The playoffs kick off in Rhode Island this weekend and we have some great first round and potential second round match ups in all four divisions.

Here is our playoff preview.

Division 1

La Salle Academy (1) BYE

North Kingstown (2) BYE

St. Raphael’s (6) at Bishop Hendricken

Portsmouth (5) at Cranston West (4)

Bowl Tournament

Burriville (10) at Cumberland (7)

Barrington (9) at Central (8)

Breakdown: La Salle is the favorite heading into the playoffs. Dan Koppen’s Rams have some big wins this season over B.C Bishop Hendricken and Barnstable but also lost a couple of games that left you scratching your head. The Samuel Perry to Antonio Bearden connection makes this team tough to keep up with offensively.

Bishop Hendricken is still the standard in this division and doubt them at your own risk. Keith Croft’s squad has battled some injuries and consistency issues but last week’s win over Portsmouth was a reminder that this team is still legitimate and could win it all. We all know about Jeremy Seidi and the running game, but it is the passing game that could be the key for the Hawks.

North Kingstown has to be the other team favored to get to the championship game. The Skippers run the football well and they already proved that they can play with the best of the best in the state by beating La Salle earlier this season. Quarterback Jack Diano leads a talented senior skill group hell bent on winning it all again but it won’t be easy.

Don’t sleep on St. Ray’s. The Saints certainly have the talent to make a run and surprise people. They were really good earlier in the season and it will be interesting to see if they can recapture that magic.

Division 2

Coventry (8) at Westerly (1)

Woonsocket (5) at West Warwick (4)

Lincoln (7) at South Kingstown (2)

Pawtucket Co-op (6) at East Providence (3)

Breakdown: Division Two on paper is a two team race between Westerly and South Kingstown but East Provdence could have something to say about things play out in the next two weeks. Landon Husereau and the Bulldogs have been impressive this season and look like a clear favorite. The only thing that could derail them is injuries. They are banged up. South Kingstown will once again lean on their ground game and defense but they could run into an issue if they have to take on an EP team that can score points. West Warwick looms as a sleeper. This is a tough bracket and defending champ South Kingstown will have to get through Westerly more than likely if they want to repeat.

Division 3

Chariho (8) at Classical (1)

North Providence (5) at Johnston (4)

Cranston East (7) at Mt. Hope (2)

East Greenwich (6) at Ponaganset (3)

Breakdown: Classical has been one of the best teams in the state this season and they have picked up where they left off last season. Offensively, they can outscore anyone in the division. Johnston might be the only team in this bracket that can potentially hang with them on the scoreboard. Both Mt. Hope and Ponanganset play the type of styles it takes to slow down Classical but I am not sure either can score enough. The Purple beat Ponaganset 35-15 earlier this year. The one team that could play spoiler is Mt. Hope. The Huskies running game is good and they can play keep away. An essential element when facing Classical. Remember, the Huskies lost 18-17 on opening weekend to Classical. They have “Hope.”

Division 4

Hope/St. Pats (8) at Narragansett (1)

Scituate (5) at Smithfield (4)

EWG/Prout (7) at North Smithfield (2)

Juanita Sanchez/PCD (6) at Davies (3)

Breakdown: Division Four is wide open. Narragansett is the favorite on paper but they are banged up which opens the door for North Smithfield, Smithfield and Davies. Davies has been the standard in this division the past two years but they are not as talented this year. Smithfield plays good defense but can they score to win a tournament and a state title? That remains to be seen. North Smithfield is more than capable of winning a state title. They went undefeated and beat both Narragansett and Smithfield during the regular season. If I were a betting man, I would put my bitcoin on them. I think people are over looking the Northmen and that is a mistake.