ESPN

BYFIELD, Mass. -- Third year head coach Jim O’Leary and the storied Governor’s Academy football team are riding an 18-game undefeated streak as they prepare to start the 2013 ISL football season.

Gov’s went a perfect 9-0, for the second consecutive year under O’Leary, and completed the perfect season with a 42-27 victory over Cheshire School (Conn.) in the Tom Flaherty Bowl Championship.

“These kids have the streak going and everyone is going to be gunning for them,” O’Leary said. “We are excited to begin the season.”

O’Leary knows that he will have a tall task ahead of him in replacing a veteran group from last season that included three-year staring quarterback and New England Player of the Year Tate Jozokos. The dual-threat quarterback and three-sport star is now a member of the University of North Carolina lacrosse team.

“Tate is a player that is hard to replace,” O’Leary said. “As a coach, you don’t experience many athletes at his level throughout your career.”

The job of following Jozokos as the next quarterback of Gov’s will be between senior Tommy Vailas and sophomore Seth Harrell. Vaillas saw time in the backfield last season for Gov’s, while Harrell was just a freshman backup in 2012.

“Those two guys are still battling it out for plying time,” O’Leary said. “They both throw the ball very well so I think our passing game may actually be a bigger weapon for us this year than it has been in the past.”

O’Leary will also have the task of replacing All-ISL performers Eli Morrissey (RB), Ryan Macri (OL/LB), and Colin Smith (TE/K).

“Those guys were all such important parts of our team last year,” O’Leary said. “We are certainly inexperienced at certain positions but I like our team speed and defense coming back.”

O’Leary is excited to return a number of veterans, led by three-year defensive starters, and pre-season All-ISL nominees Andrew “Bug” Carper and Jesse Gwozdz.

Both co-captains are Division 1 lacrosse commits, with Carper headed to University of North Carolina and Gwozdz headed to play at Fairfield University.

“Both of those kids are as good as anybody around,” O’Leary said. “They are kind of like our book ends, one on each side. They are both so athletic, fast, and tough and people notice them right away when they are in the game.”

Lineman James Leary is another co-captain and University of Vermont lacrosse commit. Leary and fellow co-captain OL/DL Mark Hoffman will also be counted on to provide senior leadership and to provide production in the middle of the field.

“James is a four-year starter for us and he provides a lot of experience on both sides of the ball,” O’Leary said. “Mark is another kid who came on real strong last year for us and we are looking for real big things from him.”

Gov’s continues to get great gridiron production from their lacrosse talent at the school. This season will be no different as Carper, Gwozdz, Vailas and Leary will team with WR Larsen Bidstrup and WR / DB Teddy Bettencourt to represent one of the top teams in New England lax.

“I think Tate (Jozokos) would the first to tell you that the reason why he was so great at lacrosse is that he played three sports,” O’Leary said. “We need to continue to do a better job at getting the multi-sport athletes, as that is where the big-time athletes come from. They compete each and every season and the type of speed an athleticism translates from sport to sport.”

GOVERNOR’S ACADEMY AT A GLANCE
2012: 9-0 (ISL Champions, Tom Flaherty Bowl Champions)
Coach: Jim O’Leary (3rd season, 18-0)
Returning Starters: 12 (5 offense, 7 defense)
Key Returnees: Andrew “Bug” Carper, Sr. RB/LB, 6-0, 196 lbs.; Jesse Gwozdz, Sr. RB/DB, 5-11, 193 lbs.; James Leary, Sr. OL/LB, 5-10, 190 lbs.; Thomas Vailas, Sr. QB/DB, 6-0, 182 lbs.; Mark Hoffman, Sr. OL/DL, 6-0, 210 lbs.; Tyler Harrington, Jr. OL/DE, 6-3, 240lbs.; Brandon Lopez, Jr. RB/DB 5-10, 160 lbs.; Seth Harrell, So. RB/DB, 5-11, 182 lbs.
Key Newcomers: Connor DeSantis, Jr. DT, 6-2, 330 lbs., Zack Coffey, So. WR, 6-3, 194 lbs.
Strengths: Team Speed on Defense.
Weaknesses: Inexperienced at offensive skill positions.
Outlook: Carper and Gwozdz will be counted on to lead a veteran defense but the two will also be fixtures in the offensive backfield where they will both play the running back position. Replacing All-ISL running back Eli Morrissey (Boston University lacrosse) will be no easy task but both veterans will look to share the duty. Second-year OL/DL Tyler Harrington, from Haverhill, is being recruited by a number of Division 1 teams, according to O’Leary, and could be a standout this season. O’Leary highlighted newcomer Connor DeSantis, who is a 6-foot-2, 330 DT as someone to watch. “He came to us this year from another school and we feel like he will make a big impact, right away,” O’Leary said. “Every game in the ISL is a tough game,” O’Leary stressed. “I do not care if you play a team that has no wins yet o their schedule, they will still give you some trouble. Lawrence Academy is the pick by some to win the league this year. They certainly have great talent. LA’s Chris Garrison (Tight End) is one of the best athletes in this league. I think he may have scored a touchdown every possible way last year.”

GROTON, Mass. -- Paul Zukauskas, the third year coach at Lawrence Academy, prefers to weigh in on the positives within his football program instead of dark cloud that still lingers from a checkered past.

The Spartans begin ISL play on Saturday at 1 p.m., traveling to defending two-time league champion Governor’s Academy. This game is one in a many steps taken by the Spartans in their efforts to distance themselves from the negativity that has embedded them from a couple of years back.

But the attitude throughout the team has remained the same. The outlook is to build off of last year’s 6-2 campaign and continue to move forward in a positive manner.

“You constantly want to improve but ultimately it’s up to the kids,” said Zukauskas. “It’s not about me and my program. It’s about the kids and in particular our seniors and their leadership. I'm not a big believer of going 8-0 as a goal. I'm more of a believer of us being as good as we can be. That's the goal everytime we go out to practice. There is an urgency here to get better and that's what we preach.”

Because of the sanctions levied against them in 2011 by the ISL after finding significant evidence of violations committed within the program which included wrongful funding to student-athletes and improper off-season practices, LA begins its third and final year under these sanctions. Among the penalties handed down includes a banishment to partake in any postseason NEPSAC Bowls this season, even if the Spartans should qualify.

In 2011 it was revealed that the football program, under the direction of then head coach Mike Taylor, committed infractions during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, the same two years LA won ISL titles. At the time, the ISL kept the violations quiet but it was later revealed by former school headmaster Scott Wiggins that funding was provided to student-athletes that went beyond their demonstrated need. He also said the team performed off-season summer training sessions -- a violation according to ISL rules. In addition to the three-year bowl ban, the Spartans were also stripped of their two ISL championships. The conflict eventually would lead to the resignations of Taylor, Wiggins and former athletic director Kathy Noble.

The memories of these transgressions are nothing more than a forgone conclusion by the present day Spartans. They are well-aware of what transpired and the penalties which accompanied them yet they say it means nothing. Right now the only thing that matters is playing football and making the most out of the 2013 season.

“We really have no control over what happened in the past but we can control this season,” said senior lineman and co-captain Andrew Crane. “That is all we are focusing on. We just want to go out and be the best we can be.”

Zukauskas -- a former BC High and Boston College standout, who spent five seasons in the NFL playing for the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers -- walked into a program at the height of turmoil. Nevertheless, Zukauskas has kept a positive attitude throughout and continues to maintain a strong belief that things will turn around. In his first season, Zukauskas finished 3-5 before the success of last year.

“There is so much opportunity here to do something special and that's the way we are looking at it,” he said. “If we can compete and be as good as we can then what a great message we are sending to everybody that despite the adversity we're still as good as we can be. Yes we want to play in a NEPSAC Bowl again soon but what is even better is to have this adversity we are currently under and be able to overcome it.”

