Football state tournament kicks off Friday night — here are matchups for Central Mass. teams
The third statewide high school football tournament kicks off Friday, with 16 teams in each of eight divisions vying to cap their postseason quest with a Super Bowl championship, on Nov. 29, Nov. 30 or Dec. 1 at Gillette Stadium.Central Massachusetts will be well represented with 22 of its 52 teams — it was 21 in 2021 and 25 last season — having advanced to the playoffs, with every division represented except for Division 2.
Here’s a capsule look at the first-round matchups, all of which are scheduled to be played Friday, with the exception of Blackstone-Millville/Nashoba Tech:
More: Hometeam Central Mass. high school football standings, leaders
Division 1
No. 15 St. John’s (3-5) at No. 2 Xaverian (6-2), 6 p.m.
The Pioneers opened the season with three wins in their first four games, and that, combined with the third-most difficult strength of schedule among the 33 teams in D1, got them back to the playoffs after a one-year absence. They’ll meet a familiar foe in the opening round. The Pioneers trailed Xaverian by seven points in the second quarter last week before losing to the Catholic Conference power, 43-15, in Westwood. The Hawks’ two losses were both by three points, to seventh-seeded Springfield Central and defending Division 2 state champion Catholic Memorial.
No. 16 Leominster (4-4) at No. 1 St. John's Prep (8-0), 6 p.m.
The Blue Devils enter the tournament on a roll, having won three straight and four of five — the lone loss during that span coming to undefeated Peabody, the fourth seed in Division 2. Sophomore quarterback Osiris Lopez is the offensive engine that makes the Blue Devils go. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder is averaging 9.6 yards a carry and has rushed for four touchdowns and passed for 1,196 yards and 13 TDs, with the scoring strikes spread among six receivers. The Eagles are the defending Division 1 state champions and are averaging 35.8 and allowing 10.0 points a game.
Division 3
No. 11 Doherty (7-1) at No. 8 Dartmouth (8-0), 7 p.m.
The Highlanders, who were 1-7 at this point last season, advanced to the statewide tournament for the first time after posting marquee wins over Leominster and South. Their lone loss is by six points, and in the last minute to Grafton. Junior quarterback Josh Romeo ranks second in Central Mass. in passing yards (1,468) and is tied for fifth in passing touchdowns (15). Senior Adryen Webber has 47 tackles, 5 sacks and an interception, while classmate Patrick Dowd checks in at 33-4-1. The Indians have won all eight of their games by double digits and have a plus-195 point differential.
No. 12 Westborough (7-1) at No. 5 Mansfield (5-3), 7 p.m.
The Rangers, who were 3-24 over the previous three seasons, earned their first postseason invitation since 2017. They’ve won seven straight since opening with a one-point loss at Burlington, which is ranked 13th in Division 4. Seniors Camden Petralia (756 yards rushing, 8 touchdowns), Dan Hackett (22 receptions, 493 yards, 9 TDs) and Joe Marino (devastating blocker), and junior Andrew Pisciotta (990 yards passing, 16 TDs) lead a balanced offense. The Hornets, who advanced to the second round each of the past two seasons, have allowed an average of 5.6 points while winning their last five games.
Division 4
No. 11 South (6-2) at No. 6 Grafton (6-2), 6 p.m.
Both teams are playing in the state tournament for the third straight season. The Colonels, who held on for a 14-13 win over the Gators in Week 2, lost to undefeated Uxbridge and once-beaten Doherty. Junior quarterback Ransford Adri has rushed for 1,000-plus yards and 15 touchdowns and thrown for eight TDs, while senior linebacker Lexi Estrada is a dynamic defender. The Gators, whose other loss was by two points to Holliston, have won four straight. Junior running back Finn Gilmore has rushed for 444 yards and six TDs on 54 carries in the past four games, while the defense, fronted by linebackers Nick St. George and Brendan McMahon, and lineman Riley McCann, is allowing 9.4 points a game.
Division 5
No. 10 Auburn (5-3) at No. 7 Newburyport (7-1), 6:30 p.m.
The Rockets opened the season with a pair of losses by a combined four points before reeling off five consecutive wins to advance to the state tournament for a second straight season. Freshman quarterback Brayden Belanger has rushed for 12 touchdowns, while senior A.J. Oliveira has successfully converted a Central Mass.-best six field goals. The Clippers, who qualified for the D4 state tournament last fall before being dropped a division in the current alignment cycle, have scored 34-plus points in six games. Their strength of schedule ranked 28th out of the 34 teams in D5.
