DIVISIONAL OVERVIEW
The buzz in high school circles this fall was Catholic Memorial opting to move up just one division from Div. 3 to 2 under the new statewide format.
A mainstay in Div. 1, Catholic Memorial could very well be the best team in the state -- which has infuriated more than one school.
The Knights are loaded and clearly the team to beat in Div. 2 as they return several All-Scholastic players as well as talented quarterback JC Petrongolo, who was injured in the season opener and didn’t play again.
The road to Gillette won’t be that easy for Catholic Memorial as there are plenty of worthy opponents in Div. 2. Lincoln-Sudbury, Mansfield, Barnstable and Natick were undefeated in Fall 2 and have some quality returnees. Marshfield made some very good progress under Chris Arouca and could very well be a top-10 team by the end of the season.
Reading returns one of the top quarterbacks in the state in James Murphy, while Woburn has an impressive cast returning. King Philip is always competitive and there will be a new look on the BridgewaterRaynham sideline as Lou Pacheco takes over for coaching legend Dan Buron.
While Catholic Memorial is clearly the team to beat in Division 2, there are a pair of Div. 1 Catholic Conference teams who will give the Knights a run for their money. Xaverian came within eight yards of beating Catholic Memorial last year and feature one of the best lines in the state to go along with a pair of solid running backs in Joe Kelcourse and Michael Oates. St. John’s
Prep struggled last year, but the Eagles are primed for a reversal of fortune as All-Scholastic running back James Guy is back along with a talented wide receiver tandem in Jackson Delaney and Jesse Ofurie.
Over in the Merrimack Valley Conference, all eyes are on Central Catholic as the Raider return two-time Herald All-Scholastic quarterback Ayden Pereira and all-everything tight end Preston Zinter. Andover counters with its own dynamic duo in running back Lincoln Beal and quarterback Scott Brown, while Methuen and Lowell are capable of making noise.
Everett figures to be the class of the Greater Boston League, a talented team who is more than good enough to play with the best in the state. A trio of All-Scholastics, wide receiver Ish Zamor, running back Jayden Clerveaux and defensive end Jaylen Murphy are back along with lineman Jayden Biggi.