LA remains primed to improve upon last season’s success. The Spartans return a number of veteran players, most-notably at the skill positions. They are led by senior quarterback Kyle Howes, junior receivers Chris Garrison, Austin Luckey and tight end Kyle Gillem-Hughes. Junior Nick Schutz and freshman AJ Dillon are expected to carry much of the load at running back. The Spartans are also well-stacked up front. Along with Crane, others anchoring the line include seniors Rocco Daigneault , Cornelius Griffith, Will Blundo, along with juniors Islambek Mussayev, Craig Waldie and David Pyne.

“We return a lot of starters and have some talented new kids who have come in,” Crane said. “Coming into this year we seem much-more focused and there is a lot of enthusiasm. We are all conditioned and ready to go.”

Adds Daigneault, also a co-captain, “We’ve bonded as a family here. At the start of pre-season we spent a lot of time together and grew together. We are a real tight-knit group ready to play some football.”

While depth in some areas remains a concern, it may ring no louder than on defense. LA graduated two of its top defensive backs -- Jalen Myrie and Darrien Myers a year ago. However a defense, ranked second in the ISL last year, is far from being gutted. Luckey, who also plays linebacker, was the Spartans leading tackler a year ago. Sophomore linebacker Jake Cassidy is also expected to make an impact. Howes, another co-captain playing safety along with Schutz at defensive back, will lead the secondary.

Perhaps the biggest intangible so far has been attitude. The Spartans contend they are thoroughly focused and determined to bring the program back to the elite status.

“Everyone comes to practice more concentrated than any other team I’ve ever been around,” said Howes. “Everyone is totally focused. We have film and white board sessions and everyone comes with notebook in hand ready to learn.”

LAWRENCE ACADEMY AT A GLANCE
Head Coach: Paul Zukauskas (3rd year, 9-7)
Last Year: 6-2
Key Returners: Sr. OL/DL Andrew Crane (6-1, 270), Sr. OL/DL Rocco Daigneault (6-1, 230), Sr. QB/S Kyle Howes (6-3, 200), Sr. OL/DL Cornelius Griffith (6-1, 220), Sr. OL/LB Will Blundo (5-10, 205), Jr. WR/LB Chris Garrison (6-3, 217), Jr. FB/WR/LB Austin Luckey (6-1, 210), Jr. RB/DB Nick Schutz (6-0, 185), Jr. TE/DL Kyle Gillen-Hughes (6-2, 210), Jr. OL/DL Craig Waldie (6-2, 210), Jr. OL/DL Islambek Mussayev (6-4, 240).
Top Newcomers: Jr. OL/DL David Pyne (6-3, 285), Soph. LB Jake Cassidy (5-10, 170), Fr. RB A.J. Dillon (6-0, 205)
Outlook: The Spartans have enough talent to remain in the upper-echelon of the ISL standings throughout the season. LA primary strength will be its offensive and defensive line, both rock solid and spearheaded by by Crane, Daigneault and Milford High transfer Pyne. This wall should open up large spaces for RBs Schutz and newcomer Dillon, and give Howes enough time to stand in the pocket, find his receivers and pick apart opposing defenses. Defense will be the big question early on with the departures of DBs Myrie and Myers. Howes and Schutz are expected to take control of the secondary but will get much-needed help from LBs Luckey, Blundo, Garrison and Cassidy. Despite not being eligible for postseason play because of the sanctions handed down in 2011, LA remains highly-optimistic that the program has moved beyond the issues which occurred in 2009 and 2010 under former coach Mike Taylor.

1. AFTER PUTTING UP EXPLOSIVE NUMBERS AGAINST TOP 10 OPPONENTS IN BACK-TO-BACK WEEKS, IS THERE ANY DEFENSE THAT CAN STOP ST. JOHN'S PREP RUNNING BACK JOHNATHAN THOMAS?

Brendan Hall: The gut reaction is, in short, no. But pay attention two Saturdays from now, when No. 5 Everett comes to Cronin Stadium for their annual showdown with Prep. In the B-R game, there were times where Trojan linebackers got a great jump off the snap and were able to stuff Thomas either for a loss or short yardage. Against Everett, the Eagles will have to gameplan for the unique skill set of defensive tackle Josh Palmer. The 5-foot-10 Palmer provides a unique matchup not seen often -- built like a running back, low to the ground, shooting interior gaps with speed rush moves.

It will be interesting to see how they attack Palmer -- maybe a chip, a double or even submarine him with a cut block -- and if Everett can control the interior gaps, they can make things uncomfortable. Plus, I don't know what Everett coach John DiBiaso's record is in games coming off a bye week, but it's got to be Belichick-like.

Scott Barboza: In not so many words, no. It’s no indictment on any of the opposing groups, but let’s just call it like it is and say that Thomas is a special talent primed for a ridiculous kind of season. I would say, if any of the teams on Prep’s schedule are equipped to do so, I think Everett and Xaverian would be best suited. I like the Crimson Tide’s C.J. Parvelus in run support; he plays a physical game and has the size to try to take Thomas down. Also, I think Xaverian’s ends -– Nick Colantuoni and Joe Gaziano -– are big and rugged enough off the edge to contain Thomas. But flat out stopping? I don’t think that’s about to happen.

Chris Bradley: There is no stopping Johnny Thomas, the best thing that opposing defenses can hope to do is contain him as well as possible and hope that they can frustrate him or wear him down. He’s rated as one of the nation’s best running backs for a reason: not only does he carry the ball like he was shot out of a cannon, he’s also crafty and possesses the strength to shake off most any tackler he’ll see in the MIAA.

Mike Abelson: I don't think there is a defense that can stop Thomas, but B-R showed that slowing him down might be the best possible outcome. He's going to get his touches, and he's going to get his yards; it's just a matter of if those rushes go for 5 and 6 or 15 and 25.

John Botelho: Bridgewater-Raynham has flashed arguably the best defense in the state through the first two weeks, and Johnathan Thomas ran wild on them despite Prep's loss in that one. He's very clearly the best player in the state, and keeping right around the century mark for yards would be a huge win for any team at this point. Everett might have the best shot at containing him a bit because of their athletic linebacking corps, but realistically, there's not a defense out there that can completely take him out. If you count B-R among the state's best -- and keeping Duxbury's offense out of the endzone for the first time in a decade should warrant that -- then what will Thomas be capable of against less elite opposition? Simply put, expect video game numbers from him every week.

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2. WHICH TEAMS CAN LEAST AFFORD AN 0-2 START?

Hall: After Friday's battle with Weymouth, Brockton's final five opponents are Catholic Memorial, BC High, Xaverian, New Bedford and Durfee. At least two of those look like guaranteed victories, and the Boxers have a realistic shot in all five of those games. This a team that was going to take a bit to get going, with a promising-looking finished product, so they simply need to do enough to get in. Attleboro and Franklin's hot starts have made the D1 South bracket a bit steeper than anticipated, but the Boxers will be fine.

It gets interesting with Barnstable. After this weekend's clash with BC High, they face Xaverian, Marshfield, New Bedford, Bridgewater-Raynham and Dartmouth. Like Brockton, there's a lot of winnable games on that slate, but I'm not as confident in the Red Raiders as I am in the Boxers. Their front seven got exposed in the season-opening blowout loss to Dennis-Yarmouth, and their offense remains a work in progress.

Plus, they're in a D2 South field with Natick, Mansfield, Taunton, King Philip, Duxbury and Needham. Making this field -- already the toughest in the state -- even stiffer is the emergence of Braintree and Quincy in the season's earlygoings. If the Raiders don't win on Friday, they've got a lot of ground to make up.

Barboza: First and foremost is Needham. For a team that began the season in our Top 25 poll, the Rockets could quickly find themselves in dire straits in a deep Division 2 South if they lose to Bay State rival No. 12 Walpole. Also, a couple of teams in Division 2 North in North Andover and Waltham, will hope to avoid a winless start. Both received a decent amount of buzz in the preseason as dark horses in the division.

