The Monday night massacre in Foxboro set the Longo Express back time wise, almost as much as dave Dyer’s picks this weekend, that pushed his lead back to nine wins for the year. I will not surrender, although, chopping 1.5 games off his lead a week will be tough.
Remember, this week starts a day earlier with Lawrence hosting North Andover on Thursday night.
Now, for the benefit of the Central Catholic contingent, who continually think i have some axe to grind (I absolutely don’t!!!) when i say this annually, I will keep it short.
Why is Lawrence required to take the back seat to Central in the Lancers home stadium?
Last week, Central was forced to go on Saturday with LHS at home. That’s how it should be.
How can the city allow its kids to take a backseat to the private school kids on their own campus?
I ask this not as a sports writer, or a Central alum, but as a taxpayer, who in some minuscule way helped foot the bill for a $120 million high school.
Central Catholic is a gigantic asset to the Merrimack Valley and the city. Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows the reverance I hold for the folks over there, like Coach A and Co., who absolutely stepped up when it came to my nephew’s education. I will always have a soft spot for the school and people.
Afford Central every courtesy you can, that is until it affects the city’s children, who should be every mayor in every city’s top priority. I know it sounds like a little thing, but it happens too much.
Do the Andover kids get kicked off their turf field by phillips Academy, ever?
Does North Andover force its kids to adapt their schedules to accommodate Brooks?
The answer to both of course is no.
Perhaps the administration might address this issue some time, if it’s not too busy rudely shoving reporters out of the way as they attempt to write laudatory, public relations pieces on visiting pro athletes at the school. (This has now happened twice in two months)
While on the subject of Heath Evans’ current visit to LHS, big props go out to the LHS students for their enthusiasm and behavior in the event, which was sponsored by the milk folks and the NFL.
A.D. Tim Finn was the perfect gentleman and host for the day, and 100 percent of the students and faculty, and 99 percent of the administration in attendance were spectacular.
But I digress.
Back to the top 10 this week. I took a little heat from some of the Central folks, who didn’t like the omission in last week’s poll. Their point is well-taken, but if you’re sub-.500, with no wins against teams in the poll, it’s tough to rank you, no matter what level you play at.
That said, the Raiders return, at 3-3, with the win over Haverhill.
1. Timberlane (4-2) … The ultimate leap-frog. Knocking off Exeter is as big a regular season win as this program has seen.
2. Pelham (6-0) … Choo-Chooo!!!! Chug a chug a chug a chug a chug a chug a chug a … Choo Chooo!!!! The Pelham Express rolls along.
3. Georgetown (5-0) … If you haven’t seen Joe esposito yet, do it
4. Pinkerton (5-2) … You know, I had this top 10 done with the Astros holding their top spot, despite the loss to Brockton. Then I said, you know what, Pinkerton deserves at least a temporary punishment for coughing up a 27-7 lead at Brockton. You want the top ranking, boys, earn it. Run the table, win it all, and you will be the Longo T-10 champ. Until then, scooch into the back seat.
5. Londonderry (5-2) … No, we weren’t wowed by the 55 points against Memorial, Londonderry just holds serve while others faltered.
6. Amesbury (5-1) … Hmm, the Indians clearly felt slighted with the drop to No. 8 last week.
7. central (3-3) … Again, Pentucket, Methuen, Andover and Whittier (Nos. 5,6,9 and 10 last week) all tumbled. The Raiders pick up the pieces.
8. Pentucket (4-2) … Tough OT loss. They finally gave up some points. They’re human.
9. lawrence (3-3) … Immense challenge for the Lancers Thursday. How real are they?
10. Methuen (3-4) … When I figure out the Rangers or the MVC at all, I’ll call you.
