Semifinal Line-up Set For High School Football Teams

The first week of the MIAA playoffs is in the books with all 16 No. 1 seeds winning for the fifth straight year. And welcome to the party all you Central and Western Mass football teams. The state-wide playoff system is officially state-wide with the announcement of pairings for those football teams Sunday.

But inside 495, and really above the Pike, the North Sectional is our focus heading into next weekend's semifinals. Here's a quick look at the North lineup:

Division 1: Methuen (6-2) vs. Central Catholic (8-0) at Lawrence Stadium; Everett (7-0) at Lexington (8-0). Both games are Friday at 7 p.m. Quick take: Every football fan in the state has been looking forward to the Everett-Lexington showdown. Can the Crimson Tide slow Lexington's dynamic duo of quarterback Sal Frelick and running back Ben Quint? Methuen lost to Central Catholic, 47-30, in September will look to reverse that score behind Jordan Perdomo, the leading scorer in Division 1.

Division 2: Masconomet (6-2) at Lincoln-Sudbury (8-0); Chelmsford (4-4) at North Andover (7-1). Both games are Friday at 7 p.m. Quick take: The North Andover-Chelmsford game pits teams that played literally just a few days ago with NA beating the Lions, 35-20, on Oct. 20. The L-S line continues to dominate opponents. Just ask Reading, which fell to the Warriors, 35-0.

Division 3: Billerica (5-3) at Lynn English (8-0), Fri.; Danvers (6-2) at Tewksbury (7-1), Sat., 2 p.m. Quick take: Lynn English's Matt Severance to Prince Brown combination will challenge Billerica's secondary. Danvers was impressive in beating a Classical team that the Falcons had lost to earlier in the month.

Division 4: North Reading (6-2) at Melrose (8-0); Wilmington (7-1) at Marblehead (8-0). Both games are Friday at 7 p.m. Quick take: Hornets won the best game of the opening weekend on 17-yard field goal by Alex D'Ambrosio. Wilmington's only loss this fall was to Melrose.

Division 5: Newburyport (4-3) at Lynnfield (7-1); Watertown (4-4) at Somerville (6-2). Both games are Friday at 7 p.m. Quick take: Pioneers opened season with a 32-0 win over Newburyport. After finishing with three straight loses, Watertown pulled off the biggest upset of the playoffs with win over Swampscott.

Division 6: Arlington Catholic (5-3) at Hamilton-Wenham (8-0), Sat., 2 p.m.; Shawsheen (6-2) at Stoneham (6-2), Fri., 6:30 p.m. Quick take: Shawsheen started the season with loses to Wilmington and Arlington Catholic and has now won six straight. AC has losses to Watertown, St. Mary's, and Archbishop Williams.

Division 7: Greater Lawrence (5-3) at St. Mary's (8-0); Latin Academy (5-3) at Brighton (5-3). Both games are Friday with times TBA. Quick take: St. Mary's has scored 40 or more points in six of its eight wins. LA beat Brighton, 19-18, on Oct. 13.

Division 8: New Mission (5-3) at Lynn Tech (8-0) Sat.; Cathedral at Tech Boston Academy (4-4), Fri., 7 p.m. Quick take: Cathedral is 2-0 against city teams this fall with wins over Brighton and Latin Academy. Lynn Tech is one of three undefeated Lynn teams still in tournament.

Photo by Bob Holmes