Bradley: I’d say St. John’s of Shrewsbury, especially one week after a heartbreaking loss to archrival Leominster. The Pioneers, for playoff points’ sake, really could use a win over Catholic Memorial this weekend before they start their slate of Central Mass. games. With a loss this weekend, the Pioneers would have to win outright in order to ensure a good playoff seed. They’ll see plenty of CMass teams going for their neck the rest of the way: Fitchburg, Nashoba, Shrewsbury, Wachusett, and Marlborough.

Abelson: Beverly's already 0-2, but if they go to 0-3 after Friday's North Andover game there's no room for error the rest of the season. The loss to Haverhill was tough because much of it was due to unforced errors. The loss to Danvers was a headscratcher. Giving up 300-plus yards on the ground isn't typical Beverly. They'll need to find the mojo under the lights against NA this weekend.

John McGuirk: I think St. John's of Shrewsbury can ill-afford to open the year at 0-2. They travel to Catholic Memorial Friday night. Last year the Pioneers went to West Roxbury and struggled against the Knights before coming away with a tight 21-6 victory. The biggest concern once again is lies on the defense. Against Leominster last week, the Pioneers front line had difficulty containing the run, especially around the edge, and the secondary surrendered several big gains through the air _ many coming on third and fourth down. That was the same issue they endured last year. Another concern was St. John's offensive line which had problems picking up the blitz and thus forcing quarterback Drew Smiley to scramble out of the pocket all night long.

Botelho: I think Weymouth is going to want to avoid the 2-0 start more than anyone, but they'll have no easy task this week against Brockton. In the uber-competitive Bay State Conference, one off night is generally enough to not win the league, so these teams need to pile up as many wins for power ranking purposes as possible.

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3. WHICH TEAM MADE THE BIGGEST STATEMENT IN THESE FIRST TWO WEEKS?

Hall: Here's my case for Mansfield, which knocked off Baltimore public power Dunbar in the opening weekend of the season. Last season, Xaverian and BC High went down to New Jersey to take on two of the Garden State's premier parochial powers, got embarrassed, and had some wondering how legitimate the competition in Massachusetts really is. The state of Maryland is a hotbed of high-major football talent, producing four times as many Division 1 FBS signees per year than Massachusetts; schools from the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten routinely battle it out for the top recruits in the Old Line State. You're not going to find a quarterback in New England as talented as Dunbar's four-star West Virginia-bound William Crest, and the Hornets held him to 8 of 19 passing for 146 yards, a touchdown and two picks. You're not going to find a bigger statement than that, this year or next.

Barboza: I don’t see how this could be any team but Bridgewater-Raynham. All the Trojans have done, while overtaking the No. 1 position in our poll, is gone on the road and beaten two Top 25, state championship-caliber teams in St. John’s Prep and Duxbury. They get style points, too, (if there were such a thing) for holding Johnny Thomas in check (just enough) and pitching a defensive shutout against the Dragons, marking the first time one of Dave Maimaron’s offenses has even been blanked. I’d also give a nod to Westfield after its 60-14 dismantling of Amherst in Week 1. Hudson’s 33-0 thrashing of previously ranked Auburn was an eye-opener as well.

Bradley: There was no question coming into the season that St. John’s Prep and Bridgewater-Raynham had loaded the schedule in their first few weeks, and seeing as the Trojans picked up the win over Prep in week one, I’ll go with B-R here. A borderline top 10 team coming into the year, they’ve jumped all the way up to No. 1 in the top 25 poll. They’ll take on a loaded Xaverian squad on Saturday with yet another opportunity to make a statement to the rest of the MIAA.

Abelson: Two teams that have made statements are Bridgewater-Raynham and Methuen. Man-type wins over St. John's Prep and Duxbury showed that the Trojans are for real and will be playing meaningful games deep into November. Methuen is interesting because they're 2-0 in D1 but only play one more D1 team the rest of the year. Tom Ryan does have them believing in themselves after two tough wins; it'll be interesting to see how they handle a Cambridge offense that is averaging more than 30 points a game.

McGuirk: Teams that have made the biggest impact thus far this year? I have two. Bridgewater-Raynham, who knocked off St. John's Prep in Week One and came back to clip Duxbury last weekend. We expect B-R to be good but I don't feel anyone thought they would be this good. Let's see how the Trojans handle themselves on Saturday at Xaverian, who is coming off its big triumph over Everett. The other team has to be Agawam. The past few seasons, the Brownies have been mediocre at best, but with a plethora of seniors, including five on the offensive line, it appears they are ready to make a legitimate push for a postseason berth this year having started out the year at 2-0 with impressive wins over Longmeadow and Holyoke.

Botelho: Bridgewater-Raynham obviously launched into the spotlight by knocking off defending Div. 1 champ St. John's Prep, and following it up with an impressive defensive performance against a very good Duxbury team. The Trojans are very much for real, and don't have an obvious weakness. Brandon Gallagher is among the better running backs in the state, and the lumps B-R took a year ago seem to have helped this team grow up into a force to be reckoned with.

Turning attention to a team that picked up a good win on B-R's homefield last weekend, the East Bridgewater Vikings needed just one game to showcase they'll once again be among the most exciting small school teams out there. Owen Harrington score three times in a win over a very strong Millis/Hopedale squad, and all of them came from at least 61 yards away. Most impressive about the Vikings was how well they played against Boston College commit Jon Baker. The South Shore League Large also features defending Super Bowl champ Abington, and when these two teams meet on October 25th, it'll likely decide the league title.

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4. WHICH PLAYERS LEFT OFF OUR PRESEASON ALL-STATE TEAM ARE MAKING THE BIGGEST CASE FOR INCLUSION?
(See the team HERE)

Hall: Many of us knew Amherst's Taj-Amir Torres was bound for a big junior season this fall, after all the offseason attention, including three FBS offers and the state's Gatorade Player of the Year honors in track and field. It was a simply a matter of production (24 catches for 260 yards in 2012) that kept him off the list, but he's off to a blistering pace. After missing Week 1's blowout loss to Westfield, Torres had seven catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns last Friday in a 28-14 loss to East Longmeadow. All the Hurricanes have to do now is win a ball game.

Barboza: Off the top, I’d include Natick wide receiver Alex Hilger, but we’ll get to him more in a little bit. How about another receiver for consideration in Watertown’s T.J. Hairston, who put up video game numbers in a win over Medway. Although he’s a sophomore, Billerica’s Jeff Trainor should also get a look as Jordan Bolarinho’s top target. On the defensive side, I think Tewksbury’s Eddie Motavu could easily slide into a linebacker position. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound, two-way player has been a huge element to the Redmen’s early success and has reportedly generated FCS and FBS interest.

Bob McGovern: It's still early, but I think Plymouth South defensive tackle Shaun Duncombe is a real quality player. While his contributions don't always show up on the stat sheet, Duncombe nearly always occupies two blockers and has horizontal quickness that you don't normally see with high school kids of his size. Against Marshfield, Dylan Oxsen was the story, but Duncombe was equally dominant on both sides of the line. He has good feet, and you can see his wrestling background come through at the point of attack. Bryant got itself a good football player, and I think he's likely one of the better defensive linemen in the state.

McGuirk: Players to keep an eye on who have already made an impact include Putnam's Jaleel Kyles, who rushed for 277 yards and a pair of scores in the Beavers' "Backyard Brawl" win over Commerce last week. Putnam will rely heavily on Kyles this season to help bring them to the forefront of the AA Division. East Longmeadow RB Mike Maggipinto has flown under the radar but is a key reason why the Spartans have jumped out to 2-0. It will be interesting to see what he can do against a vaunted Springfield Central defense Friday night. Others to watch are Lowell's Jack Galvin who has 4 TDs already for the 2-0 Red Raiders. He will certainly be tested when Leominster comes to town Friday evening. Lastly, don't fall asleep on Agawam back Stephen Comee, who already has 255 yards on the ground and 3 TDs for the surprising 2-0 Brownies.

