will represent the Big 3 in the playoffs.      
• Catholic Central over Billerica - This turned out to be just what you would expect from two teams that are insanely talented.  Catholic Central survived a scare after Billerica was unable to convert a two-point play that would have given them the lead late in the fourth.  CC was able to erase a 28-14 halftime defict thanks in part to their ability to bottle up Billerica quarterback Nick Lespada, who again had an amazing statistical output (441 total yards, 4 touchdowns).  The win is huge for CC, who now can lock up a playoff birth with a win at Andover in the season finale.
• Reading over Lexington - No holding back on the Rockets end.  They scored 26 unanswered points to lock up the Middlesex Large and send themselves back to the playoffs.  Senior quarterback Brian Bourque scored three times, and the Rockets' defense was as dominant as its ever been, only allowing a garbage-time touchdown late in the fourth.  Traditionally, the Division 1 schools get the lions share of playoff coverage, but in my eyes it's Division 2, which boasts four teams in our top 10, that will be the most fun to watch.