Top 10 MIAA Games Of The Decade

Catholic Memorial senior Jarrett Martin's 45-yard Hail Mary reception to lift the Knights past BC High back in 2017 is one of the more memorable MIAA moments of the decade (Photo from Catholic Memorial, and taken by Marcus Miller).

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Throughout the 2010s, there were hundreds of MIAA High School sporting events filled with excitement, energy, and intensity. Thousands of fans were treated to record-setting performances, game-winning goals, and eyebrow raising finishes.

Over the course of the last 10 years I have been fortunate to witness, report on, and enjoy a number of these games. While there are plenty that come to mind when it comes to thinking back on the top showdowns that I had the pleasure of taking in, these 10 classics standout amongst the rest.

With 2020 right around the corner, here are my top 10 MIAA high school sporting events I had the opportunity to witness.

10. MIAA Football: Central Catholic 49, Andover 41 (2015)

PHOTO GALLERY: St. John's (Shrewsbury) vs Andover in the Super 8

Photos by Eamon Convey (@ConveyWEEI)

North Billerica, Mass. -St. John's (Shrewsbury) is still alive in the MIAA Division 1A "Super 8" hockey tournament, after defeating Andover 3-2 in an overtime thriller.

Scroll below for some great shots of the Pioneers' big win, taken by our Eamon Convey. Note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

PHOTO GALLERY: Pope Francis vs Burlington in the Super 8

Photos by Eamon Convey (@ConveyWEEI)

North Billerica, Mass. -We've already got a full recap of Pope Francis' 3-2 Super 8 win over Burlington up, and you can read that here.

Now, scroll below for some images from the elimination game, courtesy of our Eamon Convey. Note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

Hingham Opens Super 8 with OT Win over Andover

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

Lowell, Mass. - Lacrosse season may still be a few weeks away, but Frankie Higgins wanted to get a jump start on things.

The Hingham senior, showing tremendous eye-hand coordination, batted in a waist-high rebound, on the power play, just 55 seconds into overtime to give the Harbormen a 2-1 victory over Andover in the opening round of the Super 8 tournament Wednesday night inside Tsongas Arena.

No. 4 Hingham (13-4-6) will move into the winner's bracket where it will face Thursday night's Central Catholic/St. John's (Shrewsbury) victor here on Monday at time yet to be determined. The fifth-seeded Golden Warriors (13-6-2) will play a loser's bracket contest versus either Central Catholic or St. John's (S) on Sunday at Chelmsford Forum at a time still to be announced.

Pope Francis too Much for Andover Late

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

West Springfield, Mass. - Over the course of the first period and some change, Andover continued to fight the good fight and stay within arm's reach of Pope Francis. But, midway through the middle frame and beyond, the Cardinals' maturity and experience would take over.

Netting three unanswered goals during the final 20 minutes, Pope Francis finally broke free to secure a 4-1 triumph Saturday at the Olympia Ice Center.

It took a little while before the Cardinals (10-1-2) began to develop some synergy and pull away from the gritty Golden Warriors. After being bottled up inside the neutral zone for much of the opening period and part of the second, the Cardinals (5-0-2 in their last seven games) reverted back to their fleet-footed skating style and quickness as a retort to Andover's defensive presence.

Danny Abraham Runs wild on Andover in Season Opener... Again

BC High running back Danny Abraham, pictured last season against Leominster.

By SuiteSports Staff

ANDOVER - Next year, Boston College High running back Danny Abraham will be playing football at Harvard, and no team will be happier to see him go than Andover.

The Eagles starting running back dismantled the Golden Warriors defense in a second consecutive season opener, rushing for 262 yards and four touchdowns, on just 12 carries, to pace BC High in a 34-7 drubbing of Andover on the road. 

Abraham, who set a school record with 385 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the season opener against Andover last season, has now compiled 647 yards and eight scores, at the absurd rate of 22.3 yards per carry, the last two years against the Golden Warriors' defense.

Andover Rallies Past Scituate for 3rd Place at Mass Youth Rugby Championships

By Jason Siegel (@jasiegel1821)

Worcester, Mass. - The Andover Rugby Union (ARU) club team scored 26 unanswered points to erase a 14-0 deficit and defeat Scituate, 38-19, in the Massachusetts Youth Rugby Organization (MYRO) third-place game on Saturday afternoon at Foley Stadium in Worcester.

Early in the contest, Scituate had success passing the ball and using all parts of the field, allowing Scituate to strike first and open up a 7-0 lead.

