HOW THEY BREAK DOWN
DIVISION 1 NORTH
Acton-Boxboro
Andover
Central Catholic
Everett
Haverhill
Lawrence
Lexington
Lowell
Malden
Methuen
St. John’s Prep
DIVISION 1 SOUTH
Attleboro
BC High
Brockton
Brookline
Catholic Memorial
Framingham
Franklin
Needham
Newton North
Taunton
Weymouth
Xaverian
DIVISION 2 NORTH
Cambridge
Chelmsford
Lincoln-Sudbury
Masconomet
Medford
Newton South
North Andover
Peabody
Reading
Waltham
Westford Academy
Woburn
DIVISION 2 SOUTH
Barnstable
Braintree
Bridgewater-Raynham
Durfee
King Philip
Mansfield
Marshfield
Natick
New Bedford
Quincy
Wellesley
DIVISION 1-2 OVERVIEW
Division 1 North is top-heavy with four teams who would be capable of winning a state championship if one were in place.
Central Catholic has a solid group of returning players led by quarterback Ayden Pereira, defensive end Jermaine Wiggins and talented sophomore transfer linebacker Preston Zinter. Andover will be Central Catholic’s prime competitor in the Merrimack Valley Conference as quarterback Scotty Brown and linemen A.J. Heidtke, Charlie Baillargeon and Parker Rankin headline a group of 13 returning starters.
Two-time Div. 1 state champion St. John’s Prep will look to defensive end Collin Taylor, running back James Guy, lineman Nick Barrett, linebacker Grady McGowan and wide receiver Jackson Delaney.
Rob DiLoreto takes over at Everett and he has a slew of talented players at his disposal led by wide receivers Ismael Zamor and Tyrese Baptiste, defensive end Josaiah Stewart and defensive back Samy Lamothe.
Div. 1 South could be billed the Catholic Conference Invitational as three teams from the league figure to be among the best around.
Two-time Div. 1 state finalist Catholic Memorial clearly returns the most talent on paper led by linebacker Owen McGowan, defensive back Zach Mitchell, lineman Quincy Plumer and tight end Quincy Eutsay to go along with an ultra-talented sophomore class.
BC High might be the second-biggest team in the state behind the New England Patriots. The Eagles have a trio of linemen checking in at 260 pounds or more, led by Erik Russell and Zach Richardson, making life easier for quarterback Bobby Wiesenhahn. Linebacker Ryan Carney keys a veteran defense.
Xaverian took its lumps last year, but the Hawks appear primed to exact some revenge. Quarterback Michael Berluti returns as does standout lineman Noah Eldridge, tight end Noah Canty and the Garland twins (Connor and Thomas).
Brockton has quarterback Devonte Medley, wide receiver Nayvon Reid and lineman Naziah Armour back. Attleboro, Framingham and Franklin are expecting to have solid seasons.
Defending Div. 2 state champion Mansfield will rely on standout linemen T.J. Guy and Jake McCoy to go along with running backs Cincere Gill and Anthony Comer. Hockomock League rival King Philip should be solid once again as lineman Pat Zarba, linebacker Mike Malatesta, running back Crawford Cantave, tight end Drew Danson and defensive back Nick Viscusi are back.
Natick could be the top team in the Bay State Conference once again as quarterback Will Lederman, running back Jalyn Aponte and linebacker Jake Dunlap are back. Legendary coach Dan Buron is back for one final run at Bridgewater-Raynham and he will lean on players such as running back Anthony Morrison and linebackers Corey Abelard and Luke Dayton for starters.
Lincoln-Sudbury captured the Div. 2 North title and returns several key players led by wide receiver Jesse McCullough, quarterback Collin Murphy, defensive back Riley O’Connell, linebacker George Gozdeck and lineman Will Ohler.
Reading features star quarterback James Murphy, running back Dan DiMare and an experienced line led by Dom DeCrescenzo, Dan O’Connor and Shaun Bekkenhuis. North Andover will look to quarterback Will Schimmoeller, tight end Max Wolfgang and linebacker Steven Ferullo.
