Central Mass Lax Power Rankings: Week 8

St. John's celebrated a win over Hockomock champion Franklin, but would that be enough to grab our top spot?

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

We enter the final week of the regular season with much to be determined. While some CMass lax teams are simply trying to qualify for the state tournament, others are hoping to make last-minute editions to their tournament resumes.

Here is how we see the region's 10 best teams (for now).

Central Mass Lax Power Rankings: Week 7

Grafton junior goalie Matt Nicalek

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Like I said last week, it's too late in the year for lengthy introductions, but this week does bring a new No. 1 team in our Power Rankings, and the league races across Central Mass are starting to stabilize.

Continue below for this week's Top 10.

Central Mass Lax Power Rankings: Week 4

Groton-Dunstable pole Nate Forbes tracks down a ground ball against Tyngsboro Saturday.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

It was an eventful vacation week in Central Mass, as several of our top lacrosse league races heated up, and a few of the season's surprise teams continued to roll.

The top of our Power Rankings remain largely unchanged, but that doesn't mean there aren't any surprises this week. Continue below for our complete Top 10.

1. St. John's (Shrewsbury): 6-1, 1-0 Catholic Conf.
Last Week: Ranked No. 1, defeated No. 6 Marlboro 16-11, and Shrewsbury 17-4. Lost to BC High 15-8.

The Pioneers suffered their first loss last week, but also solidified themselves as the top team in the region at this point. St. John's won a shootout against up-and-coming Marlboro, and blew away rival Shrewsbury. The loss to BC High is discouraging, simply because St. John's led at halftime before losing by 7. That said, Tuesday's home game against Grafton presents a big chance to get back on track, and Thursday brings a tough challenge against D1 East program Framingham.

Central Mass Lax Power Rankings: Week 3

St. John's has had plenty of reasons to celebrate so far this season.  Photo by Ryan Bowman.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

First of all, a very happy spring holiday season to all our readers. Whether you celebrate Easter or Passover, or just stick with Patriots Day/Marathon Monday and vacation week, we hope you've been able to enjoy yourself, and maybe take in some of the nice weather we've gotten lately.

As for Central Mass lacrosse: Well, it was a return to normalcy in a number of way, but also a continued upheaval in others. Mid-Mass. is officially madness, there are several teams making their push to be ranked for the first time ever in our poll, and we've seen teams rise and fall at a dizzying pace in the season's early goings.

I won't waste any more time with introductions though. Here is this week's Top 10. Let the debates begin!

MIAA Top 25 Preaseason Boys Basketball Poll

We expect St. John's (Shrewsbury) and Cambridge to once again make their ways deep into the D1 state tournament.

Our rankings of the best teams in the state at the start of the 2016-17 basketball season, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. Yes, we know some teams have already played... (Updated 12/12)

Central Mass HS Football Power Rankings: The End of 2016

Shrewsbury's run ultimately came up short at Gillette, but with sophomore quarterback Drew Campanale (10) hanging around for another two seasons, the Colonials might be back. Photo by Nate Weitzer. Click to enlarge.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

While no Central Mass team was able to bring home a state championship in 2016, it was still an exciting year of football around the region. Between the intense battle in Division 2 (both before the playoffs and during), Grafton's amazing run, and the Cinderella story of the Maynard Tigers, this was a year we will be talking about for a while.

It was pretty tough to choose a true No. 1, but here is our crack at it after a memorable season. Thanks to everybody for reading, and be on the lookout for our Central Mass All-Star team later in the week, and first ever All-State team as well.

If you'd like to see where Central MA's best stack up against the rest of the state, also be sure to check out our final statewide Top 25.

Now, onto our final CMass Top 10, and first 10 out. Please note that all of our "previous rankings" came at the end of the regular season, and the playoffs caused a LOT of movement.

Top 25 MIAA Football Rankings: The End of 2016

Thanks to a dominant postseason run, Hanover rose more than any other team in our power rankings.