The advantage doubled when Scituate forced a fumble and picked the ball up in the end zone for another try. The two-point kick was converted, giving Scituate a 14-0 lead.

Andover would respond with a try by Payton Heidtke, who was helped across the line by a big push from his teammates. Heidtke’s try was set up by a long run by Benjamin Ledoux. The two-point kick cut Scituate’s lead in half.

Andover Lacrosse Edges Chelmsford in Merrimack Valley Thriller

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

CHELMSFORD - It was battle number two for the best in the Merrimack Valley, and it did not disappoint.

Chelmsford and Andover traded blows throughout, but in the end, it was Andover’s transition offense that took the day and powered the Golden Warriors to a 9-8 win.

Down 7-5 late in the third, Andover rattled off the next four goals to go ahead for good. The Warriors pushed the pace on offense, and it paid off with layup goals.

Reading Lacrosse Edges Andover

Reading senior midfielder Kevin Tobin facilitates from X

By Nate Weitzer (@nweitzer7)

READING, Mass. – There are four key contributors for the Reading boys’ lacrosse team and when they’re all firing on all cylinders, the Rockets are very tough to beat.

Andover appeared to have the edge on host Reading in a nonconference tilt this Wednesday, as the Golden Warriors opened a 5-2 lead midway through the second quarter, but the Rockets mainstays came through to lead them back for a narrow 8-7 victory.

St. Mary's (Lynn) Hockey Shuts Out Andover to Repeat as D1 North Champion

By Mike Abelson (@ABELS0N)

LOWELL, Mass. - It was a battle of two of the best teams north of Boston and, when the dust settled, St. Mary’s (Lynn) escaped Tsongas Center with a 2-0 victory over Andover to win its second straight Division 1 North title, and advance to the state title game at TD Garden.

The Spartans were anchored by a solid performance in goal by senior keeper Andrew LoRusso, who turned aside all 27 shots he saw. LoRusso was forced to work his hardest in the third period, when Andover pressed continuously for long stretches.

“He provided a shutout in the North finals. That’s incredible,” St. Mary’s coach Mark Lee said of LoRusso. “We’re not here without him. He came up big when we played Reading to start this whole tournament. That’s what you need to go on. I wouldn’t want to have any other goaltender.”

Central Catholic Holds Off Andover in D1 North Quarterfinals

By Nate Weitzer (@NWeitzer7)

LAWRENCE, Mass. - Central Catholic and Andover faced off for the fourth time this season in a Division 1 North quarterfinals bout on Saturday afternoon, and for the fourth time, the Raiders edged their rivals in a gutty victory, this time by a final score of 58-47.

Yet it was far from a sure thing. The No. 11 Golden Warriors (13-9) fell behind 37-22 at the start of the second half, but climbed back with a 14-4 run to make it 41-36 heading into the final frame.

The Raiders' (19-5) lead continued to evaporate when Andover senior DeVon Beasley (14 points) came up with a steal at midcourt and skated in for what looked like an easy lay-up that would’ve made it a 49-47 game with just over three minutes remaining, but Central Catholic senior Sam Lara had other ideas.

Lara, who poured in a game-high 25 points with 12 rebounds and four blocked shots, came flying in for a chasedown block to deny Beasley and electrify the home crowd. A few plays later, junior Dom Keegan hit his second clutch three of the quarter to put Central up 52-45 and the Raiders were able to salt away the win from there.

MIAA Top 25 Boys Basketball Poll: 1/2/17

Hanover is just one of four teams debuting in our Top 25 this week.

Our rankings of the best teams in the state during the 2016-17 basketball season, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. (Updated 1/2)

1. Cambridge (6-0; Last Ranking  –  1): This time last year, the Falcons were handily defeated by an out-of-state opponent, but at this year’s BABC Holiday Tournament, they handed out the punishment with blowout wins over Portsmouth (NH) and St. Raphael’s (RI).

2. BC High (6-0; Last Ranking  –  2):  Eagles continued to assert their dominance in D1 South with blowout wins over Providence Classical (RI) and Brockton, before holding on for a 61-54 win at Concord-Carlisle on Friday. 

Perry Leads Andover Boys Hoops Past Methuen in Christmas Classic

By Mike Abelson (@ABELS0N)

METHUEN, Mass. - E.J. Perry IV on a basketball court is like watching an oil painting in real time. Every shot with purpose. Every rebound with force. Every steal with skill. The star guard for Andover doesn’t have much time left in the blue and gold and made one of his final big games worth it.