DANDY DOZEN FOR DIVISION 1-2
Alex Berrouet, Sr., RB, 6-0, 210, Acton-Boxboro: The premier back in the Dual County League, Berrouet will be playing for Colorado State in the fall of 2021.
Noah Eldridge, Sr., OT, 6-5, 270, Xaverian: Fordham-bound tackle is expected to anchor a much-improved offensive line.
T.J. Guy, Sr., DE/TE, 6-4, 245, Mansfield: A two-way force, the future Michigan Wolverine is worth the price of admission.
Owen McGowan, Sr., LB, 6-1, 225, Catholic Memorial: The Boston College recruit has a nose for the ball.
James Murphy, So. QB, 6-4, 195, Reading: Murphy threw for more than 2,000 yards as a freshman.
Ayden Pereira, Jr., QB, 6-0, 160, Central Catholic: Pereira blossomed in his first year as a starter, getting some serious Div. 1 looks.
Erik Russell, Sr., OL, 6-7, 267, BC High: A force in the trenches, Russell is headed to Wake Forest in the fall.
Josaiah Stewart, Sr., DE, 6-1, 260, Everett: A returning All-Scholastic, Stewart’s impressive skills earned him a scholarship to Coastal Carolina.
Michael Strachan, Sr., LB, 6-2, 220, Attleboro: The future Rhode Island Ram will be one of the top defensive players in the Hockomock League this spring.
Collin Taylor, Sr., DE, 6-5, 220, St. John’s Prep: A key to back-to-back championship teams, Taylor will be playing at Princeton in the fall.
Jermaine Wiggins, Sr., DE/TE, 6-4, 250, Central Catholic: The son of former Patriot Jermaine Wiggins is earning his own praise for his play on both sides of the ball.
Ismael Zamor, Jr., WR, 6-1, 175, Everett: An explosive open-field talent, the junior has already given a verbal commitment to Boston College.
OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH IN DIVISION 1-2
Corey Abelard, Sr., LB, 5-9, 195, Bridgewater-Raynham; Jalyn Aponte, Sr., RB, 5-10, 195, Natick; Nate Arieta, Sr., TE, 6-4, 230, Taunton; Naziah Armour, Sr., OL, 6-1, 255, Brockton; Shawn Ashe, Sr., DL, 6-4, 265, Framingham; Dante Atwood, Sr., WR, 6-1, 175, Newton North; Brett Baker, Sr., QB, 5-10, 165, Chelmsford; Charlie Baillareon, Sr., OT, 6-3, 220, Andover; Tyrese Baptiste, Sr., WR, 5-10, 175, Everett; Akye Boston, Sr., RB, 5-10, 160, Framingham; Andrew Barrett, Sr., WR, 6-7, 200, Needham; Nick Barrett, Sr., OL, 5-9, 265, St. John’s Prep; Shawn Bartholomew, Jr., QB, 6-0, 165, Malden; Shaun Bekkenhuis, Sr., DE, 6-3, 230, Reading; Michael Berluti, Sr., QB, 6-0, 155, Xaverian; Gregory Blackwell, Sr., LB, 5-7, 165, Medford; Maxwell Bourque, Jr., OT, Haverhill; Scotty Brown, So., QB, 5-9, 150, Andover; Sean Brown, Sr., LB, 5-8, 155, Westford Academy; Bruce Burba, Sr., TE, 5-11, 