Div. 3 Central Preview: Shrewsbury Looks To Take Back Town Against No. 2 St. John's

For the third straight year, crosstown rivals St. John's and Shrewsbury will faceoff with a chance to send the other team home. 

By Ryan Morgera (@Rymo98)

Everybody knows that when Saint Johns and Shrewsbury play each other, in any sport, it’s guaranteed to be an absolute battle until the clock strikes zero. 

That only intensifies when these crosstown rivals matchup in the playoffs, this time, in the Division 3 Central Mass Championship game. 

Third-seeded Saint John’s (6-3) will take on No. 4 Shrewsbury (7-2) on Saturday, November 10th at 2 p.m. at Doyle Field in Leominster. Saint John’s only losses on the year have come at the hands of Catholic Memorial, Springfield Central, and Marlborough, while Shrewsbury’s two losses were to the aforementioned Pioneers and Nashoba.

MIAA Football: Top Five Sectional Final Matchups

After seeing him put up a combined 345 yards the first time around, Hingham hopes to contain John Roberts this weekend. (Photo Courtesy: Todd Maddock/Duxbury Clipper)

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

It's sectional final weekend across Massachusetts with 52 different teams hoping to be crowned champions by the time Saturday night rolls around.

For those in Divisions 1 and 2 as well Divisions 4 and 6 South a win this weekend would clinch an appearance in their respective super bowls at Gillette Stadium.

Otherwise, this weekend serves as a chance for teams to advance to the state semi-finals where they would be one win away from a state championship berth.

Heading into a weekend that is filled with league rivalries, rematches from past years, and star players, here are our top five sectional final matchups to watch.

MIAA Football: Top Sectional Semi-Final Performances

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Despite being only a sophomore, Nick Mazzie has already etched his name in Central Catholic program lore.

With two-time defending Div. 1 champion Everett and fourth-seeded Central Catholic tied at 20 and less than a minute remaining, Raiders kicker Nick Mazzie drilled the game-winning 33 yard field goal as Central Catholic stunned the Crimson Tide, 23-20, at Everett Memorial Stadium.

The Raiders win not only means a new Div. 1 North representative at the Super Bowl, but it also snaps Everett's 27-game winning streak dating back to October of 2016. Central Catholic will take on St. John's Prep in the Div. 1 North Final on Friday night.

Schofield, St. John's Keep Repeat Hopes Alive with Thumping of Wachusett

By John McGuirk (@Patsfan1313)

Holden, Mass. _ Defense? What defense? That will be ongoing question hanging over the heads of the No. 2 Wachusett Mountaineers following Friday night's 51-26 loss at the hands of No. 3 St. John's Shrewsbury in the Division 3 Central Mass. Semifinal inside Hal Lane Field.

Prided all season long by its defense, it was nowhere to be found against the Pioneers in the most important game of the year. Wachusett surrendered 554 yards, including 425 in the first half, and turned the ball over four times. Those four turnovers led to three St. John's touchdowns as the Pioneers pulled away early and never looked back.

The defending Division 3 Super Bowl Champion Pioneers 6-3) now await the winner of Saturday night's other semifinal between No. 4 Shrewsbury and No. 1 Doherty. 

MIAA Football: Top Performances from Week Five

St. John's Shrewsbury fans came out in full-force to witness their Pioneers defeat No. 11 Shrewsbury.

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Anyone who thought that St. John's Shrewsbury was going to go down without a fight in Div. 3 Central was proven to be mistaken on Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers highlighted the week five slate with a 42-34 win over cross-town rival Shrewsbury with the dynamic duo of Colin Schofield and Jay Brunelle continuing to click on all cylinders. Colin Deso came through with the defensive play of the day, stuffing a Colonials' two-point attempt with Shrewsbury trailing by one late.

Elsewhere, No. 10 Needham continued its impressive play to begin the season. Taylor Reid rushed for a pair of scores, while Joe Anastasi, Mason Colwell, and Niall Dolan combined for eight sacks.

Holliston improved to 5-0 with a 28-7 win over Hopkinton, and No. 2 Xaverian put up another classic defensive performance with a 14-0 shutout of Brockton behind the play of Mike Masse.

Any thought of Duxbury relinquishing its decade hold on the Patriot League Keenan division was quickly squashed on Friday night. The No. 12 Dragons handled No. 13 Hingham from beginning to end to come away with a 38-20 victory.

Falmouth inched closer to clinching the ACL title outright with a huge win over Dennis-Yarmouth.

And if there was anyone thinking that its win over Lincoln-Sudbury was simply a fluke, No. 14 Acton-Boxboro put that to bed with a 30-14 win over Dracut.

Here are our top performers from week five of the MIAA Football season.