Grid Picks
Dave Dyer
Is it just me, or does every game seem like a big one for both Central Catholic and Methuen?
As these Merrimack Valley Conference rivals battle to move up in the league standings, they seem to have a tough game every week. Tomorrow night at Lawrence Stadium, their paths collide in what is truly a pivotal contest.
The winner will have a good chance of finishing in the first division while the loser will probably be relegated to the second division.
Both teams have enjoyed success running the ball, but without consistency. The game should come down to who has enjoyed more success through the air.
Although I expect Shain Jowett to have a good game both running and throwing the ball for the Raiders, Methuen could own a slight advantage when going to the air. The Rangers, with quarterback Matt Bartlett, his brother Mike Bartlett in the backfield and the receiving combo of Pat Phillion and Joennry Acosta, just seem a bit more explosive.
That should be enough to end their 12-game losing streak to Central.
PICK: Methuen 22, Central Catholic 20
TOMORROW’S GAMES
NORTH ANDOVER (2-5) at TRITON (4-3)
Both teams have shown considerable improvement during the season, so this will be a good measuring stick.
PICK: North Andover 16, Triton 13
LOWELL (4-3) at ANDOVER (3-4)
These teams find themselves in the same situation as Methuen and Central Catholic. T
he Warriors will need some big gainers to prevail.
PICK: Andover 20, Lowell 14
DRACUT (6-1) at HAVERHILL (1-6)
The Haverhill defense has struggled against far less explosive offenses than Dracut, which led previously unbeaten Billerica 40-0 at halftime last week. Haverhill, obviously, will have its hands full with Matt Grimard, who has thrown for 13 touchdowns and scored 16.
PICK: Dracut 45, Haverhill 13
MaNCHESTER WEST (1-7) at SALEM (3-5)
Manchester West should be just the remedy for Salem, which was banged up and uninspired at Concord last week. The visitors have been outscored 78-220, but did beat winless Division 2 Spaulding last week.
PICK: Salem 23, Manchester West 8
TIMBERLANE (6-2) at SPAULDING (0-8)
The Owls may not be quite good enough to take anyone for granted, but Spaulding has — plain and simple — not been playing good football. The Red Raiders have been outscored 55-286.
PICK: Timberlane 30, Spaulding 14
STEVENS (3-4) at PELHAM (7-0)
Stevens had a week off to prepare for the Pythons, but they would have needed another couple of weeks in order to prevail.
PICK: Pelham 28, Stevens 6
Nobles (4-2) at Brooks (2-4)
This would be a nice upset for an improving Green and White team. But it would be an upset against a Nobles team which features senior quarterback McCallum Foote (16 TD passes this fall).
PICK: Nobles 28, Brooks 14
SATURDAY’S GAMES
AIC (8-0) at Merrimack College (5-3)
AIC has an explosive offense (36.0 ppg), so Merrimack will need so score often in order to pull off an upset over the 17th-ranked Yellow Jackets.
PICK: AIC 42, Merrimack 24
Lawrence (4-3) at PEntucket (4-3)
If Pentucket can rush the quarterback effectively, it’ll prevail. If not, Lawrence will win its third straight.
PICK: Lawrence 23, Pentucket 20
North Reading (4-3) at Newburyport (3-5)
Newburyport is on a roll, with three straight wins, led by quarterback Joe Clancy, the school’s all-time leader in TD passes (34, 14 this season). North Reading looked good last week in a win over Watertown, so this is a toss-up.
PICK: Newburyport 26, North Reading 16
Manchester Central (7-1) at Pinkerton (6-2)
The winner of this game will likely wrap up the Division 1 top seed for the playoffs. Manchester Central has averaged 31 points a game and been a surprise this fall, but Pinkerton’s tougher non-league schedule pays off here.
PICK: Pinkerton 22, Manchester Central 13
Hamilton-Wenham (4-3) at Georgetown (6-0)
Joe Esposito and the Royals have passed every test thus far, and this will be another.
PICK: Georgetown 20, Hamilton-Wenham 7
Londonderry (6-2) at Nashua South (5-3)
This should be a war in the trenches, in which case I like the Lancers’ chances.
PICK: Londonderry 16, Nashua South 10
Lynn tech (3-4) at Gr. Lawrence (2-5)
The Reggies are climbing the ladder and, if they get some breaks, they’ll win their second straight.
PICK: Gr. Lawrence 20, Lynn Tech 10
Whittier (5-2) at Gr. Lowell (2-5)
Greater Lowell’s defense has been struggling all year.
PICK: Whittier 39, Gr. Lowell 20
Sanborn (1-7) at Plymouth (8-0)
Sanborn played well against Hanover last week, and has been solid the last three weeks, but Plymouth is the beast of Division 4 with its 41-game win streak.
Legendary 38th-year coach Chuck Lenahan is the state’s all-time wins leader (306-63-1).
PICK: Plymouth 43, Sanborn 7
Phillips Academy (5-1) at Worcester Academy (0-6)
The Big Blue shouldn’t have any trouble finding the end zone.
PICK: Phillips Academy 38, Worcester Academy 20
Season record: 93-36
