With only a handful of football games scheduled between today and Thanksgiving, there’s no better time than now to look at the many potential --- and confirmed --- playoff matchups around the state.
With Eastern Massachusetts abiding by different rules and formats than Central and Western Mass., this is as complete as possible. Please keep in mind that many playoff berths are still up for grabs when Turkey Day comes around. Heck, some may still be left to a coin toss after Thanksgiving.
This week, Coaches Aid is looking at the many confirmed and possible playoff matchups around the state. Be sure to see our breakdown of Eastern Massachusetts Div. I-IIA. Today, we'll highlight Eastern Mass. Div. III-IVA:
DIVISION III
Marblehead/Swampscott vs. Rockland
Rockland won the Patriot Fisher with a perfect 5-0 record and awaits the Thanksgiving Day rivalry game between Marblehead and Swampscott to find out its opponent.
Rockland clinched the league championship and its playoff spot last week with a 14-7 win over Hanover.
Rockland’s four losses this season came out of league and against top-notch opponents as it lost to Falmouth, Whitman-Hanson, Abington and Hingham --- all .500 teams in higher divisions.
Marblehead and Swampscott enter their Thanksgiving Day contest with identical 3-1 records within Northeastern Conference Small play. Both teams had a chance to jump in the driver’s seat with a Week 10 win, but Swampscott fell to Beverly and Marblehead lost to Winthrop.
Bishop Feehan vs. Dighton-Rehoboth
Bishop Feehan clinched the Eastern Athletic Conference’s playoff berth Monday with a 25-24 win over Somerset. The Shamrocks have been at or near the top of the Coaches Aid Eastern Mass. Division III poll all season.
Feehan will take on South Coast Conference champion Dighton-Rehoboth, which rolled through league play with a perfect 7-0 record to this point. The Falcons will face Seekonk on Thanksgiving but the result is irrelevant.
Feehan was a perfect 4-0 in EAC play and enjoyed quality non-league wins over Foxboro, Attleboro and Durfee. The Shamrocks close the regular season with a Thanksgiving Day tilt with Sandwich.
Led by quarterback Tommy Romero, the Feehan offense has performed well this year, but the defense has been the catalyst. The Shamrocks’ defensive unit has allowed over 20 points just once and 14 points twice this season. In Feehan’s seven wins this season, the unit allowed more than 20 points just once and failed to hold its opponent to seven points or less just once. Needless to say, defense will be the key if Bishop Feehan is going to have success against D-R.
The Falcons are paced by the high-flying duo of quarterback Brett Croteau and wide receiver Brian Espinosa. Espinosa has 11 touchdowns on the season while Croteau has tossed for 15. Tyler Berry has nine TDs this year.
Look for a classic high-flying offense vs. solid defense in this Division III playoff game.
DIVISION IIIA
Lynnfield vs. Arlington Catholic/Austin Prep
Lynnfield rolled through Cape Ann Small play and awaits the winner of the Catholic Central’s Large division.
Arlington Catholic has the best shot to win the league title and playoff berth but Austin Prep is still in the hunt. The two met last week and Austin Prep did what it needed to do in order to remain in the picture, defeating the Cougars, 20-14.
Arlington Catholic wrapped up its league schedule at 4-1 but Austin Prep still has a league game left --- a Thanksgiving Day matchup with Bishop Fenwick. If Austin Prep wins, it will force a tie atop the league, which AP would win with the head-to-head advantage over Arlington Catholic. A loss would give Austin Prep two league losses and the title and playoff berth would be awarded to Arlington Catholic.
Lynnfield’s lone loss this year came to Wilmington, a formidable Division IIA foe. The Pioneers rolled through CAL Small play and posted impressive wins over Danvers and Triton.
Quarterback Gino Cohee has been the key that makes the Pioneers’ offense turn. Cohee has six touchdown passes and has accounted for 15 on the year.
Cohasset vs. Holliston/Medway/Westwood
Unofficially, Cohasset clinched the South Shore League title and playoff berth when it shutout Abington two weeks ago. It wasn’t until a Week 10 win over Norwell, though, the 9-0 Cohasset officially secured the top spot.
Cohasset awaits the winner of the Tri-Valley logjam in the Division IIIA playoffs.
In the Tri-Valley, everything hinges on the Thanksgiving Day matchup between undefeated Holliston and one-loss Westwood. If Holliston can remain perfect, it would win the league outright and head to the playoffs. A Westwood win, though --- and a Medway win over Millis --- would create a three-way tie for the top spot, which would be decided by first-half points allowed in games against the other first-place contenders.
It’s worth noting that while Medway defeated Westwood, the Mustangs trailed 7-0 at the half in that game. In its mid-season win over Medway, Holliston led 21-14 at the half. If a the regular season does end in a three-way tie, Westwood would likely be the favorite as it hasn’t allowed a first-half point against the two other teams.
DIVISION IV
Boston North: East Boston
Commonwealth Large: Whittier
Mayflower Large: Bristol Plymouth
With just three teams playing at the Division IV level this season, it was announced earlier this season that one team would receive a bye and head straight to the Super Bowl. After finishing the season with the best record among the playoff teams, 10-0 Whittier was awarded the bye.
That means Boston North winner East Boston will battle Mayflower Large winner Bristol-Plymouth for the right to play in the Div. IV Super Bowl.
East Boston ran the table in Boston North play and enters its Thanksgiving Day bout with South Boston with an 8-1 overall record. Bristol-Plymouth was also perfect in league play, going 5-0, and has gone 7-2, entering its Turkey Day tilt with Blue Hills.
DIVISION IVA
Pope John/Lowell Catholic vs. Northeast/Chelsea
Pope John and Lowell Catholic battle on Thanksgiving Day for the Catholic Central Small championship and playoff berth. Northeast could clinch with a pre-Thanksgiving Day win over North Shore Tech. If North Shore can beat Northeast, though, it would force a three-way tie at the top with Northeast, North Shore and Chelsea.
Brighton/Latin Academy/O’Bryant vs. Tri-County/West Bridgewater
Tri-County can clinch the Mayflower Small this weekend with a win over Old Colony and Latin Academy can take the Boston South berth with a win over O’Bryant. Brighton gets in if Latin Academy loses.
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