Botelho: Brockton's Aaron LeClair had a pretty strong showing against the Prep last week, registering a team high seven tackles while going for nearly 160 all purpose yards and a score. He's going to be the featured guy in Peter Colombo's offense, and should find the end zone a lot this season for the Boxers. Throw in his electric kick return ability and his pass coverage on defense, and he has a chance to make the team at a couple of positions, or with an athlete designation.

***

5. SANS BRIAN DUNLAP, NATICK'S ALEX HILGER LOOKED COMFORTABLE AS THE REDHAWKS' NEW TOP OPTION, CATCHING 14 PASSES FOR 188 YARDS AND TWO SCORES. WILL THIS CLIP KEEP UP?

Hall: If Natick is to stay afloat, he's going to have to. His production may vary depending on how he's covered -- I can't imagine he'll ever be left on an island by himself -- and he saw a decent amount of zone coverage against Weymouth. Quarterback Troy Flutie demonstrated great timing with this receivers, and his gift for extending plays with his feet can mean big production for his top target. Either way, with his sprinter's speed, lacrosse-like agility, heavy kicking foot and visage that resembles Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Hilger is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Natick.

Barboza: No, but not that far off. I think Hilger’s Week 1 performance against Weymouth was an opening statement to what should be an All-State-caliber (see previous comments) season. What will be interesting to watch is how opposing defenses treat him going forward. Will he now receive the Brian Dunlap honorary bracketed coverage? And, if so, what will that do for the rest of Natick’s receivers, primarily Justin Robinson? Robinson saw increasing success in the second half of the Weymouth game, as the Wildcats coverage increasingly adjusted to Hilger’s side of the field.

Bradley: Hilger will continue to be Troy Flutie’s go-to guy, but I wouldn’t predict that he catches 14 balls many more times this season—especially now that opposing teams know that Flutie will be looking Hilger’s way on pretty much every play.

McGovern: I don't see any reason why Hilger can't continue to put up big numbers. Behind Natick's tough offensive line, Troy Flutie is pretty dangerous. He can hang out in the pocket or run horizontally to extend plays. While this backfield tango is happening, Hilger has the ability to get open against almost any cornerback in the Bay State Conference. With Brian Dunlap out for the year, Hilger is going to be the No. 1 target for the Redhawks, and I think he's comfortable with that role. After Natick's opening win over Weymouth, Hilger said that he and Flutie have known each other for year and have pretty good chemistry. That was pretty obvious to those in attendance.

McGuirk: Alex Hilger is highly capable of putting up more yardage like this as the season progresses. He has the ability to find open spaces against opposing defenses. He is smart, fast and elusive.

Botelho: There's no reason to think Hilger can't keep it up. He torched a strong Weymouth team and Troy Flutie is going to keep looking his way. Hilger likely becomes the focus of defenses going forward, but with someone throwing the ball as well as Flutie does he's going to keep pulling down catches.

We're back with another edition of the ESPN Boston High Schools podcast, presented by Sports Authority and the Bay State Games.

This week, Scott Barboza and Brendan Hall recap another No. 1 biting the dust, take a look at the very competitive Division 1 South field that's shaping up, answer some mailbag questions and give their Week 3 picks.

To listen, click HERE.

WESTWOOD, Mass. -- ESPN Boston High Schools editors Scott Barboza and Brendan Hall check in from Xaverian Brothers High School, host site of this week's ESPN Boston "Game of the Week", presented by Sports Authority and the Bay State Games.

No. 10 Xaverian, fresh off an upset of Everett, hosts newly-anointed No. 1 Bridgewater-Raynham this Saturday, at 1 p.m.

St. Thomas More 2014 point guard Cane Broome committed so Sacred Heart on Wednesday afternoon, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Finkelstein.

Broome, a star point guard originally at East Hartford High School who transferred to St. Thomas More and repeated his junior year, has been one of New England’s most well-known players since the eighth grade. He said Sacred Heart coach Anthony Latina made the decision an easy one for him: the coach didn’t miss a single one of Broome’s games this summer.

“I picked Sacred Heart because it’s a wonderful academic school, and playing time as a freshman there was more than anywhere else," Broome told ESPNBoston.com. "I had a good relationship with the coach and felt comfortable; he didn’t miss a game this summer. He was there for the good ones and the bad."

Known primarily as a scorer during his days at East Hartford, Broome had a rude awakening when he went to St. Thomas More. On his first day of class at the Oakdale, Conn. prep school, well-known coach Jere Quinn pulled Broome into his office to give him a reality check.

“[Quinn] told me if I wanted to play Division 1 ball that I had to become a point guard," Broome said. "He put me in tough situations last year to make me a better player. I learned to be a leader from being around him and playing for him really matured my game and got me to become a point guard. I’ve become a smarter player, my mindset was score and that’s it, no defense, barely any assists…coming out of East Hartford."

This summer, he ran the point for a loaded Expressions Elite squad that advanced to the Nike Peach Jam. By creating opportunities for blue-chip scorers like Abdul-Malik Abu, Jared Terrell, and Jared Wilson-Frame, Broome’s knack for playmaking brought in attention from several Division 1 coaches. He even got feedback on his game from the nation’s top-ranked point guard, Tyus Jones.

“[EYBL] helped me a lot, just seeing the high level guards and going against them and learning different things. When we played Howard Pulley, Tyus Jones gave me a lot of feedback on my game and helped me out,” Broome said.

St. Thomas More was the top seed in the NEPSAC Class AAA tournament last year, but came up just short of Brewster Academy in the championship game, falling 77-75 to a Bobcats team who boasted perhaps the best front line in the nation. With his recruitment out of the way, Broome can now fully focus on school—and some unfinished business on the court.

“I’m really relieved, just school and worrying about winning the NEPSAC this year is all that’s on my mind now.”

ESPN Boston High Schools Editor Brendan Hall appeared on FOX 25 Wednesday night with sports anchor Brendan Fitzgerald to discuss Bridgewater-Raynham's new status as the No. 1 team in the state, the explosive start for St. John's Prep running back Johnathan Thomas, and preview the upcoming Weymouth-Brockton matchup:

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Central Catholic makes its first-ever appearance as the No. 1 team in our statewide MIAA girls' soccer Top 20 poll.

The void at the top occurred after Franklin was beaten, 2-1, by Canton on Monday. Meanwhile, Central Catholic has dominated all four teams it has faced this season and moves into the top spot.

Also, Belchertown jumps to No. 2 behind the Moreau twins, who are potential All-New England, if not All-American players.

Franklin lost its 26-game unbeaten streak and falls to No. 6.

To see this week's complete ESPN Boston Top 20 poll, click HERE.

In This Week: Newton North (No. 15), Minnechaug (No. 17).

Out This Week: Marshfield (No. 18), Winchester (No. 12).

Former Taunton baseball standout Connor Johnson has given a verbal commitment to the University of Maine, he tells ESPN Boston.

Johnson, a left-handed pitcher who is attending Bridgton Academy for a post-graduate year, was an Old Colony League all-star as a junior before becoming a Hockomock League all-star as a senior, following the Tigers' move.

In the last two seasons with the Tigers, Johnson was 16-5 with an 1.80 earned run average over 133 innings, with 111 strikeouts and 27 walks. He also picked up five saves.

"I'm really excited about it," Johnson wrote. "I went up there in August and loved everything about it.

"I think it's a great fit. It's great baseball, really good academics, top of the line facilities and I really like the coaching staff. It was a no-brainer to say yes when [Bridgton] Coach [Aaron] Izaryk told me they wanted to offer me a commitment."

