Tide ride high again
But lots of contenders in mix
Everett returned to the top of the mountain after a three-year absence, and the Crimson Tide don’t plan on relinquishing the crown any time soon.
Coach John DiBiaso’s team returns a bevy of talented players on both sides of the ball. One early area of concern might be the offensive line as Helber Brigante is the only player back, but assistant coach Mike Milo has few peers when it comes to developing a cohesive unit in the trenches.
In many years, Central Catholic’s returning cast would be enough to warrant a preseason top ranking. The Raiders have plenty of players back and won’t be overmatched by anyone on the schedule.
Xaverian has been the top dog in the Catholic Conference for the last few years, but BC High could emerge as a worthy competitor to the title. St. John’s Prep can never be overlooked in the mix.
If you’re looking for a non-Division 1 team to crack the upper echelon, look no further than the three teams we have in the top seven in this initial ranking: Duxbury, Tewksbury and Marshfield.
Here is the 25th annual preseason Sweet 16 (2016 record in parentheses):
1. EVERETT (10-2): The defending Div.1 state champions are primed to defend the crown. Anthony Norcia, Mike Sainristil and Isaiah Likely are as good a trio of receivers as one will find in the state, while Jake Willcox takes over the quarterback duties. Lewis Cine and Jason Maitre headline a talented secondary, while hard-hitting Duane Binns returns at linebacker. Helber Brigante leads a youthful offensive line and Jacob Miller and Kevin Brown are the top running backs.
2. CENTRAL CATHOLIC (82): The Raiders have all the makings of a super team, starting with UNH-bound quarterback Bret Edwards. The backfield tandem of Max Faro and Ty Donatio are top-notch, while Mathias Villafane headlines the receiving corps. The line is keyed by Kalvin Guillermo, Osho Omoyeni and Ryan Burns, while Joe Howshan returns to the defensive secondary.
3. DUXBURY (12-1): The defending Div.2 champions lose some key components, but the cupboard is far from bare. The offensive line returns Chris Chaisson, Quinn Murphy and Eli Peters, while Joe Gooley is a standout linebacker who will team with Brad Backlund. Charlie Gans and Jack McKim are the defensive ends, while James Miele and Jack Jacobson are the receivers. John Roberts takes over at quarterback for graduated All-Scholastic Bobby Maimaron.
4. BC HIGH (6-4): Any time you can return a running back the caliber of Harvardbound Danny Abraham, as well as a line featuring the likes of Tom Aicardi (Harvard), Elijah Miranda and Francis Dooley, hopes should spring eternal. Will Bowen leads the linebacking corps, while Bobby DeMeo is back in the defensive secondary.
5. XAVERIAN (10-2): Longtime defensive coordinator Al Fornaro takes the reins from Charlie Stevenson, but look for it to be business as usual. Yale-bound Brian Abraham and Cooper DeVeau headline the secondary, while Dom DePaoli is the top returning lineman. Ike Irabor will become the featured back for the Hawks.
6. MARSHFIELD (8-3): If this is truly going to be Lou Silva’s last year on the Marshfield sideline, he’s got a good nucleus to ride out with. The offense is the focal point as quarterback Jackson Phinney and running backs Jack McNeil, Brendan Ward and Ed Kielty return. The line is superb with Magnus Leonard and Jeff Todd at the tackles, Patrick Barnes and Jacob Devonshire at the guards and Dan O’Brien at center. Brody Reynolds returns at defensive end and Nick Banks was an all-Atlantic Coast League selection at tight end.
7. TEWKSBURY (10-1): The Redmen enter the season as the favorite in the MVC Small as well as Div. 3 North. Jay Connolly is back at quarterback with Brandon Winn and Will Matovu at running back. Joe Rosberg is a standout two-way lineman, Blake Hiltz is a tackling machine at linebacker, while Masyn Lorick and Braden Hiltz anchor the secondary.
8. ST. JOHN’S PREP (7-4): The loss of standout wide receiver Wes Rockett with a knee injury is a big hit. Brian St. Pierre’s squad will be young but has talent on the roster with quarterback Mike Yarin, running back Aise Pream, tight end Michael Slattery and linemen James Taylor and Cam Keezer.
9. LEXINGTON (9-2): The Minutemen took a quantum leap last year behind the brilliant play of quarterback Sal Frelick, who is back for his senior season. He has plenty of help in receivers Sean Sullivan and Anthony Bianchi, linebacker Ben Quint and linemen James Lane and Tenzin Pharachesur.
10. BRIDGEWATER-RAYNHAM (7-4): The Trojans will lean heavily on linebacker Bryce Shaw (Navy) and running back Devante Greaves in the early going. Corey Sullivan is back at quarterback, while the secondary is solid with Danny Taylor and Joey D’Emilia. Matt Cady is the top returning lineman, and James Hanafin teams up with Shaw at linebacker.
11. NATICK (9-2): The Redhawks won nine games with a largely underclass group led by running back Malik Williams, offensive lineman Bailey McElhinney and linebacker Tim Ramstrom. The secondary is solid with Amir Mells, Peter Ryan, Colin Ghilani and Giovanni DeJesus back, while Jack Canney, Matt Leavey, Will Brodnitzki and Josh Atwood are mainstays on the line. Christian D’Antonio returns at quarterback, with wide receiver Max Ferrucci and tight end David Carey his top targets.
12. MANSFIELD (8-3): The Hockomock Kelley-Rex title is in the Hornets’ sights once again as All-Scholastic wide receiver Hunter Ferreira leads a solid group of returnees. Damani Scott takes over at quarterback with running backs Joe Cox and Aidan Sacco. Will Shield, Colbey Eason and Jarene DiLorenzo are back on the line. Defensive backs Colin Eustay and Danny DeGirolamo return as well as linebacker Chris Copponi.
13. NORTH ATTLEBORO (92): Chad Peterson comes off a strong junior year in which he threw for 1,700 yards and 23 touchdowns. Mario Bresko is back at wide receiver, Zach DeMattio should be the featured back, and Sam Bullock, Ryan Clemente and Brad White anchor the line.
14. READING (8-4): Jack Geiger is solid at running back while the line returns Justin Staniul, Nick Rizzo and Dan Bekkenhuis. Other key returnees on defense are linebacker John DiMare and defensive backs Pat Conroy and Matt Panacopoulos.
15. KING PHILIP (12-0): A year after winning the Div. 1A Super Bowl title, the Warriors will lean on running back Shane Frommer (Yale) and quarterback Brendan Lydon. Andrew Dittrich and Dylan Leonard anchor the secondary.
16. BILLERICA (9-2): The Indians should be solid once again with running backs Cliff Louis and Pat Quinn back, along with linebacker Ryan Quinn, linemen Mickey Ricard, Ryan Higgins and Mark Gentile, and wideouts Morgan Mulkerin and Kevin Kennedy.