Ed. Note- SuiteSports would like to thank all of you who have read the site throughout the 2016 season, and we're proud to present our final power rankings of year, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. (Updated 12/6)
 
*Thanksgiving Day results are not included in final records

Central Mass HS Football Power Rankings: Week 8

Just two weeks ago, Algonquin was on the ropes, but the T-Hawks are now surging toward the playoffs.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

With only one week left to play in the regular season, Central Mass football is a crazy mess.

Nowhere is the situation messier than in Division 2, where Algonquin is coming off a huge win over Wachusett. For those keeping track at home, Algonquin has now beaten Wachusett, who has beaten St. John's, who has beaten Leominster, who has beaten Algonquin, who has beaten Shrewsbury, who has beaten Shepherd Hill, who has beaten Algonquin…

Yeah, good luck sorting that out, and to make things even more interesting, we've got a de facto playoff game between Leominster and Shrewsbury this weekend.

But it's not just D2, all the divisions across Central Mass have intriguing story lines. Without further ado, here are our Power Rankings heading into the final week of the regular season.

Central Mass HS Football Power Rankings: Week 6

Leominster coach Dave Palazzi (right) moved senior Noah Gray (left) from quarterback to wide receiver last week, and the move paid off instantly.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

For the most part, the top teams in the region stood tall last weekend, but there was still some drama, and a bit of shakeup in our Top 10.

Check out our updated Power Rankings below.
 
1. St. John's (Shrewsbury): 4-1. Division 2.

Last Week: Ranked No. 1, defeated No. 8 Shrewsbury 38-35.

Junior quarterback Steve Bucciaglia both threw and rushed for two touchdowns, including the game-winning rushing score with a minute left. Bucciaglia's heroics came all in the second half, and erased a 21-8 halftime deficit against crosstown rival Shrewsbury.
 
2. Wachusett: 5-0, 2-0 Mid-Wach A. Division 2.

Last Week: Ranked No. 2, defeated Doherty 35-8.

The deepest and most diverse backfield in CMass continued to impress, as four different players scored rushing touchdowns for Wachusett in a blowout of Doherty. The Mountaineers have shown they can run it down pretty much anybody's throat, and defend with the best of them.

We'll be treated to a No. 1 vs No. 2 clash Saturday afternoon when Wachusett travels to St. John's.

CMass HS Football Power Rankings: Season Preview

Auburn is expecting big things from junior RB Mark Wright (#24).

By Joe Parello  @HerewegoJoe

The high school football season will begin this week for one Central Mass power, as Auburn will host Western Mass contender Chicopee Comprehensive Friday at 7 pm. The Rockets are faced with one of the largest rebuilding jobs in the state, as only ESPN Boston Preseason All State lineman Will Greelish returns as a starter from last season's Super Bowl squad.

Still, Auburn hasn't rebuilt under coach Jeff Cormier, it has reloaded. A running streak of five consecutive Super Bowl championships and a 41-game winning streak that stretched from 2008-2011 are evidence of that, but where will the Rockets rank among the Central Mass elite in 2013? We take a stab at that below.

CMass Lax Power Rankings: 4/29/13

Shrewsbury Senior Cam Kerr (Blue)

Editor Joe Parello is thrilled to announce that, along with his weekly Power Rankings, he will be contributing to BostonLax.net in an effort to expand their coverage into Central Massachusetts. Look for his first story Thursday night as he heads to Nipmuc Regional High School to watch the Warriors host the Grafton Indians.

By Joe Parello  @HerewegoJoe

It was a mixed week for Central Mass lacrosse, as regional powers St. John's and Algonquin came up short in inter-regional matchups, but Grafton reasserted itself as a contender following a pair of impressive victories.

The top team in our rankings, St. John's, actually scored a nice win over Westborough this weekend, but the Pioneers are surely still smarting from a 8-5 slugfest loss to St. John's Prep in Danvers. Then, reigning champion Algonquin never got it's offense going against Western Mass favorite Longmeadow Saturday, falling 13-3.

The T-Hawks could get a shot at revenge in the state semifinals, but can they get there with senior captain Davis Kraft out?

Rankings after the jump.