The news of Johnson's commitment was first reported by Dan Ventura of the Boston Herald.

With another installment of the ESPN Boston MIAA boys' soccer Top 20 poll, we saw very little movement this week -- virtually none, to be exact.

In one of the few examples in recent memory, there was not a single team jumping in or falling out of our poll this week.

To view this week's poll, click HERE.

The St. Sebastian's School football team has to ask itself a tough question heading into the 2013 season.

“How do you duplicate perfection?”

After a 9-0 season, which saw the Arrows win their seventh ISL title and first NEPSAC championship, head coach Bob Souza will head back to the drawing board with yet another talented team. Despite losing nine offensive starters and four on defense, St. Sebastian's looks ready to attack a schedule that's a little tougher than last year's.

“We have a pretty good nucleus of kids coming back, including two of the best kids from last year. We think we're going to be a pretty solid team in the league, but this year the league is more balanced than it has been in previous years,” said Souza, the 2012 Massachusetts High School Football Coach of the Year.

Leading the way is all-everything senior Connor Strachan, who will play both running back and linebacker for the Arrows. Souza, entering his 36th year, said Strachan is one of the best players “and one of the better people” he has ever coached.

Strachan, who verbally committed to Boston College, is considered one of the top football prospects in New England. However, Souza is confident that his Arrows aren't a one-player team.

“At our level, he's been a special player, but as good as he is, we still have kids that are really good players,” he said. “We're a solid team, so it's not all on Connor. We think our depth is going to make it difficult for other teams. You can't just stop Connor. You have to pay attention to a few other guys.”

Several of those “other guys” will play in St. Sebastian's backfield this season. Running out of the I-Formation, the Arrows have three running backs capable of carrying the load. Strachan is the headliner, but senior James Fiore and junior Edosa Onaiwu will split carries.

Sousa is also particularly impressed with Blake Gallagher, a freshman fullback who is playing well beyond his years.

“He's a lot like Connor. He just has tremendous instincts. I would have to think he's one of the top players in his age group, and not just in Massachusetts,” he said. “I can't imagine seeing too many kids who are as physical with better instincts than him.”

There is a quarterback competition going on at St. Sebastian's, and Sousa thinks both guys could be a good fit. Junior Geoff Wade and senior Andrew Corcoran are duking it out for the top spot, and so far Wade has the edge.

“He's a very talented kid, but until you start playing and get into games, you're never quite sure how people are going to respond. He has to respond to make us good offensively,” he said.

Tight end Dan Fulham, who plays both tight and defensive end for the Arrows, will be a big target for whoever starts under center.

Defensively, St. Sebastian's will come out in its traditional 4-4 base set and hope to duplicate its performance last year. The Arrows allowed the least points in the ISL and did so behind a hulking defensive line, which needs to be replaced.

“We were a good defensive team last year. We gave up the fewest points out of everybody last year. Luckily we got a lot of kids back, but what we're missing is guys on the defensive line,” Sousa said. “We lost three guys to graduation, and all three of those guys are really good football players.”

While there are some questions on the line, the Arrows have a ton of young talent ready to step in. Factor that in with three returning linebackers – including Strachan, the team's leading tackler – and St. Sebastian's looks to be on steady ground.

ST. SEBASTIAN'S SCHOOL AT A GLANCE

Coach: Robert Souza (36th season, 154-104-9)
Last season: 9-0
Returning Starters: 9
Key Returnees: Sr. RB/LB Connor Strachan, Sr. TE/DE Dan Fulham, Sr. RB James Fiore, Jr. RB Edosa Onaiwu, Fr. FB Blake Gallagher.
Strengths: Senior leadership, depth at running back, experienced linebackers, culture of winning
Weaknesses: Inexperience on offensive/defensive line, new quarterback.

Overview: There's little doubt that the Arrows are facing a tougher schedule this season. Games against Buckingham, Browne & Nichols and Governor's Academy are tough tests for anyone. However, St. Sebastian's has good depth at its skill positions, and if it can find some continuity in the trenches, Souza may have himself another championship-caliber team. Of course, it helps when your best player is one of the top athletes in the region. Strachan is the best linebacker in the state, and Souza said “Boston College is going to be very happy with the kid they recruited.” Strachan is a stud, and is the type of kid that can change a game by himself. The quarterback position needs to get settled, but in a run-first offense, that shouldn't be too much of a problem. There is a ton of depth at running back, and St. Sebastian's is going to grind a lot of teams down the old-fashioned way. Factor in freshman phenom Blake Gallagher, and it looks like the Arrows are simply reloading.

The seventh annual Kick for Cancer event will be held next weekend at Concord-Carlisle Regional High School.

Here's a look at the event, per today's press release from Patriots athletic director Barry Haley:

Some of greater Boston’s best high school soccer talent will gather to compete against each other and fight cancer at the 7th Annual Kicks for Cancer, to be held on Saturday, September 28th and hosted by Concord Carlisle High School.

In addition to boasting high school soccer action at its finest, the event includes food, raffles, souvenirs, and more, all to benefit cancer research. In what’s become a tradition, teams participating at Kicks for Cancer will wear special pink or blue jerseys with the names of loved ones that have suffered from the disease emblazoned on the back.

This year’s event has been expanded to include some of the area’s top girls’ teams. In one of the games, Lincoln-Sudbury’s boys varsity will face-off against Concord-Carlisle, with the two teams leading the Dual County League’s Large and Small groupings, respectively.

Games start at the adjacent turf fields at CCHS at 1 p.m., and will finish under the lights at roughly 8 p.m. Tickets to see all games are $5 for children and $10 for adults.

Kicks for Cancer has raised close to $100,000 since its inception – including over $25,000 last year despite poor weather conditions – with all proceeds going to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The event began in 2007, after Lois Wells, mother Concord Carlisle assistant coach Steve Wells, succumbed to cancer.

“Kicks for Cancer is a true grass roots event that began when the kids just wanted to do something for Coach Wells – but its grown into an important benefit. The soccer is always great, but obviously, it’s about so much more than that,” says Ray Pavlik, head coach of the CCHS boys team and the founder of the event.

Below is the schedule of Kicks for Cancer games on Saturday, September 28:

1:00 p.m., CCHS Turf Field 1, Reading vs. Woburn
1:00 p.m., CCHS Turf Field 2, Lexington vs. Wakefield

3:30 p.m., CCHS Turf Field 1, Lincoln Sudbury Girls (#3) vs. Concord Carlisle Girls (#12)
3:30 p.m., CCHS Turf Field 2, Brookline vs. Newton North

6:00 p.m., CCHS Turf Field 1, Lincoln-Sudbury Boys (#10) vs. Concord-Carlisle Boys (#12)
6:00 p.m., CCHS Turf Field 2, Acton-Boxborough (#13) vs. Wayland

Concod Carlisle High School is located at 500 Walden Street in Concord, MA.

For those who are unable to attend the event, but still wish to make a donation to Kicks for Cancer, may do one of the following:

Concord-Carlisle Kicks for Cancer web site, including directions to the fields: http://cchsmenssoccer.com/kfc.html
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kicks-for-Cancer-Concord-Carlisle/146077038820061?sk=info

Dana Farber donation page: www.dana-farber.kintera.org/kicksforcancer .

With the introduction of the points system in the new MIAA Football State Championship this fall, each Tuesday ESPNBoston.com will post an updated look at the current playoff picture on a statewide scale. Here are a couple things to note before looking through the playoff picture each week:

1. The top EIGHT teams in each division go to the playoffs out of the North, South, and Central regions, while the top FOUR teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs in the West Region.

2. In the North and South regions, leagues with five or more members will automatically send the top two teams in each league to the playoffs. Leagues with less than five members will be given one automatic playoff qualifier.

