Our 2017 MIAA Football Award Winners

By SuiteSports Staff

After another exciting year of Massachusetts high school football, SuiteSports.com and its panel of high school correspondents are excited to announce our MIAA Football award winners.

While a bevy of players stood out this season, including all who made our second annual All-State Team, these stood above the rest due to their production and value to their teams, both during the regular season and in the state tournament.

This group helped their respective programs reach new heights, and excelled as individuals, on and off the field.

So, at long last, here are this year’s SuiteSports MIAA Football Award Winners.

Xs & Os: Melrose Goes Iso to Unleash Seide

Melrose junior running back Issac Seide rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries in the Red Raiders 21-0 win Nashoba in the Division 4 Super Bowl.

The sturdy junior running back gained most of his 184 yards on a basic isolation play out of a pistol two-back formation. Let's take a look at two of the Red Raiders' pet plays.

Seide Carries Melrose Past Nashoba for Division 4 Championship

By Eamon Convey (@eamonconvey)

FOXBOROUGH - The Melrose Red Raiders (13-0) came to Gillette Stadium for the MIAA Division 4 Super Bowl with 24 seniors, all of whom hoped to avenge back-to-back Super Bowl losses at Gillette in 2014 and 2015 to the Dartmouth Indians.

Avenge they did, courtesy of a 21-0 shutout victory over the Nashoba Chieftains (10-2), in a game where the Red Raiders ran all over their opponent, and delivered their longtime head coach Tim Morris a Super Bowl trophy.

PHOTO GALLERY: Melrose vs. Nashoba at Gillette

Photos by Samson Egilman (@Seaglemaniac)

FOXBOROUGH - We will have a full recap of Melrose's D4 title game win over Nashoba up soon, but first check out these pictures by Samson Egilman from the 11am game at Gillette.

Note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

Previewing the MIAA State Football Championships: Divisions 4 & 7

Will it be three state championships in a row for Mashpee, or can underdog Blackstone Valley Tech shock the state?

By Jake Levin (@JakeLevin09)

Our Matt Feld kicked MIAA football championship week off with a preview of both Friday night games at Gillette. You can check out that preview of the Division 2 and Division 3 title games here, and continue below for Jake Levin's breakdown of the D4 and D7 championships.

Division 4 Super Bowl

Nashoba (10-1) vs Melrose (12-0), 11 am

The second game to kickoff in Foxboro Saturday pits the Nashoba Chieftains out of the D4 Central bracket against the Melrose Red Raiders, who will be representing the North.

With no Division 4 West region, one sectional champion from the Division 4 ranks receives a bye each year. This season, it was the Central’s turn, and Nashoba likely needed all the rest it could get after a thrilling 21-19 overtime victory over Marlboro in the regional final.

The Chieftains are back at Gillette following a one-year absence, making their return to a stadium where they won the old Division 2 Super Bowl in 2015. With 16 seniors on the roster, several players have experienced being on the hallowed turf in Foxboro.

Melrose Edges Marblehead For Third D4 North Title Over Last Four Years

By Brandon Chase (@BrandonNChase)

Melrose — Isaac Seide seemed like he was always in the right place at the right time for the Melrose football team.

Need a big play to energize a stagnant drive? No problem. Looking for a momentum-thwarting stop in a key situation? Seide will cover that, too.

The junior two-way threat was the focal point of the Red Raiders’ 28-20 win over Marblehead Friday night in the Division 4 North final. Behind Siede’s 244 yards rushing on 27 carries and three touchdowns, Melrose captured its third sectional title in four seasons.

Melrose Continues Hot Start With League Win Against Watertown

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

MELROSE - On a night full of defensive highlights, Melrose’s final one proved to be the most critical of them all.

With Melrose holding a 28-14 lead and under three minutes to play, Watertown marched down to the 16-yard line, hoping for one last gasp of life.

Melrose lineman Patrick Byrnes (3 sacks), however, came off the edge and stripped Watertown quarterback Nick McDermott. Michael Sickler recovered the fumble and Melrose (3-0) held on for a 28-14 Middlesex League win over the visiting Raiders (2-1) on a damp Friday night at Melrose High School.

The Red Raiders defense combined for nine sacks on the night, while forcing two fumbles and coming away with an interception.

Wakefield Hangs On Against Melrose to Make D2N Final

By Nate Weitzer (@nweitzer7)

WAKEFIELD, Mass. – In a carbon copy of Wakefield’s 11-10 overtime over Melrose in the Warriors toughest test during an undefeated season, the host Warriors edged Melrose, 12-11, in a thrilling Division 2 North semifinals matchup on Tuesday evening. 

After the top-ranked Warriors (20-0) expanded an 8-3 halftime lead to 10-3 early in the third quarter. But No. 4 Melrose (12-7) came storming back with six unanswered goals to put the pressure on undefeated Wakefield right down to the final whistle. 

Massachusetts HS Football State Championship Preview: Divisions 1-3

Xaverian enters Gillette with the state's best defense, led by linebacker Kenny Kern (45) and defensive end Joe Gaziano (97)

By Mike Uva (@mike_uva)

Editor Joe Parello got us started with previews of the Massachusetts high school football state championship games for Divisions 4-6 earlier today, and now correspondent Mike Uva breaks down Divisions 1-3.

Let's get to it!

Division 1: Xaverian (11-0) vs. Everett (9-1), 1:30 pm

Week 2 Meeting: Xaverian 21, Everett 14 (9/13/2014)

Xaverian’s Road to Gillette:  
42-0 win against Attleboro
27-0 win against Bridgewater-Raynham
24-10 win against BC High

Everett’s Road to Gillette: 
42-21 win against Malden
55-41 win against Peabody
31-24 win against St. John’s Prep

After the phenomenal game between these teams back in week two, it’s only fitting there’s an encore.