NEEDHAM – In 2023, Needham came out of nowhere to make a run at the Division 1 Final Four. In 2024, the Rockets were no longer flying under the radar, but it hasn’t mattered. The target on their collective back grew each week, but Doug Kopcso’s team has answered each challenge. On Friday night, the now 10-0 fourth-seeded Rockets dominated the line of scrimmage, got three rushing touchdowns from Aidan……

By Jared Keene NEFJ Staff WESTWOOD – When Xaverian and Leominster squared off Friday night, the primary matchup to watch was how the Hawks defense would deal with Blue Devils standout dual-threat QB Osiris Lopez. Lopez accounted for three touchdowns (two pass, one rush), but wasn’t able to really get into a rhythm throughout and was often pressured by Xaverian’s defensive line. The real difference in the game, however, came…

By Dante Iafrate NEFJ Staff HUDSON – Owen Nanartowich’s hands never trembled. Not when a dropped pass by a teammate set the tone for a shaky Hudson start, and not when a fourth-and-five conversion hung in the balance midway through the third quarter. It was Nanartowich’s sure-handedness, along with the composure of quarterback Jake Attaway, that helped the top-seeded Hudson Hawks survive a serious upset bid from the eighth-seeded Sandwich…

By Craig Boland NEFJ Staff MONROE – Brookfield quarterback Thad Balzi punched in a goal line run, followed by a successful extra point from Ethan Chaber to put away a 28-14 win over Masuk on Friday night. Brookfield started that final drive at Masuk’s 10 due to a Balzi sack, followed by a Balzi pressure that forced an intentional grounding safety, which was declined by Brookfield in order to take…

By Charlie Adams NEFJ Staff WARWICK – Poorly timed penalties sunk Cumberland’s playoff hopes on Friday as Bishop Hendricken advanced to its 16th straight state championship game. No. 1 Hendricken relied on its versatile run game to bring down No. 4 Cumberland in the state semifinals, 35-22. The Clippers conclude its season with a 4-5 record, while the Hawks (6-2) will advance to take on La Salle in the state…

By Paul Vozzella NEFJ Staff DORCHESTER – The second-seeded Boston College Eagles led right from the get go against seventh-seeded Springfield Central in a Division 1 quarterfinal matchup on Friday night after wide receiver Adam Ayyub took the opening kickoff to the house for a touchdown. BC High never looked back, but did have to hold on down the stretch for a 41-36 victory. BC High moves onto the Final…

By Tyler Amaral NEFJ Correspondent FAIRHAVEN – Justin Marques added another thrilling chapter to his storybook high school career Friday night. The senior scored four touchdowns – breaking the state career record – in third-seeded Fairhaven’s 36-34 overtime win over No. 6 Lynnfield in a Division 6 quarterfinal matchup. Facing a fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line on the first series of overtime, Fairhaven head coach Derek Almeida gave the ball…

By Mukala Kabongo NEFJ Staff DANVERS — St. John’s Prep’s stifling defense bottled up Shane Eason and the high-powered Methuen offense for a 44-7 win in an MIAA D1 quarterfinal on Friday night. The top-seeded Eagles (9-1) will face fourth-seeded Needham next weekend (Day/Time/Location TBD) with a trip to the Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium on the line. Methuen falls to 8-2 with Thanksgiving Day still remaining. St. John’s Prep’s…

Andrew Guindon NEFJ Staff GRAFTON – Grafton running back and senior captain Finn Gilmore led the No. 3 Gators to a 35-0 victory over No. 6 Marblehead in the MIAA D4 Elite Eight on Friday night, rushing for three touchdowns. “Finn has been doing this all year,” said Grafton head coach Chris McMahon. “All of a sudden he’s picking up a few yards, then he breaks one; he’s pretty patient,…