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'Big Bad Barn' finishes No.1: Final Cape Cod high school football power rankings

andré simms, cape cod times
·6 min read

The dust has settled on the 2023 high school football season, and Cape Cod teams found plenty of success.

Five teams made the playoffs across their respective divisions, with each of them winning at least five games this season.

Barnstable held the top spot in every single edition of the rankings I wrote this season, and it's easy to see why. The Red Hawks dominated on both sides of the ball, and they were only beaten by Mansfield (No. 5 in Div. 3) and King Phillip in the MIAA Division 2 Final Four.

Along with team successes, this year featured prolific individual seasons across the area as well. Football on the Cape showed out in a major way in 2023, and here are the final rankings of the year:

1. Barnstable Red Hawks (10-2, 1)

Tajardo France of Barnstable breaks through the line of King Philip Regional in football.
Tajardo France of Barnstable breaks through the line of King Philip Regional in football.

It's not hyperbole to say that Barnstable went wire-to-wire as the dominant team on Cape Cod. Head coach Ross Jatkola's squad smothered opposition on defense, while simultaneously lighting teams up on offense. The season was one of redemption for the Red Hawks after enduring a down year in 2022. After winning just three games that year, this year's group became just the third team in Barnstable school history to reach double digit wins. The season also came with a Cape and Islands League championship after the Red Hawks went undefeated against teams from the area. Barnstable earned the No. 5 seed in the MIAA Division 2 tournament, and reached the Final Four, farther than any other Cape Cod team. The team was led by a group of seniors that have risen through the ranks together. Guys like quarterback Aiden Kundel, and running back Tajardo France were critical for the offense, while players like Jadus Roderick, and twin brothers Andrew and Eric Lovell anchored the defense. Collectively, it was a dominant year for the Red Hawks.

2. Mashpee Falcons (7-4, 3)

Chase Weinstein of Mashpee races between Stephen Trombrly (55) and Nolan Cochrane of Sandwich.
Chase Weinstein of Mashpee races between Stephen Trombrly (55) and Nolan Cochrane of Sandwich.

The Falcons battled tremendous adversity in 2023. Injuries ravished the team, and at one point, Mashpee started four different players at quarterback over four consecutive games. Through it all, the Falcons kept stacking up the wins and used a dominant defense to lead them to the postseason. Mashpee entered the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in the MIAA Division 7 playoffs, and outside of the Red Hawks, had the deepest run out of any of the other area teams. The Falcons fell to No. 2 Cohasset in the Elite Eight, after beating No. 10 Blue Hills 32-14 in their postseason opener. Chase Weinstein and Charlie Lyons stepped up to lead the offense down the stretch, splitting time at quarterback, while Logan Wills, Makai Hue, and Ryan Triveri were some of the main weapons. Mashpee's defense was led by Hue, Mason Zylinski, and Holden Dickerson.

3. Dennis-Yarmouth Dolphins (7-4, 2)

Dennis-Yarmouth quarterback Jayden Barber looks for a receiver pressured by Mashpee.
Dennis-Yarmouth quarterback Jayden Barber looks for a receiver pressured by Mashpee.

The Dolphins were prolific offensively this year behind the arm of second year starting quarterback Jayden Barber. The junior made major strides in his second year leading the offense and evolved to add a bigger rushing threat to his game, as well as becoming a better improvisor. Barber finished the season with 2,823 yards through the air to go along with 32 touchdowns, and added another 610 on the ground with another six scores. Those 32 touchdowns went to a variety of targets, but his favorite was junior Peyton Kellett. The junior wideout finished the year with over 1,000 yards receiving (1,086) and had ten touchdowns. D-Y finished the regular season with a 6-2 record and entered the MIAA Division 6 State Tournament as the No. 14 seed, where the Dolphins fell in their first round to No. 3 Salem. The Dolphins made a four win jump this season, and much of their talent is returning next season.

4. Bourne Canalmen (7-4, 4)

Ty Kelley works on a passing drill as the coaching staff looks on during a Saturday morning early season workout on the school's practice field for the Bourne football squad.
Ty Kelley works on a passing drill as the coaching staff looks on during a Saturday morning early season workout on the school's practice field for the Bourne football squad.

The Canalmen were the surprise team of the 2023 season. Led by do-it-all player Ty Kelley, the Canalmen quietly went about their business this season, and won six regular season games as a result. The Canalmen gave up the third fewest points this season (219), and outscored opponents 126-60 over their four-game winning streak to end the regular season. Their success earned them a playoff berth, as the No. 13 seed in the MIAA Division 8 playoffs. The Canalmen suffered a defeat at the hands of No. 4 Cathedral in their opener, but it doesn't dismiss the success of the season. Beyond Kelley, Ethan Fox was another key piece to Bourne's offense, as he, Ty Kelley and Drew Kelley formed a formidable rushing attack. The Canalmen wrapped up their season with a 36-26 win over Wareham on Thanksgiving Day, in which they rushed for 321 yards as a team.

5. Sandwich Blue Knights (5-6, 6)

Sandwich quarterback Adam Ferreira follows his blockers against Mashpee.
Sandwich quarterback Adam Ferreira follows his blockers against Mashpee.

The Blue Knights entered 2023 with a new offense and a new head coach. They also entered the season needing to replace the bulk of their production from last season, after graduating a highly impactful senior class of 2023. There were some growing pains early, as the Blue Knights adapted to the double wing offense that first year head coach Robert Lomp installed. Sandwich battled through it, and proceeded to close the season by winning two out of their final three games to reach the postseason in Division 4 as the No. 13 seed. How they secured that postseason berth is what a few of the Blue Knights called their favorite moment of the season, as they overturned a 12-0 halftime deficit against Rockland in their regular season finale, and won 22-19. The Blue Knights season ended in their opening playoff game, when they fell to No. 4 Hudson.

6. Martha's Vineyard (6-4, 5)

Wyatt Nicholson of Martha's Vineyard stretches for yardage dragging Logan Crevier of Monomoy football.
Wyatt Nicholson of Martha's Vineyard stretches for yardage dragging Logan Crevier of Monomoy football.

Another team that emerged to have great success in 2023, the Vineyarders improved across the board in year two under head coach Tony Mottola. The Vineyarders claimed the Cape and Islands League Division title, won the 2023 Island Cup on a last second field goal, and steadily improved over the course of the season. Though they narrowly missed out on a postseason berth, the Vineyarders closed the regular season on a three-game winning streak, which they extended to a season high four, in a non-playoff victory over Falmouth. Guilherme Oliveira, William and Wyatt Nicholson, and Kaio DaCosta collectively led the Vineyarders offensively. Oliveira starred as the featured running back, while DaCosta and William Nicholson split time under center. Wyatt Nicholson was the Vineyarders' biggest threat outside and made countless plays from his wide receiver position.

André Simms covers high school sports for the Times. Contact him at asimms@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @that1guyandre.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod high school football power rankings. Who are the top six?