After taking its lumps from the likes of Everett and Brockton this season, the St. John’s Prep football team has matured and now is in position to win the Catholic Conference title.On Saturday (1:30) at Cronin Memorial Stadium, the Prep will play host to unbeaten and No. 2-ranked BC High in a battle of Catholic Conference unbeatens.The math is simple for St. John’s. A win and the Eagles are the conference champions by themselves for the first time in five years. A loss and the Prep’s chances are all but eliminated and BC would need only to beat Catholic Memorial to take the title.”We’ve been up and down all season and have played a tough schedule,” St. John’s coach Jim O’Leary said. “We’re both unbeaten in the league and it’s the league championship.”You might have gotten pretty good odds that the Prep wouldn’t be in line for a championship after losing to the likes of the Crimson Tide and Boxers. But O’Leary is quick to give credit to his players, especially his defense, for growing up quickly and catching on.”We’ve improved as the year’s gone on and defensively, they’re starting to believe in what we’re doing and in each other,” O’Leary said. “We’re nine games in now so they’re not rookies anymore.”The defense was at its peak last week in a 35-6 win over Malden Catholic as that unit actually outscored the Lancers 14-6 in the game. Rob Maraffa had an 80-yard interception return for one score and Lynnfield native Peter Neal had a blocked punt return for a second score.”Last week, we were playing so well offensively that we wanted to get them back in the game. But the defense put the game away so we could get the young guys in there,” O’Leary said.Another reason for the Prep’s (5-4, 2-0) turnaround lies in the play of quarterback Scott Darby and tailback Derek Coppola. The two seniors combined on the game-winning touchdown against Catholic Memorial and were immense last week.Coppola rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown while Darby threw a pair of touchdown passes to help break the game open.”I’m sure they were a little frustrated because they had great years last season and had a slow start this year. But they have gotten better,” O’Leary said.Winning the championship won’t be easy, though, as the other set of Eagles that will make the trip to Danvers on Saturday poses a huge challenge.Since a 35-33 win on opening night against Brockton, BC has played one challenging game since, a 7-3 win last week against Xaverian.This season, coach Ron St. George’s Eagles (9-0, 2-0) have outscored opponents, 281-81, and have three of the top 10 scorers in Division 1. Kyle Ewanowski’s nine touchdowns lead the way with Brian Sullivan and Mitch McClune having eight apiece.”They are very balanced and use a lot of backs and they spread the ball around,” O’Leary said. “You can’t take one thing away against them and we’re going to play against one of the best offensive and defensive lines in the state.”But if experience means anything, then the Prep has a lot of it to call upon. Last year, the Eagles went to Westwood on Thanksgiving needing a win over Xaverian to make the playoffs. But it was the Hawks who prevailed to take the conference title. Other than that, the Prep has been in the mix for five straight seasons.”We’ve been there and in a five-team league, there’s not much room for error,” O’Leary said. “We need to win.”Danvers at SwampscottAt Blocksidge Field (12), the Big Blue (8-1, 3-0 NEC South) simply need to win and they will clinch a trip to the postseason for the first time since 2003.Swampscott got into that position thanks to a 34-13 win over Beverly last week. Quarterback Peter Kinchley was immense in the win, hitting 20-of-27 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 78 yards and a third touchdown.The defense also was on the ball, holding Panther star Greg Pierce to nine rushing yards in the second half after giving up two long touchdown runs in the first half.The Falcons (0-9, 0-4) are still scuffling, coming in