3. No MIAA team has played more than two games, while many have only played one. Therefore, projecting AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS will begin in next week’s Playoff Picture edition (September 24).

4. Some regions below will include more than the FOUR (West) or EIGHT (North, South, Central) teams, which is the simple indicator of a tie at the current point in time.

All comments and corrections can be sent to Chris Bradley at Christian.Bradley@gordon.edu, or on Twitter: @_ChrisBradley

For a refresher on how the playoff system will work, check out our three-part "Taking the Field" series from the preseason HERE.

Division 2 Central
T-1. Leominster (1-0), 10 points
T-1. Shrewsbury (1-0), 10 points
T-1. Marlboro (1-0), 10 points
T-1. Nashoba (1-0), 10 points
T-5. Algonquin (0-1), 1 point
T-5. Fitchburg (0-1), 1 point
T-5. North Middlesex (0-1), 1 point
T-5. Saint John’s (0-1), 1 point
T-5. Wachusett (0-1), 1 point
T-5. Westboro (0-1,) 1 point

Analysis: Four of the ten teams in Division 2 Central picked up wins last week, creating a four-way tie for the number-one seed. The six teams in Division 2 Central who lost this past week are all awarded one point for each win that their opponent has allotted. Look for somebody from that top group of four to rise to the top soon, notable games this week include Leominster at Lowell, Shrewsbury at Nashoba, and Marlboro at Algonquin—all of which are on Friday night.

Division 4 Central
T-1. Doherty (1-0), 12 points
T-1. Hudson (1-0), 12 points
T-1. Shepherd Hill (1-0), 12 points
T-1. St. Peter-Marian (1-0), 12 points
T-5. Grafton (1-0), 10 points
T-5. Groton-Dunstable (1-0), 10 points
T-5. Quabbin (1-0), 10 points
T-5. Tantasqua (1-0), 10 points

Analysis: There is a lot of depth in what should be a very tight race in Division 4 Central. There will be plenty of shuffling in the standings this week, as St. Peter-Marian will travel to Grafton while Hudson, following a blowout victory over Auburn, has a Mid Wach B showdown with Groton-Dunstable. The key for Doherty will be to not overlook the next few weeks as they play Holy Name, Tantasqua, and South leading up to perhaps their biggest game of the season: a date with Leominster on October 11.

Division 5 Central
T-1. Northbridge(1-0), 10 points
T-1. Bartlett (1-0), 10 points
T-1. Lunenburg (1-0), 10 points
T-1. Leicester (1-0), 10 points
T-1. Uxbridge (1-0), 10 points
T-1. Tyngsboro (1-0), 10 points
7. Auburn (1-1), 5.5 points
T-8. Gardner (0-1), 1 point
T-8. Clinton (0-1), 1 point
T-8. David Prouty (0-1), 1 point
T-8. Oxford (0-1), 1 point
T-8. Millbury (0-1), 1 point

Analysis: Division 5 Central is a six-way tie at the top that is dominated by the SWCL. Northbridge, Bartlett, Leicester, and Uxbridge all picked up wins last week and got themselves off to a good start in the standings. Bartlett faces Millbury on Friday night, Northbridge will travel to Tantasqua, Leicester will be on the road against Oxford, and Uxbridge play Southbridge on Saturday afternoon.

Division 6 Central
T-1. Sutton (1-0), 12 points
T-1. Maynard (1-0), 12 points
T-1. Monty Tech (1-0), 12 points
T-4. St. Bernard’s (1-0), 10 points
T-4. Narragansett (1-0), 10 points
T-4. Littleton (1-0), 10 points
T-4. Worcester Tech (1-0), 10 points
T-4. Assabet (1-0), 10 points
T-4. Blackstone Valley (1-0), 10 points

Analysis: An impressive first week for the Sutton Sammies, they wasted no time making a statement to start off what is the first season of football in school history, beating Burncoat 33-8. Maynard won big over an Inter-High squad as well, beating Worcester South 53-8 at home. Sutton and Maynard share first place with Monty Tech, but look out for shuffling in the standings this week: Monty Tech will travel to Keefe Tech, Sutton will try to get a win streak going against Worcester North, and Maynard will play Mid Wach D rival Murdock on Friday night.

Division 2 West
T-1. East Longmeadow (2-0), 6 points
T-1. Westfield (1-0), 6 points
T-1. West Springfield (1-0), 6 points
T-1. Putnam Vocational (1-0), 6 points
T-1. Minnechaug (1-0), 6 points

Analysis: The reason for the five-way tie in Division 2 West is simply because all of the five teams’ wins have come over Division 4 opponents, constituting 6 points for each win divided by the number of games played. Westfield immediately gained attention when they annihilated Amherst 60-14 in week 1, while Putnam put up 46 on Commerce last Friday to insert themselves into our top 25 poll. East Longmeadow has a huge statement game on Friday night against Springfield Central, while West Springfield will head to Westfield. With Putnam also set to take on Minnechaug—needless to say, expect some shuffling out West this weekend.

Division 4 West
1. Agawam (2-0), 15 points
2. Wahconah (2-0), 10 points
T-3. South Hadley (0-2), Chicopee (0-1), Amherst-Pelham (0-2), Northampton (0-2), Commerce (0-2), Chicopee Comprehensive (0-2), 0 points

Analysis: Agawam and Wahconah are the only two who have separated themselves in Division 4 West at this point. The Brownies have knocked off a pair of Division 2 opponents, Longmeadow and Holyoke, in the opening two games of their season—good for 14 points for each win, plus two points give Longmeadow’s one win; this gives Agawam 15 points after dividing the number of games played (2). Wahconah, with wins over two Division 4 opponents—both of whom have yet to win a game, sit in second place with 10 points.

Division 5 West
T-1. Pittsfield (2-0), 11 points
T-1. Mount Greylock (2-0), 11 points
T-3. Hoosac Valley (2-0), 10 points
T-3. Ludlow (2-0), 10 points

Analysis: Pittsfield and Mount Greylock reign supreme early on in the season, but count on Hoosac Valley and Ludlow to make a bid for a higher seed in the coming weeks. Mount Greylock faces a very challenging two weeks, as they travel to Hoosac Valley this Friday and Pittsfield in Week 4. Pittsfield will take on Chicopee Comprehensive this Friday night, while Ludlow travels to Montague for a game with Turners Falls.

Division 6 West
1. McCann Tech (2-0), 11 points
T-2. Pioneer Valley (2-0), 10 points
T-2. Turners Falls (1-0), 10 points
4. Greenfield (1-1), 7 points

Analysis: McCann Tech is the leader in the clubhouse heading into Week 3, following back-to-back wins over Division 6 opponents Pathfinder and Mohawk Regional. Mohawk’s one win adds two more points to McCann Tech’s point total, therefore giving them the slight edge over Pioneer Valley and Turners Falls after dividing McCann’s point total (22) by games played (2).

Division 1 North
1. Acton-Boxboro (1-0), 11 points
2. Central Catholic (2-0), 10.5 points
3. Methuen (2-0), 10 points
4. Lowell (2-0), 8 points
5. St. John’s Prep (1-1), 6 points
6. Everett (1-1), 5.5 points
7. Chelmsford (1-1), 5 points
8. Andover (1-1), 4.5 points

Analysis: A-B sits has the slight edge over Central Catholic after two weeks of play. The Colonials, with one win over Cambridge (8 points) plus three points for Cambridge’s win over Greater Lawrence Tech, will be looking to make a statement this Friday when they travel to Natick, the No. 7 team in our latest Top 25 poll. Central Catholic has a big week ahead too after a blowout win over Haverhill. The Raiders will take on St. John’s Prep in Lawrence on Friday night, with a chance to climb to the top spot in Division 1 North if they can pull off the upset; the bragging rights over beating the No. 4 team in the state isn’t a bad motivator either. Keep an eye on Lowell and their showdown with Central Mass. power Leominster this week, with a win over the Blue Devils they can pick up a little ground on Methuen, Central, and A-B.

