Top 5 powers clash when Everett meets Haverhill

Tomorrow's matchup between

Haverhill and Everett is one better suited for a sectional or state final.

However, thanks to the luck of the draw, one of these two topfive ranked teams will be out of the tournament come Saturday night. The two powers will meet in a Division 1 North quarterfinal in Haverhill (6 p.m.) with the winner advancing to a semifinal contest against the survivor of the Central Catholic-Methuen contest.

“Our guys are up for the challenge,” said Haverhill coach Tim O'Connor. “They're not going to be intimidated by anyone they have to play.”

Haverhill has won six straight since a season-opening loss to St. John's Prep. The Merrimack Valley Conference Large champions proved their mettle by knocking off Central Catholic and Andover in back-to-back games to capture the crown. J.C. Laguerre spearheads a lethal ground attack, while quarterback Broghan McGovern is good enough to keep the defenses honest. Everett (5-2) regained the Greater Boston League title with a dominant victory over Malden. Jordan McAfee is one of the premier quarterbacks in the state and he has a solid group of receivers led by Anthony Norcia. Tailback Marvens Fedna runs behind an impressive offensive line that gets better by the week.

“Everett might be the only team even bigger than us,” O'Connor said. “They're very well coached and scary in all three phases of the game.”

Elsewhere on the tourney trail tomorrow, Brockton visits

Newton North in a Div. 1 South quarterfinal, while Stoneham travels to Shawsheen in a Div. 3A quarterfinal.

The solid Div. 1A South field will lose two quality teams tonight as Bridgewater-Raynham is at

Natick, while Mansfield hosts

Marshfield. BC High hosts Braintree in a Div. 1 South quarterfinal, while Andover is at Lexington in what figures to be a wild Div. 1 North quarterfinal.

In the ISL, Lawrence Academy will take on St. Mark’s tomorrow without All-Scholastic running back A.J. Dillon, who is sidelined with a leg injury. Milton Academy looks to keep its bowl hopes alive when it takes on St. Sebastian’s and Brooks hosts Governor’s

Academy in an ISL crossover tilt.