Sure, it won’t be an easy Friday for the undefeated Salem High football team.
The Blue Devils, after all, will be making an hour-plus long, roughly 70-mile hike to Holden, Mass., to take on out-of-state foe Wachusett Regional High School on Friday night.
But don’t expect the long drive to spoil Salem’s winning streak.
The Blue Devils improved to 5-0 with last weekend’s 21-10 win over Alvirne, their third win in four games by at least two scores.
Wachusett (1-3) has fallen off quite a big since beating Lawrence High 21-12. Since then, the Mountaineers have suffered two lopsided losses, to Minnechaug (30-13) two week ago and Natick (23-0) last week. For the season, they’ve been outscored 101-48.
Salem is also out for some revenge after Wachusett won 41-13 on the Blue Devils’ Grant Field last fall.
Against Lawrence, the Mountaineers were led by Brian Pupecki (113 yards, TD rushing) and QB Dillon Harper (174 yards, TD passing).
Expect Kevin Todisco, Nolan Lumley and Co. to keep rolling.
Prediction: Salem 28, Wachusett 18
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Methuen (3-1) at North Andover (3-0) — The game of the week in the Merrimack Valley. The Rangers are coming off a dominant 51-12 win over Andover, while the Scarlet Knights earned a hard-fought 14-13 win over Chelmsford. North Andover will need to find a way to slow Shane and Drew Eason, who combined for seven touchdowns last week. The Rangers will have to stop running back Zach Wolinski, who has shredded opposing defense, running for the game-winning TD last week.
Prediction: Methuen 34, North Andover 24
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Nashoba Tech (2-2) at Whittier (3-1) — The Wildcats are off to their best start in three seasons, matching the COVID-delayed spring campaign, led by the dynamic running back duo of Anderson Pineda and Giorgio Gioldasis. The Vikings snapped a two-game losing steak by beating Manchester Essex (28-16) last week. Oliver Storlazzi ran for 147 yards and two TDs in last Friday’s victory.
Prediction: Whittier 28, Nashoba Tech 21
Central Catholic (0-4) at Haverhill (1-3) — It’s been a rough road for the Raiders, but it’s time to snap the losing streak. Central will a rushing attack like Jaxon Pereira led last week (13 carries, 122 yards). The Hillies won’t go away easy, like they showed in last week’s 33-21 loss to unbeaten Billerica, which beat Central the previous week. Fill-in QB Alexander Gomes ran for two scores and threw two TDs last week for the Hillies.
Prediction: Central Catholic 34, Haverhill 14
Lawrence (1-3) at Dracut (1-2) — It’s time for the Lancers to get back into the win column. Lawrence showed some spark, especially on defense, in a 14-7 loss at gritty Brockton last week. David Manon ran for an 18-yard TD for the Lancers on Friday. The Middies have lost two straight, to Whittier (50-26) and Hopkinton (22-6). Jayden Abreu and the Lancers get back on track.
Prediction: Lawrence 32, Dracut 12
Windham (2-3) at Merrimack (2-3) — The Jaguars nearly delivered the upset of the season, pushing Londonderry to the limit before falling 21-14. Tiger An ran for a TD and Billy DePietro threw a score to Ben Roy. The Tomahawks have won two of three, included last week’s victory over Maine’s Bonny Eagle (27-14).
Prediction: Windham 28, Merrimack 14
Brockton (1-3) at Andover (3-1) — It was a reality check last Friday, as the Golden Warriors struggled in a loss to Methuen. Andover, led by Dante Berger (415 yards, 5 TDs rushing), will look to right the ship against a tough Boxers squad that beat Lawrence last week (14-7) after tough losses to Lincoln-Sudbury (29-21 in OT) and Franklin (21-13). Freshman Brockton QB Jayden Campbell has run for big TDs the last two weeks.
Lynn English (1-3) at Greater Lawrence (2-2) — The Reggies scored a strong 14-7 win over Greater Lowell last week. Lynn English snapped a three-game losing streak to start the season by beating winless Revere 28-6 last week. Limbert Thomas III threw two TDs and ran for one score. The Bulldogs dropped their first three straight by a combined 89-12, including a 27-0 loss to Lawrence High.
Prediction: Greater Lawrence 24, Lynn English 21
Bishop Guertin (3-2) at Pinkerton (5-0) — Coming off another convincing win (34-7 over Concord), led by three Caden Michaud TD runs, Pinkerton will put its perfect record on the line against a tough Bishop Guertin that crushed Timberlane last week (58-14), after beating Merrimack (28-7) the week before. QB Mike MacDonough has thrown for 955 yards and seven TDs, 436 yards and two TDs to Cody Symnasky.
Prediction: Pinkerton 35, Bishop Guertin 24
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Timberlane (2-3) at Manchester Memorial (1-4) — After a tough night against Bishop Guertin, the Owls have a perfect opponent to get back on track. Memorial has suffered four losses by a combined 160-53 margin. The Crusaders’ lone victory was over a winless Winnacunnet squad that’s been outscored 160-25. Erik Seymore leads the offense with 334 rushing yards.
Prediction: Timberlane 32, Memorial 12
Brooks (0-2) at St. Marks (0-2) — It’s been a slow start for Brooks, but in last week’s loss, QB Henry Hebert threw for 155 yards, connecting four times with Jackson Sumner for 104 yards and a touchdown. St. Marks has fallen to Thayer (36-12) and Middlesex (28-7).
Prediction: Brooks 21, St. Marks 17
Kent (0-2) at Phillips (0-2) — A perfect situation for the Big Blue to earn their first win. Kent has been dominated out of the gates, being outscored 92-14, giving up 57 points to Choate last week. The Big Blue have shown a solid offense, scoring 28 points each of the first two weeks.
Prediction: Phillips 28, Kent 10
TWITTER: DWillisET