Perry filled the stat line with 29 points, eight rebounds, four steals, two assists, and a massie block to pilot the Golden Warriors past top-seeded Methuen 66-63 in a thrilling semifinal of the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic.

VIDEO: Everett Rolls Past Andover, 62-33, Advances to D1 Super Bowl

By Nate Weitzer (@nweitzer7)

EVERETT, Mass. – One of the most storied programs in MIAA history began the season on a low note.

The Crimson Tide dropped highly touted tilts against Xaverian and Billerica by a total of six points to go 2-2 in September, and that’s when head coach John DiBiaso decided it was time to try a different motivational strategy.

“We had to gain some confidence,” DiBiaso recalled. “We weren’t a very good team last year. We were 5-5 and that wasn't reflective of where we wanted to be. After we lost two close games early in the season I pulled everyone together and said ‘Look, you’re a reflection of your record and you’re 7-7 over the last year and a half. Do you want to be remembered as a .500 team or do you want to accept the challenge and bounce back?’”

After skating past Andover, 62-33, for their third consecutive blowout win on the way to a Division 1 North title and a guaranteed rematch with Xaverian in the Super Bowl next month, Everett’s players have done more than just bounce back.

Perry's 9 Total TDs Push Andover Past Lexington in Overtime Classic

By Nate Weitzer (@nweitzer7)

LEXINGTON, Mass. - Two of the highest scoring teams in the Bay State this season fought down to the wire in a wild shootout to open the MIAA State Tournament.

Lexington quarterback Sal Frelick was masterful as a passer and runner throughout the first half but, in the end, Andover’s EJ Perry IV was just a bit better, as he accounted for nine touchdowns, and ran for the game-winning score in a 54-48 overtime victory.

Friday Five-Pack: 5 HS Football Games to Watch in MA

Holliston quarterback Jack Barrett has the Panthers poised for another state title run.

By John Sarianides (@xnojoe)

Ed. Note- SuiteSports is thrilled to welcome John Sarianides to the team. John also contributes to ESPN Boston and Boston Herald Radio, and has an extensive teaching and coaching record in Massachusetts. Each Friday, John will give us his games to watch, then each Monday he'll give us his biggest takeaways from the week that was.

Welcome aboard, John!

Billerica at Andover

This will be a great game coached by two of the best spread coaches in the state. Both teams run the spread offense, but the two offenses are philosophically different. Billerica runs a physical version of the spread. Indians coach Duane Sigsbury loves to pound the ball and control the clock.

Conversely, Andover likes to play fast and throw it all over the yard with quarterback E.J. Perry and wide receiver Dan Gemmell.

As we saw last week against BC High, however, playing fast can be a problem if you're not converting third downs and scoring points. Andover had issues with BC High's physicality last week, and I think they'll have a tough time with Billerica up front. If the Warriors don't score first and get Billerica out of their comfort zone, they could be in for a long night.

Eastern Mass HS Football Power Rankings: Week 6

Marshfield's Danny Dalton is committed to play tight end for Penn State next year, but right now he's playing both sides of the ball, hoping to help the Rams win another Division 2 state championship.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

The top teams in Eastern Mass high school football continue to hold strong, as Marshfield, Xaverian and St. John's Prep have all dominated lately, but the next tier is more than carrying its weight with Holliston, Central Catholic and Milton continuing to roll.

Who's rising and who's falling this week? Check out our latest Power Rankings below.

Eastern Mass HS Football Power Rankings: Week 4

Brockton running back Kerry Raymond

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)


Much like our Central Mass Power Rankings, not much has changed at the top here in the eastern portion of the Commonwealth. But, there was some shakeup in the middle and at the bottom, as Andover shot themselves into the state-wide conversation with a win over BC High, and Holliston continues to climb thanks to an explosive offense.


Oh, and star running back Kerry Raymond returned for Brockton, helping the Boxers earn a big win and shoot up a few spots. Check out our complete rankings below.

Eastern Mass HS Football Power Rankings: Week 3

Xaverian may have the best secondary in the state, led by senior corner Coby Tippett. Photo courtesy of ESPN Boston.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

We already covered the Heart of the Commonwealth yesterday with our Week 3 Central Mass Power Rankings, now let's move east where a few teams continued to impress, while a few others got back on track.

I won't waste any more time with introductions, let's just get to this week's Top-10.