This is the final weekend of the regular season and five North Shore teams will bid to go into next week’s first round of the MIAA football playoffs with perfect records: Lynn English, Lynn Tech, St. Mary’s, Marblehead and Lynnfield.
Two of those teams — Marblehead and Lynnfield — are in action tonight. The other three will play Saturday.
FRIDAY
Salem at Classical
At Manning Field (7), the Rams fell from the ranks of the undefeated last Friday night in Somerville. Rams quarterback Keith Ridley threw two touchdown passes in the loss.
The game was the third road game in three weeks for the Rams, who had gone up to Gloucester and then Danvers and beaten the previously undefeated Fishermen and Falcons respectively.
So the Rams are battle-tested, even if they lost last week.
Salem has lost twice, to Swampscott and English. But last week’s defeat at the hands of the Bulldogs was one holding call on an otherwise-successful two-point conversion attempt away from a win.
Danvers at Marblehead
At Piper Field (7), the Magicians have taken on all comers in 2017. Last week, the Magicians had to struggle, but hung on to defeat Gloucester, 21-12.
Danvers, one week after losing to Classical — a defeat that spoiled its unbeaten season — came back to score 10 fourth-quarter points to overtake Beverly, 24-21.
Hamilton-Wenham at Lynnfield
At Pioneer Stadium (7), the Pioneers have a lot of weapons, and they were in full display in last Friday’s 54-29 win over Ipswich. From quarterback Matt Mortellite to receiver Nick Kinnon to the rugged Cooper Marengi, to Anthony Murphy, Lynnfield’s offense clicked on all cylinders in overtaking the Tigers.
Beverly at Peabody
At Coley Lee Field (7), this is a battle of teams that are trying to salvage something out of disappointing seasons.
The Panthers (1-5) have won only once while Peabody just got its second in of the season last Friday against Malden.
Despite the disappointing 2-4 record, Peabody running back Eric DeMayo has had a fine season for the Tanners.
Bridgewater-Raynham at St. John’s
At Glatz Field (7), the Eagles 3-3, have been a team in flux all season. They started out with Mike Yarin at quarterback. But after he got hurt against Everett, Matt Crowley relieved him and has started ever since.
Under Crowley, the Eagles are 2-1, including last week’s heartbreaking loss to BC High.
SATURDAY
Winthrop at English
At Manning Field (2), the Bulldogs struggled mightily against Salem last Friday night. They took a 13-0 lead at halftime, but had to hang on for dear life for a 13-12 win.
The Bulldogs have morphed into a power running team over the course of the season, with junior quarterback Matt Severance at the helm. Ishmile Bangura and Ski Gaston have taken turns churning out long gainers from the Bulldog backfield.
The Vikings are 0-6 heading into tonight’s game, including last Friday’s loss to Saugus.
Gr. Lowell at Tech
At Manning Field (10:15), last Saturday’s victory at Northeast Regional was an emotional one for the 6-0 Tigers. Breakheart Stadium has not been kind to Tech in recent years.
Once again, the backfield tandem of Steffan Gravely and Keoni Gaskin ran Northeast all over the field.
This game could be a late-season test for the Tigers. The Gryphons are 5-1, their only loss coming to Lowell Catholic. Otherwise, the wins are all against teams in the Commonwealth Athletic Conference.
Austin Prep at St. Mary’s
At Manning Field (7), the Spartans haven’t lost a regular-season game in two seasons. They continue to be the class of the Catholic Central League, although Archbishop Williams gave them their first four-quarter game last Friday night.
Austin Prep, coached by Revere native Bill Maradei, is 0-6.
Saugus at Swampscott
At Blocksidge Field (noon), the Big Blue, 5-1, rebounded last week from a loss to English with a 27-0 victory over Revere.
The Sachems finally tasted victory last week, defeating Winthrop 40-13. Mike Mabee threw four touchdown passes in the win. Two of Mabee’s touchdown passes were caught by Christian Correia.
Fenwick at Spellman
At Brockton (1:30), it’s been a disappointing 2-4 campaign for the Crusaders, who have had to play without starting quarterback Corey Bright for most of the season. He’s back, though, and threw three touchdown passes and ran for a fourth in the Crusaders’ win over Austin Prep last Friday night. David Cifuentes added an 82-yard touchdown run for Fenwick.
Also on tap for Saturday night are Greater Lawrence at Mystic Valley (6) and KIPP at Chelsea (7).