No. 11 North Middlesex (6-2) at No. 6 Old Rochester (4-4), 6:30 p.m.
The Patriots finished with a winning record for the second consecutive season, something they last accomplished in 1994 and ’95. This is their first state tournament appearance. The Patriots opened the season with five straight victories before losing to Maynard and Hudson, the fourth and seventh seeds in Division 6, respectively. Senior quarterback Michael Reardon Jr. has passed for 13 touchdowns, with senior Cade Callahan hauling in nine of those scoring strikes. The Bulldogs, who average 17 points and allow 19.8 per game, are 1-3 against teams with winning records.
No. 12 Blackstone Valley Tech (4-3) at No. 5 Danvers (5-3), 7 p.m.
The Beavers have advanced to postseason play for at least 11 consecutive seasons. They started 0-2, ripped off four straight wins by an average margin of 30 points and closed the playoff-qualifying portion of the schedule with a competitive, 20-0 loss to undefeated West Boylston. Senior running back Adam Fransen has scored eight touchdowns, while junior quarterback Alex Burgos has six rushing and eight passing (31, 21, 25, 98, 45, 35, 27, 21 yards) TDs in six games. The Falcons, who are 2-3 against teams with winning records, check in with averages of 18.3 and 10.9 points a game.
Division 6
No. 16 Bay Path (6-2) at No. 1 Norwell (7-1), 6:30 p.m.
The Minutemen advanced to postseason play after coming up one spot short last season. They led in the fourth quarter of both their losses, by eight points to Clinton and four to Blackstone-Millville. Junior running backs Kaiden Brochu (1,579 yards, 12.7 average, 22 touchdowns) and Bradyn Downes (851-135-10) power an offense that is averaging 39.3 points a game, while junior linebacker Matt Chatterton has made a team-high 60 tackles. The Clippers, who won four games each of the past two seasons, checked in sixth in strength of schedule among the 30 D6 teams.
No. 10 Bellingham (5-3) at No. 7 Maynard (7-1), 7 p.m.
The Tigers are back in the state tournament for the third straight season after winning seven consecutive games — a run that included playoff participants Auburn, Hudson and Clinton — following a Week 1 loss to undefeated Uxbridge. Junior quarterback Dylan Gallo has completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,226 yards and 16 touchdowns, with senior Mateo Arellano (36 catches, 587 yards, 16.3 average, 7 TDs) serving as his top target. Junior linebacker Kalvin Gomez has collected 55 tackles, 5 sacks and an interception. The Blackhawks have won five straight since starting 0-3, with one of those losses by two points to Blackstone-Millville.
No. 13 Sandwich (4-4) at No. 4 Hudson (6-2), 7 p.m.
The Hawks locked up a state tournament berth for the third straight year. They went 2-2 against playoff teams, defeating Clinton and North Middlesex and losing to South and Maynard. Those setbacks were both by six points and came with 6.6 seconds to play and in double overtime. Junior quarterback/safety Jake Attaway has amassed 1,828 total yards and had a hand in 28 touchdowns while intercepting seven passes. Junior linebacker Owen Nanartowich has 60-plus tackles for a defense that held five opponents to 14 points or less. The Blue Knights are .500, but played the toughest schedule among the 30 teams in D6.
Division 7
No. 9 Gardner (8-0) at No. 8 Tyngsborough (6-2), 6 p.m.
The Wildcats, who were 1-7 at this stage last season, already have won more games than any Gardner team since 2011. They’re averaging a Central Mass.-best 44.8 points behind the junior tandem of quarterback Alex Figuero (1,200 passing yards, 15 touchdowns) and running back Ayden Sparrow (638 rushing yards, 8 TDs). The Tigers also have experienced a terrific turnaround after going 4-7 and 5-6 the past two seasons. Senior QB Bryce Goulet has accounted for 1,500-plus yards of total offense and has had a hand in 27 TDs to lead an explosive offense averaging 31.9 points.
No. 12 South Shore Voke (5-3) at No. 5 Clinton (4-4), 7 p.m.
