Differing goals for Classical, Peabody

One team comes in looking to keep pace atop the Northeastern Conference standings while the other is looking to get a much-needed first win.But when Classical and Peabody meet on Friday (7) at Manning Field, it will be the first meeting between the two since the old Essex County League.With Gloucester lurking on the horizon in a week’s time, the Rams could view this one as a prototypical trap game. But then again, the rash of upsets in the NEC this season has Classical coach Matt Durgin focused on the task at hand.”You need to concentrate every week in this league or you’re going to lose,” Durgin said. “There’s a lot of parity this season and we need to have a good effort this week.”Classical comes into to the game sporting a 4-1 record and off a bye week following the win over Danvers. The Rams have played well in all but their loss to Winthrop earlier in the season, riding the back of a talented core of running backs and a tough defense.”It’s difficult having a week off and you have to stay sharp,” Durgin said.Classical’s talents certainly have the attention of Peabody coach Dick Woodbury, who has already seen the likes of Arlington, Cambridge and Gloucester this year.”They have a fine quarterback (Alex Watler) and three very good receivers and backs,” Woodbury said. “They are tough to defend because they have a lot of weapons. It’s a challenge for us.”To say this season has been challenging for the Tanners might be a rather huge understatement. Peabody was behind the 8-ball from day one after losing seven players to injuries in a loss to St. John’s Prep in the opener and though the Tanners have been getting healthier, the results haven’t quite come yet.”We haven’t had the win/loss record that we wanted, but the thing is we have a lot of positive things going,” Woodbury said. “The kids are hanging in there and that part is really good. They know this team is young and decimated by injuries but everybody out there is giving a good effort.”Peabody starts only two seniors on offense and that inexperience has showed at times. But the maturation process seems to be working as the Tanners installed a new spread offense in the two days before the Gloucester game.And despite losing 39-0 to the Fishermen, the Tanners only turned the ball over once and were in the game for a while before a 70-yard touchdown run by hulking fullback Anthony Enderle broke their backs.That effort was something that Woodbury was happy to see.”We were in it against Gloucester for a while,” Woodbury said. “Their football knowledge and skills are starting to come back and it’s showing up in their attitude and what they are able to do.”Other gamesEnglish at SalemAt Bertram Field (7), the Bulldogs (2-4) finally got back on the winning track last week thanks to a 21-0 win over Marblehead. The defense was a big part of the win, putting up four stands inside the 20-yard line while Byron Brown had an interception return for a touchdown and 124 rushing yards and a second score.The Witches (3-3) continued to be one of the mysterious teams in the NEC as Melikke Van Alstyne scored twice and then picked off a Revere pass inside the final minute of play to preserve a 14-12 win.Revere at GloucesterAt Newell Stadium (7), the Patriots (3-3) look to rebound from a pair of tough losses to Marblehead and Salem in back-to-back weeks. Last week in the loss to the Witches, Anthony DeFeo rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown.But to get back on track, Revere has the unenviable task of beating an unbeaten Fishermen team. Gloucester (6-0) got an early challenge from Peabody last week but Andrew Fulford’s three touchdown runs, which give him 16 for the season, led the way to a 39-0 win over the Tanners.Marblehead at DanversAt Dr. Deering Stadium (7), Marblehead (3-3) looks to get back in the win column against a struggling Falcon team. Last week in their loss to English, the Magicians moved the ball well from 20-to-20 but were 0-for-4 in red zone chances. They might have found a quarte