HS Football Power Rankings: The End of the Regular Season

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Joe Parello, GoLocalWorcester Sports Editor

Nashoba quarterback Jack Sarnoski

With the regular season in the books for Central Mass football, we take a look at the best teams in the region, before each Division crowns a Super Bowl champion.

Here is our top-10, but each of these teams will get a chance to prove its worth on the field when the playoffs begin this Tuesday.

1. Auburn (11-0, 5-0 SWCL A) Last Week: 1

The Rockets knocked around rival Oxford 42-8 on Thanksgiving, but coach Jeff Cormier's group knows that the real season begins Tuesday.

2. Nashoba (11-0, 5-0 Mid-Wach B) Last Week: 2

North Middlesex offered little resistance to the surging Chieftains on Thanksgiving. Nashoba now seeks a second consecutive Division II Super Bowl, and hasn't lossed since the 2010 Super Bowl.

3. Doherty (9-2, 3-0 Inter-High) Last Week: 3

The Highlanders disposed of Inter-High rival Burncoat, and will be a tough out in the Division II playoffs.

4. Shrewsbury (9-2, 3-1 Mid-Wach A) Last Week: 4

The Colonials have won with offense for the majority of the season, but the Shrewsbury defense pitched a shutout against Milford Thursday. If that defense continues to play well, everyone in Division I should be very concerned.

5. Wachusett (8-3, 4-0 Mid-Wach A) Last Week: 5

The Mountaineers scored an impressive victory over a talented Holy Name squad, outlasting the Naps 28-20. Stingy defense and a brutal ground game will make Wachusett tough to beat in the postseason.

6. Shepherd Hill (9-2, 4-1 SWCL A) Last Week: 6

The Rams will get a chance to avenge a previous loss to Doherty in the first round of the Division II playoffs. Shepherd Hill dug itself out of a 20-6 halftime hole against rival Tantasqua to avoid losing momentum at the end of the regular season.

7. Leominster (7-4, 2-2 Mid-Wach A) Last Week: 7

Leominster knocked off rival Fitchburg in a game that was closer than many expected. Still, the Blue Devils have enough talent across the board to beat anybody in Division I. They haven't played their best football yet, but they are still the champs until somebody knocks them off.

8. Northbridge (9-2, 3-2 SWCL A) Last Week: 8

The Rams made short work of rival Uxbridge on Thanksgiving, rolling by a score of 45-14. Northbridge's quick-strike offense was on display, as the Rams had three different scoring plays that went for at least 50 yards.

9. St. John's (7-4, 2-0 Central Mass) Last Week: Unranked

The Pioneers finally reenter out power rankings after five weeks floating on the outskirts. We all know St. John's can score, but a gritty 14-7 win over rival St. Peter-Marian shows that they may be ready to win any kind of game.

10. Groton-Dunstable (10-1, 6-0 Mid-Wach C) Last Week: 10

The Crusaders dominated Tyngsborough in game that many expected to be a close one. So much for that, as Groton-Dunstable rolled 34-6 and heads into the Division III playoffs with a ton of momentum.