195, Newton North; Wedner Cadet, Sr., DB, 6-0, 165, Wellesley; Crawford Cantave, Jr., RB, 6-0, 190, King Philip; Noah Canty, Sr., TE, 6-2, 215, Xaverian; Ryan Carney, Sr., LB, 6-3, 240, BC High; Ashur Carraha, Sr., QB, 5-11, 185, Cambridge; Nicholas Oliviera Chace, Sr., DE, 6-4, 236, Cambridge; Parker Cheuvront, Sr., PK, 5-10, 195, Franklin; Dante Christie, Jr., WR, Cambridge; Mark Ciccarelli, Sr., WR, 5-10, 165, Central Catholic; Chris Claflin, Sr., WR, 5-10, 145, Newton North; J.C. Clerveaux, Jr., RB, 5-11, 220, Everett; Cody Coleman, Jr., QB, 5-9, 170, Framingham; Anthony Comer, Sr., RB, 5-10, 170, Mansfield; Pat Crogan, Jr., DB, 5-10, 170, Lexington; Bryan Cruz, Sr., DB, 5-11, 175, Durfee; Deion DaGraca, Sr., OG, 5-10, 235, Medford; Drew Danson, Jr., TE, 6-3, 225, King Philip; Luke Dayton, Sr., LB, 5-10, 170, Bridgewater-Raynham; Dom DeCrescenzo, Sr., OL, 6-2, 255, Reading; Jackson Delaney, Jr., WR, 6-1, 185, St. John’s Prep; Jack Desmond, Sr., OL, 6-0, 260, Weymouth; Dan DiMare, Sr., RB, 6-2, 190, Reading; James Dolan, Sr., DB, 5-7, 165, Wellesley; Brenden Dowling, Sr., OL, 6-3, 270, Barnstable; George Dristaliaris, Sr., DE, 6-3, 230, Lowell; Jake Dunlap, Sr., LB, 6-3, 195, Natick; Quincy Eutsay, Sr., TE, 6-2, 215, Catholic Memorial; Teddy Fellows, Sr., OL, 6-2, 300, Masconomet; Steven Ferullo, Sr., DE, 6-1, 195, North Andover; Aidan Finn, Sr., QB, 5-10, 185, Lowell; Finn Foley, Sr., TE, 6-4, 220, Brookline; George Fredericks, Sr., CB, 5-11, 170, Chelmsford; Tommy Fullbrook, Sr., CB, 5-10, 165, Needhm; Adonis Garcia, So., WR, 6-1, 182, Lawrence; Connor Garland, Sr., CB, 5-11, 180, Xaverian; Thomas Garland, Sr., LB, 6-0, 185, Xaverian; Syeed Gibbs, Jr., WR, 5-11, 165, Everett; Cincere Gill, Sr., RB, 6-0, 175, Mansfield; Erek Gomez, Sr., DT, 6-0, 272, Lawrence; George Gozdeck, Sr., LB, 6-0, 210, Lincoln-Sudbury; James Griffiths, Sr., LB, 6-0, 220, Marshfield; James Guy, Jr., RB, 5-10, 172, St. John’s Prep; Pat Harrigan, Sr., WR, 6-2, 180, Reading; Alvin Harmon, Jr., OL, 6-3, 255, Attleboro; Gavin Hatfield, So., RB, 5-10, 170, Lexington; A.J. Heidtke, Sr., OT, 6-3, 282, Andover; Jed Hoggard, Sr., LB, 6-3, 195, Acton-Boxboro; Xander Honor, Sr., LB, 6-1, 215, Franklin; Mariano Jiminez, Sr., WR, 5-10, 175, Waltham; Datrell Jones, So., RB, 5-10, 180, Catholic Memorial; Ronald Juarez, Jr., PK, 5-8, 170, Malden; Shawn Joubert, Jr., TE, 6-2, 205, Haverhill; Matt Kelly, Sr., TE, 6-0, 185, Quincy; Sean Kelly, Sr., WR, 5-10, 170, Acton-Boxboro; Mike Kennedy, Sr., DB, 6-1, 175, Westford Academy; Samy Lamothe, Sr., DB, 5-10, 185, Everett; James Lannon, Sr., OL, 