Guess who went 19-2 in predicting the 21 postseason games that local teams played in last week?
This guy (pointing at myself).
Week 10 saw the cream rise to the top for gridiron gangs across the state, and my picks followed suit.
Ring the bell, Garçon.
Now, with seven teams from the area still participating in the MIAA tournament, lets start with those predictions before breaking down the rest of the field.
(Note: I will spend a little more time this week predicting the playoff games, and a little less time on the non-playoff games. Each game is meaningful, but nobody likes reading 2,000 words.)
Last week: 31-4
Season: 199-61
Who leads the way? Check out the Hometeam Central Mass. high school football standings, leaders
In perhaps his final football game at historic Doyle Field, Osiris Lopez didnt disappoint last week. The Leominster QB passed for 246 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 85 yards and another score in a 42-21 win over Franklin. Now, Lopez and Co. square off against the top seed in Division 1. The Blue Devils will need to pull all the rabbits out of their collective hats to pull off the upset.
Pick: St. Johns Prep
Doesnt this feel like déjà vu? A year after Hudson made history by winning its first Super Bowl since 1991; the Hawks are once again in the mix in Division 6. Old Rochester pulled off a wild overtime win over No. 4 Wilmington to hand the Hawks another home playoff game, and theres something magical about the Morgan Bowl and Hudson football.
Pick: Hudson
The Gaels have gathered steam over the past five weeks since suffering a 20-12 loss to Hudson on Oct. 3. Clintons three-headed monster in the backfield in Gavin Naughton, Taetum Cassella and Connor Cox have propelled their team to a 5-0 record over that time span and a 195-22 point differential. But a road playoff game in West Bridgewater will be the Gaels biggest test since losing to the Hawks. This is a toss up.
Pick: West Bridgewater
After losing five straight games, including a 42-0 defeat to Northbridge on Nov. 1, Millbury turned the page last week in a thrilling comeback win over Manchester Essex which featured three second-half touchdowns from Aiden Phillipo. The Woolies will need to bottle more of that magic for Friday against familiar foe Northbridge if they want to keep their Cinderella hopes alive. Unfortunately for them, the Rams are playing (well) for themselves and their longtime coach Ken LaChapelle, who is stepping down after the season.
Pick: Northbridge
Although the Spartans saw their near three-season win streak snapped on Oct. 10, and then lost again three weeks later, they still are the two-time defending Division 7 Super Bowl champs. Although graduations and injuries have pushed Uxbridge off its unbeaten course, Im not picking against the champs this time of year. Ill take Camden LaChapelle and Thatcher Sweeney in my football foxhole any day.
Pick: Uxbridge
The road to repeat, for a third straight season, will be bumpier for the Lions this go-around. After becoming the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls since the statewide tournament format was introduced in 2021, having repeated as D8 champs last year after taking top honors in Division 7 in 2022, West Boylston will need to be running coach Mike Ross double-wing offense to a T to get past their next opponent from the Cape. Still, just like Uxbridge, Im not picking against the defending champs. Dom Renzoni can join us in the aforementioned foxhole.
Pick: West Boylston
With the Massachusetts Vocational Athletic Directors Association (MVADA) playoffs beginning this week, this is the best time of the year for the blue-collar bell-cows from Bay Path. Despite some injuries holding them back, give me a Minuteman team thats beaten MIAA playoff teams like Millbury and Uxbridge this fall.
Pick: Bay Path
Happy to see the Eagles clinch a spot in this playoff format, but theyve only won once since Oct. 11 and face the top-seeded team from Franklin.
Pick: Tri-County
After starting off the season with a perfect 4-0 record, the Broncos were bucked off their horse a bit. But I can see them saddling up again for a big home win.
Pick: Keefe Tech
Expecting a nice road win for Quabbin.
Pick: Quabbin
The Polar Bears have been red hot.
Pick: North
After an unplanned BYE last week, the Colonials are champing at the bit.
Pick: Shrewsbury
Winners of two straight, Murdock makes it three.
Pick: Murdock
The Highlanders nearly pulled off the upset against Barnstable in the MIAA playoffs last week. Theyll get back to .500.
Pick: Doherty
Manny Gabino garners another win for the Panthers.
Pick: Ayer-Shirley
Following a loss to Tyngsborough on Oct. 3, the Blue Knights have won five straight and allowed just 14 points in those games.
Pick: Lunenburg
Although Oxford hasnt won since Oct. 10, the Pirates still made the MIAA playoffs and know how to keep games close.
Pick: Oxford
Congrats to the Colonels for getting their first win of the fall last week.
Pick: Nashoba
The Tigers took their first L of the season last week in the MIAA playoffs. Expecting a bounce back at home.
Pick: Tyngsborough
Heres to hoping we can make this a normal game in the future for both programs. I was burned by picking Wachusett to win last week, so heres to hoping it doesnt happen again. Also, this is a battle of the best kickers in Central Mass. between Deignan Guiney (St. Johns) and Jack Hehir (Wachusett).
Pick: Wachusett
Leicester actually led at halftime against top-seeded Cohasset in the Division 7 playoffs last week, before giving up 21 unanswered points in the third quarter. Jeremiah Kinsumba will get his team back on track.
Pick: Leicester
The Crusaders collect a win on the road in Westborough.
Pick: Groton-Dunstable
This should be a good one. Give me the host Panthers coming off of a playoff loss.
Pick: Marlborough
Not sure how this one will unfold. So give me the team thats fared well of late.
Pick: Gardner
Would love to cover this one. Some smashmouth football is on deck.
Pick: Auburn
Both teams took care of league play this year but didnt fare well out of their respective leagues. Something has to change in this one.
Pick: BMR
Kudos to Southbridge for securing its second win of the season last week. I think Ill be saying the same thing about St. Paul next week.
Pick: St. Paul
Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Central Mass. and Worcester high school football: Predictions for Week 11 games