Division 2 North
1. Lynn English (1-0), 12 points
2. Cambridge (1-1), 6 points
T-3. Haverhill (1-1), 5 points
T-3. Lincoln-Sudbury (1-1), 5 points
5. Lynn Classical (0-2), 2 points
6. Westford Academy (0-2), 1.5 points
T-7. Billerica (0-2), 1 point
T-7. Malden Catholic (0-2), 1 point
T-7. North Andover (0-1), 1 point
T-7. Waltham (0-2), 1 point

Analysis: Division 2 North doesn’t have much to show after two weeks of play, with Lynn English, Cambridge, Haverhill, and Lincoln-Sudbury as the only teams with a score in the win column. English heads to Wakefield this Friday with a chance extend their lead even more, while Cambridge heads to Methuen. Don’t count out Haverhill and Lincoln-Sudbury, both squads have byes this week and will be back in action in Week 4. Reading, the heavy favorite in this field going into the season, has yet to play a game. The Rockets open the season Friday against Dracut.

Division 3 Northeast
1. Tewksbury (2-0), 15 points
2. Marblehead (2-0), 12.5 points
3. Gloucester (2-0), 11 points
4. Danvers (1-1), 6 points
T-5. Revere (0-2), 2 points
T-5. Dracut (0-2), 2 points
T-5. Salem (0-2) 2 points
T-8. Somerville (0-1), 1 point
T-8. Beverly (0-2), 1 point
T-8. Wilmington (0-1), 1 point
T-8. Masconomet (0-1), 1 point

Analysis: Tewksbury narrowly escaped Lincoln-Sudbury on the road last Friday night, and have the number-one seed in Division 3 Northeast to show for it. Marblehead will take on Salem on Friday, who took a hard loss to 2-0 Gloucester last week. The Fishermen will in Topsfield on Friday versus Masco, while Tewksbury will play MVC-foe North Andover. With two wins over Division 1 opponents (12 points for each win) plus three points for each win that Chelmsford and L-S have (6 points total), the Redmen take have a strong hold on the top spot heading into Week 3.

Division 3 Northwest
T-1. Burlington (1-0), 12 points
T-1. Concord-Carlisle (1-0), 12 points
T-1. Wakefield (1-0), 12 points
T-1. Woburn (1-0), 12 points
5. Boston Latin (2-0), 11 points
T-6. Arlington (1-0), 10 points
T-6. Medford (2-0), 10 points
T-6. Melrose (1-0), 10 points
T-6. Winchester (1-0), 10 points

Analysis: Burlington, Concord-Carlisle, Wakefield, and Woburn head what is set to be an extremely close race in Division 3 Northwest, all of whom have gathered 12 points after wins over teams in a higher division. Burlington takes on Woburn on Friday night, while Wakefield could separate themselves if they can knock off Lynn English on Friday.

Division 4 North
1. Stoneham (1-0), 12 points
T-2. Lynnfield (1-0), 10 points
T-2. North Reading (1-0), 10 points
T-2. Triton (2-0), 10 points
T-2. Watertown (1-0), 10 points
T-2. Winthrop (1-0), 10 points
T-7. Arlington Catholic (1-0), 8 points
T-7. Bedford (1-0), 8 points

Analysis: Another close race in the North. Stoneham, at 1-0, has the early lead in the point standings after an easy 28-0 victory over Division 3 Belmont last Thursday. Stoneham, however, has a trio of Cape Ann squads chasing them down, plus Watertown and Winthrop in that five-way tie for second place in Division 4 North.

Division 5 North
T-1. Bishop Fenwick (1-0), 12 points
T-1. St. Mary’s (1-0), 12 points
3. Austin Prep (2-0), 11.5 points
T-4. Brighton (1-0), 10 points
T-4. Lowell Catholic (1-0), 10 points
6. Northeast (2-0), 9 points
7. Whittier Tech (1-1), 6 points
8. Greater Lawrence Tech (1-1), 5.5 points

Analysis: Fenwick and St. Mary’s both showed off their high-octane offenses last week, with Fenwick putting up 54 points on Hamilton-Wenham and St. Mary’s scoring 64 against Swampscott. The two don’t face each other until October 19, so expect a tight race until then. Keep a close eye on Austin Prep, they’ll heave a chance to unseat St. Mary’s one week from Friday, when they meet up on September 28.

Division 6 North
1. Latin Academy (2-0), 12.5 points
2. Dorchester (1-0), 12 points
3. Cathedral (2-0), 11 points
T-4. Minuteman (1-0), 10 points
T-4. New Mission (1-0), 10 points
T-4. O’Bryant (1-0), 10 points
T-4. St. Clement (1-0), 10 points
T-4. Chelsea (1-0), 10 points

Analysis: It’s going to take a couple more weeks to see the top teams rise to the top in Division 6 North, given each team has only played one game (besides Latin Academy) combined with a pretty even playing field in the division this year, nobody has had the opportunity to separate themselves from the pack quite yet. Top-seeded Latin Academy will take on second-seeded Dorchester this Friday, however, with a chance at the number-one seed and separation from the rest of the field on the line.

Division 1 South
T-1. Catholic Memorial (1-0), 13 points
T-1. Xaverian (1-0), 13 points
3. Bridgewater-Raynham (2-0), 12 points
4. Franklin (1-0), 10 points
T-5. Attleboro (1-0), 8 points
T-5. Newton North (1-0), 8 points
7. BC High (1-1), 7 points
8. Brookline (0-1), 2 points

Analysis: The Catholic Conference holds strong at the top in Division 1 South, while Bridgewater-Raynham, the No. 1 team in our latest top 25 poll, follows right on the heels of CM and Xaverian. Xaverian and B-R will face off this Saturday in what could end up being the biggest game of the year in Division 1 South. If Xaverian can pull the upset, they’ll finish the week with 14.5 points, putting them in sole possession of the top seed in D1 South…regardless of whether or not Catholic Memorial beats St. John’s of Shrewsbury on Friday.

Division 2 South
1. Braintree (1-0), 13 points
T-2. Natick (1-0), 12 points
T-2. Taunton (1-0), 12 points
4. King Philip (2-0), 11 points
5. Mansfield (2-0), 10.5 points
6. Duxbury (1-1), 6.5 points
7. Quincy (1-1), 5.5 points
T-8. Barnstable (0-1), 1 point
T-8. Durfee (0-1), 1 point
T-8. Needham (0-1), 1 point
T-8. Wellesley (0-1), 1 point

Analysis: King Philip and Mansfield both have byes this week, with KP set to take on Taunton one week from Friday and Mansfield on the same night versus North Attleboro. Braintree holds the top spot in Division 2 South after a 17-16 win over Quincy, while Natick should see quite a challenge when an upset-minded Acton-Boxboro team comes to town on Friday night.

Division 3 Southeast
1. Plymouth South (1-0), 12 points
T-2. Dartmouth (1-0), 11 points
T-2. Falmouth (1-0), 11 points
4. Plymouth North (2-0), 10.5 points
5. Nauset (1-0), 10 points
6. Silver Lake (1-1), 6.5 points
7. Dighton-Rehoboth (1-1), 5 points
8. Whitman-Hanson (0-2), 1.5 points

Analysis: Beating Division 2 Marshfield gives Plymouth South the edge over Dartmouth and Falmouth, at least for now. Dartmouth will face quite a challenge on Friday, when they go on the road to take on Attleboro, the No. 24 team in our top 25 poll. Plymouth South plays Sandwich at home on Friday, and Nauset will travel to Falmouth with a chance to move up in the Division 3 Southeast standings.