6-6, 220, Braintree; Brandon Lavasta, Jr., OL, 6-2, 270, Lawrence; Will Lederman, Sr., QB, 5-11, 185, Natick; Chris Leonardo, Sr. OL, 6-3, 275, Attleboro: Zach Lopes, Jr., FB, 5-10, 170, Haverhill; Ali Lubwuth, Sr., QB, 5-9, 170, Waltham; Mike Lupoli, Sr., WR, Chelmsford; Kyle Maglione, Sr., LB, 5-11, 200, Peabody; James Maliszewski, Sr., OL, 6-1, 270, Lexington; Mike Malatesta, Sr., LB, 6-0, 190, King Philip; Anthony Maregni, Sr., LB, 5-10, 185, Newton South; Lucas Maregni, Sr., WR, 5-10, 175, Newton South; Nick Mazzie, Sr., K, 6-2, 165, Central Catholic; Daniel MacDougall, Sr., QB, 6-1, 180, Taunton; Jake McCoy, Sr., DT, 6-3, 260, Mansfield; Jesse McCullough, Sr., WR, 5-9, 185, Lincoln-Sudbury; Will McDonald, Sr., QB, 6-1, 170, Needham; Dylan McLaughlin, Sr., WR, 5-11, 170, Woburn; Devonte Medley, Sr., QB, 5-11, 180, Brockton; Zach Mitchell, Sr., DB, 5-11, 175, Catholic Memorial; Nick Molloy, Sr., C, 6-0, 225, Marshfield; Anthony Morrison, Sr., RB, 6-0, 180, Bridgewater-Raynham; Collin Murphy, Sr., QB, 6-1, 190, Lincoln-Sudbury; Jaylen Murphy, Jr., DE, 6-2, 220, Everett; Kaden Murray, Jr., RB, 5-11, 180, Attleboro; Naujiye Neal, Sr., QB, 6-1, 160, Lowell; Jaden Nigro, Sr., OL, 6-2, 270, Peabody; Riley O’Connell, Jr., DB, 6-0, 185, Lincoln-Sudbury; Dan O’Connor, Sr., C, 6-2, 225, Reading; Muneer Odally, Sr., OT, 6-3, 220. Malden; Will Ohler, Sr., OL, 6-4, 235, Lincoln-Sudbury; Osamuyimen Osayimwen, Sr., OG, 6-0, 260, Central Catholic; Anthony Perez, Sr., WB, 6-0, 165, Wellesley; J.C. Petrongolo, So., QB, 6-0, 180, Catholic Memorial; Quincy Plumer, Sr., OL, 6-2, 290, Catholic Memorial; Bradon Pszenny, Sr., DB, 6-1, 160, Peabody; Parker Rankin, Sr., OT, 6-3, 220, Andover; Zach Richardson, Sr., OL, 6-5, 290, BC High; Anthony Romano, Sr., LB, 6-1, 215, Methuen; Kedrick Santos, Sr., WR, 6-1, 190, Taunton; Symon Sathler, Sr., RB, 5-9, 185, Woburn; Will Schimmoeller, Sr., QB, 6-1, 195, North Andover; Kyle Shanahan, Sr., WR, 5-11, 175, Lowell; Bill Sousa, Sr., DL, 6-1, 225, New Bedford; Billois Sousa, Sr., DL, 6-1, 225, New Bedford; Sean Stackpole, Sr., TE, 6-3, 245, Chelmsford; Isaiah Steinberg, Sr., RB, 5-11, 180, Quincy; Boubacar Traore, So., LB, 6-2, 215, Catholic Memorial; Preston Van Fleet, Sr., RB, 5-7, 150, Marshfield; R.J. Viele, Sr., WR, 5-10, 175, Framingham; Nick Viscusi, Jr., DB, 6-1, 160, King Philip; Bobby Wiesenhahn, Sr., QB, 6-4, 195, BC High; Joshua Wisdom, Sr., WR, 5-10, 180, Lexington; Max Wolfgang, Sr., TE, 6-4, 225, North Andover; Pat Zarba, Sr. OL, 6-2, 290, King Philip; Preston Zinter, So, LB, 6-0, 215, Central Catholic
