North Andover seeks revenge
FRANKLIN — One season after falling to LincolnSudbury in the sectional final, North Andover is set up for a shot at revenge.
The football postseason pairings were announced yesterday morning at MIAA headquarters, and North Andover (7-0) will enter a crowded Division 2 North bracket as the top seed.
Defending Div. 2 finalist Lincoln-Sudbury (6-1) is the No. 2 seed and is primed for another deep run, although No.3 Reading (6-1) hopes to have something to say about that in a potential sectional semifinal matchup.
“We feel like we are clicking at the right time,” said North Andover quarterback Jake McElroy. “We’ve been waiting to get back in the tournament ever since the end of last year.”
Div. 1 North is loaded with two-time defending Super Bowl champion Everett (70) leading the pack. No. 2 St. John’s Prep gave Everett its biggest scare during the regular season, while No. 3 Acton-Boxboro (7-0) is out to prove its no fluke.
Five-time defending sectional champion Xaverian (5-1) is once again the favorite in Div.1 South, but faces a tough task in Catholic Conference rival BC High in a first-round matchup. No. 3 Catholic Memorial (5-2) figures to be a contender.
Div.2 South is once again an intriguing section, with No.3 King Philip (5-2) sitting as the two-time defending champion. Top-seeded Mansfield (7-0) and No.2 Natick (5-2) have to be considered the favorites this time. The winner of a solid first-round game between No. 4 Wellesley (5-2) and No. 5 Barnstable (5-2) should get a shot at the Hornets.
No. 1 Duxbury (7-0) is the favorite in Div. 3 South, but the winner of a heavyweight first-round matchup between No. 4 North Attleboro (4-3) and No. 5 Whitman-Hanson (52) could pose a threat.
If seeds hold true in Div. 4 North, No. 1 Marblehead and No.2 Gloucester would face off in a sectional final between two Northeastern Conference foes.
Div. 5 South has a bevy of contenders, with the top four seeds in Falmouth (6-0), Holliston (6-0), Scituate (6-1) and Canton (6-1) all capable of emerging with a title.
Mashpee is in search of an unprecedented fourth consecutive Super Bowl behind star running back Devaun Ford, and enters the Div. 7 South tourney carrying a 27game winning streak. The road back will be tough, with No.2 Abington and No.5 Cohasset both giving Mashpee fits during the regular season.
Pope John (6-0) is the clear favorite in Div.8 North, but the South figures to be up for grabs with St. John Paul (5-2) a dangerous sixthseed and No.1 West Bridgewater and No. 2 Upper Cape both contenders.