The Gaels are galloping into the state tournament for the third straight year after advancing to the quarterfinals the previous two seasons. Their strength of schedule is the third toughest of the 36 teams in D7, so they’ve repeatedly been tested on a weekly basis. The senior trio of running backs Axel Ramos (564 rushing yards, 8.8 average, 5 touchdowns) and Angel Lopez (547-11.9-5) and quarterback Matt Phillips (863 total yards, 11 total TDs) stress defenses. The Vikings are 3-1 on the road and led by senior quarterback Todd Egan, who has had a hand in 16 touchdowns.
No. 13 Millbury (5-3) at No. 4 Rockland (5-3), 7 p.m.
The Woolies are headed to the postseason for the second consecutive season following an up-and-down campaign in which they won their first four games, lost the next three and then snapped the slide with a one-point win on the road. The offense features multiple playmakers, including junior Sergio Hernandez (482 yards rushing, 5 touchdowns), senior Tyler Vaccaro (24 receptions, 19.5 average, 6 TDs) and senior Nathan Kozlowski (1,225 passing yards, 13 TDs). The Bulldogs hail from the ultra-competitive South Shore League’s Sullivan Division, of which five of its six members earned a tourney berth.
No. 16 Oxford (5-3) at No. 1 Uxbridge (8-0), 7 p.m.
The Pirates won the last two games to ensure they’d advance to the state tournament for the third time. They are, of course, familiar with the Spartans, having absorbed a 50-14 loss in Week 3. Senior Robert Fisher does it all as his 763 rushing yards, 10 receptions 74 points, 47 tackles, interception, and sack would attest. The Spartans are back in the playoffs after reaching the quarterfinals last fall. Senior quarterback Kellen LaChapelle (13 rushing, 11 passing touchdowns) paces the offense, while senior linebacker Aidan Blood (57½ tackles, 3½ sacks, interception) anchors a defense allowing 9.4 points a game.
Division 8
No. 10 Sutton (6-2) at No. 7 KIPP Academy (6-2), 6 p.m.
The Sammies, who were 1-7 and 4-4 entering November the last two seasons, are headed to the state tournament for the first time. They’ve won six straight, are 3-1 on the road and 2-1 in games decided by six points or less. Senior Landon Dulmaine has rushed for 1,000-plus yards and nine touchdowns, junior quarterback Cam Benedict has more than 1,000 total yards and had a hand in 18 TDs, and senior Josh Farrell has seven TDs and three interceptions. The Panthers, whose two losses are by three total points, advanced to the D8 state final last season.
No. 11 Narragansett (5-3) at No. 6 Old Colony (7-1), 7 p.m.
The Warriors, who reached the quarterfinals in 2021, are back in the state tournament after a one-year absence. Senior quarterback/defensive back Corey Henderson is an impact player on both sides of the ball. He’s tallied 1,000-plus total yards while rushing for 11 touchdowns, catching a TD, passing for seven TDs, and intercepting three passes. Henderson is complemented offensively by senior Joseph Pineyro, who is averaging nearly six yards a carry and has scored six TDs. The Cougars’ only loss was by four points to Blue Hills, which is seeded 10th in Division 7.
No. 16 Brighton (4-3) at No. 1 West Boylston (8-0), 7 p.m.
The Lions won the Division 7 state title last season before the current, two-year realignment cycle assigned them to D8. They are one of three undefeated teams remaining in Central Mass. and have an average winning margin of 35.3 points. Senior running backs Connor Muldoon (112 points), Jamie McNamara (68) and Jonathan Ruas (60) are end-zone regulars, while senior linebacker Brian Smith anchors a defense yielding 9.1 points a game. The Bengals have lost three of their past five games after opening the season with a 38-22 win over David Prouty.
No. 9 Nashoba Tech (5-3) at No. 8 Blackstone-Millville (7-1), 1 p.m., Saturday
The Chargers, who previously were slotted in Division 6, are headed to the state tournament for the first time after posting wins over, among others, Bellingham, Nipmuc, St. Bernard’s and Bay Path. Their lone setback was to Tyngsborough in Week 4. Senior running back Daniel Lawton has rushed for 685 yards and 12 touchdowns on just 38 carries (18.0 average). He has also scored TDs via reception, interception and kick return. The Vikings, winners of three straight, dropped a pair of four-point decisions, to No. 6 Old Colony and No. 7 KIPP Academy.
—Contact Rich Garven at rgarven@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RichGarvenTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Here's a look at first-round matchups for CMass teams in football state tournament
