If MIAA Stars Entered the NFL Draft: 2020 Edition

Two-time defending Division 1 state champion St. John's Prep is well represented in our MIAA/NFL Mock Draft.

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

With the NFL Draft officially up and running, SuiteSports is back with its annual MIAA/NFL Draft.

If you need to get caught up, you can find our 2017 MIAA/NFL Draft here, our 2018 edition here, and lastly our 2019 draft here.

A reminder of the rules for players being taken in our MIAA/NFL Draft:

1. The player must be a senior. I know college juniors (and redshirt sophomores) can be taken in the real NFL Draft, but that's not how our draft works.

2. The player can be headed to prep school next year. Since we don't include ISL or other Prep School players in our draft, guys who are finishing up their MIAA careers and graduating from an MIAA school get the chance to be drafted.

3. We're keeping our mock draft to two rounds this year, although we did throw in a simulated trade for the first time. Otherwise, the order is listed as it was heading into the first night of the NFL Draft.

4. We are not pretending our 2017, 2018, and 2019 MIAA/NFL Drafts actually happened. 

5. Any complaints? We're all ears. 

Anyways, without further ado, here is our 2020 MIAA/NFL Draft.

MIAA Baseball: Super Eight Projection 4.0

Wachusett ace Jake Gigliotti (pictured) has the Mountaineers on the verge of the top overall seed.

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

For the second straight season, SuiteSports is excited to unveil our only bi-weekly Super Eight projection of the season. 

Our top five teams remain the same from Sunday, albeit in a different order. There are changes amongst the final three teams in our projection as well as those we see just outside on the "bubble."

We have also added two new characteristics for teams - "games vs. teams above .500" and "record vs. teams in consideration." At this point we believe that the following teams are under some level of consideration: Wachusett, BC High, St. John's Prep, Mansfield, Central Catholic, Austin Prep, St. John's Shrewsbury, Franklin, Lexington, Belmont, Catholic Memorial, Xaverian, St. Peter-Marian, Walpole, Andover, and Masconomet. 

This, of course, could change over the final three days of the season with a number of teams looking to put the finishing touches on their resume with big non-league games on the docket. 

With just over three days to go, here is SuiteSports’ MIAA Baseball Super Eight Projection 4.0. We will release our final projection on Sunday June 3rd, with the meeting set to take place on Sunday night at 6pm.

Livingston Comes Up in the Clutch to Squeak St. John's Past St. Peter-Marian

By John McGuirk (@PatsFan1313)

Worcester, Mass. -- Prior to start of his game against rival St. Peter-Marian, St. John's  coach Charlie Eppinger spoke about the differences between his current team and the one from a year ago that sailed through the Super 8 tournament ending with a championship.

This year, by his own admittance, Eppinger says the Pioneers will most-likely find themselves in daily nip-and-tuck affairs, and will need to scratch and claw for every run in hopes they will score at least one more than the opposition.

On Thursday, that scenario played out perfectly. Trailing by three runs entering the final inning, St. John's went on to score four in the top of the seventh to prevail 5-4 over the Guardians. 

MIAA Baseball Season Preview: St. John's Shrewsbury Ready to Defend Super Eight Title

Nick McDonald (pictured) and Sean Burke will to lead defending champion St. John's back to the Super Eight.

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld712)

St. John’s Shrewsbury was crowned the Division 1A “Super Eight” champion just nine months ago, but Charlie Eppinger’s squad has already put it in the rearview mirror.

Despite graduating a loaded senior class that included the likes of now Virginia Tech left-hander Ian Seymour and catcher Jack Gardner, the Pioneers are expected to compete for another title.

Maryland bound Sean Burke and Bryant commit Nick McDonald are as good a 1-2 rotation punch as any in Massachusetts while Jake Hamel highlights a terrific Pioneers’ infield.

Peter Oliver Returns from Injury for St. John's (Shrewsbury)'s D3 Super Bowl Win

FOXBOROUGH - St. John’s (Shrewsbury) senior running back Peter Oliver expected to watch the MIAA Division 3 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium from the sidelines.

But one day before the Pioneers' state finals date against North Attleborough, Oliver received clearance from doctors after X-rays revealed that his broken fibula, suffered in a Week 3 win over Leominster, had healed.

Oliver, who has received interest from multiple Division 1 schools, compiled 387 yards and four TDs on just 31 carries through two-and-a-half games this season, and the senior gave the Pioneers a jolt in his return.

