High School
Scrimmage observations – Springfield Central vs. Milford
MILFORD — In what is becoming a big, annual scrimmage between two of the top teams in the state, Milford hosted Springfield Central Friday night in Milford. Since the two coaching staffs put this game together in 2022, the action has been intense, and the teams generally have a better idea of what they have. On Friday, Central “won” the portion of the game played by the first string, 14-6…….
3 observations of the Norwood at Walpole scrimmage
WALPOLE- It was a beautiful afternoon to renew a rivalry at Walpole’s Turco Field as crosstown rivals Norwood and Walpole met in a game scrimmage. The long time rivals both return talented squads and are among the favorites in their respective leagues. Here three observations from the scrimmage. 1. Mustangs return good senior class: Norwood returns a good senior class led by Jack Dwyer, Drew Bartucca, Danny Russo and Brian……
MIAA Division 1 and 2 previews
Division 1 Five teams to watch: Springfield Central, St. John’s Prep, Xaverian, Needham, Methuen Five players to watch: Mattias Barbour, WR, Springfield Central; Graham Roberts, OL, St. John’s Prep; Micah Amedee, DL, Xaverian; Aidan Williams, RB/LB, Needham; Carter Carroll, QB, BC High Outlook This, again, is a division that you might see more parity than previous ones. There are plenty of great teams, but is there one that stands way……
Scrimmages at Catholic Memorial and Xaverian
WEST ROXBURY and WESTWOOD — The fact that Catholic Memorial and Xaverian are less than six miles apart made the scrimmage doubleheader possible. That, and the fact that the times were staggered, with the one at CM at 11 am, and the one at Xaverian 1 p.m. For Catholic Memorial, the visitor was Fitchburg. Xaverian welcomed Merrimack Valley Conference foes Andover and Tewksbury. The one at Xaverian was a little……
Scrimmage: St. John’s of Shrewsbury at Brockton
BROCKTON — As Brendan Hall of ESPN Boston used to say, the Brockton and St. John’s of Shrewsbury scrimmage is the annual unofficial start of the MIAA high school football season. So, by that metric, welcome to 2024. St. John’s drove from Central Mass. down to Brockton, and the two did battle, getting the rust out and hitting someone else for the first time this season. For much of what……
MIAA Division 3 and 4 previews
Division 3 Five teams to watch: Milton, Walpole, Milford, North Attleboro, Mansfield Five players to watch: Noah Mackenzie, QB, Walpole; Dan Moore, OL, Billerica; Ryan Bannon, LB, North Attleboro; Jackson Hart, QB, Dartmouth; Johnny Gingeruha, WR, West Springfield. Outlook: We want to be clear, here. Division 3 is the most wide-open division in the state this year. It really could be anybody’s. Now, with our five teams to watch, it……
MIAA Division 5 and 6 previews
Division 5 Five teams to watch: Foxboro, Shawsheen, Hanover, Apponequet, Bishop Fenwick Five players to watch: Ben Angelini, RB, Foxboro; Sidney Tildsley, QB, Shawsheen; Brody Joly, RB, Apponequet; Aidan Boutin, RB/LB, Hanover; AJ Pinet, RB/DB, Dedham. Outlook: Unlike Division 7 and 8, we are not expecting parity out of D5. The team that won this division last year, Foxboro, actually had a junior-heavy team in 2023, and is coming back……