Leon Modeste Bowl — Choate (8-0) at Phillips Exeter (7-1)

These might be the two best NEPSAC teams playing this weekend, or is at least close to it. Choate has walloped most of the teams it has played this season. Nick Rubino has had an excellent season at quarterback. He spreads the ball around to talented skill players like Pearson Hill, Jadon Spain, and Blaize Cameron. Choate also has some of the best line play in New England every year.

Coach Panos Voulgaris has it rolling up in New Hampshire with Exeter. The only loss is a two-pointer to a very good Cheshire Academy team, and there are wins over Deerfield, Williston Northampton, and Brunswick. Top players include RB Kai Honda, slot Zion Simmons, OL Nihaal Rana, QB Eddie Buehler, OLB Reid Burke, and DL Jake Fredericks.

Drew Gamere Bowl — Avon Old Farms (7-2) at Cheshire Academy (6-2)

You could put this one right up with Choate-Exeter in terms of talent and quality of team. Avon Old Farms features QB Ryan Puglisi, who is verbally committed to continue his career at the University of Georgia. One of his favorite targets is former Marblehead star Connor Cronin. Other key contributors include LB Owen Moreland, DB Keke Adams, OT Jack Hines, and OL Zach Gluckman.

This game has superstar QB play. On the Cheshire side, it comes from South Carolina verbal commit Dante Reno. Shawn Mills leads the RB unit with almost 700 yards rushing. Tariq Mallory, Christopher Ortiz, Luke Reynolds, Elijah Newby, and Luca Antonio are all worthy pass-catchers.

John Papas Bowl — BB&N (6-2) at Tabor Academy (7-1)

This one features two very strong Independent School League teams that have talented rosters and good coaches. For BB&N, coach Mike Willey likes to pound the rock as much as anyone, and he has a factor back leading the way in Bo MacCormack. Quarterback Henry Machnik is a talented runner and thrower. Sam Kelley, Brett Elliott, and Henry Rome all caught touchdown passes in the Knights’ win over Lawrence Academy this weekend, and the offensive line is always stout.

Coach Jeff Moore has Tabor rolling in his first year at the Marion school. RB Hugo Djeumeni is a tough back with great speed to take it to the house on any given play. QB Tim Bengston has played well, and WR Kaiden Drinkwater and Dameer Phifer are reliable targets on the outside. Linemen like Jacob Burns, Amahn Williams, and Varga Botond give the Seawolves sufficient size.

Kevin MacDonald Bowl — St. Paul’s (6-2) at Lawrence Academy (6-2)

Another good one this weekend. Coach Craig Vandersea’s group is led by RB Mike Seward (200 yards and five TD against Canterbury), QB Dan Sullivan, WR Teigan Pelletier, Landon Clarke, and Conley Bohan, and OL Ernest Obiorah. The defense is led by LB Carson Daniell, Jay Falk, and Quinton Delorey, and DL Charlie Taylor, Kai Rigdon, Grant Winter, and AJ Milhalik.

Lawrence has one of the best QB in New England in Michael Landolfi. RB Jordan Johnson is a tough runner who can drop his pads and lower the boom on defenders. Tavian Fenderson is one of Landolfi’s favorite targets, and TE Cole Nelson has good hands and is strong after the catch. DE Dom Selvitelli and LB Michael Gregoire are two of the best defensive players in the ISL.

Bob Souza Bowl — Rivers (6-2) at Pingree (5-2)

This is the third consecutive NEPSAC bowl for Rivers, which faced off against Pingree in a 2010 bowl that the latter won, 36-28. Leading the way for Rivers are QB Max Stevelman, WR Jeremy Kiefer, and OL Luke Schutte. The defense is led by WR/S Amir Lindsey, who is an outstanding basketball player, as well, TE/DE Griffin Schutte, and RB/LB Gregg Canning.

Pingree owns wins St. Paul’s, Proctor, and Canterbury, among others. The losses were to bowl participants Hamden Hall and Dexter. The Highlanders are led by QB Hudson Weidman, who this season has 1,550 total yards with 18 passing touchdowns and four rushing. His receivers include Jaylon Richardson, with 22 catches for 400 yards and eight touchdowns, and Chris Colby, who has 31 catches for 380 yards and seven touchdowns.

John Mackay Bowl — Canterbury (5-3) at Worcester Academy (5-2)

An interesting one here, as Canterbury and Worcester Academy have both had quality seasons. Canterbury is led by QB Nick Caro, and OL Riley Sherman, Lucien Griffin, Carter Heagle, Ed Medaris and Brendan Buda. Other top offensive skill includes RB/slot Bryson Jezewksi, TE/slot Matt Mullins, FB/T Dom Mazzuca, and WR Brendan Hagan, Zach Uberaga and Kip Stone who also kicks. The defense is led by LB Dom Mazzuca, Evan Sood, and Matt Mullins, and DB JP Dyer.

Worcester Academy is making its first bowl appearance in close to 20 years. This is a good team that has pitched three shutouts and has only lost to Hamden Hall and St. Paul’s. The Hilltoppers are led by RB Jojo Uga, WR Keith Sarkodieh, WR Tucker Welcom, WR Griffin Collins, QB Charles Arvanigian, OL Paul Saucier, DE Michael Macaione, LB JJ Stein, and RB Cole Jette.

Joe Lang Bowl — Dexter (7-1) at Hamden Hall (8-1)

This is another real good one that could come down to the wire. For Dexter, it all starts up front with OL/DE Liam Andrews, Dom Silvia, and Hardy Watts, all three FBS recruits. QB Joe McCauley, RB Tyson Thomas, RB Quinn Carver, WR Michael Bonsu, and WR Darius Day all give this team explosive plays either running or throwing. Dexter’s only loss is to St. Paul’s.

Also out of the Evergreen League is Hamden Hall. The only loss on Hamden Hall’s schedule is to Long Island Lutheran. This team has stacked some impressive wins over the course of the season. This team has beaten St. Paul’s, Pingree, Proctor, and Worcester Academy. QB Charlie Gulbin leads the offense behind a big offensive line.

Danny Smith Bowl — Deerfield (6-3) at Belmont Hill (7-1)

This one pits one of the best teams in Northeast Prep with the ISL-7 champion. Deerfield beat Williston Northampton and Brunswick, with the losses to Choate, Exeter, and Cheshire. The Big Green have one of the best QB in New England in Cole Geer. His favorite target is WR Triston Ward. OL CJ Williams is a massive body-mover 6-foot-8.

Belmont Hill went 3-5 last year, but has turned it around in coach Anthony Fucillo’s first season leading the way. Over the course of the year, Belmont Hill has posted wins over BB&N, Milton Academy, St. Sebastian’s, Governor’s Academy, and Rivers. The team is led by DE Tommy Rupley and Sampson Onuoha, QB Reis Little, RB Marcus Griffin, and WR Nick Andersen.