St. John's (Shrewsbury) Breaks the Scoreboard Against Shepherd Hill

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

SHREWSBURY - Let's put to bed this notion that the top spot in Division 3 Central is up for grabs.

It is time to face facts folks. There is St. John's (Shrewsbury), and then everybody else. Period!

In a season that has been solely dominated by the Pioneers thus far, Shepherd Hill, along with its three-game winning streak, became the latest tragedy in a long line of formidable opponents expected to put up a fight.

Instead, Saturday's contest turned into a laugher early and often. The Pioneers wasted no time building a commanding 42-point in the first half lead, then proceeded to blow the Rams out 64-24 at Pioneer Field.

St. John's (Shrewsbury) Dominates Catholic Memorial in Statement Win

St. John's receiver Eamonn Dennis breaks free of a Catholic Memorial defender in the Pioneers' dominating win Friday night.

By Brendan Hall (@BHallESPN)

WEST ROXBURY – Like a lot of teams, St. John’s is apt to defer on the coin toss, preferring to get the ball on the first possession of the second half. But, if it’s any indicator of how confident the Pioneers’ coaching staff is in its blossoming young kick returner, associate head coach and offensive coordinator Chris Moriarty opted to take the ball – and put it right in the youngster’s hands.

And boy, did Eamonn Dennis reward the coaches for their faith. On a beautiful night under the lights at Cassidy Field, the sophomore’s star shone among the brightest, taking the opening kickoff 96 yards to the house as part of an explosive start that saw the Pioneers lead Catholic Memorial by two scores just 90 seconds in. St. John’s never looked back from those opening minutes, rolling to a 33-3 win over the Knights.

“I just told myself, I’m going to score on this first play,” said Dennis, who’s clocked as fast as 11.3 seconds in the 100-meter dash during track and field season. “The blocking was really good on that play. Coach called return middle, and I did what I had to do.”

St. John's Shrewsbury Walks Off Against St. John's Prep to Make Super 8 Final

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

BROCKTON, Mass. - St. John’s Shrewsbury has been the top team in Massachusetts since the beginning of April, and now behind a ninth inning comeback, they are one win away from officially putting a stamp on it.

Trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, St. John’s Shrewsbury battled back as Jack Gardner crushed a game tying double and Jack Fields hit a walk off bloop single to right as the Pioneers stunned St. John’s Prep, 4-3, in the Division 1A Super Eight semifinals at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton.

With the win St. John’s Shrewsbury (22-3) advances to the Super Eight finals while St. John’s Prep (16-7) drops into the one loss bracket.

Longmeadow Wears Down St. John's (Shrewsbury) in Premier D2 Central/West Clash

Longmeadow's Clay Moseman fires a shot at St. John's goalie Matt Mongeau.

By Ryan Bowman (@_ryanbowman_)

SHREWSBURY - What started off as a very even game developed into a lobsided 8-3 victory for the Longmeadow Lancers over the St. John's Pioneers Wednesday at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury.

These teams are very familiar with each other, having faced off in the D2 Central/West semifinals in 2015 and the finals last year, with both games won by the Lancers. Longmeadow (15-3) again emerged victorious Wednesday, while St. John's (12-3) was left looking for an elusive victory in this meeting between the premier lacrosse programs in Western and Central Massachusetts.

PHOTO GALLERY: Longmeadow Lacrosse vs St. John's (Shrewsbury)

Photos by Ryan Bowman (@_ryanbowman_)

We will have a full story up soon, but here are some images from Western Mass power Longmeadow's big win against rival St. John's (Shrewsbury). The win gives the Lancers the inside track to the top seed in Division 2 Central/West.

Continue below for images from today's game, and note that you can click any image to enlarge it and launch a slideshow.

MIAA Top 25 Boys Basketball Poll: 2/14/17

Mansfield has won 9 in a row and the Hockomock Kelley-Rex.

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 2/13)

1. Cambridge (15-0; Last Ranking  –  1): The defending D1 champs have defeated every in-state opponent they faced by at least 25 points since edging Concord-Carlisle, 71-63, in their season opener.    

2. BC High (15-1; Last Ranking  –  2):  Eagles will look to avenge their first loss of the season when they travel to Catholic Memorial this Tuesday. 

3. Mansfield (16-2; Last Ranking  –  4): Hornets avenged a home loss to Franklin by defeating the Panthers in convincing fashion for their ninth consecutive victory and another Hockomock Kelley-Rex Division League Title.

Postgame Blog: Wachusett Bests St. John's (Shrewsbury) for Top Spot in CMass Football

Wachusett scored one of its biggest wins ever Saturday against St. John's (Shrewsbury). Photo courtesy of Ryan Bowman.