Division 3 Southwest
1. North Attleboro (1-0), 15 points
2. Oliver Ames (1-0), 13 points
3. Walpole (1-0), 11 points
T-4. Hopkinton (1-0), 10 points
T-4. Stoughton (1-0), 10 points
6. Medfield (1-0), 8 points
7. Hingham (1-1), 5.5 points
T-8. Milton (0-1), 2 points
T-8. North Quincy (0-2), 2 points
T-8. Norwood (0-1) 2 points

Analysis: North Attleboro had the week off last week after knocking off BC High the week before. With BC High’s win over Andover, NA now has 15 points early on—good for first in Division 3 Southwest. This week, they’ll head to Bishop Feehan, a squad who took a 35-3 beating from Attleboro last week. Keep an eye out for Walpole to potentially hold strong in the rankings next week, they’ll face a talented Needham squad on Friday night.

Division 4 South
1. Norton (1-0), 13 points
2. Apponequet (2-0), 11.5 points
3. Holliston (2-0), 10 points
4. Hanover (1-1), 8 points
T-5. Dennis-Yarmouth (1-1), 7 points
T-5. Westwood (1-1), 7 points
T-7. Scituate (1-1), 6.5 points
T-7. Foxborough (1-1), 6.5 points

Analysis: After a close 28-27 win over Scituate, Norton now has the top seed in Division 4 South, with Apponequet and Holliston quickly approaching. Apponequet has outscored opponents 74-0 in their first two games, and will look to continue their stellar defensive performance against Case on Friday. Holliston has been similarly dominant, outscoring their first two opponents 83-6, but they have a tough slate on the horizon in the next three weeks: Milford, Hopkinton, and Westwood.

Division 5 South
T-1. Dover-Sherborn (1-0), 15 points
T-1. Rockland (1-0), 15 points
3. Archbishop Williams (1-0), 12 points
4. Old Rochester (2-0), 11.5 points
5. East Bridgewater (1-0), 11 points
6. Cardinal Spellman (1-0), 10 points
7. Ashland (1-0), 8 points
8. Greater New Bedford (1-1), 7 points

Analysis: Dover-Sherborn and Rockland were the big winners in Division 5 South last week, with D-S beating Division 4 Weston and Rockland beating Division 4 Hanover. Weston and Hanover are both 1-1, so D-S and Rockland hold a 15-all tie at the top of the point standings going into Week 3. Dover-Sherborn will take on Hull at home this Friday, Rockland will play Cohasset at Noon on Saturday.

Division 6 South
1. Cohasset (1-0), 15 points
T-2. Blue Hills (1-0), 13 points
T-2. Diman (1-0), 13 points
T-2. West Bridgewater (1-0), 13 points
5. Bishop Connolly (1-0), 12 points
T-6. Pope John Paul II (2-0), 10 points
T-6. Bistol-Plymouth (1-0), 10 points
T-6. Hull (1-0), 10 points
T-6. Monomoy (1-0), 10 points

Analysis: There is a lot of parity in Division 6 South thus far, so the standings will certainly be clearer after this weekend’s slate of games. For now though, Cohasset holds on to first place in the point standings, with a chance to keep their number-one spot and 15-point total if they can pick up a win over Division 5 Rockland on Saturday. Blue Hills, Diman, and West Bridgewater will all be in pursuit, though; West Bridgewater can distance themselves this weekend with a win over Bishop Connolly, while Blue Hills and Diman will play Upper Cape and South Shore Voke, respectively, on Saturday.

The 2013 season is going to be a big one for the Dexter School — on a number of levels.

Casey Day's team is anchored by seniors James Hendren and Dan DiNicola, two of the best offensive linemen in New England. Both have already verbally committed to Division I colleges: Hendren is heading to Boston College, while DiNicola plans on attending the University of Massachusetts.

Dexter's big boys have had a busy 12 months. Between school and the grueling recruiting process, Hendren and DiNicola have spent hours honing their skills against each other. Both athletes are 6-foot-7 and nearly 300 pounds, so in order to get better, they have to pick on someone their own size.

“Both guys have come into the season in tremendous shape,” Day said, adding that Hendren is down to 280 pounds after tipping the scales at 310 last year. “Both of them really work well with each other in different situations. They work together, one-on-one, on different skills and fundamentals. It's paid off, and both have really improved.”

Hendren and DiNicola will buy time for Dexter's stable of speedy skill players, who are getting more accustomed to Day's spread offense, which is now in year two of its implementation.

“We'll line up in different personnel packages, but we're pretty much in a full-blown spread attack,” Day said. “We will come out in a traditional spread with one back, or we'll line up in the Pistol package with two backs and a tight end. We feel like it's the best approach for our skill guys.”

Dexter's spread is specifically designed for starting quarterback Luke Cuneo. At 5-foot-7, Cuneo looks tiny behind his towering tackles, but his diminutive size hasn't held him back. A three-time captain, Cuneo had more than 1,500 total yards and 20 touchdowns last year. While he has good speed, Cuneo also has a “real live arm,” which he has honed as a varsity baseball player.

“He's another kid who has made huge improvements over the years,” Day said. “Considering his size, he takes people by surprise when they see him throw the ball. He can really air the ball out pretty well.”

Cuneo's main target is C.J. Okafor, a speedy receiver who has drawn interest from the University of New Hampshire and Monmouth University. He had 600 receiving yards and eight touchdowns last year for Dexter – including three game-winning catches.

“He kind of has a knack for making the big plays in the big situations. He's got explosive speed and great ball skills. We're going to need him to get down the field for us and stretch the field,” Day said. “He's been just tremendous for us.”

Day is also looking forward to watching Colin O'Brien, a senior transfer from Milton High School. O'Brien doesn't have a defined position, but it Day thinks he can cause damage as a receiver or on the ground.

Defensively, Dexter's base is a 3-3 stack, but Day indicated that his team will jump into a 4-3 on passing downs. The defense, much like Dexter's offense, is based on the play of DiNicola and Hendren in the trenches. Day said he likes to “move them around a little bit” based on the opposing offense and will play them either inside or outside to cause mismatches.

“College-wise, they're offensive linemen, but in high school, at this level, they are really good defensive linemen,” Day said.

Day, who is in his fourth year with Dexter, knows the 2013 campaign is particularly important. Large portions of his 16-member senior class have been starting since they were freshman and have gone through a trial-by-fire growing process.

“We've been on the verge, but we just haven't been able to get over the top,” Day said. “This is the biggest senior class in school history, and they're a tight group of kids. We also got a few seniors who haven't been around to come out, and that should give us some added depth.”

THE DEXTER SCHOOL AT A GLANCE
Coach: Casey Day (4th season, 10-14)
Last season: 4-4
Returning Starters: 19
Key Returnees: Sr. OL/DL James Hendren, Sr. OL/DL Dan DiNicola, Sr. QB Luke Cuneo, Sr. CB/WR C.J. Okafor, Sr. ATH Colin O'Brien.
Strengths: Senior leadership, veteran playmakers, offensive/defensive line.
Weaknesses: Depth on offensive/defensive line.
Overview: Division I linemen don't come around very often at schools with less than 500 boys. So, it's quite the anomaly for the Dexter School to have two FBS-level tackles. Both Hendren and DiNicola have greatly improved during the past two years and will be asked to carry Dexter to what could be its best season, ever. The big fellas' aren't alone – Dexter has 19 returning starters and bring in a big-time transfer in Colin O'Brien, a kid who Day sees as a FCS-level talent. Okafor is still fighting for a verbal offer and will look to turn some heads during his final year. Pair that with do-everything Luke Cuneo, and Dexter should have no problem putting points on the board. Day's defense will be stout up front, and he will need a linebacker to step up to solidify the middle of the field. Okafor, a spectacular receiver, can also make opposing offenses pay from the cornerback spot. 2013 should be Dexter's year to jump above the .500 mark. It won't be an easy ride, but with nearly 600 pounds of Division I linemen in the trenches, Dexter won't be pushed around.