Here we go, another season of the Sweet 16.
In some years, there is always some sleepless nights hemming and hawing over who belongs at the top spot. They may not end there but, in our humble opinion, the team which belongs atop our poll is the defending Div. 1 state champion Xaverian. Like everyone, the Hawks have some holes to fill due to graduation, but the cupboard is hardly bare on Clapboardtree Street.
The road to a Catholic Conference title might be more difficult than a state title as St. John’s Prep and Catholic Memorial are legitimate top-five programs and BC High is going to close the gap very shortly under new coach Paul Zukauskas.
Marshfield opened some eyes with an impressive postseason win over Catholic Memorial and has to be considered one of the favorites in Div. 2 along with defending champion King Philip.
SWEET 16
1. XAVERIAN (10-2): The defending Div. 1 state champions will lean on a good defense in the early going, especially with standouts Micah Amedee and transfer Dominic Funke leading the way in the trenches. Luke Bell, Ethan Jean and Vincent Busa will be the linebackers, while David Chiavegato, Jayce Devine and Christian McIntyre are the leaders in the secondary. Talented sophomore Will Wood takes over at quarterback, while Busa and Devine are expected to step in at running back. Chiavegato and McIntyre will be the wideouts, while Brendan Berube is expected to anchor a young offensive line.
2. CATHOLIC MEMORIAL (8-3): For the first time in three years, the Knights will not enter the season defending a state title. There is plenty of returning talent looking for vengeance starting with star running Mekhi Dodd who went down with a season-ending knee injury in the second game a year ago. Transfer Kise Flannery takes over at quarterback and will throw to a deep stable of receivers led by Caleb Garrity, Isaiah Faublas, Gavin Brown and Isaiah Simmons. The line is solid with JD Rayner and Mac Fitzgerald leading the way. Linebackers David Timson and Carson Eutsay and defensive backs Chris Sanchez and Jaiden Johnson are solid.
3. ST. JOHN’S PREP (11-2): Eagles return quality players on both sides of the ball. Defensively, St. John’s Prep will be led by linemen Alex Bajoras and Josh Haarman, linebackers Jackson Tucker and Nick Schibli and cornerback Owen White. Graham Roberts and Jack DiFilippo are back on the offensive line as well as tight end Will Kent and wide receiver Merrick Barlow. Deacon Robillard has plenty of experience at quarterback with talented freshman Christopher Vargas waiting in the wings.
4. MARSHFIELD (9-4): Rams were the talk of the postseason as they knocked off two-time defending Div. 2 state champion Catholic Memorial en route to the state finals. Quarterback Tor Maas and running back Davin True return as part of a high-powered offense, while wide receiver Jake Brilliant was … well, brilliant down the stretch. The line should be anchored by guard Tommy Bongiolatti, while the top returnees on defense as end Jake Ekstrom, linebacker Alex Molander and back Will Devine.
5. KING PHILIP (13-0): Div. 2 state champions enter the season with a state-best 13-game unbeaten streak. The backfield will be solid as Andrew Laplante, Aiden Astorino and Tallan King are back along with tackle Drew Herlin and tight end Luke Gunning. The secondary returns Hayden Schmitz, Brandon Nicastro, Thomas Kilroy and Laplante along with linebacker Astorino, King and William Bubluski.
6. NEEDHAM (10-2): Fresh off a Div. 1 state semifinal appearance, the Rockets are looking for more with an experienced roster. The defense was good last year and should be just as good this year as defensive end Will McDonald (Army), linebackers Aidan Williams (Lehigh) and Ben Schreiber and defensive back Joe Kajunski return. Holy Cross commit Charlie Simeone anchors the offensive line and quarterback Griffin Carr and wide receiver Brandt Bickford are returning starters.
7. ANDOVER (10-2): E.J. Perry’s retirement was shortlived as the longtime Andover coach reversed field and came back to the sidelines. He will like what he sees as quarterback Dom Papa, running back/defensive back Connor Acheson and tackle/linebacker Will Dever lead a solid group of returnees. The secondary should be solid as Adam Segal, James Flagg, Colin Gilbert, Nate Bernardin and Nick Ilsley all started at some point last year. Marcus DeJesus will see action at running back and wide receiver, while J.C. Aquino returns on the defensive line.
8. METHUEN (8-3): The Rangers should have one of the better ground games around as All-Scholastic Shane Eason and Josh Kwayke return in the backfield along with standout Adrian Blake. Aiden Marino and Josh Najeeullah lead a deep offensive line, while the defense should be keyed by linebacker Vinny Demaio and lineman Jayvien Castillo Vasquez.
9. BILLERICA (9-2): Senior-laden club should be one of the favorites in Div. 3 as quarterback Steven Gentile, running back Judd Dorival, wide receivers Matt Gray and Gryffin Bordeau are back along with linemen Dan Moore and Nick Cabral. Gentile and Cabral are linebackers, Dorival and Boreau are back in the secondary with Moore on the line.
10. DUXBURY (11-1): Dragons closed the season with flourish, peaking at the right time on their way to a Div. 4 state title. Standout quarterback Trevor Jones is back along with running back/linebacker Jack Rees, linebacker Joe Barberia and offensive lineman James Scanlon.
11. FOXBORO (12-1): Div. 5 state champions should be in hunt for another title as longtime coaching icon Jack Martinelli welcomes a solid group of returnees. Running back Ben Angelini, split end Nolan Gordon and quarterback Mike Marcucella are back along with two-way linemen Matt O’Keefe and Jonathan Balde.
12. SCITUATE (9-4): Sailors have plenty back from a team that lost in the Div. 4 state championship game. Star wide receiver Lawson Foley is back along with running back Willy Robinson, tight end Roman Glowac and wideout Joe Burke. Other top guys back for the Patriot League mainstay include LB/OG Wyllys Ames, OT/DE Charlie Murphy, OL/DL Shea Tinkham, OG/DE Sean Coyne, T Chris Capparella, DL Amari Mendes, LB Ronan Manning and Bronson Bossey and defensive back Grayson Foley.
13. MILFORD (10-2): Defense should be strong early as linebackers Andrew Rivera, Danny Carvalho and Anthony Maitta are back along with defensive end Thomas Sousa. Quarterback Jack Buckley returns as well as tackle Ryan Burns and wide receiver Jason Stokes.
14. MILTON (9-4): The Wildcats finally won a Div. 3 state title. Patrick Collins takes over at quarterback and he will have standout wide receiver Ronan Sammon along with fellow wideout Harrison Hinckle. Other returnees include defensive lineman Abram Rojas, linebacker Ben Parmele and cornerback Terren Bly.
15. NORTH ATTLEBORO (5-6): Yet another solid team out of the Hockomock League, the Red Rocketeers have plenty of players back. Four-year starter Chase Frisoli returns at quarterback along with linebacker Ryan Bannon, two-way lineman Patrick Hamilton, wide receiver/defensive back Bryce Kiser, running back/linebacker Brady Paradis and free safety Lucas Crovo. A pair of transfers, two-way lineman Reid Clemente and kicker Austin Clemente, will help right away.
16. BC HIGH (6-5): Former BC High star Paul Zukauskas returns to his alma mater and looks to make inroads in the Catholic Conference. He will rely on quarterback Carter Carroll, running backs Brendan Ryan and Michael Smith, two-way lineman Eli Alcorn-Crowder, wide receiver Conrad Babka and linebackers Tommy O’Donnell and Jackson Richard.