Copyright The Boston Herald
It is officially time for the MIAA football playoffs. Some schools were able to pull off heroic performances down the stretch to reach the postseason. Others saw their hopes of a possible trip to Gillette fade. At this stage, every down counts. It also gets more difficult to handicap games, as the competition grows more fierce with each passing week. With the Round of 16 set to commence this weekend, it’s time to pick winners from some of the top matchups on the docket. Xaverian vs. Brockton The No. 14 Boxers (3-5) made a miraculous run to cap the regular season, rattling off three straight wins while out-scoring their opposition at an 83-6 clip to clinch a Div. 1 playoff berth. That said, their opponent will be the Hawks (6-2) in the first round. With Brockton star Jarred Mighty out (elbow injury), an upset feels highly unlikely here. Expect a big game from Will Wood and his teammates. Connelly’s pick: Xaverian Murray’s pick: Xaverian Billerica vs. Beverly A very intriguing Div. 2 matchup, as both schools enter with 5-3 records. The sixth-seeded Indians are coming off an impressive 34-32 victory in Week 9 against Methuen. Meanwhile, the 11th-ranked Panthers took care of business during a 22-0 shutout of Peabody on Oct. 30. This one could come down to the wire, possibly the final possession. Connelly’s pick: Billerica Murray’s pick: Beverly Methuen vs. Lowell It’s fitting that these Merrimack Valley Conference rivals will get the chance to compete in the Div. 1 postseason. Both programs have had outstanding campaigns, with No. 10 Lowell rolling to a 7-1 record. However, No. 7 Methuen (6-2) has had a knack for toppling state heavyweights, with impressive victories against Andover (35-29 on Oct. 3) and Central Catholic (30-20 on Oct. 10). Connelly’s pick: Methuen Murray’s pick: Methuen Marshfield vs. Malden Catholic For the past few years, Marshfield has been a team to watch in Div. 2. This includes a 2023 upset of Catholic Memorial. After dropping to Div. 3 this year, the fifth-seeded Rams (6-2) have had a roller coaster campaign, and will now be tasked with a seasoned Catholic Conference foe as Jonathan Bloise and No. 12 Malden Catholic (3-5) visit town. Connelly’s pick: Marshfield Murray’s pick: Marshfield Walpole vs. Bedford After opening its schedule with three heavyweights (King Philip, Foxboro, Natick), Walpole started off 0-3. However, the ninth-ranked Timberwolves enter the Div. 4 tournament hot, winning four of their previous five games. No. 8 Bedford (6-2) has proven itself in the tough games (such as a 21-13 victory over Dual County League rival Lincoln-Sudbury). The Bucs have also shown an ability to erupt in others (68-40 win over Wayland). Connelly’s pick: Bedford Murray’s pick: Walpole Archbishop Williams vs. Swampscott All season, quarterback Hudson Garrity has been the talk of the town. The young phenom has propelled Archbishop Williams (8-0) to a perfect start, but now it’s time to prove things in the Div. 5 playoffs. Swampscott might be underseeded, sitting at No. 11 overall at 6-2. The Big Blue went 4-0 in Northeastern Conference play, with an upset of one of the state’s best in Gloucester (28-22) included. Connelly’s pick: Archbishop Williams Murray’s pick: Archbishop Williams St. Mary’s vs. Greater Lawrence Following a topsy-turvy start to the fall, St. Mary’s (5-3) appears to have found its footing. The eighth-seeded Spartans enter the Div. 5 playoffs on a three-game winning streak and are healthy for the most part after dealing with injuries early in the season. However, No. 9 Greater Lawrence (6-2) has averaged 37.75 points per game and is one of the strongest schools offensively in the state. Connelly’s pick: Greater Lawrence Murray’s pick: St. Mary’s Records Connelly’s week: 8-1 Murray’s week: 6-3 Connelly’s season: 61-27 Murray’s season: 60-28 Combined: 121-55