By Connor Evans (@RonnocEvans)

SHREWSBURY, Mass. - Saturday, Wachusett and St. John’s (Shrewsbury) graced us with one of the best high school football games you'll ever see. The host Pioneers of St. John’s would ultimately fall to the still undefeated Mountaineers, surrendering to them their top ranking in CMass football.

Central Mass High School Football Road Trip: St. John's (Shrewsbury)

Led by senior linebacker John Fields (49), St. John's looks to be as strong as ever on defense this year.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

St. John's has been known for it's no-huddle "Blur" offense the past few years, run to perfection by multi-year starting quarterbacks Andrew Smiley and Tim Cassidy.

This year, however, the Pioneers replace nine starters on offense, including a new signal caller. That means St. John's could be a (gasp) defensive team in 2016, and that's not by default. Led by a trio of talented senior in the front seven, and a massively talented junior class, the Pioneers are poised to be one of the best defensive teams in Central Mass.

But oh yeah, they also have the pieces to again be explosive on offense.

I caught first-look at St. John's Saturday in their annual scrimmage against Brockton. For a full write-up of that scrimmage, head over to ESPN Boston. For more on what to expect from the Pioneers this year, continue below.

Cambridge R&L Outlasts St. John's for D1 State Title

St. John’s senior Adham Floyd (14) attempts a shot in St. John’s 66-51 loss to Cambridge R&L on Saturday in the MIAA Division 1 state final. Floyd scored 15 of his 19 points in the first half, and hit four first-half 3-pointers. Floyd surpassed 1,000 career points in the first half.

By Jason Siegel

The Cambridge R&L Falcons used some stout second-half defense to pull away from the St. John’s (Shrewsbury) Pioneers, and win the MIAA Division 1 state championship, 66-51, on Saturday as the MassMutual Center in Springfield.

Leading the Cambridge (24-1) defense was 6-foot-8-inch junior center Dimon Carrigan, who contributed 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 blocks to the Cambridge cause. Even on possessions when he did not block shots, his presence prevented Pioneer players from generating offense.

Cambridge head coach Lance Dottin was very pleased with Dimon’s performance.

“Dimon is the equalizer. He is the eraser… He protects everything at the rim, and he did a fabulous job tonight,” coach Dottin said, adding that he wanted his defense to “dig in” against St. John’s (24-2).

Postgame Blog: Shrewsbury Gets Defensive Against St. John's

Shrewsbury pole Tim Hally and St. John's attack Jared Ward had quite a battle Saturday.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

It looked like another nail-biter between cross-town rivals Shrewsbury and St. John's (Shrewsbury) for most of the first half, but a four-goal run and some dominant defense allowed the visiting Colonials to run away with an 8-3 win over the Pioneers.

It was the second victory in a row for Shrewsbury against St. John's, following up a win in the Division 2 Central/West semifinals last year, and a win that let the rest of Central Mass know: The Colonials are no one-year wonders.

Here is a reminder that this blog is just my rambling thoughts on the game. My full story will be up on BostonLaxNet later, and you can check out my highlights, complete with interviews with Shrewsbury seniors Tim Hally and Joe Buduo, along with coach Nate Skermont, here.

Now, let's get right to it.

2015 Central Mass Lax Previews: St. John's (Shrewsbury) Pioneers

St. John's senior attack Jared Ward.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Over the next few days I will be unveiling season previews of the top high school lacrosse programs in Central Massachusetts, leading up to the season opening in early April on what we can only hope will be snow-free fields.

You can access past previews here in our SuitePreps section, and we continue our look around the region with perennial power St. John's (Shrewsbury). Last season the Pioneers enjoyed, arguably, the greatest regular season in Central Mass lacrosse history. St. John's began the year 13-0, and finished the regular season with only a loss at Western Mass power Longmeadow. The Pioneers' regular season included a 12-3 blowout of consensus MA Top-5 Xaverian, a convincing win over EMass power Acton-Boxborough, and wins over Catholic school powers St. John's Prep and BC High.

Oh yeah, and the Pioneers rolled through Central Mass unbeaten, topping the established regional powers (Algonquin, Shrewsbury and Grafton) by a combined score of 30-8.

But it would all be for naught, as St. John's was shocked by cross-town rival Shrewsbury in a playoff rematch, ending the Pioneers' promising season in the Division 2 Central/West semifinals, and finishing the outstanding high school careers of a number of accomplished seniors, including All-American Drew Smiley.